Spontaneous Subcapsular Hematoma of the Liver in a Patient on Maintenance Hemodialysis / 대한신장학회지

Spontaneous bleeding in various parts of the body has been reported in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis, but reports on spontaneous subcapsular hematoma of the liver are scarce. We present a case of spontaneous subcapsular hematoma of the liver which developed in a 53-year-old man with maintenance hemodialysis. He was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain and abnormal liver function test. On abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scan, a large, well-defined subcapsular mass of the liver with a density consistent with blood was observed. We performed embolization of the bleeding vessel and percutaneous drainage of the hematoma. Five months later, follow up abdominal CT scan revealed a moderate reduction of the subcapsular hematoma. In conclusion, the possibility of spontaneous hematoma of the liver should be considered in hemodialysis patients with epigastric pain, unexplained anemia and abnormal liver function.

Spontaneous Cauda Equina Syndrome in a Renal Transplant Patient with Long-term Azathioprine Treatment / 대한이식학회지

Azathioprine is a conventional immunosuppressant in renal transplantation but long-term administration may lead to hematologic complications. We here report a cauda equina syndrome caused by spontaneous epidural hematoma in a renal transplant recipient who had undergone long-term azathioprine treatment. A 34 year-old male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of numbness of the lower extremities and back pain. He had received renal transplantation 14 years ago and had been on sole therapy with azathioprine for 11 years. Three months before admission, the patient developed pancytopenia, and a subsequent bone marrow biopsy revealed hypocellularity. Azathioprine was replaced by tacrolimus and steroids thereafter. After a three months discontinuation of azathioprine, an epidural hematoma developed and resulted in cauda equina syndrome. Regular follow-up of complete blood count and change of immunosuppressants with less bone marrow toxicity should be considered in patients receiving azathioprine for long-term period.

Clinical Evaluation of Spinal Tuberculosis Treated with Hemilaminectomy

OBJECTIVE: The variable operative methods are underwent as a treatment of tuberculous spondylitis. We propose hemilaminectomy and debridement as a one of operative method at a certain circumstance. METHODS: From July 1998 to June 2002, 13 consecutive patients with spinal tuberculosis were treated surgically in our institution. Among them, the authors analysed 7 patients in whom posterior approach were performed. The lumbar spine was involved in 6 patients, the thoracic in 1. The hemilaminectomy with debridement was done in all cases. The changes in the Kyphotic angle and the height of involved vertebras retrospectively measured from lateral spinal radiographs obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Mean follow up periods were 16 months. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms and signs were improved in all cases. One patient (14%) was needed anterior fusion because of aggravation of lesion. Another one needed reoperation because of relapse of epidural abscess. The arithmethical average of kyphotic angle was worsened about 2 degrees and that of height loss was lesser than 5% postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The hemilaminectomy with debridement for spinal spondylitis can be a first therapeutic modality in a mild neurologic deficit and minor lesions with extended epidural abscess and granulation tissue to the adjacent vertebras in radiologic finding. Especially if epidural abscess and granulation tissue involve the multiple vertebras, we recommend this operative method.

Clinicopathologic Findings of Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor of the Central Nervous System

OBJECTIVE: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor(AT/RT) is a new entity among malignant pediatric brain tumors, and shows variable histopathologic features. The authors investigate the clinicopathologic and cytogenetic features of the tumor. METHODS: Five cases were included in this study ; three of them were primarily diagnosed, and two cases were reclassified from primitive neuroectodermal tumor/medulloblastoma to AT/RT. Mean age of patients at diagnosis was 5.6 years. The tumors were located in infratentorial or supratentorial areas. Maximum survival period was 13 months. RESULTS: Histopathologically, the tumors were mainly composed of modified rhabdoid cells and undifferentiated small cells, and mixed with epithelial, mesenchymal components, and other features mimicking glioma and chordoma. The histopathologic features were supported by polyphenotypic immunoreactivity, including epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Cytogenetic studies for karyotype analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed monosomy of chromosome 22 in two cases out of three cases of the tumor. CONCLUSION: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor may be an unique clinicopathologic entity, and histopathologic diagnosis should be made carefully by differentiating other polymorphous tumors of the brain.

The Operation of Acute Epidural Hematoma Through Small Craniotomy: Technical Note

We introduce a new operative method for acute epidural hematoma(AEDH) through small craniotomy. Between January 1999 and December 2001, 63 patients underwent craniotomy in our hospital to evacuate an acute posttraumatic epidural hematoma. Among these, we operated 18 patients with linear scalp incision and about 4 X 4cm sized small craniotomy. After operation, neurological symptoms were improved and there were no significant postoperative complications in all patients. This operative method is simple and less time consuming. It can be done under the local anesthesia and may be useful to all AEDH without severe brain swelling, subdural hematoma and intracerebral hematoma.

Analysis of Pineal Cyst��Clinical and Radiological Characteristics

No abstract available.

A Study of Correlations among International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Volume of Total and Transition Zone of Prostate Measured by Transrectal Ultrasonography, Serum PSA Level in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia / 대한비뇨기과학회지

This study was aimed to investigate the possible correlations between International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), volume of total and transition zone of prostate, and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level in 42 patients diagnosed and treated as benign prostatic hyperplasia. We got IPSS by interview and calculated the volume of the total and the transition zone (TZ vol) of prostate by transrectal ultrasonography. The size of the total prostate was 37.35+/-12.9 cc (mean+/-standard deviation) and that of the transition zone was 17.72 +/- 10.04 cc. Transition zone index(transition zone volume/total prostate volume, TZ index) was calculated and its value was 0.45 +/- 0.14. Symptom score was not correlated with total prostate volume, TZ volume or 72 index (r=0.27, p>0.05; r=0.23, p>0.05; r=0.16, p>0.05, respectively). Either it did not show correlation with serum PSA level (r=0.16, p>0.05). However, there were statistically significant correlations among serum PSA, total volume, TZ volume, TZ index (r=0.66, p<0.05; r=0.64, p<0.05; r=0.47, p<0.05). From these results, it is difficult to find significant correlations between symptom severity easured by IPSS and several clinical indices such as total prostate volume, transitional volume, TZ index or serum PSA level. Prospective study including developing a more objective symptom scoring system is needed to get a more useful clinical index reflecting the symptom severity of the BPH patients as well as clinical status of them.

Intrapleural Doxycycline and Bleomycin in the Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions:A Randomized Study / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment of recurrent, symptomatic malignant pleural effusion is intrapleural instillation of a chemical agent in an attempt to achieve a sterile inflammation and pleurodesis. There are many drugs used as pleural sclerosing agents, but the efficiency and side effects are different. The present study was undertaken to compare the commonly used drugs, doxycycline and bleomycin. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with malignant pleural effusion who needed repeated thoracentesis were randomized to receive treatment with--intrapleural instillation of doxycycline or bleomycin. Fluid volumes before and after pleurodesis, drainge time, and side effects were analyzed, and the response to treatment was evaluated by clinical examination and chest radiography during admission in the hospital. Also median survival time were evaluated according to the responses. RESULTS: The response rate was higher in the patients receiving doxycycline than in those receiving bleomycin (87.5% vs 50.0%, p=0.02), and fever, nausea and vomiting were more common in the patients receiving bleomycin. The median survival time was significantly longer in the patients who responded to the sclerotherapy regardless of sclerosing agents. CONCLUSIONS: Chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline or bleomycin could reduce or stop pleural effusions and prolong the median survival times in these patients. Doxycycline appeared to be more efficient as sclerosing agent than bleomycin in the short-term follow-up periods. But a prospective study with a larger number of patients is warranted.

Atypical Pituitary Macroadenoma: A case report

A 34-year-old man who for two months had experienced headaches and blurred vision showed a 6x5x4cm-sized sellar and suprasellar mass with mainly cystic and partially solid portions on both brain CT and MRI. Peripheral, rim-like calcification of the cystic mass was clearly visible on non-enhanced CT and pituitary acidophil stem celladenoma was confirmed. This is an immature neoplasm which is shown by immunohistochemical study and electromicrocopy to be derived from the common progenitor of growth hormone and prolactin cells. We recently encountered one case, involving unusual radiographic findings, in which pituitary macroadenoma mimicked craniopharyngioma, and we report the CT and MR findings of this tumor.

Assessing the adequacy of hemodialysis with urea kinetic modeling / 대한신장학회잡지

No abstract available.