Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Original article

Treatment decision for cancer patients with fever during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: In Hee Lee, Sung Ae Koh, Soo Jung Lee, Sun Ah Lee, Yoon Young Cho, Ji Yeon Lee, Jin Young Kim; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2021;38(4):344-349. Published online August 23, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2021.01144

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Abstract PDF: Background
Cancer patients have been disproportionally affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with high rates of severe outcomes and mortality. Fever is the most common symptom in COVID-19 patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians may have difficulty in determining the cause of fever (COVID-19, another infection, or cancer fever) in cancer patients. Furthermore, there are no specific guidelines for managing cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with fever during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 328 cancer patients with COVID-19 symptoms (fever) admitted to five hospitals in Daegu, Korea from January to October 2020. We obtained data on demographics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, chest computed tomography images, cancer history, cancer treatment, and outcomes of all enrolled patients from electronic medical records.
Results
The most common COVID-19-like symptoms were fever (n=256, 78%). Among 256 patients with fever, only three (1.2%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Most patients (253, 98.8%) with fever were not diagnosed with COVID-19. The most common solid malignancies were lung cancer (65, 19.8%) and hepatobiliary cancer (61, 18.6%). Twenty patients with fever experienced a delay in receiving cancer treatment. Eighteen patients discontinued active cancer treatment because of fever. Major events during the treatment delay period included death (2.7%), cancer progression (1.5%), and major organ dysfunction (2.7%).
Conclusion
Considering that only 0.9% of patients tested for COVID-19 were positive, screening for COVID-19 in cancer patients with fever should be based on the physician’s clinical decision, and patients might not be routinely tested.

Original Article

Follow-up of thyroid ultrasonography in patients with hemodialysis: Hyun Jung Kim, Bo Ra Kim, Yeong Mi Seo, Yoon Young Cho, Jong Ha Baek, Kyong Young Kim, Soo Kyung Kim, Seung Hoon Woo, Jung Hwa Jung, Jaehoon Jung, Jong Ryeal Hahm; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2017;34(1):69-74. Published online June 30, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2017.34.1.69

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease is considered a risk factor for thyroid nodules as well as thyroid dysfunction such as hypothyroidism. Among patients on hemodialysis, we assessed the size of thyroid nodule and goiter at baseline and 1 year later with ultrasonography. METHODS: We prospectively selected 47 patients with hemodialysis at January 2012 and reviewed their medical records. We checked goiter and thyroid nodules at January 2012 and December 2012. RESULTS: In the hemodialysis patients (n=47), 24 patients (51.1%) had thyroid nodules and 33 patients (70.2%) had goiter at baseline. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was higher in patients with thyroid nodules (204.4±102.9 vs. 129.9±93.6 pg/mL, p=0.01). Thyroid ultrasonography was conducted in 29 patients after 1 year. The thickness of the thyroid isthmus increased (2.8±1.6 vs. 3.2±1.9 mm, p=0.003), but the number of nodules did not change (1.2±1.9 vs. 1.4±2.0, p=0.109). PTH was associated with the enlargement of thyroid nodules significantly through logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Thyroid goiter and nodules in hemodialysis patients were more prevalent than in the general population. PTH influenced the production of thyroid nodules in hemodialysis patients. Regular examination with thyroid ultrasonography and thyroid function test should be considered in hemodialysis patients.

Case Report

POEMS syndrome misdiagnosed as bone metastasis in a patient with thyroid cancer.: Sang Ah Baek, Hun Mo Ryoo, Sung Hwa Bae, Yoon Young Cho, Seong gyu Kim, Ga Young Kim, Min Keun Kim; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2015;32(2):122-126. Published online December 31, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2015.32.2.122

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Abstract PDF: Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a monoclonal plasma cell disorder. Patients with POEMS syndrome also have various clinical manifestations including generalized edema, pleural effusion, ascites, papilledema, and sclerotic bone lesions. These manifestations can lead to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. We recently experienced a 51-year-old male patient with POEMS syndrome whose sclerotic bone lesion was misdiagnosed as malignant bone metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. We reassessed the patient and found polyneuropathy, hepatosplenomegaly, hypothyroidism, partial hypopituitarism, immunoglobulin G lambda-type monoclonal gammopathy, hypertrichosis, ascites, and multiple sclerotic bone lesions, all of which led us to a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome. Treatment with thalidomide and dexamethasone resulted in clinical and radiological improvement. The patient has remained in remission after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Original Article

A Clinical Usefulness of Office Hysteroscopy.: Min Whan Koh, Tae Hyung Lee, Jeong Suk Kim, Yoon Young Choi, Sang Hoon Jeong; Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2005;22(1):81-89. Published online June 30, 2005; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2005.22.1.81

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Hysteroscopy is considered to be the gold standard not only for visualizing the cervical canal and the uterine cavity, but also for treating many different types of benign pathologies localized to those regions. The advent and evolution of endoscopic imaging and surgery during the last two decades has added new dimensions to the armamentarium of a gynecologist to combat intrauterine lesions. Office hysteroscopy is increasingly being used as a first line investigation for abnormal uterine bleeding and other diseases involving the uterine cavity. The aim of our study is to assess the diagnostic and operative efficacy of office hysteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our department, 140 patients underwent a hysteroscopy examination and 18 of these underwent an office based hysteroscopy examination from September 1995 to March 2005. The cases who underwent an office based hysteroscopy examination were reviewed in order to assess the clinical usefulness and significance in the management of intrauterine lesions. RESULTS: Major indication was abnormal uterine bleeding (12 cases, 66.7%). The others were a missed IUD and infertility. The hysteroscopic findings were a normal uterine cavity (6 cases, 33.3%), IUD in situ, polyp, submucosal myoma, endometrial hyperplasia and a placenta remnant. CONCLUSION: Office hysteroscopy is a safe, quick and effective method for making an intrauterine evaluation. In addition, it provides immediate results, offers the capacity of direct targeted biopsies of suspicious focal lesions, and offers the direct treatment of some intrauterine conditions.

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