Huge Gastric Schwannoma Characterized by a Gastric Ulcer During Endoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastric schwannomas are very rare mesenchymal tumors that can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract, but are most commonly found in the stomach. The majority of patients have no symptoms, while others may complain of epigastric pain or upper gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding. Endoscopic examination of a gastric schwannoma commonly reveals a protrusive mass, but, as in this case, many types of ulceration can be observed with central necrosis. We report on a 62-year-old woman with endoscopic findings of 1 cm sized necrotizing ulceration and an 11 cm sized submucosal mass on radiological examinations. The patient underwent a wedge-shaped resection of the stomach and segmental resection of the transverse colon. Both histological and immunohistochemical staining revealed a gastric schwannoma.

Mallory-Weiss Syndrome Occurring in a Hanging Patient: Case Report

Reflex gasping when hanging leads to passive and vigorous vomiting, the mechanical force of which causes gastric mucosa laceration. Mallory-Weiss syndrome is a tear in the gastro-esophageal junction or its adjacent mucosa, and this can occur due to nausea or vomiting that is caused by various etiologic factors. Gastric fundus is the most common site of gastric mucosa lacerations. We report a case of a 41-year-old man, who tried to hang himself and, as a result, caused multiple gastric mucosa lacerations that were treated by an endoscopic hemostatic procedure in the emergency room.

A study on revitalization of primary healthcare organizations through development of standard functions

Primary care lays the foundation of national healthcare systems, but it has been weak in playing its role correctly because of legal and environmental attributes surrounding the healthcare industry in Korea. This study is conducted to concretize the definition and scope of primary care and to deduce its standard functions to contribute to establishing the healthcare delivery system and appropriate healthcare systems embracing socio-environmental leverage. The term primary healthcare institution was adopted based on literature review to achieve the research goal. The principle diseases appropriate for the primary healthcare institution based on ambulatory care sensitive conditions were analyzed, and the standard functions were deduced by matching these diseases with current procedural terminologies using CrossCoder package. Based on the analysis, the primary healthcare institution-specific diseases were 53 specific diseases under 23 broad disease groups. The standard functions were deduced in three categories of the standard functions of the entire primary healthcare institutions with 100% frequency, common standard functions with 70% frequency, and peculiar standard functions specific to diseases or body systems. These functions included outpatient evaluation and measurement, various factor tests through blood collection, and X-ray. Establishing the standard functions for the primary healthcare institution can promote patient reliability on primary care, alleviate health demand congestion toward large-sized advanced healthcare institutions. Furthermore, it contributes to establishing and reinforcing other healthcare policies related to the healthcare reimbursement system and referral system, and fosters primary care physician education. Most importantly, it reduces the national health expenditures by realizing efficient and effective healthcare delivery.

Portal and Superior Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Treated with Urokinase Infusion via Superior Mesenteric Artery / 대한소화기학회지

Portal and mesenteric venous thrombosis is an uncommon disease, but clinically important, because it accounts for 5% to 15% of acute mesenteric ischemia. The diagnosis is often delayed because the conditions are nonspecific abdominal symptoms. In addition, when this occurs in young individual without any known predisposing factor, the diagnosis may become even more difficult. The treatment of mesenteric venous thrombosis involves anticoagulation therapy alone or in combination with surgery. The addition of thrombolytic therapy to the treatment of portal and mesenteric venous thrombosis may enhance the clearance of thrombus and hasten the clinical improvements. We present a case of mesenteric venous thrombosis treated with catheter-directed infusion of urokinase via the superior mesenteric artery and systemic anticoagulation.

A Case of Hepatoid Carcinoma of the Pancreas / 대한소화기학회지

Hepatoid carcinoma is a primary extrahepatic neoplasm exhibiting features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of morphology, immunohistochemistry, and behavior. In many cases, tumor cytoplasm is positive for alpha- fetoprotein (alpha-FP) with elevated serum alpha-FP level. Because not all hepatoid carcinomas are associated with alpha- FP overproduction, diagnosis should be made essentially by histological features of the tumor. We present a case of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas in a 21-year-old male patient. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an inhomogeneously enhanced pancreatic head mass. Serum alpha-FP level was markedly elevated. He underwent pylorus-preserving Whipple's operation. The tumor showed hepatoid and neuroendocrine components simultaneously. The histopathological diagnosis was hepatoid carcinoma associated with neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Seven months after the surgery, the patient is healthy without evidence of recurrence. To date, only 7 cases of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas have been reported in the literature, and this is the first case report in Korea.

Clinical and Biochemical Parameters of Nutrition to Predict Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhotic Patients / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Protein-calorie malnutrition is a common complication in cirrhosis. Protein restriction for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) may cause disease progression and poor prognosis. Therefore, we evaluated important clinical parameters for nutritional state in cirrhotic patients with or without HE to predict the development of HE. METHODS: Twenty-two cirrhotic patients were divided into two groups; group A-13 patients without HE and group B-9 patients with HE. Clinical and biochemical parameters, serum proteins {serum albumin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), transferrin, leptin, etc}, immunologic parameters and anthropometry were measured. RESULTS: Child-Pugh score and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scale were higher in group B (p<0.01). After correction of various factors affecting nutritional assessment, especially of Child-Pugh score and MELD scale, leptin was higher in group B (p<0.05). There was no difference in anthropometric measurements. Transferrin correlated inversely with MELD scale in group A (p<0.01). IGF-1 correlated inversely with total lymphocyte count in group B (p<0.05). Leptin correlated with Child-Pugh scores, total lymphocyte count and mid-arm muscle cirumference in group A (p<0.05, p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively), and correlated inversely with CD8 in group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Leptin level is higher in patients with HE, and further studies for parameters of nutrition to predict HE in many cirrhotic patients will be needed.

A Case of Portal Vein Thrombosis Associated with Acute Pancreatitis and Cholangitis / 대한소화기학회지

Portal vein thrombosis is a rare complication accompanied with acute pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis. The main pathogenesis of portal vein thrombosis in pancreatitis or cholangitis/cholecystitis are suggested to be venous compression by pseudocyst and an imbalance between the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. In this case report, we experienced a 63 year old male who developed portal vein thrombosis later in the course of the treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis with cholangitis/cholecystitis without any symptom or sign. The diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis was given on follow up CT scan and serum protein S activity was decreased to 27% in laboratory study. Immediate anticoagulation therapy with heparin and thrombolytic therapy with urokinase and balloon dilatation were performed. Despite the aggressive treatment, complete reperfusion could not be obtained. With oral warfarin anticoagulation, the patient showed no disease progression and was discharged. We report a case of portal vein thrombosis as a complication of acute pancreatitis and cholangitis/cholecystitis with a review of literatures.

A Case of Colorectal Villous Adenoma Found with PET-CT / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Adenomatous polyp in colorectal area is clinically important as being a precursor of colorectal cancer. Early detection of cancer reduces colorectal cancer mortality. Finding and removing precursor adenomas reduces colorectal cancer incidence especially in high risk groups. FDG-PET/CT is a new imaging technology in which a number of clinical applications has been recognized in oncologic imaging. FDG-PET has been shown to detect a wide variety of tumor foci including lymphoma, melanoma, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma can also be detected by FDG-PET. In this case, we describe a colorectal villous adenoma, which was found by FDG-PET/CT. There was a mass of intensely increased FDG uptake in rectal area. The adenoma was confirmed with sigmoidoscopy and removed by polypectomy.

A Case of Hemolysis in ABO-unmatched Liver Transplantation: Use of Washed Group O Red Blood Cells and Steroids / 대한소화기학회지

Liver transplantation is the only curative therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease. The high success rate and the increasing demand for the transplantation sometimes calls for ABO-compatible but nonidentical blood group orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), which affords the opportunity to the production of antibody to red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia usually occurs 1 to 2 weeks after transplantation. Although mild in most patients, it can be life-threatening. Until now, a few cases showing hemolytic anemia due to donor ABO antibody formation after ABO-nonidentical OLT have been reported. In the reported cases of hemolytic anemia, most ABO-nonidentical OLT cases were O-to-A, but few reports are available on this subject with O-to-B ABO- nonidentical OLT. Herein, we report the experience with hemolysis after ABO-nonidentical OLT in a group O donor into a group B recipient and the successful treatment with transfusion of washed group O red blood cells and 60 mg dose of prednisolone for 3 days.

A Case of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Stomach with a Gastric Fistula / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are mesenchymal gut tumors that lack markers of myogenic differentiation, but express CD34 and CD117, which are products of the c-kit oncogene. They present commonly gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain and/or palpable mass. The other symptoms may include anorexia, weight loss, obstruction, perforation or fever. Fever due to abscess formation is rare complaint of GIST. We report a case of GIST of stomach with abscess and gastric fistula in a 54-year-old male who presented a three-week history of abdominal pain and fever. Fistula opening site was observed by endoscope, and abdominal CT showed multiple air pockets within the mass representing communication with bowel lumen by fistula.

Early Dysfunction of Radiocephalic Arteriovenous Fistula: Primary and Secondary Patency Rate of Percutaneous Angioplasty / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: The radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF), which provides the best vascular access for hemodialysis, continues to have a high incidence of early failure. This was studied to determine primary and secondary patency rate of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in hemodialysis patients who had early dysfunction of this AVF within 1 year after the operation. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 39 hemodialysis patients with early dysfunction of radiocephalic AVF who received PTA between January, 1997 and December, 2002 at Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital. The lesions occurred at proximal vein of upper arm and central vein were excluded. The primary and secondary patency rate of PTA was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method. According to diabetes, age, sex, onset of AVF dysfunction after the operation, thrombosis, patency rate was compared with log-rank test. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 54+/-13 years and the number of male was 16 (41.2%). Twenty-four patients (61.5%) had diabetes and Among 39 lesions observed at venography, there were 33 cases of stenosis and 6 cases of complete occlusion due to thrombosis. The onset of AVF dysfunction after the operation was 5.3+/-3.6 months and 11 cases developed before the first needling. Total PTAs were performed and initial success rate was 94.2% (n=49). Primary patency rate at 6, 12, 24, and 48 months was 74.8%, 55.8%, 55.8%, and 55.8%, respectively. Secondary patency rate at 6, 12, 24, 48 months was 89.7%, 86.1%, 81.8%, 81.8%. Diabetes, age, sex, onset of AVF dysfunction after the operation, thrombosis did not influenced primary patency rate of PTA. There was no PTA-related complication. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is considered to be effective and safe treatment for early dysfunction of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients.

A Case of Stasis Dermatitis Due to Excessive Weight Gain in a Patient with Peritoneal Dialysis / 대한신장학회잡지

Stasis dermatitis is characterized by hyperpigmented lesions occuring as a result of venous stasis of the lower half of the legs. It is often associated with venous thrombosis, varicose vein, obesity, congestive heart failure. Histopathologic findings include fibrosis, new blood vessel formation, and hemosiderin deposition in dermis layer. We here report a case of stasis dermatitis due to excessive weight gain in a patient with peritoneal dialysis. A 50-year-old man on peritoneal dialysis was admitted with edema and hyperpigmentated lesion on both lower legs. He gained weight of 8 kg for 3 months because of excessive oral intake without ultrafiltration failure. Skin biopsy of the hyperpigmented lesion revealed vascular proliferation, infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrosis, and hemosiderin deposition in dermis. We started hemodialysis in order to correct weight gain and leg edema. After 3 months later, the skin lesions much improved.

A Case of Primary BALT Lymphoma Limited to the Trachea / 결핵

Primary pulmonary lymphoma is rare, especially lymphomas arising in and limited to the tracheal wall without pulmonary parenchymal involvement are extremely rare. Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma accounts for the majority of tracheal lymphomas. BALT lymphoma reveals distinct clinicopathologic features and remains localized for prolonged periods. The diagnosis is made histopathologically. Optimal management of these rare lesions has not been established. But, chemotherapy and radiation therapy all have been tried with favorable short-term results. The prognosis of BALT lymphoma is relatively good. We present here a case of BALT lymphoma of the tracheal wall which had responded to bronchoscopic ND-YAG laser therapy and local radiation therapy.