Correction to: Thalidomide maintenance therapy in Japanese myeloma patients: a multicenter, phase II clinical trial (COMET study).

The authors would like to correct the errors in the publication of the original article. The correction details are given below.

Thalidomide maintenance therapy in Japanese myeloma patients: a multicenter, phase II clinical trial (COMET study).

A prospective, multicenter, phase II study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of thalidomide maintenance therapy at different doses in Japanese multiple myeloma (MM) patients. This study included 34 patients (median age, 74 years) who were previously treated with not more than three prior therapies and whose response status was evaluated as at least stable disease. They were randomized into Group A (no maintenance; 12 patients), Group B (50 mg thalidomide maintenance; 12 patients), and Group C (100 mg thalidomide maintenance; 10 patients), respectively.

Comparison between solid component size on thin-section CT and pathologic lymph node metastasis and local invasion in T1 lung adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To correlate the tumor size and solid component size on thin-section CT (TS-CT) with pathological findings including lymph node (LN) metastasis and local invasion in T1 lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: 188 patients with surgically resected T1 lung adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Two chest radiologists measured the long-axis and short-axis dimensions of nodules and solid components with a lung and/or a mediastinal window setting (WS) on TS-CT.

Clinicoradiological outcomes of 33 cases of surgically resected pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma: correlation with prognostic indicators.

Objectives: To retrospectively review the clinical, radiological and pathological data in patients who underwent surgical resection for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PC), and to analyse the prognostic predictors of survival.

Methods: The data were retrospectively examined for 33 consecutive patients (28 males and five females) who had undergone surgical resection for pulmonary PC. Cox's proportional-hazards model was used to analyse the prognostic predictors of survival.

Analysis of the downstream mediators of toll-like receptor 3-induced apoptosis in labial salivary glands in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the molecular mechanisms elicited by toll-like receptor (TLR)3 in salivary gland cell death in patients with SS.

Methods: Expression of TLR3 and its downstream molecules was examined by immunohistochemical analysis, immunofluorescence, Western blot (WB), and antibody dot-blot array in labial salivary glands (LSGs), and cultured primary salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) obtained from patients with SS. We also investigated the difference of expression between ducts/alveoli of LSGs and cultured SGECs.

Inflammatory Polyp of the Gallbladder Mimicking Early Polypoid Carcinoma.

We treated a 69-year-old male with a 16-mm polyp of the gallbladder. Enhanced computed tomography demonstrated marked enhancement. With a tentative diagnosis of early polypoid cancer of the gallbladder, open cholecystectomy was performed.

[Case of reversible ischemic neurological deficit presented as hemiballism].

Ballism is characterized by continuous, coarse, flinging involuntary movements involving the limbs. Although persistent involuntary movements caused by cerebrovascular diseases mostly in middle-aged patients are well known, transient involuntary movements are an unusual manifestation of cerebrovascular diseases. We describe a rare case of reversible ischemic neurologic deficit (RIND) presented as hemiballism.

Papillary tumor of the pineal region.

A 48-year-old female presented with an extremely rare primary tumor of the pineal region with papillary features manifesting as morning headaches persisting for 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-defined mass, with some cystic components, in the region of the pineal gland. The tumor was completely removed through an occipital transtentorial approach in the prone position.

[Extraperitoneal bilateral tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy with umbilical stoma].

In some patients with intractable symptoms from incurable pelvic cancer, for example, urgency, severe hematuria, fistula formation and hydronephrosis, palliative urinary diversion with intestinal segments may not be available. Percutaneous nephrostomy or indwelling of double-J ureteral stents were usually performed. However, they suffered catheter trouble and their quality of life considerably worsened.

Glomus tumor of the omentum: a case report.

Computed tomography revealed a well-enhanced omental mass. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass with low signal intensity on T1-weighted images (WI) and high signal intensity on T2-WI. Resected specimens immunohistochemically showed positive results for alpha-smooth muscle actin, muscle-specific actin (HHF35) and vimentin, and negative results for S-100 protein, CD34, desmin, EMA, keratin, calretinin, HBME1, and c-kit.

Obturator hernia in an ageing society.

Introduction: Obturator hernia is an important cause of small bowel obstruction and is associated with difficult diagnosis and high mortality.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 22 cases of intestinal obstruction due to obturator hernia that necessitated surgical intervention over the last 17 years and evaluated the changes in the number of patients based on the census data.

Results: All cases were elderly females.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the transverse colon: a case report.

We herein present a case of a 75-year-old female with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the transverse colon with the stage IE (Ann Arbor classification). Colonoscopy revealed the tumor's appearance as a IIa plus II c-like early colon cancer as defined according to the macroscopic classification of the Japanese Research Society for Cancer of Colon, Rectum and Anus, measuring less than 2 cm in diameter. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as MALT lymphoma because of the presence of lymphoepithelial lesions consisting of diffuse proliferation of atypical lymphocytes and glandular destruction.

Small bowel anisakiosis: a report of two cases.

Small bowel stenosis is a serious complication of intestinal anisakiosis. The aim of this report is to investigate whether severe stenosis of the small intestine can be conservatively managed. We treated two patients with severe stenosis of the small intestine caused by anisakiosis.

Long-term survival in three patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib.

Gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), produces radiographic regression and symptom relief in patients with refractory advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, it remains controversial whether gefitinib improves patient survival. We report three cases of refractory metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have survived approximately 3 years since they first started gefitinib.

Gastric necrosis after an infarction of the spleen: report of a case.

Gastric necrosis is a rare and often fatal condition. A few reports of gastric necrosis of various etiologies have been published in the literature. This report deals with a case in which gastric necrosis and perforation occurred several years after an infarction of the spleen.

Two-channel method for retrieval of gastric trichobezoar: report of a case.

Large gastric trichobezoars usually are difficult to remove gastroscopically without gradual fragmentation. Surgical retrieval of trichobezoars may be recommended, which requires laparotomy and gastrotomy. The authors report a case in which an 11-year-old girl with a trichobezoar underwent successful removal using gastroscopy with laparoscopically assisted fragmentation.