A Case of Gardner's Syndrome Presenting as an Abdominal Wall Mass

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is characterized by large numbers of adenomatous polyps in the colon and inherited as an autosomal dominant disease. Gardner's syndrome is a form of FAP accompanied by extra-colonic tumors and desmoid tumors. Desmoid tumors are rare, and benign tumors characterized by fibroblastic proliferation of fascial and musculoaponeurotic components. There is an approximate 1,000 times higher incidence of desmoid tumors in patients with FAP compared with the general population. Desmoid tumors in Gardner's syndrome occur in the small bowel mesentery in 80% of all cases, and the other 20% in the abdominal wall or the extremities. Almost all cases of desmoid tumors in Gardner's syndrome were incidentally found after prophylactic total proctocolectomy for colon cancer prevention in the patients with FAP. We report a case of Gardner's syndrome associated with codon 1099 mutation of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, in which the patient was initially found to have desmoid tumors and subsequently diagnosed as FAP by screening colonoscopy.

Comparative Analysis of Laparoscopic Versus Open Appendectomy for Perforated Appendicitis in Children Under 12 Years Old at a Single Institute

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic (LA) vs. open appendectomy (OA) in children under 12 years old with perforated appendicitis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical files of 156 children who underwent LA (n=96), OA (n=59), and conversion (CO) (n=1), and compared duration of operation, length of hospital stay, incidence of wound infection, mechanical ileus, intra-abdominal abscess (IAA), and re-admission. RESULTS: Compared to OA, LA resulted in longer duration of operation (58.32+/-17.105 min vs. 44.27+/-18.735 min; p=0.001), but fewer wound infections (2.1% vs. 10.2%; p=0.054), and fewer cases of mechanical ileus (0% vs. 5.1%; p=0.053). No differences in the length of hospital stay (5.85+/-1.824 days vs. 6.10+/-3.027 days; p=0.526), IAA (2.1% vs. 1.7%; p=1.000), or re-admissions (2.1% vs. 5.1%; p=0.369) were observed. CONCLUSION: We report that although LA showed an association with longer duration of operation compared to OA, it is superior to OA with regard to incidence of wound infection and mechanical ileus.

Single-center Comparative Study of Laparoscopic Versus Open Colon Surgery

PURPOSE: To examine the change in practice from open to laparoscopic practice in our local trust and compare the benefits with those of an open surgery group. METHODS: This retrospective comprehensive review analyzed 225 patients who underwent resection of colon cancers at the Dae Jin Medical Center, including 182 who underwent laparoscopic surgery (LAC) and 43 who underwent conventional open surgery (OC), conducted by a single surgeon from August 2002 to August 2010. The LAC group was divided into two groups, 50 patients during the early period and 132 patients during the late period, and short-term and oncologic outcomes were recorded. Patients identified through clinical coding and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 18.0 (2009. SPSS Inc. USA). RESULTS: Comparisons of 43 open versus 50 early and 132 late laparoscopic colon surgeries for various indications and outcomes were made. The operative time was longer in the LAC group (early and late LAC group) than in the OC group. However, post operative recovery time (hospital stay, days to sips of water and days to soft diet) was significantly shorter in the early and late LAC group than in the OC group. There was no significant difference between the LAC groups and open group with respect to age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists, tumor-node stage, morbidity, mortality, overall survival rates, disease free survival rates and recurrence rates. CONCLUSION: In our experience, laparoscopic surgery resulted in acceptable short term outcomes and our results support those of other studies with respect to clinical outcomes of laparoscopic surgery.

Comparative Analysis Between Totally Extraperitoneal Repair and Prolene Hernia System at a Single Institute

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic hernioplasty is a standard procedure used for the repair of inguinal hernia. However, due to the technical and anatomical complexities associated with this treatment and the requirement for long surgery time as compared to other methods, the use of laparoscopic hernioplasty remains questionable. This study compared the results of two surgical repair methods: totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair and the Prolene hernia system (PHS). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent TEP (154 cases) and PHS (126 cases) from January 2008 to December 2010 as performed by a surgeon at our hospital. Operating time, length of hospital stay, recurrence rate, surgical site infection rate, wound hematoma rate and scrotum swelling rate were all compared. RESULTS: For the TEP treatment cases the mean operating time was 59.5 min, mean hospital stay was 4.9 days, there were 2 cases (1.3%) of recurrence, one case (0.6%) of surgical site infection, 20 cases (12.9%) of wound hematoma and 8 cases (5.2%) of scrotum swelling. In the case including treatment by PHS the mean operating time was 39.6 min, mean hospital stay was 5.4 days, there were no cases of recurrence, there were 2 cases (1.7%) of surgical site infection, 11 cases (9.5%) of wound hematoma and 12 cases (10.3%) of scrotum swelling. There were no cases involving neurogenic pain or chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Both PHS and TEP are safe and effective procedures for repairing inguinal hernia. Thus, with consideration of variable patient conditions and other factors, either PHS or TEP are recommended as viable procedures for treating inguinal hernia.

The Variation of Hepatic Duct Confluence and Asymptomatic Common Bile Duct Stone with Routine Intraoperative Cholangiogram during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been used to evaluate bile duct stone. But, the routine use of IOC remains controversial. With routine IOC during LC, we reviewed the variation of hepatic duct confluence and try to suggest the diagnostic criteria of asymptomatic common bile duct (CBD) stone. METHODS: We reviewed the medical record of 970 consecutive patients who underwent LC with IOC from January 1999 to December 2009, retrospectively. RESULTS: Nine hundered seventy patients were enrolled. IOC were successful in 957 (98.7%) and unsuccessful in 13 (1.3%). Eighty two of 957 patients (8.2%) were excluded because of no or poor radiologic image. According to Couinaud's classification, 492 patients (56.2%) had type A hepatic duct confluence, 227 patients (26.1%) type B, 15 patients (17%) type C1, 43 patients (4.9%) type C2, 72 patients (8.2%) type D1, 21 patients (2.4%) type D2, 1 patient (0.1%) type E1, 1 patient (0.1%) type E2, 2 patients (0.2%) type F, and 1 patient (0.1%) no classified type. The CBD stone was found in 116 of 970 (12.2%) patients. In 281 patients, preoperative serologic and radiologic tests did not show abnormality. When preoperative findings were not remarkable, there was no difference of clinical features between patients with or without CBD stones. CONCLUSIONS: Although IOC during LC has some demerits, it is a safe and accurate method for the detection of CBD stone and the anatomic variation of intrahepatic duct.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction due to Submucosal Neurofibromatous Proliferation of Duodenal Bulb in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Patient

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1; also known as von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis) is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, although it can also arise due to spontaneous mutation. Gastrointestinal involvement of NF1 is seen in 10% to 25% and causes symptoms in fewer than 5%. Histologically, the gastro intestinal (GI) manifestation of NF1 occurs in three forms: hyperplasia of the gut neural tissue, stromal tumors, and duodenal or periampullary endocrine tumors. A 31-year-old female, diagnosed with NF1, presented with poor oral intake and vomiting for 10 days prior to admission. Preoperative gastrofiberscopic finding was gastric outlet obstructing polypoid duodenal bulb lesion. The patient underwent hemigastrectomy with antecolic gastrojejunostomy due to gastric outlet obstruction. The final pathologic report was submucosal neurofibromatous proliferation with Brunner's gland hyperplasia located at the duodenal bulb in the NF1 patient. We report this case with a review of literatures.

Comparsion of Laparoscopic Appendectomy vs Open Appendectomy in Non-Complicated Appendicitis and Complicated Appendicitis / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy has many benefits compared to the open technique, such as easy localization of the appendix, less scarring for cosmetic reasons and less reported wound infection. However, for patients with complicated appendicitis, controversy exists as to whether laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe procedure. Some recent studies have reported no significant difference of the complication rate compared to that of the open procedure, suggesting that laparoscopic appendectomy could be used as an alternative procedure. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and benefits of laparoscopic appendectomy as compared to that of the open technique for treating complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis. METHODS: We studied the patients who underwent appendectomy by either the laparoscopic or open technique at Bundang Jaesaeang General Hospital between January 2005 and September 2008. Of the total 2,226 patients, there were 168 patients in the laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) group and 2,058 patients in the open appendectomy (OA) group. We compared the patient demographic data and perioperative outcomes of the two groups. RESULTS: Both patient groups were comparable in terms of age. The mean operative time was 91.8 minutes in the LA group and 47.2 minutes in the OA group (p<0.00). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the mean hospital stay. The noncomplicated appendicitis LA group showed a quicker time to start an oral diet (p=0.03) & wound infection (p=0.032). For complicated appendicitis, there were no differences of wound infection & intestinal obstruction between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although laparoscopic appendectomies requires a longer operation time, it did not lengthen the hospital stay nor delay the start of a soft oral diet. Appendiceal abscess in complicated appendicitis did not occur in the laparoscopic or open appendectomy groups. Therefore, laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe procedure for both complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis. To reach a final consensus on the scope of this study, a prospective randomized controlled study is needed in the near future.

The Learning Curve for Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) Repair in Inguinal Hernia / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair has been increasingly used for the treatment of inguinal hernias. This procedure is a very difficult technically and it requires a great deal of experience. However, there are only few studies on the learning curve (LC) of this procedure in the Korea literature. The aim of this study is to determine the number of case that are needed to overcome the learning curve of TEP hernia repairs and to document the surgical and clinical differences before and after overcoming the LC. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 96 TEP hernia repairs that were performed by a single surgeon. The time required to overcome the LC was determined by examining the operation time. The preoperative and postoperative clinical data, such as incidental intraoperative findings, the rate of operative morbidity, the rate of conversion to an open procedure and the length of the postoperative hospital stay, were compared between the before and after groups with overcoming the LC. RESULTS: The 40th case was determined to be the transition point of overcoming the LC according to the operation time. The time before overcoming the LC averaged 73.0 minutes compared to 55.6 minutes after overcoming the LC. The postoperative hospital stay and the conversion rate were all significant (p<0.05). However, the other postoperative outcomes did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: Based on the plateau of the operative time, this study shows that the downward slope of LC for TEP repair is at the 40th operation.

Expression of p53 and bcl-2 in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Affects the Prognosis and Survival Rate

PURPOSE: p53 and bcl-2 are important markers of apoptosis. The expression of p53 and bcl-2 in gastric adenocarcinoma was examined in relation to prognosis and survival rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinicopathologic data from 238 patients who underwent gastrectomies for gastric adenocarcinoma between December 1999 and July 2007 were reviewed. Immunohistochemical staining of gastric adenocarcinoma tissues embedded in paraffin blocks was performed using an Envision kit (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark). Statistical comparisons were made between age, gender, tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, Lauren's classification, cell differentiation, and the relationship with p53 and bcl-2. RESULTS: The expression of p53 was related to cell differentiation (P=0.028) and UICC TNM stage (P<0.001). The expression of bcl-2 was related to UICC TNM stage (P=0.005). The co-expression of p53 and bcl-2 was related to UICC TNM stage (P=0.002). The co-expression group exhibited a greater reduction in the survival rate (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The expression of p53 and bcl-2 nuclear proteins has significant relationships with other conventional prognostic factors and the survival rate. Bcl-2 will be characterized through analysis of a greater number of patients and comparison with survival data over a longer period of time.

Comparative Study of the Clinicopathologic Characteristics between Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Arising from the Stomach and Small Bowel

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of stomach and small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors and to determine the risk factors and treatment guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 38 patients who were diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor from August 1998 to May 2006, 29 patients at the Pundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Daejin Medical Center were evaluated. The clinicopathological characteristics of gastrointestinal stromal tumors arising from stomach and small bowel were compared. Immunohistochemical staining for CD117, CD34, smooth muscle actin, desmin, and S-100 protein was performed and classified according to NIH criteria. Prognosis between groups was analyzed according to NIH criteria. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis between gastrointestinal stromal tumors arising from the stomach and small bowel. Recurrence of the disease occurred in four (13.8%) patients. Classification of gastrointestinal stromal tumors according to NIH criteria was predictive of recurrence (P=0.030). CONCLUSION: NIH criteria were predictive of recurrence, but the location of the primary site was not predictive of recurrence. A further study involving multi center data and a long-term follow-up will be needed for formulating diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines.

Comparison between Lichtenstein and Prolene Hernia System (PHS) in Anterior Tension-Free, Inguinal & Femoral Hernioplasty

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to see if there are any differences in the post-surgical outcomes between 2 tension-free hernioplasty methods. METHODS: We selected those patients with unilateral, bilateral inguinal hernias and femoral hernias who had undergone Lichtenstein n=224) and PHS (n=62) mesh hernioplasty at the Pundang Jaesang Hospital, Department of Surgery, between January 2000 and February 2004, and compared the post-surgical results of each method. The factors analyzed for this comparative study included the patient's age, gender, operation time, length of hospital stay, use of analgesics, cost and recurrences. RESULTS: The results from the statistic showed significant differences between the 2 methods with respect to postoperative pain, cost, duration of hospital stay and recurrences. CONCLUSION: The PHS hernioplasty is a superior method to that of Lichtenstein's herni-oplasty in terms of hospital stay, operation time, postoperative pain & recurrences.

Synergistic Effect of Theophylline and Cisplatin on Inhibition of Cell Growth and Induction of Apoptosis in Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug which is widely used for cancer therapy including ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study is to elucidate synergistic effect of Cispaltin and Theophylline on the apoptosis of OC-109. METHODS: Human ovarian cancer cell lines of epithelial origin (OC-109, OC-238) were used for experiments. Antibody of Bcl-2 gene was purchased by Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (Heidelberg, Germany) and p53 antibody and Mdm-2 antibody were generous gift from M. Oren at the Weizmann Institute (Rehovot, Israel). Apoptosis was measured by FACS analysis and TUNEL method. Western blot for protein expression and biochemical analysis for measuring protein was done by Bradford method. RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of Cisplatin on the cell growth began at the concentration of 0.3 microM and increased to 9 microM, while Gemzar began to inhibit cell growth at the concentration of 0.0013 microM and increased to 0.12 microM. Theophylline did not show significant inhibitory effect until the concentration of 80 microgram/mL, but the cell growth was inhibited significantly at the concentration of 320 microgram/mL. Synergistic effect of Cisplatin and Theophylline was observed at the concentration of 1 microM and 80 microgram/mL, respectively. Apoptosis was measured by the shifting to sub-G1 phase of cell cycle by FACS analysis. Synergistic effect of Cispatin, Gemzar and Theophylline was observed. TUNEL assay also showed clear synergistic effect of Cisplatin and Theophylline. Bcl-2 gene product which inhibits the apoptosis was down-regulated after Cisplatin, Cisplatin and Theophylline co-treatment. Mdm-2 gene product was up-regulated while p53 protein was not changed significantly. CONCLUSION: Synergistic effect of Cisplatin and Theophylline on the inhibition of cell growth by apoptosis was clearly observed. This effect suggest the possibility lowering the concentration of chemotherapeutic drugs, which alleviate the side effect of drugs. Bcl-2 gene expression was down-regulated after Cisplatin and Theophylline co-treatment while Mdm-2 gene expression was up-regulated. p53 gene expression was not significantly changed after stimulation of various combination. Apoptosis was measured by FACS analysis and TUNNEL assay, which showed clearly synergistic effect of Cisplatin and Theophylline.

Study on Measure of Chemosensitivities to Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol Theraphy in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines: Relationship with p53 and bcl-2 Expression and Apoptosis / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate Topotecan-, Cisplatin- and Taxol-induced apoptosis in five human ovarian cell lines as a measure of chemosensitiviy and relationship between apoptosis and p53 and bcl-2 gene expression. METHODS: In this study, the author is presenting data on apoptosis induced by Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol in five ovarian cancer cell lines, and represent different levels of sensitivities to Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol. This study also includes the interaction of these chemotherapeutic agents on ovarian cancer cell lines with respect to the apoptosis and cytotoxicity assay as a quantitative measure of the efficiency of killing. Presence of the p53 and bcl-2 gene product were examined by western blotting. RESULTS: The five cell lines represent various sensitivities to Topotecan, Cisplatin, Taxol (LD50 range of Topotecan, 30~1000 ng/ml; Cisplatin, 3~10 microgram/ml, Taxol 5~1000 nm). SKOV-3 represent a resistant cell line which was 2~30 times resistant to Topotecan, 3 times resistant to Cisplatin, and 2~200 times resistant to Taxol when compared to others. Demonstration of apoptosis correlated with the sensitivity of the cell lines to Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol for SNU-840 and OVCAR-3. DNA fragmentation of OVCAR-3 was uniformly present when treated with Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol, 24 or 48 hours. When sequencing experimetns were performed with correlated with cytotoxicity assays, except in SNU-251 cells where no signigicant difference was observed in different interactions of Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol. Pretreatment with Topotecan, Cisplatin at a 24 hour interval resulted in enhanced cytotoxicity. Quantitation of the fragmented DNA correlated with that seen on gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSION: The study indicate that the ability to achieve significant cytotoxicity by Topotecan, Cisplatin and Taxol may be related to the induction of apoptosis rather than necrosis. However, outcome of these treatments depend on cellular and genetic characheristics.

Comparative Analysis of Three Subgroups in Stage II Stomach Cancer

PURPOSE: Three subgroups of stage II stomach cancer (T1N2M0, T2N1M0, T3N0M0) by UICC-TNM staging system show obvious survival difference to each other, which becomes the pitfall of the current staging system. We analyzed the survival and relapse pattern of stage II stomach cancer patients in three subgroups retrospectively to prove the need for change in staging system. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: From July 1989 to December 1995, curative gastric resection was performed in 1,037 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, and among them 268 patients (26%) were in stage II. The number in each of subgroups (T1N2M0, T2N1M0, and T3N0M0) were 17, 139 and 112 respectively. Survival and relapse pattern were analyzed and median follow up period was 46 months. RESULTS: The 3-year cumulative survival rates of T1N2M0, T2N1M0, and T3N0M0 were 50%, 80%, and 76% respectively (p=0.001). And the 3-year cumulative survival rates of T1N2M0 was comparable to those of 2 subgroups of stage IIIa (T2N2M0, T3N1M0), 47% and 45% (p>0.05). Peritoneal recurrence was the most frequent in T3N0M0. And hematogenous spread was more frequent in T2N1M0 while nodal spread was more frequent in T1N2M0. Ten out of 17 cases of T1N2M0 died of recurrence. Most of them showed submucosal tumor with depressed lesion and mean tumor size was 3.3 cm. CONCLUSION: Up-staging of T1N2M0 should be considered because it has the lowest survival rate and the worst prognosis among the three subgroups of Stage II stomach cancer patients. In early gastric cancer patients with high-risk factors (large tumor size, invasion into the submucosal layer, and lymphatic vessel involvement), lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant therapy is recommended in an attempt to prevent recurrence in the form of lymph node metastasis.

The Patterns of Personality and Anger Expression in the Patients with Colorectal Cancer / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Although previous studies have suggested that Type 1 or Type C personality may be associated with the development of cancer, the results have not been consistent. There have been some evidences that repression, denial, or non-expression of anger are related with the incidence of colorectal cancer. However, according to the results of recent researches, aggressive hostility was related to the development of colorectal cancer. This study attempted to delineate psychological characteristics or personality patterns of the patients with colorectal cancer based on multidemensions of anger and Type 1 personality for cancer development. METHOD: The subjects were composed of 35 patients with colorectal cancer and 37 normal controls. Grossarth-Maticek personality questionnaire and the Spielberger state-trait anger expression inventory were administered. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal control group, the colorectal cancer patient group showed significantly higher scores on anger experience, angry temperament and state anger but no significant differences on Type 1 personality scale and other subscales. In the discriminant analysis patients and control groups were classified by means of state anger, angry temperament, angry reaction, anger-in, anger-out and anger control variables. When angry temperament variable was selected as a discriminant variable, 65.8% of cases had been correctly classified. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested the relationship between the disposition to experience and express anger without particular provocation and the development of cancer.

The Role of Gastric Resection for Advanced Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Seeding

PURPOSE: Peritoneal seeding is the most common type of metastasis and recurrence in gastric cancer. Recently, some studies have reported the benefits of a noncurative gastrectomy for greatly advanced gastric cancer; nevertheless, there are many controversies. This study was performed to investigate the survival benefit of a noncurative gastrectomy for patients with greatly advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal seeding. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 286 gastric-cancer patients who had received operations and who had been proven to have peritoneal seeding without liver metastasis or other hematogenous distant metastasis between January 1990 and December 1997 at the Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan. RESULTS: The distribution of the degree of peritoneal seeding was P1 in 84 cases (29.4%), P2 in 56 cases (19.6%), and P3 in 146 cases (51.0%). The duration of median follow-up was 9 months (range: 0.4-83.9 months). A noncurative gastrectomy was performed in 121 cases (42.3%); out of them, a total gastrectomy was performed in 49 cases (40.5%), a distal gastrectomy in 70 cases (57.9%), and a proximal gastrectomy in 2 cases (1.6%). A noncurative gastrec tomy was done 51 of the P1 cases (60.7%), 23 of the P2 cases (41.1%), and 47 of the P3 cases (32.2%). D2 lymph-node dissection was performed in 168 cases (87.6%). Postoperative complications developed in 5 cases with a noncurative gastrectomy, and there was no operative mortality. The median survival times were 11.3 months in P1 cases, 10.5 months in P2 cases, and 6.6 months in P3 cases. The median survival times of noncurative gastrectomy, bypass, and expoloratory laparotomy cases were 11.5 months, 6.6 months, and 6.3 months, respectively; according to the degree of peritoneal seeding, they were 14.8 months, 7.1 months, and 5.3 months in P1 cases, 15.3 months, 8.2 months, and 12.5 months in P2 cases, and 7.6 months, 6.4 months, and 5.7 months in P3 cases, respectively. The difference in survival time between the resection and the nonresection groups had statistical significance regardless of the degree ofperitoneal seeding (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the degree of peritoneal seeding (RR: 1.33) and gastric resection (RR: 1.52) were proven to be significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: A noncurative gastrectomy might lengthen the survival time in advanced gastric-cancer patients with peritoneal seeding.

The Significance of Serum CA 19 - 9 Level in Gastric Adenocarcinoma / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the significance of preoperative serum CA 19-9 level as a prognostic factor and postoperative serum CA 19-9 level as an indicator for recurrence in gastric adenocarcinoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 328 patients, who received curative resection of stomach for gastric cancer from 1989 to 1996 and followed up successfully, were analyzed retrospec- tively. Median follow-up period was 24 months (range: 11-38 months). The cut off level of serum CA 19-9 was 37 U/ml. The relationships between preoperative serum CA 19-9 status and prognostic parameters, recurrence and survival rate were analyzed. Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to evaluate as an independent prognostic factor. The relationship between postoperative serum CA 19-9 level and recurrence was investigated. RESULTS: Out of 328 cases, 29 cases (8.8%) showed elevated preoperative serum CA 19-9 level. The preoperative serum CA 19-9 level was correlated with the degree of depth of invasion and the status of lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). Patients with positive pre- operative serum CA 19-9 status showed higher incidence of recurrence (p<0.05) and poorer survival rate (p=0.00003) than patients with negative status. Preoperative serum CA 19-9 status (risk ratio: 3.4464, p=0.0039) revealed as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. Postoperative serum CA 19-9 status revealed as a useful predictor for recurrence in patients with positive preoperative serum CA 19-9 status. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum CA 19-9 determination in patients with gastric cancer was valuable for predicting tumor progression and prognosis. Preoperative serum CA 19-9 status may be helpful to predict recurrence earlier than other diagnostic tools, especially in the patients with positive preoperative serum CA 19-9 status.

A Combined Treatment of Tamoxifen, Goserelin, and Sulindac in 2 Cases of Recurrent Desmoid Tumor in the Abdomen

Desmoid tumor is a subtype of fibromatosis arising from deep fascial or soft tissue structure. It is characterized by locally aggressive behavior with a tendency to local recurrence, but is generally accepted the lack of ability for distant metastasis. Although excision is the best initial therapy, surgery is not always amenable in cases of lesions lying in difficult anatomical area. Two female patients with recurrent desmoid tumor in abdomen and pelvis after excision were treated with tamoxifen, goserelin, and sulindac. This therapy led to a progressive decrease of tumor size within 13 months in one patient. However, in the other patient, this combined therapy failed to reduce the size of the tumor. Despite the success of combined therapy with hormone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is anecdotal, this treatment may improve the survival and reduce the recurrence in certain sub-group of desmoid tumor.

Diagnostic Value of Tumor Markers in Stomach Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 are the most commonly used tumor markers in stomach cancer. This clinical study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of these tumor markers in stomach cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 170 stomach cancer patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy between January 1991 and December 1996 at the Department of Surgery was performed. The preoperative and postoperative serum levels of these tumor markers were measured in 170 patients. RESULTS: The preoperative positive cases were 28 cases (16%) in CEA, 15 (9%) in CA19-9, and 24 (14%) in CA72-4. The postoperative positive cases among 48 recurrences were 21 cases (44%) in CEA, 10 (21%) in CA19-9, and 10 (21%) in CA72-4. The combination of CEA with CA19-9 or CA72-4 had higher positivity rate (58%) than single tumor marker. The highest positivity rate was found in CEA at recurrences of anastomotic site, in CA19-9 at recurrences of lymph node, in CA72-4 at peritoneal seeding and distant metastasis. In multivariate analysis, these tumor markers were not independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 have proved unhelpful in initial diagnosis of stomach cancer because of their low positivity rate. And the combination of 3 tumor markers was the useful method for raising positivity rate in diagnosis of recurrences.