• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2002

A pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare tumor with a vascular origin. A PEH can arise in many organ systems, such as the lung, liver, bone and soft tissues. It is a borderline malignancy but the clinical course is usually benign. In this report, we describe three cases of PEH. Case 1, a 61-year-old man, had nonspecific chest discomfort and the chest X-ray showed a solitary lung nodule. This nodule was diagnosed by an open lung biopsy. The pathologic findings including abundant necrosis, mitosis and hyperchromatic and pleomorphic nuclei, indicated a malignancy. The electron microscopic study showed Weibel-Palade bodies and the immunohistochemical stain for CD31 showed a positive reaction in the tumor cells, and linear staining along the vascular lumina. Case 2, a 34-year-old man, was admitted for an evaluation of multiple small nodules, incidentally detected a screening chest X-ray. The nodules were diagnosed by a immunohistochemical stain for the factor VIII-related antigen. Case 3, a 34-year-old woman, complained of left pleuritic chest pain. A simple chest film and the chest CT scan revealed multiple bilateral nodules and a left pleural effusion. An immunohistochemical stain for the factor VIII-related antigen was used to diagnose the nodules. Forth-one months after the diagnosis, she died of pulmonary insufficiency.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.637-644
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• 1996

Interstitial pneumonitis associated with interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C was first describe6 in 1994 by Kazoo et al In Japan. The mechanism of interstitial pneumonitis developed by interferon alpha was still unknown but immunologic, allergic of direct lung toxicity were suggested. We experienced a case of interstitial pneumonitis developed during interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C in a 52-year-old male patient. He was treated with 6 million units of interferon alpha intramuscularly 3 times per week for 4 weeks and noted progressive dyspnea and cough. These symptoms were subsided after 6 weeks' discontinuation of interferon alpha therapy. And so, he was retreated with 3 million units of interferon alpha 3 times per week for 8 weeks and felt dyspnea again. He was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of progressive dyspnea. Arterial blood gas(ABG) values were $PaO_2$ 90.7 mmHg and $PaCO_2$ 31.9 mmHg, and antinuclear antibody(ANA) was negative. A chest X-ray film revealed diffuse reticulo-nodular shadows in bilateral lung fields, suggesting a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis. A marked increase in lymphocyte count and suppressor T cell were observed in bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid. Lymphocyte stimulation test with interferon alpha was positive. Interstitial pneumonitis was confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy. After discontinuation of interferon alpha, we gave oral steroid in the condition that clinical symptoms were being improved gradually.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.512-516
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• 2009

Background: Pulmonary paragonimiasis is a subacute to chronic inflammatory disease of the lung caused by lung flukes that result in prolonged inflammation and mechanical injury to the bronchi. However, there are few reports on the bronchoscopic findings of pulmonary paragonimiasis. This report describes the bronchoscopic findings of pulmonary paragonimiasis. Methods: The bronchosocpic findings of 30 patients (20 males, median age 50 years) with pulmonary paragonimiasis between May 1995 and December 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The diagnoses were based on a positive serologic test results for Paragonimus-specific antibodies in 13 patients (43%), or the detection of Paragonimus eggs in the sputum, bronchial washing fluid, or lung biopsy specimens in 17 patients (57%). The bronchoscopic examinations revealed endobronchial lesions in 17 patients (57%), which were located within the segmental bronchi in 10 patients (59%), lobar bronchi in 6 patients (35%) and main bronchi in 1 patient (6%). The bronchoscopic characteristics of endobronchial lesions were edematous swelling of the mucosa (16/17, 94%) and mucosal nodularity (4/17, 24%), accompanied by bronchial stenosis in 16 patients (94%). Paragonimus eggs were detected in the bronchial washing fluid of 9 out of the 17 patients with endobronchial lesions. The bronchial mucosal biopsy specimens showed evidence of chronic inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration in 6 out of 11 patients (55%). However, no adult fluke or ova were found in the bronchial tissue. Conclusion: Bronchial stenosis with mucosal changes including edematous swelling and mucosal nodularity is the most common bronchoscopic finding of pulmonary paragonimiasis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.5
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• pp.218-225
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• 2014

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an extremely aggressive tumor with a poor clinical course. Although many efforts have been made to improve patients' survival rates, patients who survive longer than 2 years after chemotherapy are still very rare. We examined the baseline characteristics of patients with long-term survival rates in order to identify the prognostic factors for overall survivals. Methods: A total of 242 patients with cytologically or histologically diagnosed SCLC were enrolled into this study. The patients were categorized into long- and short-term survival groups by using a survival cut-off of 2 years after diagnosis. Cox's analyses were performed to identify the independent factors. Results: The mean patient age was 65.66 years, and 85.5% were males; among the patients, 61 of them (25.2%) survived longer than 2 years. In the multivariate analyses, CRP (hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-6.06; p=0.012), TNM staging (HR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.59-6.80; p=0.001), and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR, 11.14; 95% CI, 2.98-41.73; p<0.001) were independent prognostic markers for poor survival rates. Conclusion: In addition to other well-known prognostic factors, this study discovered relationships between the long-term survival rates and serum CRP levels, TNM staging, and PFS. In situations with unfavorable conditions, the PFS would be particularly helpful for managing SCLC patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2001

The nephrotic syndrome that occurs in the absence of renal vein thrombosis, amyloidosis, neoplastic infiltration of the kidneys is an unusual but a well recognized paraneoplastic syndrome. The most frequently reported neoplasms associated with nephrotic syndrome are Hodgkin's disease and various carcinomas. The most common renal lesions are membranous glomerulonephritis(MGN) associated with carcinomas and minimal change lesions associated with Hodgkin's disease. Approximately 40% to 45% of patients clinically manifest the MGN symptoms prior to the diagnosis of the tumor, 40% simultaneously with the tumor and the remaining 15% to 20% following the tumor. Therefore, evaluating the underlying malignancy in patients with MGN is important. Here we report a patient with squamous cell lung cancer, which was detected 12 months after a MGN had been diagnosed, with a review of the relevant literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.278-283
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• 2004

The incidence of a pulmonary leiomyosarcoma as a primary lung tumor is quite rare. We report a case of primary leiomyosarcoma with a cardiac invasion in a 76 year old man. He was admitted due to left anterior chest wall pain for one month. Chest computed tomography showed a $9{\times}8{\times}10cm$ sized, large round mass in the left upper and lower lobes, and an amorphous low density lesion within the left atrium. Chest magnetic resonance imaging showed a large round mass in the left upper and lower lobes with growth into the left atrium. A diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma with prominent osteoclast-like giant cells was made based on the microscopic and immunohistochemical findings of a permanent specimen by explothoracotomy. The pathologic features of the tumor showed round mononuclear hyperchromatic cells and multinucleated giant cells that resembled osteoclasts. The immunohistochemical staining showed that the giant cells are positive for CD68 but negative for the muscle markers while the round cells were positive for the muscle marker. The patient refused further treatment and died after two months.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.618-623
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• 1995

Cryptococcosis is a systemic mycosis that most often involves the lungs and central nervous system and, less frequently, the skin, skeletal system, and prostate gland. Cryptococcus neoformans, the causative organism, is a yeastlike round or oval fungus, 4 to $6{\mu}m$ in diameter, which is surrounded by a polysaccharide capsule and reproduces by budding and found in soil and other environmental areas, especially those contaminated by pigeon droppings. Humans and animals acquire infection after inhalation of aerosolized spores. Condition or factors that predispose to cryptococcosis include corticosteroid therapy, lymphoreticular malignancies, HIV infection, and sarcoidosis etc. We discribed a case of cryptococcosis involving lung and CNS coincidently without specific underlying disease and the literature on subject were reviewed. A fifty-six year-old previously healthy female presented with headache of 3 months of duration. She had no history suggesting immunologic suppression and we could not find any abnormal laboratory findings including blood sugar, serum immunoglobulin and complement level, HIV antibody, and T cell subsets. Chest roentgenogram and CT scan showed a solitary soft tissue mass in LUL with distal pneumonitis. Brain MRI showed granulomatous lesion in cerebellum and parasagittal cortex of right frontal lobe. The diagnosis was made by bronchoscopic brushing cytology, transthoracic fine needle aspiration, and sputum KOH mount and culture. She was treated 6 weeks course of Amphotericin B and switched to oral fluconazole therapy for 3 months. Her symptoms and X-ray findings were improved gradually and she is now under regular clinical follow up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.330-337
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• 2011

Background: The clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been changing. Recently, Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has usually been used for diagnosis, follow-up to treatment and surveillance of NSCLC. We studied the pattern of recurrence and prognosis in patients who underwent complete resection for NSCLC according to histologic subtype. Methods: All patients who underwent complete resection for pathological stage I or II NSCLC between January 2005 and June 2009 were identified and clinical records were reviewed retrospectively, especially the histologic subtype. Results: Recurrences were identified in 50 of 112 patients who had complete resection of an NSCLC. Sites of recurrence were locoregional in 15 (30%), locoregional and distant in 20 (40%), and distant in 15 (30%). Also, sites of recurrence were intra-thoracic in 29 (58%), extrathoracic and intra-thoracic recurrence in 15 (30%), and extrathoracic in 6 (12%). In locoregional recurrence, there was 37% recurrence for non-squamous cell carcinoma (non-SQC) and 25% for squamous cell carcinoma (SQC). In distant recurrence, there was 39% recurrence for non-SQC and 18% for SQC. Locoregional recurrence in the bronchial stump was more common in SQC than non-SQC (14% vs. 45%, p=0.025). Prognosis of recurrence was not influenced by histologic subtype and the recurrence-free survival curve showed that the non-SQC group did not differ from the SQC group according to stage. Conclusion: The prognosis for recurrence does not seem to be influenced by histologic types, but locoregional recurrence in the bronchial stump seems to be more common in SQC than non-SQC in completely resected stage I and II NSCLC.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.4 s.48
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• pp.711-734
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• 1994

Among chemical agents in herbicides, dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachloro dibenzo-$\rho$-dioxin : TCDD), a chemical contaminant in herbicides sprayed during the Vietnam War has been known to be the major agent causing toxic effects. Approximately 320,000 korean soldiers participated the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1974. Although the potential hazards of the herbicides among Korean veterans exposed were implicated, the problem had not been a public issue until 1991 when Korean veterans were informed U.S. companies, the herbicides manufacturer payed fund, from which a trust fund for New Zealand and Australian Class members were established in 1985. After a series of appeals and demonstration by the Korean Veterans demanding medical care and compensation for their serious health damages, a bill of medical care and compensation for herbicides victims was promulgated in March 1993 and become effective from May 1993, This study was carried out with two major objectives : the first to understand the health problems caused from the herbicides by reviewing literatures published, and the second to examine the nature and extent of health impacts among Korean veterans exposed and to develop valid study methods for the major study by interviewing and reviewing records on a part of veterans (638 persons) registered and completed medical examination in Seoul Veterans Administration Hospital from June to October 1993. The results obtained are as followings: 1. The literature review of 107 papers revealed that 1) Dioxin is teratogenic, carcinogenic and affects almost all organs including nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems in animal experiments. 2) The diseases showing evidence of causal association were Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's disease, lung cancer, lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma, chloroacne and polyneuropathy when judged on the basis of consistency in study results and biological plausibility. 2. Interview and medical record review study on 638 veterans, though limited validity owing to lack of control group, crude estimates of dioxin exposure levels (no biomarkers measurable), and uncertainty of diagnosis, showed that: 1) Most of the study subject's were in their 40's of age and had been dispatched to Vietnam during the period from $1965{\sim}1970$ around one year. 2) Most frequently complained symptoms in medical examination were motor weakness (32%), sensory abnormalities in extremities (23%), skin diseases (22%), and pain in extremities (20%) whereas in Interview they were more frequent in order of skin problem (44%), motor weakness (38%), sensory abnormalities and pain in extremities(17% and 19% each). Kappa indices on the same category of complaints between two sources of information were variable and relatively low. 3) On medical examination, only a part of the 638 subjects had initial impression (442 pts) and final diagnosis (218 pts) suggesting decision making on diagnosis appeared to be difficult even with all available modern medical technologies: in initial impression disorders from peripheral and central neuropathy were predominant whereas in final diagnosis various types of skin disorder were most frequent 4) When dose-response relationship between several conditions (from questionnaire) and arbitrary exposure scores were examined by CMH linear trend test, spontaneous abortion, sexual problems and health problem of offsprings showed statistically significant linear trends. However, pregnancy, accident and suicidal attempts did not show any relationship in this study capacity. 5) Among complaints, psychosis and neurosis (anxiety, phobia) in interview study, and memory disorder and psychosis in medical record study revealed linear trend. 6) Skin disorder was the only condition showing linear trend in initial impression and none in final diagnosis on medical examination. Even though objective to select out dioxin-related disease or group of diseases from this study was not achieved the research experiences provided firm basis for developing various methodological approaches. 3. From this preliminary study we concluded that a larger scale major epidemiologic study on health impacts of herbicides among Korean veterans exposed is not only Indispensible but also well designed study with more valid exposure information and diagnosis may be able to establish causal relationship between certain groups of diseases and exposure to the herbicides among Korean veterans.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.414-421
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• 2004

This is a reprospective study on the care of odontogenic infections in admission patients with geriatric diseases. The study was based on a series of 480 patients at Dong San Medical Center, Wonju Christian Hospital and Il San Health Insurance Hospital, From Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2002. The Obtained results were as follows: 1. The systemic malignant tumor was the most frequent cause of the geriatric diseases with odontogenic infectious diseases, and refractory lung disease, systemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, bone & joint disease, senile psychologic disease were next in order of frequency. 2. Male prediction(57.5%) was existed in the odontogenic infectious patients with geriatric diseases. But, there were female prediction in senile psychologic disease, systemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. 3. The most common age group of the odontogenic infectious patient with geriatric disease was the sixty decade(47.9%), followed by the seventy & eighty decade in order. 4. In the contents of chief complaints on the odontogenic infectious patients with geriatric disease, peak incidence was occurred as toothache(52.7%), followed by extraction wish, tooth mobility, oral bleeding, oral ulcer, fracture of restoration, gingival swelling in order. 5. In the diagnosis group of odontogenic infectious diseases, periodontitis, pulpitis & periapical abscess were more common. 6. In the treatment group of odontogenic infectious diseases, the most frequent incidence(34.2%) was showed in primary endodontic treatment (pulp extirpation, occlusal reduction and canal opening drainage) and followed by scaling, incision & drainage, only drugs, pulp capping, restoration in order.