A Case of Gastric Adenocarcinoma Appearing as Skin Metastasis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The skin is an uncommon site of distant metastasis from any internal malignancy, and the incidence of metastatic skin lesions as the first symptom of disease is only 0.8% in patients with all systemic malignancies. Furthermore, cutaneous metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the stomach has been found to be extremely rare. A 35-year-old female patient was admitted due to multiple cutaneous nodules in her chest, abdomen, and back. A gastroendoscopic examination and biopsy was made according to the results of skin pathologic findings. Stomach and skin biopsy results revealed a signet ring cell type of adenocarcinoma. A case of gastric adenocarcinoma in which metastatic skin nodules appeared as the first sign of disease, is here in reported with a review of related literature.

Two Cases of Malignant Lymphomas in the Terminal Ileum Causing Intussusception: Diagnosis and Reduction of Intussusception by Colonoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Most intussusceptions occur in children under 1 year of age whereas 5%~10% occurs in adults. Although intussusception has an acute occurrence in children, symptoms in adults may be subacute or chronic, and the diagnosis is often delayed. In contrast to adults, intussusception in children is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction, and one of the most frequent causes of surgical emergencies. While idiopathic cases account for more than 90% of those seen in children, many cases in adults are generally related to neoplasm. However, intussusception due to a primary malignant lymphoma of the small intestine is a rare clinical condition. There is little information on the role of colonoscopy in colonic intussusception. Two cases are herein reported, of malignant lymphoma in the ileocecal region causing intussusceptions in which the diagnosis and reduction of intussusception were made by colonoscopy. Colonoscopy plays a useful role in the diagnosis and management of intussusception. The clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, and pathologic findings are described with brief reviews of related literature.

A Case of Choledochocolonic Fistula Combined with Absence of Gallbladder / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The enterobiliary fistulas are mostly spontaneous and are caused by biliary disease associated with calculi. Review of many series shows that the most common variety of enterobiliary fistulas is a cholecystoduodenal fistula followed by cholecystocolic, cholecystogastric and choledochoduodenal fistula in that order. But very few cases of choledochocolonic fistulae have been reported. We report a case of choledocholithiasis combined with the absence of gallbladder leading to a choledochocolonic fistula, which was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and abdominal exploration in a 63- year-old male patient with complaint of right upper abdominal pain.

A Case of Double Primary Cancer Associated with a Low Junction of the Cystic Duct / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Recently it has been discovered that anomalous union of pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bile duct cancer. Similar to this fact, there were a few reports on the clinical significance of the low junction of the cystic duct (LJCD). LJCD refers to the situation whereby the cystic duct enters the common duct at a low position between the upper margin of the pancreas and the duodenal opening of the bile duct. The pathogenetic mechanism in LJCD is similar to AUPBD in that the pancreatic juice refluxes to the bile duct, mixes with biles, and then generates the mutagens, which act as inflammatory substances and carcinogens on the epithelium of the bile duct. A 51-year-old male who experienced dyspepsia was hospitalized due to his abnormally functioning liver and dilated common bile duct. We confirmed primary cholangiocarcinoma on the common hepatic duct and gallbladder carcinoma associated with LJCD by ERCP and pathologic review of surgical specimen. We report a case of synchronous type double primary cancer associated with LJCD with a brief review of the literatures.

DNase, RNase, & RNase Inhibitors as Markers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Activities of nucleases (acid DNase and neutral RNase) and RNase inhibitor known to be involved in carcinogenesis and suppression of cancer were determined in cancer tissue, serum and ascitic fluid of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and were compared with those of the controls. Also studied were nucleases and RNase inhibitor isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and ascitic fluid of the cancer patients to evaluate the properties and interactions between them. METHOD: Activities of nucleases and RNase inhibitor were measured in cancer tissue, serum and ascitic fluid of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Nucleases and RNase inhibitor were isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and ascitic fluid of the cancer patients by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. As controls, normal tissue of the cancer patients, serum of healthy persons and ascitic fluid of cirrhotic patients were used. RESULT: Activities of DNase, RNase and RNase inhibitor were significantly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. DNase activity was not detected, RNase activity was increased and RNase inhibitor activity was unchanged in both serum and ascitic fluid of the hepatocellular carcinoma patients. DNase was isolated as a single enzyme and RNase as seven isozymes from the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. The DNase isolated preferentially cleaved ds DNA over ss DNA and was endonuclease in nature (majority of hydrolytic products of DNA by the DNase were oligodeoxyribonucleotides). Of seven RNase isozymes isolated from the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, isozyme I exhibited nonsecretory nature of RNase and other six isozymes secretory nature of the enzyme. Activity of RNase isozyme V was greatly increased and the activity of inhibitor complexed with the isozyme V was also increased. RNase in ascitic fluid of the cancer patient was separated into four isozymes, of which isozyme I exhibited mixed form of secretory and nonseretory nature and greatly increased in its activity. RNase isozyme V isolated in the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was not detected in the ascitic fluid. CONCLUSION: The use of the nucleases and the inhibitor in the cancer tissue as biochemical markers for the hepatocellular carcinoma was suggested. RNase was released into the body fluid from the cancer tissue and could be used as a diagnostic marker for the hepatocellular carcinoma. An important role of the DNase in carcinogenesis of the liver was suggested. RNase isozyme V was limited in the cancer tissue and RNase isozyme I and V and inhibitors associated with these isozymes might be involved in carcinogenesis processes, suppression of cancer and maintenance of hepatocellular carcinoma through their interactions.

A Case of a Papillary Cystic Neoplasm of the Pancreas, Communicated by Main Pancreatic Duct / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Papillary cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are uncommon. They occurs almost entirely in young women. Generally, the lesion averages 10 cm 17 size and are usually located in the pancreatic tail, resulting in displacement of the pancreatic duct. A varialbe amount of hemorrhage and liquefaction necrosis occurs, resulting in pseudopapillae cysts. Resection of the tumor is usually associated with a excellent prognosis because of the lack of metastases and rare recurrences. In this report present a case of a papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas with a review of references. Unlike most, the neoplasm we discovered was small (about 1.5 x 1.5 cm), and, occured in the pancreatic head of eldcrly woman. Moreover it was communicated by the main pancreatic duct via a side branch.

The Role of Plasma Endothelin-1 in Fluid-Electrolyte Balance and Renal Function in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: It has been recently known that endotheUn-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the possible correlation of endothelin-1 with other vasoactive neurohormonal activities and its effects on fluid-electrolyte balance and renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: In 35 patients of liver cirrhosis with (n=19) and without (n=16) ascites and in 12 normal controls, plasma and urine levels of endothelin-1 were measured by specific radioimmunoassay, and serum sodium, serum albumin and other blood chemistries, renal functions with creatinine clearance, urinary sodium excretion, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and plasma norepinephrine were measured at the same time. RESULTS: The plasma endothelin-1 level was significantly higher in ascitic group than nonascitic group (mean +/- SD; 16.4 +/- 10.6 VS. 7.5 +/- 4.1pg/mL, p=0.0000), and there was no significant difference in plasma endothelin-1 level between nonascitic group and normal controls(4.8 +/- 1.9pg/mL). The urine endothelin-1 level also was significantly higher in ascitic group than non-ascitic group (140.3 +/- 74.3 VS. 58.5 +/- 37.4 pg/mL, p=0.0000), there was no significant difference in urine endothelin-1 level between nonascitic group and normal controls (19.5 +/- 112pg/mL). In patients with cirrhosis, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration showed significant negative correlation with creatinine clearance (r=-0.55), serum albumin (r=-0.56%) and serum sodium concentrtion (r=-0.62), and significant positive correlation with plasma renin activity (r=0.63), plasma aldosterone (r=0.68) and norepinephrine (r=0.70). The factors that influence on plasma concentration of endothelin-1 were plasma norepinephrine (p=0.0000), serum sodium (p=0.0169), plasma aldosterone (p=0.0176), serum albumin (p=0.0213) and plasma renin activity (p=0.0329) in statistically significant order. CONCLUSION: The elevated plasma endothelin-1 level along with the increased activity of other neurohormonal substances including plasma renin, aldosterone and norepinephrine induces sodium and water retention in decompensated liver cirrhosis. Thus, the plasma endothelin-1 level seems to have an important role in the development of functional renal impairment in decompensated liver cirrhosis by inducing renal vasoconstriction.

The Study on Necessity of ERCP in Patients with Symptomatic Gallhladder Stones / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) has become the new therapeutic gold standard in uncomplicated symptomatic gallbladder stone. However, some patients with gallstones may be associated with bile duct stones or other biliary pathology. LC is not ideal for removal and evaluation of biliary duct stones even with advocated techniques. Although ERCP is the best way to demonstrate the biliary tree, ERCP is an invasive procedure that may causes complications. The aim of this study was to predict the neeessity for ERCP and to determine the indication of ERCP before LC using noninvasive methods of biliary tree associated liver biochemistry(LB) parameters and sonography. METHODS: 270 symptomatic gallbladder stone patients were studied by both sonography and LB including total bilirubin, alkaline phophatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and amylase. All patients were performd ERCP for evaluation of biliary tree pathology, Patients who were already found to have either tumors or bile duct stones on sonography were excluded. Patients were classified into normal and dilated biliary tree groups by sonographic findings, normal and abnormal LB groups, negative and positive ERCP groups. Positive ERCP were defined by bile duct stones, tumors, stricture and idiopathic common bile duct dilatation over 11 mm. RESULTS: 1) There were positive ERCP findings in 30.4% of all patients. 2) The male to female ratio was 1:2, and the patients of positive ERCP group (58.9 +/- 12.0) were significantly )p=0.000) older than negative group (52.7 +/- 13.1). 3) There was bile duct dilatation in 39.3% of patients by sonography. Bile duct dilatation on sonography had an 66.0% positive predictability, 85.3% sensitivity and 80.6% specificity for ductal pathology on ERCP. 4) There was abnormal LB in 53.0% of patients. A single abnormal LB equated to a 46.2% positive predictablity, 80.5% sensitivity and 59.0% specificity for ductal pathology on ERCP. 5) In patients with both normal sonography and LB, 96.0% of patients had a negative ERCP study. CONCLUSION: ERCP is not necessary before LC for patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones who have both a normal biliary tree on sonography and normal LB. But, a patient with either a dilated bile duct on sonography of an abnormal LB does require ERCP study.

Clinical Analysis of Choledochal Cyst / 대한소화기내시경학회지

We studied and analyzed 66 cases of choledochal cyst in a 9 year period from March, 1985 to December, l993 at Hangang, Kangnam and Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. The results were as follows; 1) Age ranged from 1 year to 82 years and ll of 66 cases were below 10 years. The ratio of men to women was 1: 1.9. 2) The frequency of the triad of symptoms and signs were in order of abdominal pain 53 cases(80.3%), jaundice 12 cases(18.2%) and abdominal mass 9 cases(13.6%). The classical triad of pain, mass and jaundice was present in only 2 cases(3.0%). 3) Alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 42 cases(63.6%), hyperbilirubinemia in 29 cases(43.9%) and hyperamylasemia in 9 cases(13.6%). 4) Performed diagnostic procedures were ultrasonogram in 57 cases(86.4%), endo- scopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram in 32 cases(48.5%), DISIDA scan in 18 cases(27.3%), computed tomogram in 14 cases(21.2%) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiagram in 6 cases(9.1%). 5) Among 38 cases which ERCP or PTC were performed, according to the Todani's classification, Type I was seen in 28 cases(73.7%), Type IVA in 7 cases(18. 4%), Type II in 2 cases(5.3%) and Type V in I case(2.6%). 6) The associated diseases were cholangitis in 15 cases(22.7%), choledocholithiasis in 12 cases(18.2%) and cholangiocarcinoma in 2 cases(3.0%). 7) Operative procedures were performed in 22 of 66 cases, excision of cyst with Roux-en-Y c~holedochojejunostomy in 17 cases, choledochocystojejunostomy in 2 cases and external drainage in 3 cases.