Diagnostic Role of Parotid Computed Tomography for Identifying Sjögren’s Syndrome / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of exocrine glands characterized by dry mouth and eye. Recently, ultrasonography has become a valuable tool for the assessment of salivary gland involvement in SS although studies on the usefulness of salivary gland CT is rare. In this regard, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of parotid gland CT for SS.Subjects and Method A total of 91 patients with sicca symptoms took a parotid CT, a serology test, an ophthalmologic examination and a minor salivary gland biopsy. At the end, as a standard, we diagnosed the primary SS according to the new 2016 American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria. The diagnostic value of parotid CT was compared by the McNemar test. @*Results@#Of the total of 91 patients with parotid CT, 37 (40.7%) patients met the SS classification criteria. On the parotid CT, heterogeneity of the parotid gland has the sensitivity of 74.1%, specificity of 70.3%, and accuracy of 71.4%. The abnormal fat tissue deposition showed the sensitivity of 74.1%, specificity of 81.3%, and accuracy of 79.1%. Diffuse calcification was seen in 1/91 SS patients (sensitivity 3.7%, specificity 100%, accuracy 71.4%). @*Conclusion@#Parotid CT is helpful for the diagnosis of SS. The presence of heterogeneity and fat tissue deposition are highly sensitive for the accuracy of SS. Diffuse calcification in bilateral parotid glands is highly specific for SS.

Multiple Metachronous Malignancies: One Patient with Five Primary Malignancies / 대한내과학회지

We report a case of a 73-year-old male with multiple, metachronous primary malignancies. He presented with adenocarcinoma of the stomach with transverse colon invasion followed by bladder cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, urothelial cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, in that order, over 10 years. While these multiples malignancies were separate entities, they shared several etiologic factors, including smoking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of five metachronous malignancies in a Korean patient.

Multiple Metachronous Malignancies: One Patient with Five Primary Malignancies / 대한내과학회지

We report a case of a 73-year-old male with multiple, metachronous primary malignancies. He presented with adenocarcinoma of the stomach with transverse colon invasion followed by bladder cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, urothelial cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, in that order, over 10 years. While these multiples malignancies were separate entities, they shared several etiologic factors, including smoking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of five metachronous malignancies in a Korean patient.

Clinical Usefulness of Video Head Impulse Test-Comparison of Bithermal Caloric Test and Bedside Head Impulse Test / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Video head impulse test system (vHIT) is an easy-to-use test and there are numerous studies showing its efficacy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of vHIT as an initial test in determining vestibular hypofunction in patients with dizziness. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The study recruited 103 outpatients who visited our ear clinic with dizziness. We performed both bedside head impulse test (bHIT), vHIT and bithermal caloric tests for 103 patients. Both bHIT and vHIT were consecutively performed in each subject on the same day by the same examiner. RESULTS: The sensitivity of bHIT and vHIT was determined based on the bithermal caloric test results, which showed that vHIT was more sensitive than bHIT. There was a significant negative correlation between vHIT gain and canal paresis (p < 0.05). Results of some patients indicated dissociation between vHIT and caloric test. CONCLUSION: T here is a significant correlation between the results of vHIT and caloric test. Although vHIT does not replace the caloric test, it would be useful to evaluate the initial vestibular loss in patients with dizziness.

Multiple Hepatic Metastasis and Lymphatic Metastasis of Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of Pancreas

Solid pseudo-papillary neoplasm (SPN) of pancreas is a rare epithelial neoplasm of pancreas with a low malignant potential, occurs most commonly in young females. Here, we report a rare case of woman who has severe hepatomegaly due to multiple hepatic metastases of SPN of pancreas. At the time of diagnosis, a SPN was detected at only pancreas and there was no evidence of metastasis. So, she received subtotal pancreatectomy and total splenectomy. After 2 years of follow up, multiple small hepatic metastases were presented. In spite of three times of radiofrequency ablation, the burden of hepatic metastasis has increased continuously and multiple intra-abdominal lymph nodes metastases were detected, and ascites and peripheral edema occurred. However, because of benign feature of SPN and extremely rare incidence of recurrence and metastasis, there is no specific treatment guideline for metastatic SPN. Through multidisciplinary care service, we planned to do radiotherapy followed by a transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). But the patient could not have a scheduled radiation therapy due to deterioration of liver function. So changing the strategy of treatment, followed by TACEs were done alone. Although the size of SPN is not reduced, the extent of SPN and complication of SPN (ascites, peripheral edema, abdominal pain and so on) are being controlled.

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease Mimicking Bilateral Ménière's Disease: A Case Report / 대한평형의학회지

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is a rare disease, accounting for < 1% of all cases of hearing impairment or dizziness. It is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or vestibular dysfunction that results from an immunemediated process. Clinical features of AIED is SNHL that progresses over weeks to month with fluctuating hearing symptoms. Because there are no diagnostic laboratory and clinical feature, response to immunosuppressive therapy were important for diagnosis of AIED. Many diseases such as sudden SNHL and Meniere disease may also mimic AIED, a broad differential must be maintained in patients suspected of having AIED. We report a case of a 46-year-old female who presented with sudden hearing loss and vertigo. We could diagnose her as AIED with systemic lupus erythematous. The symptoms were improved treated with steroids.

Bronchogenic cyst masquerading as malignant pericardial effusion with tamponade / 영남의대학술지

We report on a rare case involving a 23-year-old female patient with mediastinal cystic mass complicated with acute pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. Pericardial fluid demonstrated lymphocyte-predominant exudate and the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was unexpectedly elevated. Successive aspiration of mediastinal cystic mass revealed a very high level of CEA (>100,000 U/mL) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (>15,000 ng/mL). This patient was clinically diagnosed as an infected bronchogenic cyst complicated with pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. The treatment resulted in alleviation of her symptoms.

Bronchogenic cyst masquerading as malignant pericardial effusion with tamponade / 영남의대학술지

We report on a rare case involving a 23-year-old female patient with mediastinal cystic mass complicated with acute pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. Pericardial fluid demonstrated lymphocyte-predominant exudate and the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was unexpectedly elevated. Successive aspiration of mediastinal cystic mass revealed a very high level of CEA (>100,000 U/mL) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (>15,000 ng/mL). This patient was clinically diagnosed as an infected bronchogenic cyst complicated with pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. The treatment resulted in alleviation of her symptoms.

Comparison of Compliance of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Between Laparoscopic and Open Surgery in Patients With Colon Cancer

PURPOSE: Many studies have shown that the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy improves the survival rate. Recently, laparoscopic surgery has been used to treat patients with colon cancer. We analyzed the relationship between the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and the operation method. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 147 patients diagnosed with colon cancer from January 1, 2009, to May 31, 2012. The numbers of patients who underwent laparoscopic and open surgery were 91 and 56, respectively. We analyzed the relationship between the operation method and various factors such as the completion rate of chemotherapy, the patient's age, gender, and physical activity, the postoperative hospital stay, the start time of chemotherapy, and the patient's body mass index (BMI), TNM stage, and type of health insurance. RESULTS: In the laparoscopic surgery group, the postoperative hospital stay (13.5 +/- 14.82 days vs. 19.6 +/- 11.38 days, P = 0.001) and start time of chemotherapy (17.7 +/- 17.48 days vs. 23.0 +/- 15.00 days, P = 0.044) were shorter, but the percent complete of chemotherapy (71/91 [78.0%] vs. 38/56 [67.8%], P = 0.121), and survival rate (88/91 [96.7%], 47/56 [83.9%], P = 0.007) were higher than they were in the open surgery group. Patients who were elderly, had a low BMI, and a high American Society of Anesthesiologists score were less likely to complete adjuvant chemotherapy than other patients were. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery shows a shorter postoperative hospital stay, a shorter start time of chemotherapy, and a higher survival rate. Laparoscopic surgery may be expected to increase compliance of chemotherapy and to improve survival rate.

Efficacy and safety of entecavir plus carnitine complex (GODEX(R)) compared to entecavir monotherapy in patient with ALT elevated chronic hepatitis B: randomized, multicenter open-label trials. The GOAL study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Carnitine and vitamin complex (Godex(R)) is widely used in patients with chronic liver disease who show elevated liver enzyme in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to identify the efficacy and safety of carnitine from entecavir combination therapy in Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevated Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: 130 treatment-naive patients with CHB were enrolled from 13 sites. The patients were randomly selected to the entecavir and the complex of entecavir and carnitine. The primary endpoint of the study is ALT normalization level after 12 months. RESULTS: Among the 130 patients, 119 patients completed the study treatment. The ALT normalization at 3 months was 58.9% for the monotherapy and 95.2% for the combination therapy (P<0.0001). ALT normalization rate at 12 months was 85.7% for the monotherapy and 100% for the combination group (P=0.0019). The rate of less than HBV DNA 300 copies/mL at 12 months was not statistically significant (P=0.5318) 75.9% for the monotherapy, 70.7% for the combination and it was. Quantification of HBsAg level was not different from the monotherapy to combination at 12 months. Changes of ELISPOT value to evaluate the INF-gamma secretion by HBsAg showed the increasing trend of combination therapy compare to mono-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ALT normalization rate was higher in carnitine complex combination group than entecavir group in CHB. Combination group was faster than entecavir mono-treatment group on ALT normalization rate. HBV DNA normalization rate and the serum HBV-DNA level were not changed by carnitine complex treatment.

Feasibility of Laparoscopic D2 Lymph Node Dissection in Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: There is still debate regarding the suitability of extension of laparoscopic gastrectomy to advanced gastric cancer. Due to the development of new instruments and techniques, several studies are being conducted to extend the range of laparoscopic gastrectomy. This study was conducted to investigate the appropriateness of laparoscopic D2 lymph node dissection for the treatment of gastric cancer from an oncology perspective. METHODS: A total of 109 patients, 50 of whom had undergone laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and 59 patients who underwent open distal gastrectomy (ODG), that were operated on by a single surgeon in the surgery department of Sanggye Paik Hospital from April 2009 to May 2011 were analyzed. All patients underwent D2 lymph node dissection. The clinical characteristics of patients, surgical outcomes and clinicopathologic findings were then compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the operation time between the two groups (252.70+/-40.81 vs. 252.20+/-45.22, p=0.698). The day 1 post operation hemoglobin was higher in the LADG group than the ODG group (12.52+/-1.53 vs. 10.54+/-1.57, p=0.011). There were nosignificant differences in resection margin (6.89+/-2.25 vs. 7.20+/-3.42, p=0.254, 4.05+/-2.57 vs. 3.68+/-2.74, p=0.254) or total number of harvested lymph nodes (30.36+/-10.67 vs. 35.44+/-12.56, p=0.508) between groups. CONCLUSION: In stomach cancer surgery, both ODG and LADG can be used to conduct lymph node dissection. Therefore, if the stability and feasibility of LADG is confirmed by prospective studies at multiple centers, laparoscopic gastrectomy may be extended to advanced gastric cancer as well.

A Case of Acute Pancreatitis after Endoscopic Biopsy in Congenital Pancreatic Duct Anomalies / 대한내과학회지

Congenital anomalies or normal variants of the pancreatic duct are in most cases asymptomatic and are found incidentally while conducting imaging studies (such as a MRCP and a CT scan) for other reasons. The frequency of pancreatic duct variants has been reported to be about 9% of the general population; the most common type is a bifid configuration of the major and minor pancreatic ducts. Though most patients with pancreatic duct variants do not have any symptoms, a small number may develop jaundice or gallstones. By reporting the case of a patient with a variant pancreatic duct who developed acute pancreatitis after undergoing screening endoscopy and biopsy, this study aims to warn of the possible risks of screening endoscopy or biopsy in the second portion of the duodenum.

Comparison of CVF (Cyclophosphamide+Vinorelbine+5-Fluorouracil) and CMF (Cyclophosphamide+Methotrexate+5-Fluorouracil) Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of adjuvant cyclophosphamide/vinorelbine/5-fluorourail (CVF) chemotherapy as an alternative to cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy for treating early breast cancer. METHODS: One hundred and forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to CMF or CVF adjuvant chemotherapy for treating their early stage breast cancer between September 2000 and December 2007. The disease-free survival (DFS), the overall survival (OS), and the toxicity profiles of both groups were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients underwent CMF chemotherapy whereas 82 patients underwent CVF chemotherapy. The DFS and OS were 88 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 76-101 months) and 94 months (95% CI, 83-104 months), respectively for the CMF group, and 97 months (95% CI, 93-101 months), and 101 months (95% CI, 98-104 months), respectively for the CVF group. However, those survival gains of the CVF group were not statistically significant (p-value=0.069 for the DFS and 0.99 for the OS). The CVF group showed a favorable toxicity profile in terms of the grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities as compared to that of the CMF group. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcome of CVF chemotherapy was comparable to CMF with a favorable toxicity profiles. However, it is difficult to conclude the feasibility of CVF regimen because of small number of studied patients.

Lymphovascular Invasion and HER2/neu Amplification as Predictive Factors for Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Breast Cancer Patients / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) can occur even in breast cancer smaller than 2 cm in size. This study was performed to investigate the clinicopathologic factors that affect node metastasis in T1 breast cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the medical record of 206 T1 breast cancer patients and we divided them into two groups according to the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. We analyzed the association between ALNM and various clinicopathological predictive factors such as age, tumor size (T1a, T1b, T1c), multiplicity, the histologic grade, the nuclear grade, the presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI), the estrogen and progesterone receptor status, an HER2/neu expression, the Ki-67 labeling index and the bcl-2 expression. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-nine were the node negative group (T1N0) and the remaining 67 cases were allotted to the node positive group (T1N1-3). On the univariate analysis, age (p=0.011), LVI (p<0.001), histologic grade (p=0.019), HER2/neu (p<0.005), Ki-67 (p=0.012) and bcl-2 (p=0.026) were the statistically significant predictive factors related to node metastasis. But on the multivariate analysis, LVI (p<0.001) and HER2/neu (p=0.009) were the statistically significant factors related to node metastasis. CONCLUSION: LVI and HER2/neu overexpression were related to the increased incidence of ALNM in T1 breast cancer patients. LVI was the most predictive factor of ALNM.

C-Reactive Protein Level and Colorectal Adenoma / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies implicated inflammation playing an important role in the occurrence and advancement of colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma as the representative precursor lesion of colorectal cancer has meaningful association with inflammation. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the risk of colorectal adenoma METHODS: This study was undertaken on 5,487 subjects (3,478 men and 2,009 women) who underwent colonoscopy at the Health Promotion Center in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Samsung Medical Center. The subjects were allocated into 3,505 normal control subjects and 1,982 patients with colorectal adenoma. The mean level of CRP was compared between the two groups, and the correlations with other variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Also, the risk of colorectal adenoma according to CRP level and difference of CRP level according to the characteristics of adenomas were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum CRP level between normal and colorectal adenoma group. After adjusting for the clinically significant variables of colorectal adenoma, multiple logistic regression analysis of the risk of colorectal adenoma according to the CRP level (3) and the CRP level according to characteristics of adenomas showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: An inflammatory marker, CRP is not a risk factor for colorectal adenoma development.

Prognostic Significance of p27(kip1) Expression in Node Negative Colorectal Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Dukes' A & B colorectal cancer patients are often excluded from adjuvant chemotherapy following potentially curative surgery because they are expected to have good long-term survival. However, actually 20 ~ 30% of these patients suffer from recurrent disease, so it would be helpful for these patients of recurrent disease to be able to select a high risk group. METHODS: In 78 Dukes' A & B colorectal cancers, we investigated by immunohistochemistry the role of molecular markers, such as p27(kip1), p53, Ki-67, and Skp2, in identifying high-risk patients. RESULTS: Patients with low p27(kip1) expression showed poor overall survival compared to those with high p27(kip1) expressions (55.3 versus 66.7 months, P=0.018). The only significant factor associated with p27(kip1) expression was p53 expression. The low p27(kip1) expression and positive p53 expression group had poor overall survival (54.3 months, P=0.036). CONCLISIONS: In a node-negative colorectal carcinoma, the molecular marker p27(kip1) does not play an independent prognostic role, but it may have prognostic significance in correlation with other markers such as p53, Ki-67, and Skp2. The assessment of molecular alterations may be useful to node-negative colorectal patients in identifying the high risk group that may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Serum iron parameters in patients with chronic liver disease according to etiology / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Iron is essential for life, but iron overload state cause potentially fatal health risk. There is growing evidence that only mildly increased amounts of hepatic iron can be damaging, particulary if combined with other hepatotoxic factors such as alcoholic or chronic viral hepatits B,C. The aim of this study was to assess the serum iron status of patients with various forms of hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver and to determine the correlation between the degree of hepatocyte damage (expressed as ALT activity) and status of serum iron parameters. METHODS: Our research involved 107 patients (69 male ranging in age from 27-67 and 38 female ranging in age from 32-62) diagnosed with chronic viral hepatitis B or type C, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver. Serum iron parameters such as serum iron, ferritin, TIBC, and aminotransferase measured as necroinflammatory activity in Chronic hepatitis. RESULTS: There was no difference s-iron level between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis but, significantly higher in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis than viral hepatitis and cirrhosis respectively. s-Ferritin level was significantly higher in cirrhosis than hepatits group, and more higher in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis than viral hepatitis and cirrhosis respectively. In chronic hepatitis groups, there are significant correlation between ALT and s-ferritin level regardness of etiology. CONCLUSION: Serum iron overload state was prominent in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis than viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. High serum ferritin level can predict hepatocyte damage in chronic hepatitis.

Intestinal Neuronal Dysplasia in Twins / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a disorder of abnormal intestinal innervation resulting in dysfunctional colonic motility. IND shares clinical features with Hirschsprung's disease but differentiated by histological findings such as hyperplasia of submucosal and myenteric plexuses, giant ganglia, ectopic ganglion cell and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in lamina propria. Although IND may exist as an isolated condition, more commonly, it occurs in association with Hirschsprung's disease. We report a case of twins affected with IND. Both children manifested with delayed passage of meconium and severe abdominal distention after birth. Barium enema in both patients showed microcolon. They underwent emergency ileostomy under the impression of total aganglionosis. But surgical biopsy specimens showed hyperganglionosis in submucosa with formation of giant ganglia. Both neonates suffers from several episodes of peudo-obstruction after the repair operation of colostomy.

Use of the Triple Test for the Patients with Palpable Breast Masses / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Breast mass - the most common occurences in the breast must be managed by a method that provides both the best medical and cosmetic results. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-eight patients evaluated and managed for breast mass at our center between January 1998 and December 1999 were analysed. In this study, we compare the results of the triple test score (TTS; sum of physical examination, mammography, and fine needle aspiration cytology) with those from each separate diagnostic test according to a standard formula incorporating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The TTS was modified to substitute sonography for mammography-TTSs. The TTS was also compared to the TTS-2 that double weighted the results of fine needle aspiration (FNA), but was otherwise the same as the TTS. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of breast sonography were 90% and 84% whereas those of mammography were 84% and 73%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the TTSm (triple test score-mammography) were 99%, 97%, 99% and 97% respectively. The scores of the TTSm-2 were 99%, 100%, 100% and 97%. And those of the TTSs were 100%, 100%, 100% and 100%. CONCLUSION: The TTS was more accurate than each of the elements separately in evaluating breast masses. The TTSs was also more effective than the TTSm. The TTS-2 was more useful than the TTS, being less likely to miss malignancy due to the high accuracy of FNA.

Use of the Triple Test at the Breast Screening Center for Patients with Breast Mass

PURPOSE: Breast mass - the most common occurences in the breast must be managed by a method that provides both the best medical and cosmetic results. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-eight patients evaluated and managed for breast mass at our center between January 1998 and December 1999 were analysed. In this study, we compare the results of the triple test score (TTS; sum of physical examination, mammography, and fine needle aspiration cytology) with those from each separate diagnostic test according to a standard formula incorporating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The TTS was modified to substitute sonography for mammography-TTSs. The TTS was also compared to the TTS-2 that double weighted the results of fine needle aspiration (FNA), but was otherwise the same as the TTS. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of breast sonography were 90% and 84% whereas those of mammography were 84% and 73%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the TTSm (triple test score-mammography) were 99%, 97%, 99% and 97% respectively. The scores of the TTSm-2 were 99%, 100%, 100% and 97%. And those of the TTSs were 100%, 100%, 100% and 100%. CONCLUSION: The TTS was more accurate than each of the elements separately in evaluating breast masses. The TTSs was also more effective than the TTSm. The TTS-2 was more useful than the TTS, being less likely to miss malignancy due to the high accuracy of FNA.