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Cho Y, Yeo IH, Lee DE, Kim JK. Coronavirus disease pandemic impact on emergency department visits for cardiovascular disease in Korea: A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35992. [PMID: 38013376 PMCID: PMC10681605 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected patient visits to the hospital, including visits to the emergency department (ED). This study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the patterns of ED visits and treatment in hospitals for diseases requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. We analyzed entries from the South Korea National Emergency Department Information System claims database between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. We analyzed data of patients who visited the ED with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and acute hemorrhagic stroke (AHS). We found that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted ED utilization and fatality in patients with AMI, AIS, and AHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeonjoo Cho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - In Hwan Yeo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Eun Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kun Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Yu B, Yeo IH, Park JY. Life-threatening esophageal perforation due to blister pack ingestion. Am J Emerg Med 2023; 65:219.e1-219.e3. [PMID: 36599774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Most ingested foreign bodies do not cause serious complications. In rare cases, elderly people with cognitive decline may unintentionally swallow a blister pack while trying to take medicine. When a blister pack is separated into individual parts, the separated parts have sharp edges that can cause serious damage if ingested. We report a case of an elderly patient who unintentionally ingested a blister pack, which led to esophageal perforation and ultimately his death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byunghyuk Yu
- Intensive Care Unit, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - In Hwan Yeo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ji Yeon Park
- Gastric Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Yeo IH, Kim YJ. Two case reports of pneumatosis intestinalis in patients with cancer: is surgical management mandatory? Clin Exp Emerg Med 2021; 8:237-241. [PMID: 34649412 PMCID: PMC8517457 DOI: 10.15441/ceem.20.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) can be classified into two groups. Primary PI is idiopathic, and patients can recover spontaneously. In contrast, secondary PI is considered fatal due to the high mortality rate associated with mesenteric ischemia. Herein, we describe two patients with PI and concurrent pneumoperitoneum. Both patients were receiving targeted anticancer therapy, yet neither developed abdominal pain nor fatal symptoms. One of the patients underwent surgery, while the other was managed conservatively. Even though there were no complications, the patient who underwent surgery was hospitalized for 34 days, whereas the one who was managed conservatively was hospitalized for only five days. Usually, patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy are immunosuppressed and susceptible to infections. Therefore, based on the patients’ clinical features, surgical management of patients with cancer who develop PI after receiving anticancer chemotherapy should be done prudently.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Hwan Yeo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yun Jeong Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
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Kim C, Yeo IH, Kim JK, Cho Y, Lee MJ, Jung H, Cho JW, Ham JY, Lee SH, Chung HS, Mun YH, Lee SH, Kim YH. Confirmation of COVID-19 in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients and Postmortem Management in the Emergency Department during the COVID-19 Outbreak. Infect Chemother 2020; 52:562-572. [PMID: 33263244 PMCID: PMC7779992 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2020.52.4.562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is currently a lack of evidence-based postresuscitation or postmortem guidelines for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the setting of an emerging infectious disease. This study aimed to develop and validate a multimodal screening tool that aids in predicting the disease confirmation in emergency situations and patients with OHCA during a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective, multicenter observational study of adult patients with OHCA in Daegu, Korea. To identify the potential predictors that could be used in screening tools in the emergency department, we applied logistic regression to data collected from March 1 to March 14. The prediction performance of the screening variables was then assessed and validated on the data of patients with OHCA who were treated between February 19 and March 31, 2020. General patient characteristics and hematological findings of the COVID-19-negative and COVID-19-positive groups were compared. We also evaluated confirmation test criteria as predictors for COVID-19 positivity in patients with OHCA. Results Advanced age, body temperature, and abnormal chest X-ray (CXR) revealed significant predictive ability in the derivation cohort. Of the 184 adult patients with OHCA identified in the validation cohort, 80 patients were included in the analysis. Notably, 9 patients were positive and 71 were negative on the COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test. Five patients (55.6%) in the COVID-19-positive group had a fever before OHCA, and 12 (16.9%) of the COVID-19-negative group had a fever before OHCA (P = 0.018). Eight patients (88.9%) in the COVID-19-positive group had a CXR indicating pneumonic infiltration. Of the criteria for predicting COVID-19, fever or an abnormal CXR had a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 65.4 ??100) and a specificity of 22.5% (95% CI: 13.5 ??34.0). Conclusion The screening tools that combined fever or abnormal CXR had a good discriminatory ability for COVID-19 infection in adult patients with OHCA. Therefore, during the COVID-19 outbreak period, it is recommended to suspect COVID-19 infection and perform COVID-19 test if patients present with a history of fever or show abnormal findings in postmortem CXR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changho Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - In Hwan Yeo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
| | - Jong Kun Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yeonjoo Cho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Mi Jin Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Haewon Jung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jae Wan Cho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Ham
- Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Suk Hee Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Han Sol Chung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
| | - You Ho Mun
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sang Hun Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yang Hun Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
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Yeo IH, Kim C, Kim JK. Status epilepticus as an initial presentation of aortic dissection: A case report. Technol Health Care 2020; 29:357-360. [PMID: 32568141 DOI: 10.3233/thc-202309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Status epilepticus (SE) as the initial presentation of aortic dissection in the absence of chest pain is very rare. We report a case of aortic dissection (AD), which presented as SE with markedly elevated levels of D-dimer, a reliable and sensitive index of fibrin deposition and stabilization. CASE REPORT A 74-year-old Asian woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with an altered mental state following three consecutive generalized tonic-clonic seizures at home. Her initial vital signs were normal, and the head CT scan was non-informative. Most of the laboratory results were normal, but the D-dimer levels were markedly elevated. About 90 minutes after arriving at the ED, the patient developed another tonic-clonic seizure for about three-four minutes. Emergent chest CT revealed type A AD with hemopericardium. During preparation for the emergency operation, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 35 minutes, the patient died. CONCLUSIONS The goal of this case report is to make clinicians aware of the possibility that new-onset SE with elevated D-dimer levels can be an indication of acute AD type A in the absence of typical symptoms.
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Kim C, Kim JK, Yeo IH, Choe JY, Lee JE, Kang SJ, Park CS, Kwon KT, Hwang S. Appendectomy in patient with suspected COVID-19 with negative COVID-19 results: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2020; 8:1944-1949. [PMID: 32518785 PMCID: PMC7262723 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i10.1944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Even at present, we are in the middle of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and are facing challenges in trial and error. Presently, emergency surgery for patients with suspected COVID-19 is burdensome not only for patients but also for healthcare workers. Therefore, we established a surveillance system in the emergency room and established principles for managing patients suspected of COVID-19 who require emergency surgery.
CASE SUMMARY A 67-year-old man was diagnosed with appendicitis in March 2020. His wife was diagnosed with COVID-19 10 d earlier, and the patient was in close contact with her. The patient tested negative twice on an upper respiratory COVID-19 reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction screening test, but chest X-ray and chest computed tomography revealed patchy ground-glass opacity in both upper lobes of the patient’s lungs. The same emergency surgery procedure for patients with confirmed COVID-19 was applied to this patient suspected of having the disease to ensure that surgery was not delayed while waiting for the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction results. A few hours after surgery, the upper respiratory tract specimen taken in the emergency room was negative for COVID-19 but the lower respiratory tract specimen was found to be positive for the disease.
CONCLUSION When COVID-19 is suspected, emergency surgery should be performed as for confirmed COVID-19 without delay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changho Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - Jong Kun Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - In Hwan Yeo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - Jae Young Choe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - So Jeong Kang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - Chan Sub Park
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - Ki Tae Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; Department of Infection Control, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu 41944, South Korea
| | - Soyoon Hwang
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; Department of Infection Control, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu 41944, South Korea
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Chung HS, Lee DE, Kim JK, Yeo IH, Kim C, Park J, Seo KS, Park SY, Kim JH, Kim G, Lee SH, Cheon JJ, Kim YH. Revised Triage and Surveillance Protocols for Temporary Emergency Department Closures in Tertiary Hospitals as a Response to COVID-19 Crisis in Daegu Metropolitan City. J Korean Med Sci 2020; 35:e189. [PMID: 32419401 PMCID: PMC7234857 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When an emergency-care patient is diagnosed with an emerging infectious disease, hospitals in Korea may temporarily close their emergency departments (EDs) to prevent nosocomial transmission. Since February 2020, multiple, consecutive ED closures have occurred due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in Daegu. However, sudden ED closures are in contravention of laws for the provision of emergency medical care that enable the public to avail prompt, appropriate, and 24-hour emergency medical care. Therefore, this study ascertained the vulnerability of the ED at tertiary hospitals in Daegu with regard to the current standards. A revised triage and surveillance protocol has been proposed to tackle the current crisis. METHODS This study was retrospectively conducted at 6 level 1 or 2 EDs in a metropolitan city where ED closure due to COVID-19 occurred from February 18 to March 26, 2020. The present status of ED closure and patient characteristics and findings from chest radiography and laboratory investigations were assessed. Based on the experience from repeated ED closures and the modified systems that are currently used in EDs, revised triage and surveillance protocols have been developed and proposed. RESULTS During the study period, 6 level 1 or 2 emergency rooms included in the study were shut down 27 times for 769 hours. Thirty-one confirmed COVID-19 cases, of whom 7 died, were associated with the incidence of ED closure. Typical patient presentation with respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 was seen in less than 50% of patients, whereas abnormal findings on chest imaging investigations were detected in 93.5% of the study population. The chest radiography facility, resuscitation rooms, and triage area were moved to locations outside the ED, and a new surveillance protocol was applied to determine the factors warranting quarantine, including symptoms, chest radiographic findings, and exposure to a source of infection. The incidence of ED closures decreased after the implementation of the revised triage and surveillance protocols. CONCLUSION Triage screening by emergency physicians and surveillance protocols with an externally located chest imaging facility were effective in the early isolation of COVID-19 patients. In future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, efforts should be focused toward the provision of continued ED treatment with the implementation of revised triage and surveillance protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Sol Chung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Dong Eun Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jong Kun Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
| | - In Hwan Yeo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Changho Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jungbae Park
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Kang Suk Seo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Sin Yul Park
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jung Ho Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Gyunmoo Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Suk Hee Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jeon Jae Cheon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yang Hun Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
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Hur JW, Hyun TH, Pyun YR, Kim TS, Yeo IH, Paik HD. Identification and partial characterization of lacticin BH5, a bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis BH5 isolated from Kimchi. J Food Prot 2000; 63:1707-12. [PMID: 11131895 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-63.12.1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Strain BH5 was isolated from naturally fermented Kimchi and identified as a bacteriocin producer that has bactericidal activity against Micrococcus flavus ATCC 10240. Strain BH5 was identified tentatively as Lactococcus lactis by API test. Lactococcus lactis BH5 showed a broad spectrum of activity against most of the nonpathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms tested by the modified deferred method. The activity of lacticin BH5, named tentatively as the bacteriocin produced by L. lactis BH5, was detected at the mid-log growth phase, reached its maximum during the early stationary phase, and decreased after the late stationary phase. Lacticin BH5 also showed a relatively broad spectrum of activity against nonpathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms as tested by the spot-on-lawn method. Its antimicrobial activity on sensitive indicator cells was completely destroyed by protease XIV. The inhibitory activities of lacticin BH5 were detected during treatments up to 100 degrees C for 30 min. Lacticin BH5 was very stable over a pH range of 2.0 to 9.0 and was stable with all the organic solvents examined. It demonstrated a typical bactericidal mode of inhibition against M. flavus ATCC 10240. The apparent molecular mass of lacticin BH5 was estimated to be in the region of 3 to 3.5 kDa, by the direct detection of bactericidal activity after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Hur
- Division of Life Sciences, Kyungnam University, Masan, Korea
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Kim DY, Ahn YC, Oh DG, Choi DR, Ju SG, Yeo IH, Huh SJ. Physical properties of new collimator cone system for stereotactic radiation therapy developed in samsung medical center. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2000; 48:541-4. [PMID: 10974474 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(00)00611-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A new collimator cone system has been developed at the Samsung Medical Center that overcomes some of the limitations of present commercially supplied collimator cones. The physical properties of the newly developed cone system are described in this report. METHODS AND MATERIALS The new cones have relatively larger aperture sizes (3.0-7.0 cm in diameter) and are 16 cm in length. Each new cone is fabricated with cerrobend alloy melted and poured into a stainless steel housing that is permanently fixed to a mounting plate. The mounting plate of the new cone is designed to insert into the wedge mount slot of the gantry head. The mechanical accuracy of the central axis of the cone pointing to the isocenter was tested using film, a steel ball positioned at the isocenter by the mechanical isocenter device. For the evaluation of beam flatness and penumbra, off-axis ratios at 5 cm depth were measured by film dosimetry using polystyrene phantom. RESULTS The average error of the mechanical isocenter was 0.27 mm (+/- 0.16 mm). The beam flatness was excellent in the central region of the beam, and the average penumbra width was 3.35 mm (+/- 0.25 mm). The new cone design has more clearance between the patient's head and the gantry, and can more easily be removed from the gantry head because it slides in and out of the wedge slot. This facilitates changing cone sizes during one treatment session, and makes the process of double exposure port films easier. CONCLUSIONS A new collimator cone system for stereotactic radiation therapy has been developed. The mechanical accuracy and physical properties are satisfactory for clinical use, and the new design permits a wider range of clinical applications for stereotactic radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Y Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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Ahn YC, Lee KC, Kim DY, Huh SJ, Yeo IH, Lim DH, Kim MK, Shin KH, Park S, Chang SH. Fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy for extracranial head and neck tumors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2000; 48:501-5. [PMID: 10974468 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(00)00612-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study is to report the clinical experiences of fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) for extracranial head and neck tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between the period of July 1995 and November 1998, 48 patients with extracranial head and neck tumors were given FSRT as a boost and sole modality. Individualized treatment planning was performed using XKnife-3 system with relocatable Gill-Thomas-Cosman frame. In 24 patients, FSRT was applied as a boost technique following the 2-dimensional conventional external radiation therapy (ERT); in 24 patients FSRT was the sole radiotherapy modality. The primary diseases in the boost group consisted of nasopharynx cancer (19), lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (3), orbital lymphoma (1), and skull-base recurrence of maxillary sinus adenoid cystic carcinoma (1). The primary diseases in the sole modality group consisted of recurrent nasopharynx cancer (12), orbital pseudotumor (4), skull-base recurrence of maxillary sinus, submandibular gland, and hypopharynx cancers (3), orbital rhabdomyosarcoma (2), orbital lymphoma (1), orbital metastasis of neuroblastoma (1), and nasal cavity melanoma (1). The fractionation schedule was to give 5 treatments per one week and the fractional doses were 2.0-3 Gy depending on the treatment aim and the FSRT volume. The FSRT doses varied depending on the nature of the primary diseases. RESULTS The local tumor response in nasopharynx cancer patients was excellent compared to retrospective data without occurrence of unexpectedly severe complication. FSRT to other regions was well tolerated by the patients and resulted in good to excellent local tumor responses with no unacceptable side effects as expected by the authors. CONCLUSION Based on the current observations, FSRT is a very effective and safe modality in the treatment of extracranial head and neck tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Ahn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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