• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2947-2951
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• 2015

Background: The phenomenon of occult carcinoma maybe observed in patients with clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Although many studies have reported that the $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation is associated with aggressive PTMC, the relationship between $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation and occult carcinoma is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors, including $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation, for occult contralateral carcinoma in clinically unilateral PTMC accompanied by benign nodules in the contralateral lobe. Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to December 2013, we prospectively enrolled 89 consecutive PTMC patients with clinically unilateral carcinoma accompanied by benign nodules in the contralateral lobe who received a total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection. $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation was tested by pyrosequencing on postoperative paraffin specimens. The frequency and predictive factors for occult contralateral carcinoma were analyzed with respect to the following variables: age, gender, family history, tumor size, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, extrathyroidal extension, central lymph node metastasis, multifocality of primary tumor, or $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation. Results: A total of 36 patients (40.4%) had occult PTMC in the contralateral lobe. The median diameter of the occult tumors was $0.33{\pm}0.21cm$. The $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation was found in 38 cases (42.7%). According to the univariate analysis, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinoma and age, gender, family history, tumor size, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, extrathyroidal extension, central lymph node metastasis, multifocality of primary tumor, or $BRAF^{T1799A}$ mutation. Conclusions: Using current methods, it is difficult to preoperatively identify patients with PTMC, and further research is needed to determine predictive factors for the presence of occult contralateral carcinoma in patients with unilateral PTMC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2012

Melanoma can occur as a metastasis within subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, or viscera without a detectable primary tumor. Among patients with metastatic melanoma of unknown primary lesion, those with endobronchial metastasis are exceedingly rare. Herein we report a case of an endobronchial and pulmonary metastasis in a patient with melanoma originating from an unknown primary site. The patient without a previous history of melanoma presented with blood-tinged sputum. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed a black polypoid tumor obstructing the posterior basal segmental bronchus of the right lower lobe. A final diagnosis of the malignant melanoma was made based on an immunohistochemical study of the bronchoscopic biopsy specimen. Skin, ophthalmic, oral, and nasal examinations failed to identify occult primary lesions. Subsequent evaluation including positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans did not uncover any abnormalities other than the metastatic pulmonary melanoma. We also describe the characteristic bronchoscopic features of melanoma.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2007

Background and Objectives：Supraglottic partial laryngectomy is oncologically sound surgical procedure for selected cases of laryngeal cancer which maintains physiologic speech and swallowing without permanent tracheostoma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the oncologic and functional results of supraglottic partial laryngectomy and neck dissection for supraglottic cancer. Materials and Methods：Between 1991-2005, Twenty-three supraglottic cancer patients, underwent supraglottic partial laryngectomy, were studied retrospectively. There were 5 patients with cT1, 14 with cT2, 4 with cT3 and 11 patients with cN0, 1 with cN1, 10 with cN2, 1 with cN3. All patients underwent neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy was added to twenty patients. They were reviewed with respect to primary subsites, extended subsites, treatment result, survival rate, factors affecting the prognosis, postoperative complication, time of decannulation and oral diet, and postoperative voice. Results：Among eleven patients with clinically negative node, six patients had pathologically positive nodes. So occult metastasis was 54.5%. Two patients recurred at cervical lymph node and one had distant metastasis to lung. Local and regional control were 100% and 91.3%. The overall 3-year and 5-year survival rate were 84%, 78%, respectively. Nineteen cases were squamous cell carcinomas and four were basaloid squamous cell carcinomas. Basaloid subtype was significantly affected to survival. Decannulation and oral feeding were possible in 100%. Conclusions：Supraglottic partial laryngectomy is oncologically safe and functionally good procedure in supraglottic cancers. Elective neck dissection is beneficial in management of occult cervical metastasis.