• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1072-1078
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• 2001

Objectives : There is continuing controversy about the benefits of decompressive craniectomy in massive cerebral edema following space occupying hemispheric cerebral infarction. The aims of this study are to determine the effectiveness and to confirm the life-saving nature of decompressive craniectomy with dural augmentation for massive cerebral infarction. Patients and Methods : We present twelve patients with medically uncontrollable hemispheric cerebral infarction. All were treated with extensive craniectomy and duroplasty without resection of necrotic tissue. We evaluated various characteristics(size of hemispheric infarction, Glasgow Coma Scale, volume of low density and midline shift in CT) at three different periods(preoperative, immediate postoperative and 3-4weeks after operation) and evaluated effectiveness of hemicraniectomy for massive cerebral edema after large hemispheric infarction. Results : All patients have survived from surgery. Nine patients with nondominant hemispheric infarction showed significant functional recovery with minimal assistance, and remaining two patients with dominant hemispheric infarction and one patient with nondominant hemispheric infarction have functionally dependent. The volume of low density and midline shift in CT were significantly reduced after decompressive craniectomy. Conclusions : Our results indicate that decompressive craniectomy with dural augmentation without resection of necrotic tissue for massive cerebral hemispheric infarction not only reduce the mortality and infarction size but also significantly improve the outcome, especially for nondominant hemispheric infarction.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 2018

Objective : The beneficial effect of hypothermia after hemicraniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction has been controversial. We aim to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of hypothermia after hemicraniectomy in malignant MCA infarction. Methods : From October 2012 to February 2016, 20 patients underwent hypothermia (Blanketrol III, Cincinnati Sub-Zero, Cincinnati, OH, USA) at $34^{\circ}C$ after hemicraniectomy in malignant MCA infarction (hypothermia group). The indication of hypothermia included acute cerebral infarction >2/3 of MCA territory and a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score <11 with a midline shift >10 mm or transtentorial herniation sign (a fixed and dilated pupil). We retrospectively collected 27 patients, as the control group, who had undergone hemicraniectomy alone and simultaneously met the inclusion criteria of hypothermia between January 2010 and September 2012, before hypothermia was implemented as a treatment strategy in Dong-A University Hospital. We compared the mortality rate between the two groups and investigated hypothermia-related complications, such as postoperative bleeding, pneumonia, sepsis and arrhythmia. Results : The age, preoperative infarct volume, GCS score, National institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and degree of midline shift were not significantly different between the two groups. Of the 20 patients in the hypothermia group, 11 patients were induced with hypothermia immediately after hemicraniectomy and hypothermia was initiated in 9 patients after the decision of hypothermia during postoperative care. The duration of hypothermia was $4{\pm}2days$ (range, 1 to 7 days). The side effects of hypothermia included two patients with arrhythmia, one with sepsis, one with pneumonia, and one with hypotension. Three cases of hypothermia were discontinued due to these side effects (one sepsis, one hypotension, and one bradycardia). The mortality rate of the hypothermia group was 15.0% and that of the control group was 40.7% (p=0.056). On the basis of the logistic regression analysis, hypothermia was considered to contribute to the decrease in mortality rate (odds ratio, 6.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 37.05; p=0.045). Conclusion : This study suggests that hypothermia after hemicraniectomy is a viable option when the progression of patients with malignant MCA infarction indicate poor prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.370-376
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• 2011

Objective : Posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI), an infarction in well-defined arterial distributions after head trauma, is a known complication in patients with severe head trauma. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of PTCI, and to assess the effect on outcome of decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) in patients with PTCI. Methods : We present a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with PTCI who were treated between January 2003 and August 2005. Twelve patients among them showed malignant PTCI, which is defined as PTCI including the territory of Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA). Medical records and radiologic imaging studies of patients were reviewed. Results : Infarction of posterior cerebral artery distribution was the most common site of PTCI. Fourteen patients underwent DHC an average of 16 hours after trauma. The overall mortality rate was 75%. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) of survivors showed that one patient was remained in a persistent vegetative state, two patients were severely disabled and only two patients were moderately disabled at the time of discharge. Despite aggressive treatments, all patients with malignant PTCI had died. Malignant PTCI was the indicator of poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at the admission was the most valuable prognostic factor. Significant correlation was observed between a GCS less than 5 on admission and high mortality (p<0.05). Conclusion : In patients who developed non-malignant PTCI and GCS higher than 5 after head injury, early DHC and duroplasty should be considered, before occurrence of irreversible ischemic brain damage. High mortality rate was observed in patients with malignant PTCI or PTCI with a GCS of 3-5 at the admission. A large prospective randomized controlled study will be required to justify for aggressive treatments including DHC and medical treatment in these patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.337-340
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• 1999

Thallium-201 brain SPECT is utilized in the diagnosis of brain tumor especially in cases where CT or MRI findings alone cannot differentiate malignant lesion from benign. Recently we came across two cases of positive T1-201 brain SPECT in clinically suspected brain tumor patients that turned out to be hemorrhagic cerebral infarction instead on biopsy. The findings in these cases demonstrate that thallium-201 accumulation may occur by the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and phagocytic cell infiltration in the liquefaction stage of infarction.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2015

Objective : To determine whether the use of contrast enhancement (especially its extent) predicts malignant brain edema after intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods : We reviewed the records of patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent IAT for occlusion of the internal carotid artery or the middle cerebral artery between January 2012 and March 2015. To estimate the extent of contrast enhancement (CE), we used the contrast enhancement area ratio (CEAR)-i.e., the ratio of the CE to the area of the hemisphere, as noted on immediate non-enhanced brain computed tomography (NECT) post-IAT. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the CEAR values being either greater than or less than 0.2. Results : A total of 39 patients were included. Contrast enhancement was found in 26 patients (66.7%). In this subgroup, the CEAR was greater than 0.2 in 7 patients (18%) and less than 0.2 in the other 19 patients (48.7%). On univariate analysis, both CEAR ${\geq}0.2$ and the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage were significantly associated with progression to malignant brain edema (p<0.001 and p=0.004), but on multivariate analysis, only CEAR ${\geq}0.2$ showed a statistically significant association (p=0.019). In the group with CEAR ${\geq}0.2$, the time to malignant brain edema was shorter (p=0.039) than in the group with CEAR <0.2. Clinical functional outcomes, based on the modified Rankin scale, were also significantly worse in patients with CEAR ${\geq}0.2$ (p=0.003) Conclusion : The extent of contrast enhancement as noted on NECT scans obtained immediately after IAT could be predictive of malignant brain edema and a poor clinical outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.470-476
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• 2020

Objective : The objective of this study was to develop a score to predict patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who will not benefit from endovascular treatment (EVT) using computed tomographic angiography (CTA) parameters. Methods : The CTA-ABC score was developed from 3 scales previously described in the literature: the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (0-5 points, 3; 6-10 points, 0), the clot burden score (0-3 points, 1; 4-10 points, 0), and the leptomeningeal Collateral score (0-1 points, 2; 2-3 points, 0). We evaluated the predictive value of CTA parameters associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) or malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMCAI) after EVT and developed the score using logistic regression coefficients. The score was then validated. Performance of the score was tested with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). Results : The derivation cohort consisted of 115 and the validation cohort consisted of 40 AIS patients. The AUC-ROC was 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99; p<0.001) in the derivation cohort. The proportions of patients with sICH and/or MMCAI in the derivation cohort were 96%, 73%, 6%, and 0% for scores of 6, 5, 1, and 0 points, respectively. In the validation group, the proportions were similar (90%, 100%, 0%, and 0%, respectively) with an AUC-ROC of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.90-1.00; p<0.001). Conclusion : Our CTA-ABC score reliably assessed risk for sICH and/or MMCAI in patients with AIS who underwent EVT. It can support clinical decision-making, especially when the need for EVT is uncertain.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2008

Purpose : To investigate the actual conditions of diagnosis and treatment of oral disease of inpatient with systemic disease. Methods : A total of 110 subjects, inpatient due to systemic disease for diagnosis and treatment of oral disease was requested to answer the medical history and dental treatment record. Results : In the main systemic disease, Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases is composed of Gingivitis and periodontal diseases 44.9%, Diseases of salivary glands 22.4%, Within Normal Limit, Dental caries 12.2%, Diseases of pulp and periapical tissues 4.1%, Embedded and impacted teeth, Other diseases of hard tissues of teeth 2%. In the main oral disease, Gingivitis and periodontal diseases is composed of Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus 39.2%, Cerebral infarction 29.4%, Nerve root and plexus disorders 5.6%, Intracerebral hemorrhage 3.9%, Malignant neoplasm of stomach, Thyrotoxicosis, Schizophrenia, Alcoholic liver disease, Nephrotic syndrome 2%. Conclusion : These findings indicate that inpatient due to the systemic disease is significantly correlated to the oral disease. The patients of oral disease interrelationship between inpatient and outpatient of systemic disease should be validated by future research.