Multiple Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas Arising in Several Body Areas Except for the Face

No abstract available.

Prevalence of Osteoporosis and Effectiveness of Screening Test Using Ultrasound Bone Densitometry and Education in a Community-Dwelling Population

This prospective intervention study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and treatment rate of osteoporosis following osteoporosis screening tests in the same cohort. From November 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015, participants received screening tests for osteoporosis using ultrasound bone densitometry and education concerning osteoporosis and related conditions. The participants were interviewed using a questionnaire on the diagnosis and initiation of osteoporosis treatment during the follow-up period. Of 960 potential participants, 595 people (68.8%; 150 men and 445 women) were given bone densitometry measurements and completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 74.0 years. Of the 595 participants, 393 people (66.1%; 67 men and 326 woman) were diagnosed with osteoporosis (T score <−2.5). The prevalence of osteoporosis showed an increasing trend, from 48.1% in 2004 to 66.1% in 2015. Of the 393 participants diagnosed with osteoporosis, 65 participants received additional bone densitometry measurements while hospitalized and osteoporosis management was re-initiated in 44 patients. The osteoporosis management rate in the study cohort increased from 21.6% to 32.8%, with osteoporosis diagnosed in 66.2% of participants at the latest follow-up. This prospective intervention study demonstrated that a screening test and an educational brochure increased the treatment rate from 21.6% to 32.8%.

Delayed Surgery for Parathyroid Adenoma Misdiagnosed as a Thyroid Nodule and Treated with Radiofrequency Ablation

Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs as a result of isolated parathyroid adenoma in 80% to 85% of all cases. A 99mtechnetium (99mTc) sestamibi scan or neck ultrasonography is used to localize the neoplasm prior to surgical intervention. A 53-year-old female was referred for the exclusion of metabolic bone disease. She presented with low back pain that had persisted for the past 6 months and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (1,253 IU/L). Four years previously, she had been diagnosed at a local hospital with a 2.3-cm thyroid nodule, which was determined to be pathologically benign. Radiofrequency ablation was performed at the same hospital because the nodule was still growing during the follow-up period 2 years before the visit to our hospital, and the procedure was unsuccessful in reducing the size of the nodule. The results of the laboratory tests in our hospital were as follows: serum calcium, 14.6 mg/dL; phosphorus, 3.5 mg/dL; and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 1,911 pg/mL. Neck ultrasonography and 99mTc sestamibi scan detected a 5-cm parathyroid neoplasm in the left lower lobe of the patient's thyroid; left parathyroidectomy was performed. This case indicated that thyroid ultrasonographers and pathologists need to be experienced enough to differentiate a parathyroid neoplasm from a thyroid nodule; 99mTc sestamibi scan, serum calcium, and iPTH levels can help to establish the diagnosis of parathyroid neoplasm.

Pak1/LIMK1/Cofilin Pathway Contributes to Tumor Migration and Invasion in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas and Cell Lines

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) are the major histological types of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Although both SCCs and ACs have been characterized histologically and clinically, the precise mechanisms underlying their migration and invasion are not yet known. Here, we address the involvement in NSCLC of the p21-associated kinase1 (Pak1)/LIM kinase1 (LIMK1)/cofilin pathway, which recently has been reported to play a critical role in tumor migration and invasion. The Pak1/LIMK1/cofilin pathway was evaluated in tumors from SCC (n=35) and AC (n=35) patients and in SCC- and AC-type cell lines by western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro migration and invasion assays. The levels of phosphorylated Pak1, LIMK1, and cofilin in lung tumor tissues from SCC patients were increased as compared to normal tissues. In addition, immunohistochemistry showed greater expression of phosphorylated cofilin in SCC tissues. Expression of phosphorylated Pak1 and LIMK1 proteins was also significantly higher in SCC-type cells than in AC-type cells. Moreover, migration and invasion assays revealed that a higher percentage of SCC type cells exhibited migration and invasion compared to AC type cells. Migration was also decreased in LIMK1 knockdown SK-MES-1 cells. These findings suggest that the activation of the Pak1/LIMK1/cofilin pathway could preferentially contribute to greater tumor migration and invasion in SCC, relative to that in AC.

Differential Diagnostic Value of Total T3/Free T4 Ratio in Graves' Disease and Painless Thyroiditis Presenting Thyrotoxicosis

BACKGROUND: It is important to differentiate Graves' disease from that of painless thyroiditis in patients with thyrotoxicosis. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of total T3 to free T4 ratio in making a differential diagnosis between Graves' disease and painless thyroiditis. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of thyrotoxic patients, who had been diagnosed with Graves' disease or painless thyroiditis, from October 2009 to July 2011. We assessed clinical characteristics, serum levels of total T3, free T4, thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin, and findings of 99mTechnetium thyroid scan. We analyzed the total T3/free T4 ratios between Graves' disease and painless thyroiditis patients. RESULTS: A total of 76 untreated thyrotoxic patients "49 Graves' disease and 27 painless thyroiditis" were examined. The total T3, free T4 levels and the total T3/free T4 ratios were significantly higher in patients with Graves' disease than in those with painless thyroiditis (P 73, the possibility of Graves' disease was significantly higher than in painless thyroiditis (sensitivity, 75.5%; specificity, 70.3%). The sensitivity and specificity of the total T3/free T4 ratio in patients with free T4 < 3.6 ng/dL have been increased (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 71.4%). CONCLUSION: The total T3/free T4 ratios was useful for making a differential diagnosis between Graves' disease and painless thyroiditis.

18F-FDG PET/CT Finding in a Case of Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis / 핵의학분자영상

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is an uncommon chronic renal infection, which is usually found on middle-aged women and is rare in infant. Sometimes it forms focal mass like lesion of kidney with pathologically characteristic lipid-laden macrophage. A 1-month female infant was admitted for fever and moaning sound. On work-up of urinary tract infection, abdomen ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a large mass on the upper portion of right kidney and PET/CT showed homogeneously increased 18F-FDG uptake. The radical nephrectomy of right kidney was performed and histology revealed a focal xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. To our knowledge, this is the first report presenting the finding of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the childhood xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

Ipsilateral Cerebral and Contralateral Cerebellar Hyperperfusion in Patients with Unilateral Cerebral Infarction; SPM Analysis / 핵의학분자영상

PURPOSE: Cortical reorganization has an important role in the recovery of stroke. We analyzed the compensatory cerebral and cerebellar perfusion change in patients with unilateral cerebral infarction using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty seven (99m)Tc-Ethylene Cystein Diethylester (ECD) cerebral perfusion SPECT images of 57 patients (male/female=38/19, mean age=56+/-17 years) with unilateral cerebral infarction were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into subgroups according to the location (left, right) and the onset (acute, chronic) of infarction. Each subgroup was compared with normal controls (male/female=11/1, mean age=36+/-10 years) in a voxel-by-voxel manner (two sample t-test, p<0.001) using SPM. RESULTS: All 4 subgroups showed hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex, but not in the contralateral cerebral cortex. Chronic left and right infarction groups revealed hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex, meanwhile, acute subgroups did not. Contralateral cerebellar hyperperfusion was also demonstrated in the chronic left infarction group. CONCLUSION: Using (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT, we observed ipsilateral cerebral and contralateral cerebeller hyperperfusion in patients with cerebral infarction. However, whether these findings are related to the recovery of cerebral functions should be further evaluated.

Isolated Splenic Metastasis of Sigmoid Colon Cancer Detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT / 핵의학분자영상

Splenic metastasis from colon carcinoma are rare and usually occur in the presence of disseminated visceral metastasis. The liver is the most common site of metastatic spread from colon cancer. Several hypotheses have attempted to explain the low incidence of splenic metastasis. It should be difficult for colorectal cancer cells to reach the spleen through the portal venous system, in which the blood flow is usually from the spleen to the liver. Reticuloendothelial system or rhythmic contraction of the spleen may squeeze out the tumor in the spleen. The absence of afferent lymphatic to the spleen, phagocytic activity and humoral anticancer substances are considered to be other reason for low incidence of splenic metastasis. We report the case of 18F-FDG PET/CT finding in a 70-year-old woman who develop isolated splenic metastasis of sigmoid colon cancer.