Two Cases of Multiple Adenomas in the Ileal Pouch after Total Proctocolectomy in Patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis / 대한소화기학회지

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited disease characterized by the development of hundreds of colorectal adenomas, leading to a 100% lifetime risk of colorectal cancer. A prophylactic colectomy is recommended for patients with FAP to prevent colorectal cancer. Four surgical strategies are available for patients with FAP: proctocolectomy with permanent ileostomy, colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, proctocolectomy with Koch's pouch continent ileostomy (Koch), and restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). Koch and IPAA, which make ileal pouch, have theoretical advantage of the elimination of the risk of colorectal cancer and adenomas and good functional outcome of reduced defecation frequency. However, recent reports have shown frequent development of adenomas and carcinomas in the ileal pouch after Koch or IPAA. We experienced 2 cases of multiple pouch adenomas after pouch surgery in FAP patients. Both patients were treated with endoscopic mucosal resection without complications. We report these 2 cases with a review of literatures.

A Case of Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of Auricular Skin Lesion / 대한이비인후과학회지

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a biphasic tumor composed of squamous and spindle cell component, both of which are malignant. The diagnostic tool of sarcomatoid carcinoma is immunohistologic staining. The atypical cells react to be positive for vimentin and negative for S-100, desmin, carcinoembrionic antigen, smooth muscle actin. The primary cutaneous involvement of head and neck area is extremely rare. Therefore, it has been difficult to characterize the histognensis, biologic behavior, optimal treatment and prognosis. We experienced a case of a 24-years old female with sarcomatoid carcinoma at the auricular skin lesion, which has been treated successfully with wide excision of tumor and postoperative radiotherapy.

Functional Benefit after Modification of Radial Forearm Free Flap for Soft Palate Reconstruction

OBJECTIVES: To compare the velopharyngeal function, swallowing and speech of the conventional and modified radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft palate reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study. Twenty-eight patients who underwent oropharyngeal reconstruction with RFFF were divided into two groups: 10 patients had conventional folded RFFF and 18 patients underwent modified method. RESULTS: The average speech intelligibility score in modified RFFF group was 8.0+/-2.4, and 6.2+/-2.2 in conventional RFFF group (P<0.05). The nasalance was 27.4+/-7.8% in modified group and 38.6+/-2.7% in conventional group during no nasal passage reading and 43.6+/-7.3% in modified group, 55.2+/-7.6% in conventional group during high nasal passage reading (P<0.05). The subjective swallowing functional score was 2.8 in modified group and 2.1 in conventional group. CONCLUSION: The speech assessment and nasalance demonstrate a more favorable outcome in modified group than conventional group.

Nonleukemic Granulocytic Sarcoma in the Bile Duct: A Case Report

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is an extramedullary tumor composed of immature myeloid cells, typically occurring during the course of acute myelogenous leukemia. Non-leukemic GS, that is, GS with no evidence of overt leukemia and no previous history of leukemia, is very rare, and even more unusual is nonleukemic GS of the bile duct. We report a case of nonleukemic GS of the bile duct. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as a bile duct carcinoma arising in the hilum of the liver (so-called Klatskin tumor), and received a right lobectomy of the liver. Histological examination of the tumor yielded the diagnosis of GS, and the bone marrow biopsy did not show any evidence of leukemia. Considering the risk of subsequent development of overt leukemia, the patient was treated with two cycles of combination chemotherapy as used in the cases of acute myelogenous leukemia. To date, he has remained free of disease 15 months after treatment.

Clinical characteristics of constipation associated with diabetes mellitus / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Constipation occurs frequently in diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there are few reports that investigated the characteristics of constipation associated with DM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of constipation associated with DM. METHODS: Among constipated patients who visited Asan Medical Center from January 2000 to December 2004, 45 patients with DM (DM group) and 104 patients without DM (non-DM group) were included in this study. We reviewed the clinical presentation, results of anorectal manometry, colon transit time study, and defecogram. We also analyzed the response to biofeedback therapy. RESULTS: The severity of constipation symptoms before treatment was not different between DM and non-DM group. Patients with colon transit time over 56 hours were more frequent in DM group than in non-DM group (21/45, 46.7% vs. 31/104, 29.8% ; p=0.047). Among DM group, colon transit time and the duration of DM showed positive correlation (r=0.431, p=0.003). The resting anal sphincter pressure was significantly lower in DM group than in non-DM group (43.5+/-21.5 mmHg vs. 51.7+/-22.6 mmHg ; p=0.048). The results of defecography were similar between DM and non-DM group. Successful responses to biofeedback therapy were not different between DM and non-DM group (19/34, 55.9% vs. 43/79, 54.4% ; p=0.887). CONCLUSIONS: Slow transit constipation was more frequent in DM group than in non-DM group. The successful responses to biofeedback therapy appear to be similar between DM and non-DM group.

Clinical Efficacy of Intranasal Azelastine Hydrohloride Spray in Korean Vasomotor Rhinitis Patients

Background & Objectives: Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) is a chronic non-allergic rhinitis without the increased Ig E level and eosinophilia. Azelastine hydrochloride is a second generation anti-histamine medication with anti-inflammatory properties that inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory materials. There are reports that azelastine hydrochloride can be effective in the treatment of VMR. Therefore, this study examined the clinical efficacy of intranasal azelastine hydrochloride spray in comparison with placebo for the treatment of VMR. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This study was a prospective double blind randomized test. The subjects consisted of 84 VMR patients. Among them, 54 patients were treated with intranasal azelastine hydrochloride for 4 weeks and 30 patients with intranasal normal saline. Following the treatment, an analysis of the symptom score was performed in order to compare the treatment effects between the study group and the control group. RESULTS: In the study group, the symptom score was significantly improved in the areas of sneezing (1.38 to 0.72), rhinorrhea (1.57 to 0.76), nasal obstruction (1.76 to 1.01) and postnasal drip (1.43 to 0.65). In the control group, however, the symptom score was significantly improved in a single area of rhinorrhea (1.73 to 0.65). Patients in the study group, thus, displayed greater improvements in the areas of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obasturction and postnasal drip comparative to the control group. Consequently, the study group patients were more satisfied with their quality of life than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Azelastine chloride is a useful medicine for the treatment of VMR, especially in controlling sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction and postnasal drip.

Clinical Features of Fulminant Hepatic Failure in a Tertiary Hospital with a Liver Transplant Center in Korea / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Striking geographic differences have been noted in the etiology of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The prognosis of patients with FHF who do not receive liver transplantation in a timely manner is quite dismal. This study intended to identify the etiology and outcome of FHF in Korean adults and to examine the role of urgent living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for treating this unique situation. METHODS: We identified all the adult FHF patients who were referred to our unit between 1999 and 2004. FHF was defined as severe acute hepatitis complicated by the rapid development of hepatic encephalopathy within 8 weeks of the initial symptoms in the patients without a previous history of liver disease. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients (47 males and 67 females) were identified. The mean age was 39.5+/-15.3 years. Drugs were the most common cause (28.1%) of FHF (herbal medications, 9.6%), and acute viral infection accounted for 23.7% (HBV accounted for 15.8%). Indeterminate etiologies were noted in 34%. The 90-day survival rate of the nontransplant group was only 15%. Fourteen patients received liver transplants (13 right-lobe LDLT, 1 cadaveric whole liver), and 12 of these (85.7%) survived and showed good graft function during 22 months of median follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although the causes of FHF in Korea were diverse, HBV infection and herbal medications were responsible for a significant proportion of the cases. Since urgent LDLT improved the overall survival rate of patients with FHF, this should be considered as an important treatment option for patients suffering with FHF.

A case of plasmablastic lymphoma in the nasal cavity in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient / 대한내과학회지

Plasmablastic lymphoma is a recently identified entity that is considered to be a type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a unique immunophenotype and a predilection for the oral cavity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients. We report a case of plasmablastic lymphoma presenting in nasal cavity of a 48-year-old, HIV-negative man. Cytologic and histologic examinations demonstrated a large cell lymphoma with plasmablastic differentiation. The tumor cells were positive for CD138, epithelial membrane antigen, but lacked expression of leukocyte common antigen, T-cell, and B-cell markers. Abundant Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA transcripts were identified by in situ hybridization. The lambda-light-chain restriction was demonstrated by in situ hybridization. These findings were compatible with plasmablastic lymphoma. Subsequent whole body FDG-PET scan revealed hypermetabolic lesions in the nasal cavity and left cervical lymph nodes level II,III,IV. To our knowledge, this is the first case of plasmablastic lymphoma in Korea.

Analysis of Cases Requested to the Ethics Committee of an University Hospital for the Discontinuation of Therapy / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: A hospital ethics committee (HEC) handles ethics problems in a hospital and mediates conflicts between patients and caregivers. The role of HEC on treatment withdrawal has increased after Boramae-hospital's case on 1997 in Korea. This study is an analysis of cases referred to the HEC of Asan Medical Center for the discontinuation of patient therapy. METHODS: The conference records of the HEC from January 1998 to December 2003 and the relevant patient charts were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-seven cases related to treatment withdrawal were referred to the HEC during the study period. Based on the number of admitted ICU patients during the study period, the case request rate was 0.05%. The bimodal distribution of the cases in terms of age was neonate, 13 (48%); infant, 6 (22%); adult, 8 (30%). The major causes of treatment withdrawal were futile management, financial difficulty and patient suffering. The HEC recommended the continuation of treatment in 7 cases (25.9%); treatment withdrawal in 11 (40.7%); treatment withholding in 8 (29.6%); transfer to another hospital in one case (3.8%). Of the seven recommendations for treatment continuation, only three were accepted by their families. These three patients were eventually discharged alive. Treatment was withdrawn within one week in all eleven cases recommended for that by the HEC. Treatment was withheld in seven of those eight such recommended cases. CONCLUSIONS: The case referral rate was low in the studied hospital. In all cases, the patients' families requested the case to the HEC. Although the committee's recommendations to withhold or withdraw the treatment were followed by the families, the recommendation to continue therapy was often refused.