• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 1995

Background: Hemoptysis always merits thorough investigation because even minimal bleeding may be an early indicator of the presence of significant bronchopulmonary disease. But in patients with hemoptysis & a normal chest roentgenogram, there are no clear guidelines for a diagnostic approach, including the indications of bronchoscopy. Methods: Eighty patients with hemoptysis and a normal chest roentgenogram were involved in this study. We evaluated the cause of hemoptysis in these patients by bronchoscopy and/or bronchogram or high-resolution CT of the lung and we analyzed the relationship of clinical features, such as age, sex, smoking and properties of hemoptysis, to the cause of hemoptysis. Results: 1) They were 34 men and 46 women, with the mean age of 46.7 and 41.8 years old, respectively. 2) Initial bronchoscopy provided a diagnosis in 8 patients - bronchogenic carcinoma in 3 patients (3.8%), metastatic cancer in 1 patient(1.3%) and endobronchial tuberculosis in 4 patients(5.0%). 3) Two clinical findings of patients over 50 years and/or with more than 30 pack-year smoking history were associated with bronchogenic carcinoma, and among these two factors, a more than 30 pack-year smoking history was the best predictor for diagnosis of bronchogenic cancer. 4) The 72 patients in whom no specific cause of hemoptysis was identified by initial bronchoscopy underwent bronchogram and/or high resolutional CT of the lung. Then, 6 patients were diagnosed as bronchiectasis and 5 patients rebleeded in the follow up period of 9 to 90 weeks. Of the remaining 66 patients, 33 were followed for 7 to 80 weeks. Among these patients, only 5 patients had recurrent episodes of hemoptysis & they were diagnosed as bronchiectasis in 1 patient, tuberculosis in 2 patients and catamenial hemoptysis in 2 patients. Conclusion: We conclude that patients with hemoptysis and a normal chest roentgenogram who are more than 50 years old or have more than 30 pack-year smoking history should undergo bronchoscopy to exclude possible bronchogenic carcinoma. In patients without these clinical features, a conservative approach with observation appears justified. If hemoptysis recurs to these patients, bronchogram or high-resolutional CT of the lung with sputum examination are necessary.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2010

We report a case of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN). A 35-year-old male was admitted due to a SPN in the right upper lobe which was detected on the chest radiography being examed due to recurrent cough for 1 year. The computed tomography (CT) revealed a spiculated nodule containing air-bronchogram, which was suspicious of malignancy. We performed transbronchial biopsy and the pathology showed granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis. Under the presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, we started anti-tuberculous medication including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. In one month, however, the sputum culture was positive for Mycobacterium intracellulare. The follow-up chest CT showed slight aggravation of the previous lesions. Under the final diagnosis of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule, we changed the regimen to rifampin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin. The follow-up chest CT after the completion of treatment, revealed resolution of the previous lesions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.442-448
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• 1993

Foreign body aspiration, although not an uncommon problem in children, is unusual in adults and is overlooked as a cause of airway obstruction. Small foreign bodies that lodge in the peripheral airway are often asymptomatic initially and can result in respiratory symptoms several years later. Especially in the cases of otherwise healthy subjects, even though manifested overt respiratory symptoms, diagnosis can be delayed due to lack of history of aspiration or unnoticed aspiration. A 57-year-old male was admitted to Yonsei University College of Medicine Severance hospital due to left upper chest pain for five months. on the past history he had been diagnosed as bronchiectasis about 20 years ago. He showed radiologically bead-like bronchostenosis and a calcific density protruding into the lumen of left upper lobar bronchus. Bronchoscopically broncholith was revealed with the finding of endobronchial obstruction of each upper and lingular division of left upper lobar bronchus due to mucoid impaction and surrounding inflammed bronchial mucosa. The preoperative diagnosis was broncholithiasis due to chronic inflammatory process. Lung perfusion scan shows absence of perfusion in left upper lobe. So left upper lobectomy was performed. But from the pathologic specimen an incisor tooth was emerged. Later a history of tooth extraction thirty years ago at dental clinic was found. We report a case of bronchial obstruction due to occult aspiration of a tooth with a review of the literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.611-615
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• 2002

Pneumoconiosis is fibrogenic disease, caused by inhalation of mineral dust. It is defined as the accumulation of dust in the lung and tissue reaction to its presence and the dust is considered to be an aerosal of solid and inanimate particles. It is among the most common and the most important occupational lung disease, especially in developing countries. It is required three prerequisites for making a clinical diagnosis of pneumoconiosis: 1) a full clinical and occupational history together with the result of physical examination; 2) previous X-ray for comparison; and 3) a clear understanding of the time scale involved in the progression of the diseases. Most pneumoconiosises are slow to evolve and changes in the appearances take many months -usually years- to occur. Pneumoconiosis is represented on a plain X-ray of the chest as multiple small round opacities, usually smaller than 1cm diameter. In 58 years old female patient, pneumoconiosis is manifested as $5{\times}4{\times}3$cm sized solitary pulmonary nodule without any occupational history and past history of exposure of dust. so we treated this case with right upper lobectomy. Therefore we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.732-738
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• 1999

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has become a standard therapy for several diseases such as pneumothorax, hyperhidrosis, mediastinal mass, and so on. These methods usually required single-lung ventilation with double-lumen endobronchial tube to collapse the lung under general anesthesia. However, risks of general anesthesia itself and single-lung ventilation must be considered in high-risk patients. Material and method: Between December 1997 and July 1998, eight high-risk patients (6: empyema, 1: intractable pleural effusion, 1: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) with underlying pulmonary disease and poor general condition were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgerys under epidural anesthesia and spontaneous breathing. Result: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgerys were successfully per formed in 7 patients. Conversion to general anesthesia was required in 1 patient because of decrease in spontaneous breathing. But, conversion to open decortication was not required. In two patients with chronic empyema, one patient required thoracoplasty as a second procedure and one patient required re-video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure due to a recurrence. The mean operative time was 31.8$\pm$15.2 minutes. No significant postoperative respiratory com plication was encountered. Conclusion: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgerys can be per formed safely under epidural anesthesia for the treatment of empyema and diagnosis of pulmonary abnormalities in high-risk patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.64-68
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• 2011

Purpose: The normal values for lung resistance and lung capacity of children, as determined by impulse oscillometry (IOS), are different for children of different ethnicities. However, reference values there is no available reference value for Korean preschool children have yet to be determined. The aim of the present study was to determine the normal ranges of IOS parameters in Korean preschool children. Methods: A total of 133 healthy Korean preschool children were selected from 639 children (aged 3 to 6 years) who attended kindergarten in Seongnam, Gyeonggi province, Korea. Healthy children were defined according to the European Respiratory Society (ERS) criteria. All subjects underwent lung function tests using IOS. The relationships between IOS value (respiratory resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) at 5 and 10 Hz and resonance frequency (RF)) and age, height, and weight were analyzed by simple linear and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The IOS success rate was 89.5%, yielding data on 119 children. Linear regression identified height as the best predictor of Rrs and Xrs. Using stepwise multiple linear regressions based on age, height, and weight, we determined regression equations and coefficients of determination ($R^2$) for boys ($Rrs_5=1.934-0.009{\times}Height$, $R^2$=12.1%; $Xrs_5=0.774+0.006{\times}Height-0.002{\times}Age$, $R^2$=20.2% and for girls $(Rrs_5=2.201-0.012{\times}Height$, $R^2$=18.2%; $Xrs_5=-0.674+0.004{\times}Height$, $R^2$=10.5%). Conclusion: This study provides reference values for IOS measurements of normal Korean preschool children. These provide a basis for the diagnosis and monitoring of preschool children with a variety of respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.475-482
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• 1993

90 patients[75 men and 15 women] with the thoracic disease underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] during the period March 1992 to February 1993. The thoracic diseases were classified into two groups of spontaneous pneumothorax and general thoracic patients and they were 66 and 24, respectively.The mean size of the tumor resected was 4.3 $\pm$ 2.0 cm x 3.3 $\pm$ 1.1 cm x 2.7 $\pm$ 1.0 cm. The mean time of anesthesia and operation were 90.0 $\pm$ 19.9 min and 43.7 $\pm$ 13.1 min in spontaneous pneumothorax group and 123.3 $\pm$ 40.3 min and 62.8 $\pm$ 32.2 min in general thoracic group. The mean period of postoperative chest tube drainage and hospital stay were 5.0$\pm$ 5.5 days and 6.6 $\pm$ 7.4 days in spontaneous pneumothorax group and 3.5$\pm$ 1.6 days and 9.5 $\pm$ 6.1 days in general thoracic group. The indications of VATS were 71 pleural disease[78.9%: 66 spontaneous pneumothorax; 3 pleural effusions ; 1 pleural paragonimus westermanii cyst; 1 malignant pleural tumor with metastasis to the lung], 9 mediastinal disease[10.0%: 5 benign neurogenic tumor; 2 pericardial cyst; 1 benign cystic teratoma; 1 undifferentiated carcinoma], 8 pulmonary parenchymal disease[8.9%: 3 infectious disease ; 3 interstitial disease ; 2 malignant tumor ], and 2 traumatic cases of exploration and removal of hematoma[2.2%]. The applicated objectives of VATS were diagnostic[ 7 ], therapeutic[ 67 ] and both[ 16 ] and the performed procedures were pleurodesis[ 66 ], wedge resection of lung[ 59 ], parietal pleurectomy[ 11 ], removal of benign tumor[ 9 ], excision and/or biopsy of tumor[ 4 ], pleural biopsy and aspiration of pleural fluid[ 3 ] and exploration of hemothorax and removal of hematoma in traumatic 2 patients. The complication rate was 24.2%[ 16/66 ] in the spontaneous pneumothorax group and 8.3%[ 2/24 ] in the general thoracic group and so overally 20.0%[ 18/90 ]. The mortality within postoperative 30 days was 2.2%[ 2/90 ], including 1 acute renal failure and 1 respiratory failure due to rapid progression of pneumonia. The conversion rate to open thoracotomy during VATS was 5.6%[ 5/90 ], including 2 immediate postoperative massive air leakage, 1 giant bullae, 1 malignant pleural tumor with metastasis to lung and 1 pulmonary malignancy. The successful cure rate of VATS was 75.8%[ 50/66 ] in the spontaneous pneumothorax group and 76.5%[ 13/17 ] in the general thoracic group and the successful diagnostic rate was 100%[ 7/7 ]. In conclusion, although prospective trials should be progressed to define the precise role of VATS, the VATS carries a low morbidity and mortality and high diagnostic and therapeutic success rate and now can be effectively applicated to the surgical treatment of the extensive thoracic disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.232-240
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• 1997

Background : Postprimary pulmonary tuberculosis is located mainly in upper lobes. The tuberculous lesion involving the lower lobes usually arises from the upper lobe cavity through endobronchial spread. When tuberculosis is confined to the lower lung field, it often masquerades as pneumonia, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, or lung abscess. Thus the correct diagnosis may be sometimes delayed for a long time. Methods : We carried out, retrospectively, a clinical study on 50 patients confirmed with lower lung field tuberculosis who visited the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1992 to December 1994. The following results were obtained. Results : Lower lung field tuberculosis without concomitant upper lobe disease occurred in fifty patients representing 6.9% of the total admission with active pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of 3 years. It occurred most frequently in the third decade but age distribution was relatively even. The mean age was 43 years old. Female was more frequently affected than male (male to female ratio 1 : 1.9). The most common symptom was cough(68%), followed by sputum(52%), fever(38%), and chest discomfort(30%). On chest X-ray of the 50patients, consolidation was the most common finding in 52%, followed by solitary nodule(22%) collapse(16%), cavitary lesion(10%), in decreasing order. The disease confined to the right side in 25 cases, left side 20 cases, and both sides 5 cases. Endobronchial tuberculosis (1) Endobronchial involvement was proved by bronchoscopic examination in 20 of 50patients. (2) Mean age was 44years old and female was more affected than man (male to female ratio 1 : 3). Sputum AFB stain and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture were positive only in 50% of cases unlikely upper lobe tuberculosis, additional diagnostic methods were needed. In our study, bronchoscopic examination and percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy increased diagnostic yield by 18% and 32%, respectively. The most common associated condition was diabetes mellitus(18%) and others were anemia, anorexia nervosa, stomach cancer, and systemic steroid usage. Conclusion : When we find a lower lung field lesion, we should suspect tuberculosis if the patient has diabetes mellitus, anemia, systemic steroid usage, malignancy or other immune suppressed states. Because diagnostic yield of sputum AFB smear & Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture was low, additional diagnostic methods such as bronchoscopy and fine needle aspiration biopsy were needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2000

Background : Usually fever subsides within one week in over 90% of pulmonary tuberculosis (TBp) patients after the start of short-course anti-tuberculosis therapy, but occasionally it persists over two weeks after treatment. When the fever persists, drug resistance, combined infection, or drug fever, and so on, are considered as an etiology and, in some cases, drugs are changed. But inadvertent discontinuation of a short-course regimen inevitably will extend the duration of treatment, and the treatment completion may be delayed. This study was performed to investigate the causes of prolonged fever (PF) and to identify the predictors of PF in drug-susceptible TBp patients in Korea. Method : Five hundred-ninety-eight patients, who were admitted to Asan Medical Center from January 1996 to March 1999, diagnosed with TBp and prescribed short-course, anti-tuberculosis treatment, were reviewed. PF was defined as having fever over two weeks despite treatment. The causes of PF were analyzed. Drug-sus-ceptible TBp patients who presented no causes for PF, except turberculosis itself, were selected(n=22), and they were compared with those who had no fever at diagnosis (n=22) and those who had fever at diagnosis, which had subsided within two weeks after treatment (n=22). Clinical, laboratory, and radiological parameters were compared among the three groups. Results : Twenty-eight (4.8%) of 598 patients showed PF over two weeks despite short-course treatment. The causes of PF were drug fever (n=2), multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (n=3), disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii infection (n=1), and drug-susceptible tuberculosis itself (n=22). The patients with PF had more risk factors for tuberculosis, long duration of symptoms before treatment, night sweats, weight long, numerous acid fast bacilli on sputum smear, anemia, hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia, over three lung cavity numbers and extensive infiltration, indicating that they had prolonged and extensive lung diseases. Conclusion : The main cause of PF in TBp despite short-course regimen seems to be drug-susceptible but extensive disease in Korea. Any changes to the drug regiment provided for TBp patients with prolonged fever despite treatment should be carefully considered.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2004

Background : Many diseases like lung cancer and tuberculosis can involve cervical lymph node. Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) was known as a useful screening test for the evaluation of enlarged lymph node. But the usefulness and limitations of FNAC according to disease category or physical characteristics of lymph node were not yet fully established. Methods : Retrospective analysis of three hundred forty two adult patients who performed FNAC due to enlarged cervical lymph nodes at the Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital during the period from January 1999 to December 2002 and final diagnosis could be made by surgical biopsy, microbiology or clinical observation. Results : Among the 342 cases, 176(51.5 %) were finally diagnosed as benign nature ncluding reactive hyperplasia, Kikuchi's disease and acute suppuration. Eighty eight(25.7 %) were diagnosed as tuberculous lymphadenitis, 66(19.3 %) as metastasis, and 12(3.5 %) as lymphoma. Tuberculosis, metastasis, and lymphoma all showed significantly larger diameter, longer duration of lymph node enlargement. There were higher frequency of supraclavicular involvement in the cases of tuberculosis and metastasis. The overall diagnostic sensitivity of FNAC was 88.0 %, and 88.6 % in benign nature lesion, 77.3 % in tuberculosis, 90.1% in metastasis and 58.3 % in lymphoma. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was made by FNAC in 68 cases (77.3 %) among 88 cases. Lung cancer(43.9 percent) was most frequent cause of cervical lymph node metastasis. Diagnostic sensitivity of FNAC was significantly lower in the supraclavicular than other cervical lymph node(80 % vs. 91.3 %) and not correlated with disease nature, node size or number. Conclusion : Though FNAC was a reliable screening test for enlarged cervical lymph node enlargement, the diagnostic sensitivity was low in the case of lymphoma or when the enlarged lymph node was located at the supraclavicular area.