A Nomogram for Predicting Extraperigastric Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Early Gastric Cancer

Background@#There are no clear guidelines to determine whether to perform D1 or D1+ lymph node dissection in early gastric cancer (EGC). This study aimed to develop a nomogram for estimating the risk of extraperigastric lymph node metastasis (LNM). @*Materials and Methods@#Between 2009 and 2019, a total of 4,482 patients with pathologically confirmed T1 disease at 6 affiliated hospitals were included in this study. The basic clinicopathological characteristics of the positive and negative extraperigastric LNM groups were compared. The possible risk factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Based on these results, a risk prediction model was developed. A nomogram predicting extraperigastric LNM was used for internal validation. @*Results@#Multivariate analyses showed that tumor size (cut-off value 3.0 cm, odds ratio [OR]=1.886, P=0.030), tumor depth (OR=1.853 for tumors with sm2 and sm3 invasion, P=0.010), cross-sectional location (OR=0.490 for tumors located on the greater curvature, P=0.0303), differentiation (OR=0.584 for differentiated tumors, P=0.0070), and lymphovascular invasion (OR=11.125, P<0.001) are possible risk factors for extraperigastric LNM. An equation for estimating the risk of extraperigastric LNM was derived from these risk factors. The equation was internally validated by comparing the actual metastatic rate with the predicted rate, which showed good agreement. @*Conclusions@#A nomogram for estimating the risk of extraperigastric LNM in EGC was successfully developed. Although there are some limitations to applying this model because it was developed based on pathological data, it can be optimally adapted for patients who require curative gastrectomy after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Clinicopathological features and management strategy for superficial nonampullary duodenal tumors: a multi-center retrospective study

Purpose@#We investigated the clinicopathological features and management for superficial nonampullary duodenal tumors (SNADTs). The safety and feasibility of laparoscopic management, especially laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS), were evaluated. @*Methods@#A total of 59 patients with SNADTs who underwent operations from January 2009 to December 2018 at all 8 institutions of the Catholic Medical Center were identified in our comprehensive multi-institutional database. Clinicopathological and surgical data on the 4 anatomical regions of the duodenum were collected and compared.Characteristics of laparoscopic procedure (laparoscopy-only) and LECS procedures were also compared. @*Results@#There were significantly more asymptomatic patients with tumors in the first and second vs. third and fourth duodenal regions. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), carcinoids, and ectopic pancreatic tumors were identified in 32, 12, and 5 cases, respectively. Forty-two patients (71.2%) underwent laparoscopy. Of patients undergoing laparoscopy, the LECS group exhibited significantly more endophytic features and smaller tumor sizes (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Although no significant difference in the wedge resection or postoperative complication rate was seen between the 2 groups (P = 0.096 and P = 0.227, respectively), the wedge resection rate was higher, and the complication rate lower, in the LECS group than the conventional laparoscopic surgery group. @*Conclusion@#Most of the SNADTs located in proximal duodenum were detected incidentally. GISTs were the most common diagnoses of SNADTs in all locations. In treating these tumors, laparoscopic resection is safe and feasible. Especially, LECS may be ideal for treating small endophytic tumors, minimizing over-resection and postoperative complications.

Antireflux Surgery in Korea: A Nationwide Study from 2011 to 2014

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although laparoscopic fundoplication is a well-established therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Western countries, the mainstay of GERD treatment in Korea is long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate nationwide data regarding antireflux surgery in Korea. METHODS: Data from 2011 to 2014 were collected from the Korean Antireflux Surgery Study Group and then analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of GERD. Preoperatively, typical symptoms were present in 81 patients (93%) and atypical symptoms were present in 51 patients (59%). Twenty-seven patients (31%) had poor PPI responses. The average surgical time and postoperative hospital stay were 116.3±42.3 minutes and 4.3±3.1 days, respectively. At 3 months after surgery, typical symptoms were completely controlled in 86.3% of patients and partially controlled in 11.7%, whereas atypical symptoms were completely controlled in 63.3% of patients and partially controlled in 23.3%. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that although atypical symptoms and PPI nonresponders are common, the complete control rates of typical and atypical symptoms were 86.3% and 63.3%, respectively. Laparoscopic fundoplication is an efficacious method of controlling the symptoms of GERD and has an acceptable rate of postoperative morbidity and adverse symptoms.

Very early-onset peritoneal recurrence following curative total gastrectomy for Borrmann 4 gastric cancer

Peritoneal dissemination is one of the treatment failures following gastric cancer surgery. We present a case with very early peritoneal recurrence, detected 8 days following curative surgery. A 39-year-old man, with Borrmann-4 advanced gastric cancer with signet ring cell type, underwent curative open total gastrectomy. However, focal peritoneal nodules on the left side of the diaphragmatic surface, which did not exist at the initial operation, were incidentally found during the reoperation for a postoperative intestinal obstruction via a laparoscopic approach. The pathologic result of the biopsied nodule revealed signet ring cell carcinoma. The patient underwent combination chemotherapy for several months without tumor regression. He suffered from intestinal obstruction again due to carcinomatosis peritonei, and died 9 months following initial surgery. Through this case report, we can carefully suspect that very early progression of cancer cells to carcinomatosis can occur in just several days after an operation.

Laparoscopic resection for 125 gastroduodenal submucosal tumors

PURPOSE: The present study aims to elucidate the treatment strategies of laparoscopic resection for gastroduodenal submucosal tumors (SMTs). METHODS: Data of 125 gastroduodenal STMs were collected retrospectively resected from August, 2004 to February, 2013. Surgical outcomes according to tumor locations, pathologic results and survival data for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 55 male and 70 female patients with mean age 57.9 +/- 12.7 years old. Mean tumor size of gastric SMTs was 2.7 +/- 1.64 cm (range, 0.4-8.5 cm). GIST was the most common (n = 70, 56%). Regarding the tumor location, all the fundic lesions were GISTs and leiomyoma was occurred 58.8% of cardiac lesions. Ectopic pancreas and schwannomas were mostly located at body portion, 73% and 80%, respectively. SMTs located at duodenal bulb comprise 4 GISTs and 3 carcinoids. Surgical results comparing between lesions located at cardia, near-pylorus and else had no difference in operation time, hospital stay and complications. In terms of outcome of GIST, all patients underwent curative resection except one case of peritoneal sarcomatosis. There was one recurrence in a high risk group following resection. The cumulative 5-year disease free survival rate was 93.5% in all GISTs. There were two postoperative complications, one gastric outlet obstruction and one leakage following wedge resection. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic wedge resection is a safe and feasible procedure for the small to medium sized gastroduodenal SMTs even their locations are near cardia or pylorus.

Impact of Intraoperative Macroscopic Diagnosis of Serosal Invasion in Pathological Subserosal (pT3) Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The macroscopic diagnosis of tumor invasion through the serosa during surgery is not always distinct in patients with gastric cancer. The prognostic impact of the difference between macroscopic findings and pathological diagnosis of serosal invasion is not fully elucidated and needs to be re-evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 370 patients with locally advanced pT2 to pT4a gastric cancer who underwent curative surgery were enrolled in this study. Among them, 155 patients with pT3 were divided into three groups according to the intraoperative macroscopic diagnosis of serosal invasion, as follows: serosa exposure (SE)(-) (no invasion, 72 patients), SE(+/-) (ambiguous, 47 patients), and SE(+) (definite invasion, 36 patients), and the clinicopathological features, surgical outcomes, and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: A comparison of the 5-year DFS between pT3_SE(-) and pT2 groups and between pT3_SE(+) and pT4a groups revealed that the differences were not statistically significant. In addition, in a subgroup analysis of pT3 patients, the 5-year DFS was 75.1% in SE(-), 68.5% in SE(+/-), and 39.4% in SE(+) patients (P<0.05). In a multivariate analysis to evaluate risk factors for tumor recurrence, macroscopic diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], SE(-) : SE(+/-) : SE(+)=1 : 1.01 : 2.45, P=0.019) and lymph node metastasis (HR, N0 : N1 : N2 : N3=1 : 1.45 : 2.20 : 9.82, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Gross inspection of serosal invasion by the surgeon had a strong impact on tumor recurrence in gastric cancer patients. Consequently, the gross appearance of serosal invasion should be considered as a factor for predicting patients' prognosis.

Use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to retrieve a broken guidewire / 대한외과학회지

Subclavian venous catheterization was once widely used for volume resuscitation, emergency venous access, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, and hemodialysis. However, its use has drastically reduced recently because of life-threatening complications such as hemothorax, pneumothorax. In this case, a patient admitted for a scheduled operation underwent right subclavian venous catheterization for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative volume resuscitation and parenteral nutrition. The procedure was performed by an experienced senior resident. Despite detecting slight resistance during the guidewire insertion, the resident continued the procedure to the point of being unable to advance or remove it, then attempted to forcefully remove the guidewire, but it broke and became entrapped within the thorax. We tried to remove the guidewire through infraclavicular skin incision but failed. So video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was used to remove the broken guidewire. This incident demonstrates the risks of subclavian venous catheterization and the importance of using a proper and gentle technique.

Pinch-off syndrome / 대한외과학회지

Subclavian venous catheterization was previously frequently performed, but because of life-threatening complications such as hemothorax, pneumothorax, mediastinal hematoma, and myocardial injury, its use has become less common. However, this practice has some advantages in patient mobility, secured dressing, and rapidity and adequacy of vascular access. In some situations where patient comfort is an especially important consideration, such as with totally implantable venous port insertion for chemotherapy, the subclavian route can be a good choice if an experienced and well-trained faculty is available. The authors have had recent experience with pinch-off syndrome-in other words, spontaneous catheter fracture-in 3 patients who had undergone venous port implantation through the right subclavian route. Through these cases, we intend to review the dangers of subclavian venous catheterization, the causes of pinch-off syndrome, and its clinical presentation, progress, treatments, and prevention.

Afferent loop obstruction following laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Billroth-II gastrojejunostomy / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: Afferent loop (A-loop) obstruction is an uncommon postgastrectomy complication following Billroth-II (B-II) or Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Moreover, its development after laparoscopic gastrectomy has not been reported. Here we report 4 cases of A-loop obstructions after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) with B-II reconstruction. METHODS: Among the 396 patients who underwent LDG with a B-II anastomosis between April 2004 and December 2011, 4 patients had A-loop obstruction. Their data were obtained from a prospectively maintained institutional database and analyzed for outcomes. RESULTS: Four patients (1.01%) developed A-loop obstruction. All were male, and their median age was 52 years (range, 30 to 73 years). The interval between the initial gastrectomies and the operation for A-loop obstruction ranged from 4 to 540 days (median, 33 days). All 4 patients had symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain and were diagnosed by abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scan. The causes of the A-loop obstructions were adhesions (2 cases) and internal herniations (2 cases) that were treated with Braun anastomoses and reduction of the herniated small bowels, respectively. All patients recovered following the emergency operations. CONCLUSION: A-loop obstruction is a rare but serious complication following laparoscopic and open gastrectomy. It should be considered when a patient complains of continuous abdominal pain and/or vomiting after LDG with B-II reconstruction. Prompt CT scan may play an important role in diagnosis and treatment.

Late Onset Iatrogenic Diaphragmatic Hernia after Laparoscopy-Assisted Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Through the advent of surgical techniques and the improvement of laparoscopic tools including the ultrasonic activated scissor, laparoscopic gastrectomy has been increasingly used in far more cases of benign or malignant gastric lesions for the benefit of patients without compromising therapeutic outcomes. Even though possible complications provoked by the ultrasonic activated scissor can be prevented during the procedure with increasing advanced laparoscopic experience and supervision, unexpected late complications after the operations rarely occur. An extremely rare case of left incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia of the transverse colon developed in an 81-year-old female patient as a late complication, 8 months after laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, with laparoscopy successfully resumed and without the need to sacrifice any portion of the bowel.

Gastroduodenal Intussusception Resulting from Large Hyperplastic Polyp

Gastroduodenal intussusception is an infrequent cause of gastrointestinal obstructive disease. Benign neoplasms, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and pedunculated adenocarcinomas of less than 5 cm have been reported to cause gastroduodenal intussusception. We report a case of 76-year-old woman who was presented with a 3-day history of nausea and vomiting due to upper gastrointestinal obstruction. Computed tomography revealed gastroduodenal intussusception with the transpyloric herniation of alarge gastric hyperplastic polyp. The patient underwent laparoscopic wedge resection with the eversion method.

Free Floating Thrombus of the Aorta: An Unusual Cause of Peripheral Embolization

PURPOSE: Free-floating thrombus (FFT) of the aorta is very rare but has a high risk of distal embolization. While the necessity of treating such a condition is evident, the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities remain controversial. Thus, we reviewed seven cases of FFT of the aorta. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed usings even patients diagnosed with FFT of the aorta at the Catholic University of Korea between January 1999 and December 2008. We excluded those patients who had thrombi with concomitant atherosclerotic or aneurysmal aorta. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 59.6+/-13.6 years old. The male-to-female ratio was 3:4. Embolization to arteries of the extremities occurred in two patients and to visceral arteries in four patients. Of these seven patients, four were initially treated with anticoagulation, and two were initially treated with thrombectomy; one patient refused any kind of treatment. Of the four patients treated with anticoagulation, three experienced complete dissolution of the thrombi while anticoagulation proved ineffective in the remaining patient who subsequently underwent thrombectomy. In all of the three patients who had received thrombectomy, postoperative anticoagulation was employed. There was no recurrence of FFT of the aorta during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Were commend systemic anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as the first line of treatment for FFT of the aorta. If the thrombus persists or recurrent embolism occurs during anticoagulation therapy, surgery should be undertaken.

Acute Gastric Necrosis Due to Gastric Outlet Obstruction Accompanied with Gastric Cancer and Trichophytobezoar

Gastric necrosis due to gastric outlet obstruction is a very rare condition, but it might be fatal if missed or if diagnosis is delayed. Our patient was a 73-year-old male complaining of abdominal pain, distension and dyspnea for 1 day. In plain radiography and computed tomography, a markedly distended stomach and decreased enhancement at the gastric wall were noted. He underwent explo-laparotomy, and near-total gastric mucosal necrosis accompanied by sludge from the soaked laver was noted. A total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy was performed, and he recovered without sequelae. Final pathologic examination revealed advanced gastric cancer at the antrum with near-total gastric mucosal necrosis.

Clinical Analysis of Endoscopic Thyroidectomy by the Axillary Approach for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and surgical outcomes of endoscopic thyroidectomy by the axillary approach for treating papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS: We analyzed 56 patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy by the axillary approach for treating PTMC between May 2002 and October 2008 at Bucheon ST hospital. We evaluated the operation type, the tumor size, the operative time, the hospital days, the number of retrieved lymph nodes and the complications. RESULTS: All the patients except one were women. The mean age was 40.5+/-8.7 years. All the procedure was performed by one surgeon and endoscopic thyroidectomy was done by the axillary approach. There was no conversion to open surgery. The type of operation was classified according to the extent of the surgery. The mean operative time for lobectomy and isthmectomy with CLND (24 cases) and total thyroidectomy with CLND (5 cases) was 142.5+/-40 minutes and 270+/-84.3 minutes, respectively. The mean tumor size was 0.66+/-0.46 cm. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 3.7+/-2.4. The mean number of hospital days was 3.7+/-1.4 days. There were no serious complications. There were no tumor recurrence and the mean follow-up was 50.7 months. All the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroidectomy by the axillary approach for PTMC is feasible and safe. Although a larger series and longer follow up are necessary, endoscopic thyroidectomy can be a alternative treatment method for selected patients with PTMC.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy with a Single Incision in a Single Institute

PURPOSE: The laparoscopic appendectomy has become popular for the treatment of acute appendicitis. A single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy offers better cosmesis. We present the results of single-incision laparoscopic appendectomies in our hospital as initial experience. METHODS: A single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 75 patients at The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon St. Mary's hospital. The operating time, operation type, hospital stay, surgical morbidities, and body mass index were compared. RESULTS: This retrospective study revealed equal operation times in both the suppurative and the perforated appendicitis group. There was an increase in the hospital stay in the perforated appendicitis group. The postoperative complication rate was 4%, and the median operation time was 58.55 +/- 31.79 minutes. CONCLUSION: The single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy was easy and safe procedure for treating acute appendicitis. There were no differences in degree of inflammation and body mass index.

Synchronous Carcinoma Showing Thymus-like Elements (CASTLE) of the Thyroid Combined with Rectal Carcinoma: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature / 대한내분비외과학회지

Carcinoma showing thymus-like elements (CASTLE) is a rare neoplasm arising from the thyroid gland. This tumor is thought to originate from ectopic thymic tissue or remnants related to thymic development in or adjacent to the thyroid gland and usually located in the lower two-thirds of the thyroid gland. The patient was a 66-year-old man admitted to our hospital with rectal carcinoma for surgery. He had undergone a right upper lobectomy of the lung for the pulmonary tuberculosis 35 years previously. He underwent a chest computed tomography (CT) pre-operatively, and an incidental nodule of the thyroid gland was detected. Based on aspiration cytology of the nodule, the lesion was suspected to be an anaplastic carcinoma. He underwent a low anterior resection and thyroid lobectomy for a double primary neoplasm. On the final pathologic examination, the thyroid lesion was shown to be CASTLE. Therefore, completion thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection of the central compartment and radiotherapy were performed, and there was no evidence of recurrence 15 months postoperatively.

Colon Interposition as a Gastric Substitute after Performing Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: For most surgeons, colon interposition after gastrectomy remains an infrequently performed procedure because of its complexity. The aim of this study was to assess its technical feasibility and safety as a post-gastrectomy reconstruction method by reviewing our experience with colon interposition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2001 to February 2002, 30 colon interpositions after- gastrectomy were done with using the ileo-ascending or transverse colon. We analyzed the clinicopathologic features and the surgical outcomes. RESULTS: There were 16 males and 14 females in this study with a mean age of 67.5 years (range: 31 to 76 years). Twenty-five ascending colons and 5 transverse colons were used for the interposition, respectively. The mean operation time was 373 minutes (range: 204 to 600 minutes). There were 9 operative morbidities (30%) and 1 operative mortality. The restoration of bowel motility was noted at 3.8 postoperative days; a soft diet was started at 4.9 postoperative days and the duration of the hospital stay was 18.2 days. The percentage of weight loss in the patients with total, proximal and distal gastrectomy was 16.3%, 14.0% and 8.8%, respectively, at 6 months, and thereafter the weight loss gradually recovered as 8.1%, 7.5% and 5.6%, respectively, at 5 years postoperatively. Gastric stasis was the one of the most meaningful long-term complications, and especially in the patients who underwent distal gastrectomy with colon interposition. CONCLUSION: Colon interposition after gastrectomy was a very complex procedure with a long operating time and many anastomosis sites. The postoperative outcomes failed to achieve satisfactory weight gain and the patients displayed postprandial symptoms. This suggested that this procedure was not an appropriate procedure for conventional reconstruction after gastrectomy.

Laparoscopy-assisted Total Gastrectomy for Advanced Upper Gastric Cancer: Comparison with Open Total Gastrectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term operative outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) with those of open total gastrectomy (OTG) for patients suffering with advanced upper gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 47 patients who underwent LATG with D1+beta or D2 lymphadenectomy from July 2004 to March 2008, 29 patients with pathologically proven advanced gastric cancer were compared with 35 patients who underwent conventional OTG during the same time period. The comparison was based on the clinicopathological characteristics, the surgical outcome, the follow-up survival and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The patients' age, gender and body mass index were similar between the two groups. However, there were statistically differences in tumor size (9.2+/-3.9 vs 6.1+/-3.6 cm, P=0.002) and the proximal resected margin (2.1+/-2.0 vs 3.6+/-2.1 cm P=0.004). There was no significant difference in most of the peri- and post-operative courses such as the time to first flatus, the time to starting a solid diet and the length of the hospital stay, except for a longer operating time (289.0 vs. 361.3 minutes, P<0.001) in the LATG group. The complication rate was higher in the LATG group (13.8%) than that in the OTG group (5.7%). The mean overall survival and disease free survival times were 32 and 31 months, and 24 and 28 months, respectively, with an average 18.8 months follow-up duration. The main recurrent sites were peritoneum and lymph node in both groups. CONCLUSION: The early results of the current study suggest that LATG for AGC is technically feasible and it does not show any inferiorities of the postoperative outcomes as compared to those of conventional open total gastrectomy.

Total Gastrectomy with Distal Pancreatico-splenectomy for Treating Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Routine pancreatico-splenectomy with total gastrectomy should no longer be considered as the standard surgical procedure for gastric cancer because of the lack of proven surgical benefit for survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic factors and the survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer and they had undergone combined pancreatico-splenectomy with a curative intent. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 118 patients who had undergone total gastrectomy with distal pancreatico-splenectomy from 1990 to 2001. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 90 patients who were free from cancer invasion (group I), and 28 patients with histologically proven cancer invasion into the pancreas (group II). The various clinicopathologic factors that were presumed to influence survival and the survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of pathological pancreatic invasion was 23.7%. The tumor stage, depth of invasion, pancreas invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph node ratio, curability and the hepatic and peritoneal metastasis were statistically significance on univariate analysis. Among these factors, the tumor stage, lymph node ratio and curability were found to be independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. The 5-years survival rates were 36.2% for group I and 13.9% for group II. The morbidity rate was 22.1%, and this included pancreatic fistula (5.1%), intra-abdominal abscess (4.2%) and bleeding (4.2%). The overall mortality rate was 6.8%. CONCLUSION: Combined distal pancreatico-splenectomy with total gastrectomy with a curative intent was selectively indicated for those patients with visible tumor invasion to the pancreas, a difficult complete lymph node dissection around the distal pancreas and spleen, and no evidence of liver metastasis or peritoneal dissemination.

Clinical Significance of Epstein-Barr Virus Expression in Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is well understood as an oncogenic virus in human tumors. Its association with breast cancers has been reported but is still in controversy. So we have examined the expression of EBV in breast cancers and evaluated the relationship between the well-known prognositc factors of breast cancer and EBV expression. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with patients who had been re-evaluated to confirm the diagnosis based on immunohistochemical analysis with EBNA-2 expression, between January 1991 and December 2002. The cases were assigned to the positive lesion that displayed 10% or more of immunoreactive cells. RESULTS: The expressions of EBNA-2(Ebstein Barr virus nuclear antigen - 2) were noted in 26 (21.1%) out of 123 cases of breast cancer patients and 4 (20%) out of 20 cases in a control group of benign tumors. The expression of EBV in breast cancers and that of a control group were not different significantly. But, the correlation between the expression of EBNA-2 and ER status was noted statistically significant (P=0.040). CONCLUSION: Judging from the results of our study, EBV infection detected in breast cancer seems to be latent and the association of EBV to breast cancer is less likely related.