The Level of Serum CEA Associated with Recurrence after Potentially Curative Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the most widely used tumor marker for detecting colorectal cancer. This study was designed to evaluate the level of serum CEA that is associated with recurrence after potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the pre- and post-operative levels of serum CEA in 246 patients with colorectal cancer and they had undergone potentially curative surgery from 1996 through 2005. RESULTS: The pre-operative CEA level was significantly associated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes, the tumor size and the recurrence rate. The feature that was associated with recurrent disease on multivariate analysis was the pre-operative level of serum CEA. CONCLUSION: In order to detect the recurrence of colorectal cancer, we should closely follow up with frequent checks of the CEA level after surgery for those patients who had a high preoperative CEA level.

Bacteriologic Evaluation of Peritonsillar Abscess / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a collection of pus lateral to tonsil and is located between the fibrous capsule of the palatine tonsil, usually at its upper pole, and the superior to the pharyngeal constrictor muscle. It frequently occurs as a complication of acute tonsillitis. Bacteriology including clinical characteristics in PTA were evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Sixty-one patients with peritonsillar abscess, who visited National Medical Center from January 1997 through August 2001 were entered into the study. Each patient was asked to answer a questionnaire for clinical aspects of PTA. Needle aspirations were performed and pus was drained in all cases. Bacterial susceptibility to ampicillin, cephazoline, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracyclin, and vancomycin was tested on the ioslated bacteria. RESULTS: Among 61 cases, aerobes were isolated in 15 cases (24.6%) and anaerobes in 16 cases (26.2%). There was no significant difference in the culture positive rate of aerobes (p=0.767) and anaerobes (p=1.0) between antibiotics-medicated patients and nonmedicated patients. Among the cultured organisms, peptostreptococcus was the most common and the second most common was beta-hemolytic streptococcus. However, alpha-hemolytic streptococcus, an important pathogen considered in the previous study, was detected at 1.6%. CONCLUSION: Antibiotics medication was not a significant factor in culture positive rate in our study. Peptostreptococcus as an anaerobe and beta-hemolytic streptococcus as an aerobe were the major causes that contributed to the decreased state of peritonsillar abscess and culture positive rate of alpha-hemolytic streptococcus.

Radiographic Manifestations of Reperfusion Edema after Transplantation

PURPOSE: To elucidate the sequential radiologic manifestations of reperfusion edema after lung transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised five consecutive lung transplant recipients (M:F=3:2; mean age; 47.5 years) who between July 1996 and April 2002 underwent lung transplantation procedures (four, unilateral; one, bilateral) at our institution. We retrospectively reviewed the serial postoperative radiographs obtained and characterized the lung infiltrates. RESULTS: Lung infiltrates compatible with reperfusion edema were present in all patients (5/5). Reperfusion edema appeared on day 1 in four, and by day 2 in the other. In all transplanted lungs, infiltrates were found in the perihilar and basilar regions, and were scored as maximal on day 1 in one, day 3 in two, day 4 in one and day 5 in the other. CONCLUSION: The recognition of sequential radiological manifestations helps identify recognition of reperfusion edema after lung transplantation.

Thallium-201 SPECT in the Evaluation of Postoperative Tumor Recurrence on the Chest Wall in Lung Cancer / 결핵

No abstract availalbe.

MRI Findings of Malignat Lymphoma Presenting in Bones

PURPOSE: To analyze the MR finding of skeletal malignant lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the MR imaging findings(location, signal intensity and contrast enhancement of lesions, and patterns of bone marrow involvement) of 12 patients with malignant lymphoma presenting in bones and confirmed by incisional biopsy, blind bone marrow biopsy or fol-low-up MR imaging. RESULTS: Among the 15 lesions in 12 patients, the spine was the most commonly involved site(n=5), followed by the ilium(n=4), femur(n=3), sternum(n=2), and tibia(n=1). On T1-weighted images, lesions showed signal intensity close to muscle, while on T2-weighted images, involved bones showed variable signal intensity from muscle to water signal intensity. Patterns of bone marrow involvement were nodular(n=2), diffuse(n=5), or segmental(n=8). All cases of segmental bone marrow involvement also produced soft tissue mass. In two cases in which this occurred, cortical breakdown was not noted. CONCLUSION: On T1- and T2-weighted MR images, particularly the latter, bone marrow involvement of malignant lymphoma was observed, with variable signal intensity. Contrast enhanced images revealed distinct lesion. Patterns of bone marrow involvement varied.

The Study of Voice in Postmenopausal Syndrome / 대한이비인후과학회지

OBJECTIVES: We intended to evaluate the relationship between voice and the menopause, so we observed vocal symptoms and voice parameters in patients of postmenopausal syndrome compared with those in premenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty postmenopausal and twenty premenopausal women were included in this study. Each woman was asked to describe their subjective vocal symptoms and phonate a vowel /a/ sound for 3 seconds. The voices were recorded and analyzed by the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program and a Laryngograph. A statistical analysis of voice parameters was done by a paired-t-test. RESULTS: Vocal symptoms detected in the menopausal women were lowered pitch, voice fatigue, recurrent hoarseness, and loss of high tone. Jitter in postmenopausal group was significantly increased compared with the premenopausal group, but the fundamental frequency, shimmer, the Harmonics-to-noise ratio and the closing quotient showed no significant differences. There were no significant changes of voice parameters between menopausal patients with and without vocal symptoms. CONCLUSION: The change of voice may be objectively identified in postmenopausal women. In treating the postmenopausal symptoms, it may be required to take voice changes into consideration.

Perirolandic Hypoperfusion on Tc-99m ECD Brain SPECT in Term Infants with Perinatal Asphyxia: Comparison with MRI and Clinical Findings / 대한핵의학회잡지

No abstract available.