Pancreatic Arteriovenous Malformation as an Unusual Cause of Chronic Gastrointestinal Bleeding in a Patient with Early Gastric Cancer: Multimodality Imaging Spectrum with Pathologic Correlation

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the pancreas is extremely rare, although it may be increasingly diagnosed due to the widespread use of cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen. Early diagnosis of this disease is important to prevent delay of treatment and resulting fatal complications. We report a rare case of pancreatic AVM in a 48-year-old man who presented with severe chronic anemia and early gastric cancer, which made diagnosis challenging. Imaging findings, including ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are shown, as well as the pathologic features.

A Case of a Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in the Ampulla of Vater Incidentally Found on Gastroduodenoscopy

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater is a rare disease and there have only been three cases reported in Korea. In these three cases, the patients had symptoms of abdominal pain and jaundice. A biopsy via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography confirmed a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; thus, each patient underwent surgical treatment. Recently, we experienced a case of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in an asymptomatic patient. An ulcerative lesion was identified during screening gastroduodenoscopy. Here, we report this case and review the relevant literature.

TisN0M1 Sigmoid Colon Cancer: A Case Report

Distant metastasis of a colon carcinoma in situ has not yet been reported. We experienced a case of a sigmoid colon carcinoma in situ with common hepatic lymph node metastasis. After the first operation, we diagnosed dual intramucosal adenocarcinomas of the sigmoid colon without any regional lymph node metastasis. After the second operation, a metastatic adenocarcinoma was found in the common hepatic lymph nodes. We suggest that metastasis in cases of a colonic carcinoma in situ is rare, but possible. The parallel progression model of tumors can explain this early metastasis.

Blunt Splenic Injury by Gunshot / 대한구급학회지

Trauma is frequently not purely penetrating or purely blunt. Such mixed trauma can result from the mechanism of injury. Recently, we encountered a patient who accidentally shot himself with a shotgun. He had a 15 x 8-cm-sized penetrating injury on left flank that did not penetrate into the peritoneal cavity and a blunt splenic injury with hemoperitoneum. Surgical and interventional treatments were performed for each injury. We present this case with a review of the related literature.

A Case of Neobladder Rupture Following Blunt Trauma

Bladder rupture following blunt trauma is rare, and no neobladder rupture following blunt trauma has yet been reported. We present a case of neobladder rupture following blunt trauma. The patient was a 65-year-old male patient who had been treated for bladder cancer via a radical cystectomy with an orthotopic ileal neobladder four years prior to this admission, and who was admitted to our emergency department due to multiple trauma after a 1.5 m fall. Primary repair was performed for the neobladder rupture.

Determination of Malignant and Invasive Predictors in Branch Duct Type Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas: A Suggested Scoring Formula

Prediction of malignancy or invasiveness of branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (Br-IPMN) is difficult, and proper treatment strategy has not been well established. The authors investigated the characteristics of Br-IPMN and explored its malignancy or invasiveness predicting factors to suggest a scoring formula for predicting pathologic results. From 1994 to 2008, 237 patients who were diagnosed as Br-IPMN at 11 tertiary referral centers in Korea were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' mean age was 63.1 +/- 9.2 yr. One hundred ninty-eight (83.5%) patients had nonmalignant IPMN (81 adenoma, 117 borderline atypia), and 39 (16.5%) had malignant IPMN (13 carcinoma in situ, 26 invasive carcinoma). Cyst size and mural nodule were malignancy determining factors by multivariate analysis. Elevated CEA, cyst size and mural nodule were factors determining invasiveness by multivariate analysis. Using the regression coefficient for significant predictors on multivariate analysis, we constructed a malignancy-predicting scoring formula: 22.4 (mural nodule [0 or 1]) + 0.5 (cyst size [mm]). In invasive IPMN, the formula was expressed as invasiveness-predicting score = 36.6 (mural nodule [0 or 1]) + 32.2 (elevated serum CEA [0 or 1]) + 0.6 (cyst size [mm]). Here we present a scoring formula for prediction of malignancy or invasiveness of Br-IPMN which can be used to determine a proper treatment strategy.

The 10 Years of Experiences with GISTs

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) possess highly variable clinical behaviors and the study thereof is insufficient. There are no standard guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of GISTs, so it is difficult to predict recurrences and conduct appropriate treatments. Throughout the last 10 years of experiences with GIST patients, we have identified the variables predicting recurrences and classified the risk groups by NIH classification, Fletcher risk stratification and UICC TNM stage. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2007, 88 patients with pathologic confirm and surgical resection were diagnosed with GISTs. GISTs were diagnosed when the tumor had characteristic histologic features and confirmed positive by KIT, CD34, or PDGFRA. RESULTS: The size, mitotic index, existence of symptoms, and origins of tumor correlate statistically with recurrence (0.002, <0.001, 0.027, 0.011). The NIH classification, Fletcher risk stratification and UICC TNM stage are correlated with recurrence (0.001, <0.001, <0.001) and 5 year disease free survival, statistically (0.009, <0.001, <0.001). Fifteen patients experienced recurrences. 14 patients were treated with imatinib, and 6 of them showed a response to the treatment. All 4 patients who had R1 resection did not survived due to the progression of the disease. CONCLUSION: The patients with large, high mitotic index, symptomatic, or extra-gastric tumor require strict surveillance. Also, patients with low risk must be under surveillance due to the possibility of recurrence. It is important to perform R0, en bloc resection. Although the imatinib is the treatment of choice with recurred or metastatic GISTs, the disease is likely to develop resistance, further studies on newly targeted therapy is in need.

Comparative Analysis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A, C, D Expression in Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the correlations between expressions of angiogenic cytokines VEGF-A, C, D of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastasis. METHODS: We examined paraffin-embedded primary colorectal cancer tissue from 45 patients who had liver resection due to colorectal liver metastasis (metastasis group) and 37 patients who had surgical resection due to colorectal cancer only (control group). In the control group, local recurrence and distant metastasis had not occurred. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-A, C and D was performed. We analysed the correlations between expression of VEGF-A, C and D in primary colorectal cancer tissues and clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: VEGF-A expressions of primary colorectal carcinoma were not different between the two groups. VEGF-C was more frequently expressed in the metastasis group (P=0.008) but VEGF-D was more expressed in the control group (P=0.003). Patients with VEGF-C negative and VEGF-D positive expression were predominant in the control group (P=0.020). Tumor location, T stage, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation were not related with the expressions of VEGF-A, C, D but only preoperative CEA was positively correlated with VEGF-A and C expression. CONCLUSION: Expressions of VEGF-C in primary tumor were more frequent in metastatic colorectal cancer and expressions of VEGF-D were more frequent in nonmetastatic colorectal cancer. More large-scale prospective studies for VEGF-C and D expression in colorectal cancer are necessary.

Pancreaticopleural Fistula with Hemothorax

Pancreaticopleural fistula is an uncommon complication of chronic pancreatitis. We report a case of pancreaticopleural fistula that was presented with right-sided hemothorax. A 49-year-old male with a history of chronic alcoholism was presented with a month of dyspnea. A chest radiography showed a right-sided massive pleural effusion with old-blood-colored fluids and amylase levels of 1,020 IU/L. On the chest computerized tomography (CT), there was pleural effusion and a well-defined tract from the posterior mediastinum to the pseudocyst in the tail of the pancreas. Even with conservative treatment with closed thoracostomy, octreotide and gabexate mesilate, he developed hemothorax. Abdominal CT revealed an increase of the hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyst. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and external drainage of the pancreaticopleural fistula on the posterior mediasternum were performed. The patient had an uneventful course and was discharged on the 27th postoperative day. Management of pancreaticopleural fistula is multimodal included medication, endoscopic stenting and surgery. Surgery in pancreaticopleural fistula might be beneficial in selective cases.

Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with Failed Endoscopic Stone Extraction

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) has more advantages than conventional common bile duct surgery, but the use of this route for stone removal and biliary drainage remains controversial. The goal of this study was to investigate the usefulness of LCBDE in patients who had been failed in the endoscopic stone extraction. METHODS: From November 2005 to August 2008, 52 patients underwent LCBDE due to failure of endoscopic stone extraction in Chungnam National University Hospital. Clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Duodenal diverticulum (23 cases, 44.2%) was the most common cause in failure of endoscopic stone extraction and large common bile duct stone 12 cases (23.1%), previous upper gastrointestinal operation 10 cases (19.2%) were followed. Twenty four patients did not have preoperative biliary drainage, such as PTBD, ENBD, PTGBD. Forty-five patients (86.5%) of the 52 participating patients underwent LCBDE successfully, but 7 cases resulted in open surgery for the following reasons: 3 cases of severe intraabdominal adhesions, 3 cases of stone impaction in ampulla portion, and 1 case of a remnant stone. External biliary drainage was performed in 41 cases with T-tube (31 cases, 68.9%), PTBD (7 cases, 15.6%), ENBD (3 cases, 6.7%). The stone clearance of LCBDE was 95.6%. Remnant stone weredetected in 2 cases (4.4%) and removed with choledochoscope via external biliary drain. Postoperative complications happened in 5 cases (9.5%). Procedure related complications happened in 2 cases (3.8%). CONCLUSION: LCBDE is useful technique in patients with failed endoscopic stone extraction, and biliary drainage may be necessary for detection and removal of latent remnant CBD stones.

CT Findings of Acute Gangrenous Cholecystitis

PURPOSE: Acute gangrenous cholecystitis (AGC) is a severe advanced form of cholecystitis, and it has a higher morbidity and mortality rate than that that of acute nongangrenous cholecystitis (ANGC). Identifying the CT findings of gangrenous cholecystitis will enable physicians to make an early diagnosis and administer aggressive treatment. METHODS: From January 2005 to October 2007, the CT scans in 277 patients (80 with AGC, 149 with ANGC and 45 with normal gallbladder (NGB)) were retrospectively reviewed by 2 radiologists. We evaluated the findings that included wall thickening (>3mm), distension (transverse diameter > 5cm), gallstones, pericholecystic fluid, pericholecystic inflammation, mural striation, adjacent hepatic enhancement, pericholecystic abscess, an intraluminal membrane, an irregular or absent wall, gas in the wall or lumen, and intraperitoneal fluid. The sensitivity and specificity of the each CT finding for diagnosing AGC were calculated. The dimension and wall thickness of the gallbladder were also measured. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT for diagnosing AGC were 27%, 94% and 74%, respectively. The findings with the highest specificity for AGC were gas in the wall or lumen (100%), intraluminal membranes (99.5%), pericholecystic abscess (99.5%), an irregular or absent wall (98.5%), adjacent hepatic enhancement (97.9%), intraperitoneal fluid (96.9%), pericholecystitic fluid (95.6%), and mural striation (93.8%). The difference of the mean gallbladder wall thickness between the groups was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These specific CT findings, including the GB wall thickness, will assist clinicians in making an earlier and more exact diagnosis of gangrenous cholecystitis

Anaplastic Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Local invasion or distant metastasis is frequently seen in patients with anaplastic carcinoma at the time of presentation, and this is unlike the usual cases of pancreatic carcinoma. So most cases of anaplastic carcinoma are confirmed by autopsy. We report here on our experiences of two cases of the anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma that were confirmed by the postoperative pathology. From January 2006 to December 2006, two patients at Chung-Nam National University Hospital were postoperatively diagnosed as having anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas. The clinicopathologic data of these patients was reviewed. Case 1) A seventy-years-old male was admitted to our hospital due to his left abdominal pain. On physical examination, there was ill-defined palpable mass on the left upper abdomen. The CA 19-9 level was 4.8 (U/ml). On the abdominal CT scans, a 14.8 cm sized cystic mass with a mild enhancing internal solid portion was detected. He underwent distal pancreatectomy, total gastrectomy and segmental resection of the transverse colon due to direct invasion. The mass was pathologically confirmed as anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma. Postoperatively 3 months later, multiple liver and lymph node metastases were detected on the follow-up CT scan. Case 2) A sixty-five years-old female was referred to our department for a splenic hilar mass that involved the distal pancreas. The CA19-9 level was 3.18 (U/ml). On the preoperative CT scan, an 8.0 cm sized irregular mass with heterogenous contrast enhancement was detected on the tail of the pancreas. She underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and segmental resection of the transverse colon due to direct invasion. On the pathology report, the pancreatic mass was revealed to be anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas. One month later, a recurred pancreatic mass and multiple liver and peritoneal metastases were detected on the follow-up CT scan. Anaplastic pancreatic carcinomas show distinctive aggressive behavior and a dismal prognosis.

Clinical Predictive Factors for Acute Gangrenous Cholecystitis

PURPOSE: The postoperative morbidity and mortality for acute gangrenous cholecystitis (AGC) are higher than for acute nongangrenous cholecystitis (ANGC). However, preoperative predictive factors for the outcome of gangrenous cholecystitis have not been identified. The goal of this study was to determine the preoperative clinical predictive factors for the outcome of surgical treatment for acute gangrenous cholecystitis. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2006, the medical records of 173 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 173 patients with acute cholecystits, 57 (32.9%) had pathologically confirmed gangrenous cholecystits. Six variables were found to be associated with gangrenous cholecystits by univariate analysis: an age > or = 55 years, the presence of associated diseases, hypertension, fever (> or =37 degrees), an increased white blood cell count (> or = 15,450/mm3) and glucose. Four variables were identified that were associated with gangrenous cholecystits by multivariate analysis: an age > or = 55 years, the presence of associated diseases, hypertension, and an increased white blood cell count (> or =15450/mm3). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that patients with an age > or = 55 years, the presence of associated diseases, hypertension, and an increased white blood cell count (> or =15450/mm3) have an increased risk of gangrenous cholecystitis and require immediate surgery.

Ampullary Carcinoid Tumor

The ampullary carcinoid tumor is a rare lesion accounting for less than 0.3% of all carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. We recently experienced a case of an ampullary carcinoid tumor at our institution. A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on January 2006 for right upper quadrant pain with jaundice. He underwent a pyloruspreserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for an ampullary carcinoid tumor. Abdominal computed tomography showed an oval shaped mass at the ampulla of Vater with abrupt obstruction of the distal end of the common bile duct. The patient underwent a percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage for a cholangiogram, in which was noted a filling defect with a smooth margin at the ampullary portion. During surgery, a firm, grayish-pink, and fairly well circumscribed tumor measuring 2.5 cm was found in the ampulla of Vater. Histopathologically, the tumor with invasion to the muscular layers consisted of cells with an eosinophillic cytoplasm and uniform, oval hyperchromatic nuclei. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor was positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase. The patient had an unremarkable hospital course. Carcinoids of the ampulla of Vater are very rare. Only 105 cases have been reported in the literature, most as single case reports. We report here a case of an ampullary carcinoid tumor with a discussion based on the literature.

Risk Factors for the Pancreatic Leakage after Pancreaticoduodenectomy

PURPOSE: A pancreaticoduodenectomy is the procedure of choice in patients with periampullary cancers. Recently, marked improvements in both morbidity and mortality rates have been reported following a pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, leakage at the pancreaticoenteric anastomosis remains a common and serious complication following a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Various measures directed towards prevention of pancreatic leakage have been studied over the past few decades. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for and prevention of pancreatic leakage following a pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of 75 patients, which had undergone a pancreaticoduodenectomy by the same surgeon between September 1997 and October 2004, was conducted. RESULTS: Ten, 30, 19 and 3 patients were treated for pancreatic head, common bile duct, ampullary, duodenal cancers, with a further 13 treated for benign diseases. Standard and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomies were performed in 11 (14.7%) and 64 patients (85.3%), respectively. Postoperative complications were observed in 46 cases (61.3%), with 13 (17.3%) of these developing postoperative pancreatic fistula. The operative mortality rate was 1.3% (1 case). The pancreatic fistula with no peritoneal signs (which were observed in 12 patients) healed under simple drainage, without the need for reoperation. The analysis of factors for pancreatic fistula indicated no significant differences in age, sex, symptoms and signs, combined diseases, laboratory values, preoperative biliary drainage, operative times, blood transfusion, types of pancreatic stent or pathologic diagnosis when comparing those with and without pancreatic leakage; however, the pancreatic fistula rate (29.6%) during the early period (1997 to 2000) was significantly higher (10.4%) than during the latter period (2001 to 2004). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that accumulated experience of pancreaticoduodenectomies may reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula and contribute to the prevention of pancreaticojejunal leakage complications. The number of cases enrolled in this study was small, as well as the data having heterogeneity, resulted in a limited statistical power and ability to interpret negative results. Therefore, to further understand the risk factors that contribute to pancreatic fistula, the need for a randomized controlled study is suggested.

Gastric Distension and Ventilation during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy:ProSeal Laryngeal Mask vs Endotracheal intubation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGORUND: A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for use with positive pressure ventilation are now firmly established in anesthesia practice. Positive pressure ventilation may cause leaks around the LMA cuff, leading to gastric distension and/or inadequate ventilation. The ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) is a new laryngeal mask device with a larger cuff and a drainage tube, and offers tighter sealing compared with the classic LMA. We compared a PLMA with an endotracheal tube (ETT) in respect of gastric distension and ventilation. METHODS: Fifty ASA i-ii adults scheduled for an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to an ETT or PLMA. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen, and vecuronium. Ventilatory parameters were measured before and after intraabdominal gas insufflation. The surgeon assessed the degree of change in gastric distension under a laparoscope. RESULTS: incidence and degree in gastric distension were similar in both groups. Ventilatory parameters such as oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2 tension, peak inspiratory pressure and minute volume didn't differ between either group. CONCLUSiONS:Positive pressure ventilation with a correctly placed PLMA permits adequate pulmonary ventilation. Gastric distension occurs with equal frequency for a PLMA and ETT.

Neuroblastoma Arising in a Retroperitoneal Mature Cystic Teratoma: Case Report

Malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma is rare and the vast majority are squamous cell carcinoma, but neuroblastomas are extremely rare. We report a case of neuroblastoma arising in a mature cystic teratoma of the retroperitoneum. In a 24-year-old woman with intermittent abdominal pain, sonogram and CT scan show a multiloculated cystic mass with calcification, fat, septum, and small solid component in the left retroperitoneal space. Complete surgical resection of the cystic mass was done and a small neuroblastoma in the septum of the cystic mass was incidentally detected at histopathologic examination.

A Case of Malignant Atrophic Papulosis Showed Typical Skin and Intestinal Lesions / 대한피부과학회지

A 33-year-old male patient had malignant atrophic papulosis that affected the skin and intestinal tract and probably respiratory system. He had multiple typical skin lesion with porcelain-white atrophic scars on the whole body surface area except on face, palm and sole. And he had been operated two times due to intestinal perforation after onset. Multiple whitish necrotic patches were found in small and large intestine during laparotomy. Also he had a plueral effusion. Histopathologic studies showed atrophic epidermis and dermal necrosis, vascular change, mucin deposition in lower dermis. He was treated with acetyl salicylic acid and dipyridamole, but there was no improve-ment. He died of intestinal perforation and respiratory failure 67 months after onset(6 months after onset of abdominal symptom).

Epidermal Growth Factor Dependent Expression of Plasminogen Activator and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor in Rat Hepatocytes in Primary Culture

PURPOSE: In order to clarify the the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the regulation of plasminogen activator (PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) during liver regeneration, we investigated the EGF-dependent gene expression of PA and PAI-1 in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from rats using a two step perfusion technique and cultivated in dishes precoated with rat tail collagen. DNA synthesis of the hepatocytes by EGF treatment was measured with (3)H-thymidine incorporation. Gene expression for PAI-1, uPA and tPA was examined using Northern blot hybridization analysis. RESULTS: EGF treatment increased the (3)H-thymidine incorporation of the hepatocytes up to 36 hours and normal polygonal hepatocyte morphology was achieved simultaneously. tPA and PAI-1 mRNA were detected in the control hepatocytes. With the EGF treatment, the tPA mRNA level increased with time up to 48 hours, however the PAI-1 mRNA level rapidly increased to 1 hour and then decreased quickly to the control level. On the contrary, uPA mRNA was not detected in hepatocytes with or without treatment of EGF. The EGF-dependent induction of tPA and PAI-1 mRNA was a protein synthesis independent process. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that differential expression of tPA and PAI-1 mRNA by EGF in hepatocytes may play an important role in the regulation of liver regeneration. Among PAs, tPA seemed to be more important in EGF dependent growth or regeneration of primary hepatocytes in the rat since uPA mRNA was not induced in primary hepatocyte cultures in spite of EGF treatment.

Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Pancreas: A Case Report

Inflammatory pseudotumors are tumor-like benign lesions of uncertain pathogenesis and have most commonly been reported in the lungs. In the pancreas they are rare. We describe a case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the pancreas which was seen to be isoattenuating at non-contrast CT, and as a well-defined nodule with homogeneous enhancement in the pancreatic tail at contrast-enhanced CT. After a preoperative diagnosis of islet cell tumor, partial pancreatectomy of the pancreatic tail, with splenectomy, was performed. The gross specimen was a yellowish-white, solid mass and the lesion was histopathologically confirmed as inflammatory pseudotumor with an extensive area of sparse cellular fibrosis and collagen deposition.