Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Young Soo Shim

4 Articles

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Cytology and Ultrastructural Findings in a Patient with Amiodarone-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: A Case Report.: Sun Lee, Min A Kim, Young Soo Shim, Chun Taek Lee, Je G Chi, Doo Hyun Chung; Korean J Pathol. 2002;36(3):175-178.

Abstract PDF: Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic agent and can cause potentially life-threatening pulmonary fibrosis. Of the numerous side effects associated with amiodarone therapy, lugn toxicity is one of the most serious adverse reactions. Recently, we experienced a case of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (APT), which induced severe dyspnea and productive coughing, confirmed by cytologic and electron microscopic examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The symptoms and abnormalities in the chest X-ray were improved after the withdrawal of amiodarone. Cytologic examination of the BAL revealed numerous foam cells with cytoplasmic vacuoles or small particles. Ultrastructurally, the foam cells demonstrated characteristic lysosomal inclusions, which were electron-dense multilamellated bodies, crystalloid bodies, and mixed forms with small lipid vacuoles. It is strongly suggested that only cytologic and electron microscopic examination of the BAL without open lung biopsy is enough for diagnosis of APT, when APT is clinically suspected in a patient who has a history or ingestation of amiodarone.

Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Pathologic Analysis of Eight Korean Cases.: Seung Sook Lee, Jeong Wook Seo, Eul Keun Ham, Yong Il Kim, Nam Hee Won, Jung Gi Im, Young Soo Shim; Korean J Pathol. 1994;28(4):358-367.

Abstract PDF: Histopathology of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM) is studied using four new cases and six previously reported cases, which include two cases without definite evidence of LAM. The important diagnostic features of this lesion were nodular proliferation of immature smooth muscle and cleft or cyst formation within the nodules of smooth muscle cells. The nuclei of the smooth muscle cells were bigger than those of blood vessels or fibrotic lung, and the direction of nuclei was irregular. The lung parenchyma showed little inflammatory change but there were multiple air cysts with smooth muscle nodules at their margin. There were two cases with exuberant proliferation of smooth muscle nodules and two cases with papilliferous projections of the cells into lymphatic lumen. Whereas, three cases had only a few small slender nodules of smooth muscle cells at the margin of air cyst. The lymphatic lumen with smooth muscle nodules is dilated in four cases but other four cases show collapsed lumen. Pulmonary hemorrhage and hemosiderosis were prominent in three cases. There were variety of histology in terms of the cellularity of smooth muscle nodules, the size of the lymphatic lumen and the degree of pulmonary destruction, which may have significance on the clinical presentation and prognostication.

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma of the Lung: Report of a case.: Gyeong Hoon Kang, Yong Il Kim, Sung Koo Han, Young Soo Shim, Eui Keun Ham, Sang Kook Lee, Sang Sook Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1991;25(6):563-569.

Abstract PDF: Intravascular bronchioloaveolar tumor is now recognized as a pulmonary form of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, being manifested with bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules in young women. This 34-year-old woman received two occasions of open lung biopsies with interval of 1 year for diffuse nodular infiltrations in both lung fields. Repeated radiographic study 3 year later showed no significant progression of the pulmonary nodular lesions except for pleural effusion. Two occasions of open lung biopsies disclosed similar multiple discrete nodules which consisted of central acellular areas with lacuna-like ghosts and peripheral cellular zone. The tumor cells grew in micropolypoid fashion with preservation of background alveolar frame-works. Ultrastructure disclosed most of neoplastic cells presenting with the features suggestive of endothelial differentiation, and immunohistochemical study revealed the presence of cellular areas which gave positive reaction to factor VIII-related antigen. We support that this is an additional case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the lung that is manifested with a multicetric intrapulmonary vascular endothelial cell growth featuring a vasoformative tendency and participation of topography-specific histologic modification.

Atypical Thymic Carcinoid Associated with Ectopic ACTH Syndrome: Demonstration of ACTH secretion with ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies.: Eun Hee Suh, Yong Il Kim, Sung Yeon Kim, Young Soo Shim; Korean J Pathol. 1986;20(1):91-96.

Abstract PDF: We reported a case of atypical thymic carcinoid tumor with ectopic ACTH syndrome which was proved by the presence of intracytoplasmic ACTH in the tumor cells using PAP method and electron microscopy. The patient was a 43-year-old housewife who was referred with Cushing's syndrome of unknown origin, and subsequantly followed by many disabling symptoms including, diabetes mellitus and electrolyte imbalance for which bilateral adrenalectomy was carried out. Thereafter, rapid rise in serum ACTH level and hyperpigmentation were followed. Pituitary irradiation was done under the impression of Nelson's syndrome despite of lacking evidence of pituitary tumor, but high serum ACTH persisted. Seven months after pituitary irradiation, two anterior mediastinal masses were first noticed and removed. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies confirmed this neoplasm as a ACTH producing spindle cell variant of atypical thymic carcinoid tumor. When dealing with a patient who developed Nelson's syndrome-like phenomenon without apparent pituitary tumor, the possibility of ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by thymic carcinoid should be considered.

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