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Hee Kyung Kim

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Hee Kyung Kim's research lab specializes in thyroid cancer and endocrine disorders, with a focus on improving diagnostic accuracy, optimizing treatment strategies, and enhancing patient outcomes in differentiated and advanced thyroid cancers. The lab investigates biomarkers such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and iodine metabolism to refine low-iodine diet protocols and assess treatment efficacy. It also explores targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors like sorafenib and lenvatinib, in real-world settings for radioactive iodine-refractory disease. Additionally, the lab contributes to advancing minimally invasive tissue sampling techniques, such as EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB, for accurate histopathological diagnosis of subepithelial tumors.

thyroid cancertargeted therapyiodine metabolismendoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsythyroid function disorders

Research Overview

Papers
259
Total Citations
3,410
Papers (5y)
48
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
48total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
296total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|66 citations·2012
Higher TSH level is a risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer
Hee Kyung Kim, Jee Hee Yoon, Soo Jeong Kim, Jin Seong Cho, Sun‐Seog Kweon, Ho‐Cheol Kang
SJR Q2Clinical Endocrinology

OBJECTIVES: Higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). To validate this association, we compared TSH levels obtained from euthyroid patients with DTC with TSH levels from controls in the general population. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The case group included 1759 patients with DTC, who underwent thyroid surgery at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital. The control group (n = 1548), who had participated in the Thyroid Disease Prevalenc

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
2
Article|64 citations·2014
A case of masked toxic adenoma in a patient with non-thyroidal illness
Eun Ae Cho, Jee Hee Yoon, Hee Kyung Kim, Ho‐Cheol Kang
SJR Q1BMC Endocrine DisordersOA

BACKGROUND: Non-thyroidal illness (NTI) refers to changes in thyroid hormone levels in critically ill patients in the absence of primary hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid dysfunction, and these abnormalities usually resolve after clinical recovery. However, NTI can be accompanied by primary thyroid dysfunction. We report herein a case of a woman with NTI accompanied by primary hyperthyroidism. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old female was admitted to the intensive care unit with heart failure and atr

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
3
Article|57 citations·2017
Comparison of RECIST to immune-related response criteria in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors
Hee Kyung Kim, Mi Hwa Heo, Han Sang Lee, Jong‐Mu Sun, Se‐Hoon Lee, Jin Seok Ahn, Keunchil Park, Myung‐Ju Ahn
SJR Q1Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology
OncologyMedicine
4
Article|49 citations·2016
EUS‐guided FNA and FNB after on‐site cytological evaluation in gastric subepithelial tumors
Jae Pil Han, Tae Hee Lee, Su Jin Hong, Hee Kyung Kim, Hyung Min Noh, Yun Nah Lee, Hyun Jong Choi
SJR Q2Journal of Digestive Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Acquiring adequate tissue for immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis is important in the differential diagnosis of subepithelial tumors (SETs). In this study, we aimed to compare the diagnostic yield based on IHC analysis between endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and EUS-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) after on-site cytological evaluation for cellularity in gastric SETs. METHODS: In 22 patients with gastric SETs, EUS-guided tissue sampling was performed on

GastroenterologyMedicine
5
Article|46 citations·2022
Lenvatinib Compared with Sorafenib as a First-Line Treatment for Radioactive Iodine-Refractory, Progressive, Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Real-World Outcomes in a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Mijin Kim, Meihua Jin, Min Ji Jeon, Eui Young Kim, Dong Yeob Shin, Dong‐Jun Lim, Bo Hyun Kim, Ho‐Cheol Kang, Won Bae Kim, Won Bae Kim, Young Kee Shong, Hee Kyung Kim
SJR Q1Thyroid

Background: Sorafenib and lenvatinib have been widely adopted to treat radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). However, limited data exist regarding a direct comparison of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of two TKIs as first-line therapy in patients with distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC in real-world practice. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective cohort

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
6
Article|46 citations·2009
Usefulness of iodine/creatinine ratio from spot‐urine samples to evaluate the effectiveness of low‐iodine diet preparation for radioiodine therapy
Hee Kyung Kim, Soo‐Youn Lee, Ji In Lee, Hye Won Jang, Soo Kyoung Kim, Hye Soo Chung, Alice Tan, Kyu Yeon Hur, Jae Hyeon Kim, Jae Hoon Chung, Sun Wook Kim, Sun Wook Kim
SJR Q2Clinical Endocrinology

OBJECTIVE: The success of a low-iodine diet (LID) is best determined by measurement of 24-h urine iodine (U-I) excretion. The aim of this study was to determine reliable estimates for 24-h U-I based on spot-urine samples and to provide cut-offs to determine the effectiveness of LID preparation. DESIGN: We prospectively measured iodine levels in 193 patients based on 24-h- and spot-urine samples before radioactive iodine therapy. The iodine was expressed as the 24-h U-I excretion (microg/day) and

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
7
Article|37 citations·2006
High-level expression of B7-H1 molecules by dendritic cells suppresses the function of activated T cells and desensitizes allergen-primed animals
Hee Kyung Kim, Hongbing Guan, Guorui Zu, Hui Li, Lizhi Wu, Feng Xu, Craig A. Elmets, Yang‐Xin Fu, Hui Xu
SJR Q1Journal of Leukocyte BiologyOA

A body of evidence indicates that expression of the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor by activated T cells plays an important role in the down-regulation of immune responses; however, the functions of its known ligands, B7-H1 (PD-L1) and B7-dendritic cell (DC; PD-L2), at the effector phase of immune responses are less clear. In the current study, we investigated the roles of B7-H1 in DC-mediated regulation of hapten-activated T cells and the delayed-type contact hypersensitivity response i

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
8
Article|32 citations·2011
Cholangiocarcinoma arising in von Meyenburg complexes
Hee Kyung Kim, So‐Young Jin
The Korean Journal of HepatologyOA

Figure 1. Macroscopic findings of the right lobe of the liver.

SurgeryMedicine
9
Article|30 citations·2014
Diffuse Metastasis to the Thyroid: Unique Ultrasonographic Finding and Clinical Correlation
Hee Kyung Kim, Sung Sun Kim, Chan Young Oak, Soo Jeong Kim, Jee Hee Yoon, Ho‐Cheol Kang
SJR Q2Journal of Korean Medical ScienceOA

Cases of metastases to the thyroid gland seem to be increasing in recent years. The clinical and ultrasonographic findings of diffuse metastases have been sparsely reported. Thirteen cases of diffuse metastases to the thyroid gland were documented by thyroid ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration cytology between 2004 and 2013. We retrospectively reviewed the patients with diffuse thyroid metastases. The most common primary site was the lung (n=9), followed by unknown origin cancers (n=2)

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
10
Review|25 citations·2022
Hypothyroidism and Diabetes-Related Dementia: Focused on Neuronal Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, and Dyslipidemia
Hee Kyung Kim, Juhyun Song
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

The incidence of dementia is steadily increasing worldwide. The risk factors for dementia are diverse, and include genetic background, environmental factors, sex differences, and vascular abnormalities. Among the subtypes of dementia, diabetes-related dementia is emerging as a complex type of dementia related to metabolic imbalance, due to the increase in the number of patients with metabolic syndrome and dementia worldwide. Thyroid hormones are considered metabolic regulatory hormones and affec

PhysiologyMedicine
11
Article|24 citations·2011
Daily urine iodine excretion while consuming a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine therapy in a high iodine intake area
Hee Kyung Kim, Soo‐Youn Lee, Ji In Lee, Hye Won Jang, Soo Kyoung Kim, Hye Soo Chung, Alice Tan, Kyu Yeon Hur, Jae Hyeon Kim, Jae Hoon Chung, Sun Wook Kim, Sun Wook Kim
SJR Q2Clinical Endocrinology

OBJECTIVE: Recommended durations of low-iodine diet (LID) in preparation for radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) vary among major guidelines and are important for patients in areas where iodine intake is high. The aim of this study was to investigate daily changes in urine iodine excretion after starting a LID. DESIGN: The daily iodine/creatinine (I/Cr) ratios and simple iodine concentration (simple I) of morning spot urine from 19 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were measured for 2

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
12
Article|22 citations·2021
Surgery is a safe, effective first-line treatment modality for noninvasive prolactinomas
Ji Yong Park, Wonsuk Choi, A Ram Hong, Jee Hee Yoon, Hee Kyung Kim, Woo‐Youl Jang, Shin Jung, Ho‐Cheol Kang
SJR Q2Pituitary
Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
13
Article|22 citations·2004
Posttransplant Primary Cutaneous Ki-1 (CD30)+/CD56+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Hee Kyung Kim, So‐Young Jin, Nam Su Lee, Jong-Ho Won, Hee Sook Park, Woo Ick Yang
SJR Q1Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

An anaplastic large cell lymphoma that was negative for Epstein-Barr virus and positive for Ki-1 (CD30) presented as a polypoid scalp mass in a 56-year-old man 16 years after renal transplantation. The lymphoma was of the CD4+ cytotoxic T-cell lineage, and the tumor cells also expressed CD56. Despite reduction in the dose of immunosuppression and localized radiotherapy, the tumor had rapidly progressed to involve the soft tissue of the right hand. Systemic chemotherapy induced complete regressio

DermatologyMedicine
14
Article|21 citations·2015
Characteristics of Korean Patients with Antithyroid Drug-Induced Agranulocytosis: A Multicenter Study in Korea
Hee Kyung Kim, Jee Hee Yoon, Min Ji Jeon, Tae Yong Kim, Young Kee Shong, Min Jin Lee, Bo Hyun Kim, In Joo Kim, Ji Young Joung, Sun Wook Kim, Jae Hoon Chung, Ho‐Cheol Kang
SJR Q1Endocrinology and MetabolismOA

The majority of AIA incidents occur in the early treatment period. Considering the high fatality rate of AIA, an early aggressive therapeutic approach is critical and patients should be well informed regarding the warning symptoms of the disease.

GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Article|21 citations·2014
Tumorigenesis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Is Not BRAF-Dependent in Patients with Acromegaly
Hee Kyung Kim, Ji Shin Lee, Min Ho Park, Jin Seong Cho, Jee Hee Yoon, Soo Jeong Kim, Ho‐Cheol Kang
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

The prevalence of PTC in acromegalic patients was high (25%). An uncontrolled hyperactive GH-IGF-1 axis may play a dominant role in the development of PTC rather than the BRAFV600E mutation in patients with acromegaly.

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine

Research Areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineOncologySurgeryGeneticsPathology and Forensic Medicine

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