Proliferative Myositis on the Tongue / 대한피부과학회지

Proliferative myositis is a rare, benign, probably pseudosarcomatous fibroblastic proliferation that typically presents as a rapidly growing soft tissue mass. Its relative rarity, fast growth rate, and unique histopathologic findings may lead to misdiagnosis as a malignant lesion and unnecessary radical surgical excision. A 57-year-old female presented with a non-tender, well-defined, indurated, solitary, hard papule on the median sulcus of the tongue for 2 weeks. Histologic examination revealed numerous fibroblastic or myofibroblastic spindle cells and large ganglion-like cells infiltrating between and around the muscle fascicles. Immunohistochemical staining showed positivity for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and CD68 and negativity for S-100. Based on these characteristic clinical findings and histopathologic features, the patient was diagnosed with proliferative myositis. Here, we report a rare case of proliferative myositis on the tongue and recommend considering proliferative myositis in the differential diagnosis when a physician encounters a rapidly grown soft tissue mass.

Imbalance in Cardiovascular Surgery Medical Service Use Between Regions

BACKGROUND: This study uses the relevance index to understand the condition of regional medical service use for cardiovascular surgery and to identify the medical service use imbalance between regions. METHODS: This study calculated the relevance index of 16 metropolitan cities and provinces using resident registration address data from the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs and the 2010–2014 health insurance, medical care assistance, and medical benefits claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We identified developments over the 5-year time period and analyzed the level of regional imbalance regarding cardiovascular surgery through the relative comparison of relevance indexes between cardiovascular and other types of surgery. RESULTS: The relevance index was high in large cities such as Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju, but low in regions that were geographically far from the capital area, such as the Gangwon and Jeju areas. Relevance indexes also fell as the years passed. Cardiovascular surgery has a relatively low relevance index compared to key types of surgery of other fields, such as neurosurgery and colorectal surgery. CONCLUSION: This study identified medical service use imbalance between regions for cardiovascular surgery. Results of this study demonstrate the need for political intervention to enhance the accessibility of necessary special treatment, such as cardiovascular surgery.

The Association Between Treatment Frequency and Treatment Outcome for Cardiovascular Surgeries

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the association between the volume of heart surgeries and treatment outcomes for hospitals in the last five years. METHODS: Hospitals that perform heart surgeries were chosen throughout Korea as subjects using from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The treatment outcome of the heart surgeries was defined as the mortality within 30 postoperative days, while the annual volume of the surgeries was categorized. Logistic regression was used as the statistical analysis method, and the impacts of the variables on the heart surgery treatment outcomes were then analyzed. RESULTS: The chance of death of patients who received surgery in a hospital that performed 50 or more surgeries annually was noticeably lower than patients receiving operations from hospitals that performed fewer than 50 surgeries annually, indicating that the chance of death decreases as the annual volume of heart surgeries in the hospital increases. In particular, the mortality rate in hospitals that performed more than 200 surgeries annually was less than half of that in hospitals that performed 49 or fewer surgeries annually. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that accumulation of a certain level of heart surgery experience is critical in improving or maintaining the quality of heart surgeries. In order to improve the treatment outcomes of small hospitals, a support policy must be implemented that allows for cooperation with experienced professionals.

Development of Models for Regional Cardiac Surgery Centers

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop the models for regional cardiac surgery centers, which take regional characteristics into consideration, as a policy measure that could alleviate the concentration of cardiac surgery in the metropolitan area and enhance the accessibility for patients who reside in the regions. METHODS: To develop the models and set standards for the necessary personnel and facilities for the initial management plan, we held workshops, debates, and conference meetings with various experts. RESULTS: After partitioning the plan into two parts (the operational autonomy and the functional comprehensiveness), three models were developed: the ‘independent regional cardiac surgery center’ model, the ‘satellite cardiac surgery center within hospitals’ model, and the ‘extended cardiac surgery department within hospitals’ model. Proposals on personnel and facility management for each of the models were also presented. A regional cardiac surgery center model that could be applied to each treatment area was proposed, which was developed based on the anticipated demand for cardiac surgery. The independent model or the satellite model was proposed for Chungcheong, Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, and South Gyeongsang area, where more than 500 cardiac surgeries are performed annually. The extended model was proposed as most effective for the Gangwon and Jeju area, where more than 200 cardiac surgeries are performed annually. CONCLUSION: The operation of regional cardiac surgery centers with high caliber professionals and quality resources such as optimal equipment and facility size, should enhance regional healthcare accessibility and the quality of cardiac surgery in South Korea.

Projections of Demand for Cardiovascular Surgery and Supply of Surgeons

BACKGROUND: While demand for cardiovascular surgery is expected to increase gradually along with the rapid increase in cardiovascular diseases with respect to the aging population, the supply of thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons has been continuously decreasing over the past 10 years. Consequently, this study aims to achieve guidance in establishing health care policy by analyzing the supply and demand for cardiovascular surgeries in the medical service area of Korea. METHODS: After investigating the actual number of cardiovascular surgeries performed using the National Health Insurance claim data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, as well as drawing from national statistics concerning the elderly population aged 65 and over, this study estimated the number of future cardiovascular surgeries by using a cell-based model. To be able to analyze the supply and demand of surgeons, the recent status of new surgeons specializing in thoracic and cardiovascular surgeries and the ratio of their subspecialties in cardiovascular surgeries were investigated. Then, while taking three different scenarios into account, the number of cardiovascular surgeons expected be working in 5-year periods was projected. RESULTS: The number of cardiovascular surgeries, which was recorded at 10,581 cases in 2014, is predicted to increase consistently to reach a demand of 15,501 cases in 2040—an increase of 46.5%. There was a total of 245 cardiovascular surgeons at work in 2014. Looking at 5 year spans in the future, the number of surgeons expected to be supplied in 2040 is 184, to retire is 249, and expected to be working is 309—an increase of −24.9%, 1.6%, and 26.1%, respectively compared to those in 2014. This forecasts a demand-supply imbalance in every scenario. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular surgeons are the most central resource in the medical service of highly specialized cardiovascular surgeries, and fostering the surgeons requires much time, effort, and resources; therefore, by analyzing the various factors affecting the supply of cardiovascular surgeons, an active intervention of policies can be prescribed for the areas that have failed to meet the appropriate market distributions.

Developing a Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk-Standardized Readmission Measure Using Administrative Claims Data in Korea: Methodological Explorations and Implications / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to propose a method for developing a measure of hospital-wide all-cause risk-standardized readmissions using administrative claims data in Korea and to discuss further considerations in the refinement and implementation of the readmission measure. METHODS: By adapting the methodology of the United States Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services for creating a 30-day readmission measure, we developed a 6-step approach for generating a comparable measure using Korean datasets. Using the 2010 Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data as the development dataset, hierarchical regression models were fitted to calculate a hospital-wide all-cause risk-standardized readmission measure. Six regression models were fitted to calculate the readmission rates of six clinical condition groups, respectively and a single, weighted, overall readmission rate was calculated from the readmission rates of these subgroups. Lastly, the case mix differences among hospitals were risk-adjusted using patient-level comorbidity variables. The model was validated using the 2009 NHI claims data as the validation dataset. RESULTS: The unadjusted, hospital-wide all-cause readmission rate was 13.37%, and the adjusted risk-standardized rate was 10.90%, varying by hospital type. The highest risk-standardized readmission rate was in hospitals (11.43%), followed by general hospitals (9.40%) and tertiary hospitals (7.04%). CONCLUSION: The newly developed, hospital-wide all-cause readmission measure can be used in quality and performance evaluations of hospitals in Korea. Needed are further methodological refinements of the readmission measures and also strategies to implement the measure as a hospital performance indicator.

Cellular Plexiform Fibrohistiocytic Tumor / 대한피부과학회지

Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor (PFHT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm of intermediate malignancy and possibly of myofibroblast origin. It is morphologically divided into 3 groups: cellular, fibrous, and mixed. A 4-year-old girl presented with an irregular shaped subcutaneous mass on her left popliteal fossa for 6 months. The biopsy specimen showed multinodular tumor islands extending from dermis to subcutaneous layer, composed of histiocytes and osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells, and circumscribed by fibrous tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD68 in giant cells and histiocyte-like cells within tumor islands and faintly positive for smooth muscle actin around nodules. A cellular variant of PFHT was eventually diagnosed. Although PFHT comprises morphologically normal cells, it has the biological potential for malignant change and distal metastasis. Therefore, PFHT is categorized as a neoplasm of intermediate malignancy, and wide total excision with close follow-up is crucial.

The Significance of Home Care Wound Management after Dermatologic Surgery / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: As the number of dermatologic surgical procedures increases, home care wound management is growing in frequency. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and surgical site infection rate of home care wound management according to the use of oral antibiotics and the characteristics of the wound and of the patient. METHODS: Our study included 207 patients that had undergone a dermatologic surgical procedure and the subsequent management of their wounds in the home. We checked overall infection rate of home care wound management and compared the result according to the use of oral antibiotics. We evaluated surgical site infection rate after we classified each surgical wound based on age, sex, surgical method, site, size, and depth. In addition, we surveyed efficacy of home care wound management. RESULTS: Overall surgical site infection rate was 1.86%, and the infection rate was not significantly different between the group that utilized home care wound management without oral antibiotics and the group with oral antibiotics (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference of surgical site infection rate according to sex, age, wound's size and depth (p>0.05). However, patients with younger age, male sex, greater size, and depth of wounds showed a numerical increase in surgical site infection rate. Staged partial excision for nevus sebaceous in scalp showed significantly higher rate of surgical site infection (p<0.05). In our survey, most patients preferred home care wound management after dermatologic surgical procedures and patients were able to perform the wound care well. CONCLUSION: We expect to utilize home care wound management after dermatologic surgical procedures, provided that physicians appropriately educate patients and their caretakers on proper dressings.

Trichorhinophalangeal Syndrome with Rapidly Progressive Childhood Male Pattern Baldness / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum Accompanied with Vitamin K-dependent Coagulation Factor Deficiency / 대한피부과학회지

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a multiorgan disorder, characterized by ectopic mineralization of elastic fibers of skin, eyes, and cardiovascular system. The dermatologic manifestations include laxity of skin, as well as cutis laxa-like wrinkling especially on both axillae. The classic forms of pseudoxanthoma elasticum are due to mutations in the ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 6 (ABCC6) gene, a presumed transmembrane transporter expressed primarily in the liver and the kidneys. Recent case reports of mutations of gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) gene describe associations with vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency and pseudoxanthoma elasticum as well. A 23-year old woman presented with laxity on both axillae and trunk and a history of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency, diagnosed 2 years ago. Fragmented and markedly degenerated elastic fibers with calcium deposition were identified on biopsy specimens. Herein, we report a case of autosomal recessive pseudoxanthoma elasticum combined with vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency.

Systematized Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus / 대한피부과학회지

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevi (ILVEN) were first described in the literature, in 1971, by Altman and Mehregan. Most cases were reported as solitary lesions. In contrast, systematized ILVEN, involving wide areas of the integument, has only rarely been reported. A variety of treatment modalities has been reported, ranging from topical medications, such as potent corticosteroids or tretinoin 0.1% to variable procedures, including CO2 and pulsed dye laser, cryotherapy, and surgical excision. However, multifocal skin lesion is more difficult to treat. An 8-year old boy was presented with an extensive thick scaly plaques and patches, affecting the trunk and the four extremities sparing face. It developed when he was 3 years old, and he complained pruritus. On physical examination, linear, or whirl-like scaly plaques were seen, along with Blaschko lines. Pathologic finding was in accordance to ILVEN. We treated him with topical calcipotriol, tacrolimus and systemic acitretin. After 8 months, the lesion and symptoms improved.

The Effect of Outpatient Cost Sharing on Health Care Utilization of the Elderly / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of outpatient cost-sharing on health care utilization by the elderly. METHODS: The data in this analysis was the health insurance claims data between July 1999 and December 2008 (114 months). The study group was divided into two age groups, namely 60-64 years old and 65-69 years old. This study evaluated the impact of policy change on office visits, the office visits per person, and the percentage of the copayment-paid visits in total visits. Interrupted time series and segmented regression model were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that outpatient cost-sharing decreased office visits, but it also decreased the percentage of copayment-paid visits, implying that the intensity of care increased. There was little difference in the results between the two age groups. But after the introduction of the coinsurance system for those patients under age 65, office visits and the percentage of copayment-paid visits decreased, and the 60-64 years old group had a larger decrease than the 65-69 years old group. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the effects of outpatient cost-sharing on health care utilization by the aged. Cost sharing of the elderly had little effect on controlling health care utilization.