Identification of Nonaggressive Pulmonary Nodules Using an Optimized Scoring System.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define the optimal scoring method for identifying benign intrapulmonary lymph nodes.

Materials And Methods: Subjects for this study were selected from the COPDGene study, a large multicenter longitudinal observational cohort study. A retrospective case-control analysis was performed using identified nodules on a subset of 377 patients who demonstrated 765 pulmonary nodules on their baseline computed tomography (CT) study.

Clinical findings and outcomes in patients with possible usual interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Patients with possible usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) constitute a substantial group, and their clinical characteristics and outcomes are not well defined. We compared the clinical characteristics and survival between patients with possible UIP and the UIP pattern.

Methods: We evaluated 62 patients with possible UIP and 544 patients with the UIP pattern.

Small airway-centered granulomatosis caused by long-term exposure to polytetrafluoroethylene.

To date, there have been no reports of chronic pulmonary granulomatosis associated with exposure to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Here, we report three cases of small airway-centered granulomatous lesions in workers employed at facilities that apply coatings to pans and other utensils. The workers were repeatedly exposed to PTFE particles that were probably generated by the drying process when PTFE coatings are dried in a convection oven at high temperatures (380-420 °C).

Leukocytes and systemic inflammatory response syndrome as prognostic factors in pulmonary embolism patients.

Background: Hemodynamic status and cardiac function are important factors for predicting pulmonary embolism (PE) prognosis. Although inflammation is considered a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, the prognostic significance of both systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and leukocytosis has not been elucidated. This study evaluates PE prognostic factors, including SIRS and leukocytes.

Isolated cervical lymph node sarcoidosis presenting in an asymptomatic neck mass: a case report.

Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The presentation of sarcoidal granuloma in neck nodes without typical manifestations of systemic sarcoidosis is difficult to diagnose. We describe the case of a 37-year-old woman with an increasing mass on the right side of neck.

Acute respiratory distress due to methane inhalation.

Inhalation of toxic gases can lead to pneumonitis. It has been known that methane gas intoxication causes loss of consciousness or asphyxia. There is, however, a paucity of information about acute pulmonary toxicity from methane gas inhalation.

Male predominance of pneumonia and hospitalization in pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection.

Background: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) disproportionately affects different age groups. The purpose of the current study was to describe the age and gender difference of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) cases that lead to pneumonia, hospitalization or ICU admission.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively between May 2009 and December 2009.

Myopericytoma of the neck: sonographic appearance and sonographically guided needle biopsy.

We report the imaging and pathologic findings of a case of myopericytoma of the neck in a 70-year-old woman, which was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy. The mass demonstrated homogeneous intense enhancement on contrast-enhanced CT and was markedly hypervascular on power Doppler sonography. The histopathological findings of the core biopsy were consistent with myopericytoma.

Estimated incidence of acute pulmonary embolism in a Korean hospital.

Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) were identified retrospectively from patients hospitalized during a 2-year period from 2005 to 2007. Among adult patients (≥20 years), the incidence of established acute PE was 88 (0.17%) of 50 882 in Dongsan Hospital.

Hürthle cell neoplasm: correlation of gray-scale and power Doppler sonographic findings with gross pathology.

Background: To describe gray-scale and power Doppler (PD) sonographic (US) findings of Hürthle cell neoplasms (HCNs) of the thyroid gland, and to determine if there is any correlation between US and gross pathologic features.

Method: This retrospective study included 30 pathologically proven HCNs in 30 subjects who underwent preoperative gray-scale and PD US examinations. The size, shape, margin, echogenicity, echotexture, presence or absence of cystic change, calcifications and halo sign, and vascularity at PD US were evaluated.

Follicular thyroid adenoma with eggshell calcification presenting as an intensely hypermetabolic lesion on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

We report herein a case of follicular thyroid adenoma with an eggshell calcification presenting as an intensely hypermetabolic lesion on combined (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose whole-body PET and CT ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) performed for staging work-up in a 68-year-old woman who had undergone distal gastrectomy with Billroth II anastomosis for early gastric carcinoma. The mass was intensely hypermetabolic (SUV(max) = 21.3 g/mL) on combined (18)F-FDG PET/CT, hypoechoic with an interrupted eggshell calcification on gray-scale ultrasonography (US), and showed intranodular vascularity on power Doppler US.

Follicular thyroid carcinoma with an eggshell calcification: report of 3 cases.

Objective: The purpose of this series is to report 3 cases of follicular thyroid carcinoma with an eggshell calcification along with their imaging findings.

Methods: Imaging findings on gray scale and power Doppler (PD) sonography (n = 3), computed tomography (CT; n = 3), and integrated fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 ((18)F-FDG) whole-body positron emission tomography (PET)/CT (n = 1) were assessed.

Results: Of the 3 cases, two 75-year-old women had bone metastasis, and one 54-year-old woman had a thyroid incidentaloma on sonography.

Parotid incidentaloma identified by combined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose whole-body positron emission tomography and computed tomography: findings at grayscale and power Doppler ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy or core-needle biopsy.

Twelve parotid incidentalomas in 10 consecutive subjects (nine with a known malignancy elsewhere and one presumptively healthy subject) identified by combined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose whole-body positron emission tomography and computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) were investigated, with the aim of calculating maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) of each FDG-avid focus, and identifying corresponding sonographic and pathologic findings. The results of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) (n = 9) and core-needle biopsy (CNB) (n = 3) were Warthin tumor in 10 cases, and pleomorphic adenoma and chronic inflammation in one each. SUV(max) was 7.