Development of Korean Academy of Medical Sciences Guideline on the Skin and Related System: Impairment Evaluation of Disfigurement in Skin and Appearance

The purpose of this study is to develop new standards for the disability evaluation with reference to existing laws and other study reports regarding disabilities for the rational evaluation of the diverse kinds of disfigurement in appearance and skin. Three plastic surgery specialists and 3 dermatology specialists developed a new standard for the disability evaluation which is appropriate for circumstances in Korea. Disability rate does not take into account the social occupation, gender or age of the patient, but instead, evaluate the Activity of Daily Living and the social adaptability of the appearance and skin disfigurement regardless of the balance between different disabilities. We tried to include most cutaneous disorders and categorized them into 3 types; congenital (Type 1), acquired (Type 2) as well as any permanent skin impairment sequelae of disease, trauma or treatment process (Type 3). For type 3 disorders, we tried to rate the score according to the size of involved skin lesion. The disability rate is determined by dividing the disability class into 8 steps based on the seriousness of each type of disability

A Case of Cogan's Syndrome With Angina

Cogan's syndrome is a rare systemic inflammatory disease and can be diagnosed on the basis of typical inner ear and ocular involvement with the presence of large vessel vasculitis. We report a case of Cogan's syndrome with stable angina resulting from coronary ostial stenosis caused by aortitis

Acute Fibrinous and Organizing Pneumonia Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

A 60-year-old man presented with cough, sputum, and dyspnea. He had a history of acute myeloid leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with chronic renal failure. Chest CT scans showed miliary nodules and patchy consolidations. Histological examination revealed numerous fibrin balls within the alveoli and thickening of the alveolar septum, both of which are typical pathological features of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP). We report the first case of AFOP following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

A New Modality for Treating Congenital Melanocytic Nevus: "Cogwheel Pattern" Serial Excision Method

Congenital melanocytic nevus consists of congregations of nevomelanocytes. It is found in approximately 1% of new born infants. Congenital melanocytic nevus needs to be excised before it transforms into a malignant lesion. Many strategies have been attempted for the removal and reconstruction of the nevus. Serial excision enables wound closure to be accomplished with a shorter scar than if the original lesion was elliptically excised in a single stage and reorientation of the scar closer to the relaxed skin lines. The routine utilization of an elliptical serial excision as a standard method of closure often leads to the formation of elongated scars and waste of skin. The "Cogwheel pattern" serial excision is a new technique for reducing the size of the nevus efficiently. Reducing the final scar length, distributing the tension over many directions, and having the chance of decrease in operation numbers are ultimately achieved with the use of the "Cogwheel pattern" serial excision