• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rate of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were preoperatively diagnosed with a negative N2 lymph node, but postoperatively confirmed as a positive N2 node based on a pathological evaluation. Materials and Methods: The hospital records of 248 patients from 1994 to 2009 with resected primary NSCLC who were preoperatively diagnosed with negative N2 lymph node, were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, after surgery, there were 148 (59.7%) patients with pathological N0, 54 (21.8%) with pathological N1 and 46 (18.5%) with pathological N2. Results: The median follow-up period was 24 months (range, 1 to 132 months). The 5-year disease free survival rates were 60% in pN0, 44% in pN1, and 29% in pN2. The 5-year overall survival rates were 63.1% in pN0, 51.9% in pN1, and 33.5% in pN2. There were no statistically significant differences between pN1 and pN2 (p=0.326 and p=0.106, respectively). Thirty-three (71.7%) of the 46 pN2 patients had single-zone metastasis, and 13 patients (28.3%) had multiple-zone metastases over the two nodal zone metastasis. There were no statistical differences in the 5-year disease free survival rate and the 5-year overall survival rates between the two groups. Conclusion: The 5-year disease free survival and the overall survival rate of the patients with unsuspected N2 disease were statistically similar with that of the patients with pathological N1 disease. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients with a single-zone metastasis and a multiple zone metastasis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.423-427
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• 2011

Epithelioid sarcomas are rare soft tissue sarcomas with a high tumor grade and high local recurrence and metastasis rates. Although the lung is the most common site of metastasis, endobronchial metastasis hasn't been reported yet. We now report a case of epithelioid sarcoma with endobronchial metastasis. A 28-year-old man had recurrent pneumothorax and underwent wedge resection. He presented at our hospital with hemoptysis, dyspnea, and chest pain. Chest computed tomography revealed left pneumothorax, multiple lung nodules and endobronchial lesions at the right lower basal lobe. Bronchoscopy showed a hemorrhagic mass obstructing the bronchus of the right lower basal lobe. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple nodular lesions in the left thigh muscles. The bronchoscopic biopsy of the endobronchial lesion and the muscle biopsy of the thigh showed the same feature epithelioid sarcoma. This is the first case report of an epithelioid sarcoma with endobronchial metastasis that was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.192-196
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• 2013

Background: This study focused on the association between preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra 21-1) levels and pathologic parameters in patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: The records of 527 patients who underwent pulmonary resection of NSCLC were reviewed. The association between preoperative serum CEA and Cyfra 21-1 levels and variables that had p-values of less than 0.05 in a t-test or one-way analyses of variance was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The mean serum CEA and Cyfra 21-1 levels prior to surgery were $6.8{\pm}23.1$ mg/dL (range, 0.01 to 390.8 mg/dL) and $5.4{\pm}12.3$ mg/dL (range, 0.65 to 140.2 mg/dL). The serum CEA levels were associated with tumor (T) and lymph node (N) stage and histology. The serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were associated with T stage, tumor size, and histology. Multiple linear regression indicated that serum CEA levels were associated with T (T3/4 vs. T1: ${\beta}$=8.463, p=0.010) and N stage (N2/3 vs. N0: ${\beta}$=9.208, p<0.001) and histology (adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cell: ${\beta}$=6.838, p=0.001), and serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were associated with tumor size (${\beta}$=2.579, p<0.001) and histology (squamous cell vs. adenocarcinoma: ${\beta}$=4.420, p=0.020). Conclusion: Serum CEA level was correlated with T and N stage, and Cyfra 21-1 with tumor size. CEA and Cyfra 21-1 showed histologic correlation. CEA is mainly elevated in adenocarcinoma and Cyfra 21-1 in squamous cell carcinoma. These results might be helpful for predicting pathologic status in preoperative NSCLC.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 2010

Background: Laryngeal papillomatosis, which is cased by human papillomavirus, is the most common benign neoplasm of the larynx. However, the prognosis of this disease remains really unpredictable. The aim of this paper is to determine whether any clinical features at the time of diagnosis could predict its course. Material and Method: Eighty-six patients treated at our institution during the last 20 years were analyzed retrospectively. All patients had microsurgery under general anesthesia. All patients' follow-up period was more than 1 year. We divided the patients into 1) Juvenile versus adult group based on their age 20, 2) single surgical method with laser versus dual surgical method with laser and microdebrider group, and 3) single subsite versus multiple subsites group. And we compared the therapeutic outcome. Results: The recurrence rate was 100% (15 patients) in the JP group and 56% (40 patients) in the AP group. Juvenile versus adult group was the only independent prognostic factor by univariate, and multivariate analysis. Microdebrider resection technique and multiple subsites were not associated with treatment result. Time period from the first surgery to recurrence detection was different statistically only for the age group. The number of surgery in the JP group ranged from 1 to 31 (mean 8.8). In the AP group the number of surgery ranged from 1 to 25 (mean 3.7). It was statistically different. Conclusion: Prognosis for the laryngeal papillomatosis remains unpredictable. Only patients' age was the only independent prognostic factor.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.363-375
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• 2018

Intraoperative monitoring (IOM) utilizes electrophysiological techniques as a surrogate test and evaluation of nervous function while a patient is under general anesthesia. They are increasingly used for procedures, both surgical and endovascular, to avoid injury during an operation, examine neurological tissue to guide the surgery, or to test electrophysiological function to allow for more complete resection or corrections. The application of IOM during pediatric brain tumor resections encompasses a unique set of technical issues. First, obtaining stable and reliable responses in children of different ages requires detailed understanding of normal age-adjusted brain-spine development. Neurophysiology, anatomy, and anthropometry of children are different from those of adults. Second, monitoring of the brain may include risk to eloquent functions and cranial nerve functions that are difficult with the usual neurophysiological techniques. Third, interpretation of signal change requires unique sets of normative values specific for children of that age. Fourth, tumor resection involves multiple considerations including defining tumor type, size, location, pathophysiology that might require maximal removal of lesion or minimal intervention. IOM techniques can be divided into monitoring and mapping. Mapping involves identification of specific neural structures to avoid or minimize injury. Monitoring is continuous acquisition of neural signals to determine the integrity of the full longitudinal path of the neural system of interest. Motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials are representative methodologies for monitoring. Free-running electromyography is also used to monitor irritation or damage to the motor nerves in the lower motor neuron level : cranial nerves, roots, and peripheral nerves. For the surgery of infratentorial tumors, in addition to free-running electromyography of the bulbar muscles, brainstem auditory evoked potentials or corticobulbar motor evoked potentials could be combined to prevent injury of the cranial nerves or nucleus. IOM for cerebral tumors can adopt direct cortical stimulation or direct subcortical stimulation to map the corticospinal pathways in the vicinity of lesion. IOM is a diagnostic as well as interventional tool for neurosurgery. To prove clinical evidence of it is not simple. Randomized controlled prospective studies may not be possible due to ethical reasons. However, prospective longitudinal studies confirming prognostic value of IOM are available. Furthermore, oncological outcome has also been shown to be superior in some brain tumors, with IOM. New methodologies of IOM are being developed and clinically applied. This review establishes a composite view of techniques used today, noting differences between adult and pediatric monitoring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.750-754
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• 2002

Primary cardiac tumors are rare and about 20~25% of primary cardiac tumors are malignant. Moreover, primary malignant mesenchymoma of the heart is extremely rare. Recently, we have experienced two cases of cardiac malignant mesenchymoma. In the first case, malignant mesenchymoma which was originated from the posterior wall of the left atrium obstructing the mitral orifice was revealed pathologically in a 61-year-old woman with mitral regurgitation. The mass, which was 2.7$\times$3.7cm in size on the posterior wall of left atrium, was extended to the posteromedial commissure and annulus of the mitral valve. The mass was resected partially without excision of the left atrial free wall. She was discharged after 30 days without any problems and she received chemotherapy and followed up for 19months. The second case was a 4$\times$5cm in size, friable, yellow-whitish multilobulated mass in the left atrium which was originated from the left lower pulmonary vein. Multiple minor tumor nodules were found in the wall of the left atrium and the posterior leaflet of mitral valve. Partial mass excision and mitral valve replacement were performed.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2001

Objectives: Alcohol intake has been reported to be a risk factor of laryngeal cancer. Since the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotype is a major determinant of personal alcohol drinking habit, there is a possibility that ALDH2 genotype would be a risk factor for laryngeal cancer. N-Acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is a detoxifying enzyme and its polymorphism has been reported to be related to the risk of many environmental cancers. However, studies on the associations between these two genotypes and laryngeal cancer risk are scarce. We have assessed the effects of alcohol intake and the genotype of ALDH2 and NAT2 on the risk of laryngeal cancer in Koreans. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four pathologically proven laryngeal cancer patients and 168 age matched controls were included as the study subjects. Information about alcohol intake and smoking habit was collected using a self administered questionnaire. ALDH2 and NAT2 genotypes were analyzed using PCR-RFLP methods. Results: Alcohol intake was significant as a risk factor for laryngeal cancer (OR : 2.58, 95% CI : 1.24, 5.36), especially for supraglottic laryngeal cancer (OR : 3.24, 95% CI : 1.02, 10.31). Personal drinking habit was closely related with personal smoking habit, which was a potent risk factor of laryngeal cancer. In a stratified analysis according to the level of cumulative smoking amount, drinking was significant neither in light smokers (equal or less than 30 pack-years) nor in heavy smoker (over 30 pack-years). The ALDH2 genotype was significantly associated with the risk of laryngeal cancer in a univariate analysis. The statistical significance, however, disappeared after adjusting alcohol intake using a multiple conditional logistic model. The NAT2 genotype was not significant as a risk factor for laryngeal cancer. Conclusion: Alcohol drinking and ALDH2 genotype would have indirect effects on laryngeal cancer by their correlations with cigarette smoking or with alcohol drinking. It is less likely that the NAT2 genotype would be a potent risk factor of laryngeal cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2014

Purpose: Since most terminally ill cancer patients die of multiple organ failure, plasma endotoxin concentration levels may be used to predict the life expectancy. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of endotoxin level in plasma as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with terminal cancer. Methods: This study was conducted with 56 terminally ill cancer patients, above 20 years old, from April 2009 through October 2009. Demographic characteristics, Karnofsky performance status, and survival time were evaluated. We analyzed blood levels of white blood cell hemoglobin, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, c-reactive protein, total bilirubin and endotoxin in each patient. Results: We considered following variable for univariate analysis: plasma endotoxin level, sex, age, WBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, CRP and severity of pain. Univariate analysis did not show a significant association between plasma endotoxin level and survival time. However, in a multivariate analysis with factors that were found to be significantly associated with survival sex, WBC count and total bilirubin level in univariate analysis, high levels of plasma endotoxin and short survival time were significantly related. Conclusion: Plasma endotoxin level could be used as a prognostic factor to predict the life expectancy of terminally ill cancer patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.198-206
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to calculate and analyze the effective radiation doses from computed tomography (CT) and radiologic intervention in patients in the emergency department (ED) with trauma critical pathway (CP) activation and further to estimate the lifetime attributable risks (LARs) for the incidence of and mortality from cancers induced by the radiation dose. Methods: Through a retrospective electrical chart review of 104 injured patients who trauma critical pathway were activated from November 2012 to March 2013, we calculated effective radiologic doses by taking the product of the dose-linear product of the scan and the conversion coefficient. After a determination of the image results, we divided the patients into two groups, negative or positive, and calculated the effective dose for each group. With these results, we estimated the LARs for the incidence of and the mortality from cancers by using the table in the Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR)-VII report. Results: A total of 76 patients were enrolled. The mean age was $49.0{\pm}8.5$ years. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was $12.7{\pm}8.4$. The cumulative effective dose (CED) for individual patients varied from 2.8 mSv to 238.8 mSv, and the mean was $47.6{\pm}39.9$ mSv. The CED in patients with an $ISS{\geq}16$($63.2{\pm}26.6$ mSv) was higher than that of patients whose ISS<16($33.5{\pm}23.1$ mSv) (p<0.001). The CED in patients who were treated with surgery or intervention($69.0{\pm}45.2$ mSv) was higher than that of patients who were treated conservatively($33.6{\pm}22.4$ mSv) (p<0.001). The LARs for cancer incidence and mortality were $328.5{\pm}308.6$ and $189.0{\pm}159.3$ per 100,000 people, respectively. Conclusion: The CED and the LAR for trauma CP-activated patients in the ED were significant, so efforts should be made to decrease the effective dose received by severely injured patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.805-811
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• 1996

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the Lung(CCAM) is characterized by anomalous fetal development of terminal respiratory structures, resulting in an adenomatoid proliferation of bronchiolar elements and cystic formation. CCAM was first described and differentiated from other cystic lung disease in the English literature by Ch'in and Tang in 1949. CCAN is a rare, potentially lethal form of congenital pulmonary cystic disease and the salient features of lesion are an irregular network of terminal respiratory bronchiole-like structures and macrocysts variably lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium and simple cuboidal epithelium. Adult presentation of CCAM of the lung is so rare that only 9 cases have been reported in the literature of date. The pathogenesis of CCAM remains disputed and reseachers have variously proposed that the lesion represents a developmental anomaly, hamartoma, or a fonn of pulmonary dysplasia. Van Dijk and Wagenvoort divided CCAM into three subtypes : cystic, intermediated, and solid. These correspond to types I, II, and III of Stocker. In adults, the evaluation of cystic or multi cystic lung disease requires consideration of a differential diagnosis including the acquired lesions of lung abscess, cavitary neoplasm or inflammatory mass, bullous disease, bronchiectasis, and postionflammatory pneumatocele. Congenital lesions such as sequestration, bronchopulmonary-foregut anomalies, and bronchogenic cyst are also encounted. The definitive treatment for CCAM is complele removal of the involved lobe. Panial lobectomy leads to multiple complications, including severe post-operative infection. We report a case of CCAM in a 14-year-old female presentated with a pneumothorax and large bullae, who was treated by surgical remove of the involved lobe.