The Efficacy of Thyroxine Suppression Therapy in Benign Thyroid Nodules / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Benign pathologic findings are shown in 800% of thyroid nodules by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or needle biopsy. About half of these benign nodules are follicular lesions which are presented only as thyroid follicles or thyroid cell clumps. Differential diagnosis of follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma and adenomatous goiter is impossible by FNAC or needle biopsy. Thyroxine suppression therapy has been performed traditionally in order to discriminate malignant nodules, but few studies are available which confirmed the efficacy of thyroxine suppression therapy in thyroid nodules of those the initial pathologic findings were follicular lesions. So we tried to evaluate the efficacy of thyroxine suppression therapy in benign thyroid nodules and also the incidence of thyroid cancer of the thyroid nosules which were not decreased on thyroxine suppression therapy after surgical resection. METHODS: Total 1027 patients with thyroid nodules were evaluated by FNAC or needle biopsy at Soonchunhyang university hospital from 1990 to 1996. Among 1027 patients, 507 patients showed follicular lesions in FNAC or needle biopsy and they received thyroxine suppression therapy. Thyroid nodule volume was measured before and after thyroxine suppression therapy using ultrasonography. We studied 184 patients who were followed up for more than 1 year. Serial changes of thyroid function tests, thyroid nodule volume, serum thyroglubulin (Tg) level before and after therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: l. In 80 (43.5%) of the 184 patients, nodule volumes decreased more than 50 percent after thyroxine suppression therapy. 2. There was no significant difference in serum T3, T4, TSH levels before and after thyroxine suppression therapy between group I (nodule volume decreased less than 50%) and group II (nodule volume decreased more than 50%). 3. In group II patients, thyroid nodule volumes were decreased continuously at 12 month, 18 month and 30 month after thyroxine suppression (p<0.05). 4. There was no significant difference between the group I and group II in the frequency of multiple thyroid nodules on ultrasonography. 5. Among 37 patients who underwent thyroidectomy, 19 cases (51.4%) were revealed as malignant thyroid nodules (papillary cancer 4 cases, follicular cancer 15 cases). Eighteen cases (48.6%) were revealed as benign thyroid nodules (follicular adenoma 10 cases, adenomatous goiter 8 cases). 6. There was no significant difference in the frequency of multiple nodules on ultrasonography between benign and malignant nodules. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested thyroxine suppression therapy was effective in discriminating malignant thyroid nodules from benign nodules, especially in selecting follicular carcinoma from follicular lesion by FNAC or biopsy.

A Large Gastric Duplication Cyst Resembling a Pancreatic Pseudocyst in an Adulf: Report of one case / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Duplication of the alimentary tract is an unusual congenital anomaly which may occur at any level, from the oral cavity to the rectum. Gastric duplication cyst is quite rare and most of them are presented in infancy with the sypmtoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from partial or complete obstruction. Some cases have not been diagnosed until adult when duplication cyst is not large enough to cause acute obstruction in infancy. Our case is more unusual in the aspect of its presence in adult and its nature resembles huge pancreatic pseudocyst. A 18-year man came to our hospital with complaint of epigastric pain for three days. A gastrofiberoscopy revealed a round protruding mass with smooth surface of normal mucosa at the fundus and computed tomography of the abdomen revealed the presence of 6.0 X 6.0 cm sized cystic mass between posterior wall of stomach and pancreas, and another 2.0 x 2.0 cm sized mass in ant. wall of stomach, which were regarded as mutiple pancreatic pseudocysts in perigastric region. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography did not disclose any pancreatic ductal abnormality or communication with the cyst. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed anechoic cystic mass under 3rd layer of stomach wall, which was removed by surgical resection. Postoperative pathologic examination disclosed multiple gastric duplications.

A Case of Marfan Syndrome with Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm Involving Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta

Marfan syndrome is an inheritable connective tissue with protean clinical manifestations involving the ocular, skeletal and cardiovascular system. It is well estabalished that a clinical hall marker and the major cause of morbidity in Marfan syndrome is aortic root dilatation and associated aortic dissection which begins just above the coronary ostia in ascending aorta. We report a rare case of Marfan syndrome with aortic dissection which began just below left subclavian artery in descending aorta. A 20-years old woman was admitted to Soonchunhyang hospital because of sudden onset of back pain. On phsical examination, she had characteristic Marfanoid feature. Chest X-ray and Echocardiography showed cardiomegaly and severe dilatation of ascending aorta. Chest CT and aortography showed severe aneurysm of ascending aorta and aortic dissection of descending aorta with intimal flap. she was treated with medical treatment because of poor general condition.

A Case of Marfan Syndrome with Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm Involving Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta

Marfan syndrome is an inheritable connective tissue with protean clinical manifestations involving the ocular, skeletal and cardiovascular system. It is well estabalished that a clinical hall marker and the major cause of morbidity in Marfan syndrome is aortic root dilatation and associated aortic dissection which begins just above the coronary ostia in ascending aorta. We report a rare case of Marfan syndrome with aortic dissection which began just below left subclavian artery in descending aorta. A 20-years old woman was admitted to Soonchunhyang hospital because of sudden onset of back pain. On phsical examination, she had characteristic Marfanoid feature. Chest X-ray and Echocardiography showed cardiomegaly and severe dilatation of ascending aorta. Chest CT and aortography showed severe aneurysm of ascending aorta and aortic dissection of descending aorta with intimal flap. she was treated with medical treatment because of poor general condition.

A Case of Colonic Tuberculosis Cured by Secondary Anti - Tuberculosis Medicine / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Tuberculosis is common disease in developing countries manifested by multi-organ involvement. Although the incidence of tuberculosis has been reducing recently due to the advancement of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, improvement of public health, and early diagnosis, the rate is still higher in developing countries. The diagnasis of colonic tubcrculosis is difficult due to its frequency, vague manifestation, and difficulty in confirming the disease process. Fortunately, the advent of flexible colonoscopy has provided an opportunity to confirm the diagnosis of colonic tuberculosis, however biopsy can frequently leveal false negative results. A-27-year-old man was admitted with a 2 week history of rectal bleeding. He complained of anorexia, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Routine laboratory tests and chest X-ray findings were within normal limits, with the exception of left pleural thickening. A colonoscopy showed irregular and small, multiple, and shallow polypoid mucosal lesions in the ascending colon and multiple ulcers in the transverse colon. Multiple colonic biopsies suggested tuberculosis. After three months of prirnary anti-tuberculosis medica tion, the patient showed slightly improved coiono- scopic findings. Follow-up colono- scopic findings revealed more aggrevation and chest X-ray findings showed multiple patch consolidation in the left lung field. Primary anti-tuberculosis medication was stopped and substituted for secondary anti-tuberculosis medication. When clinical and colonoscopic methods are found to be compatible with intestinal tuberculosis in countries with a high prevalence of colonic tuberculosis, a therapeutic trial with an antituberculosis agent is usually considered. In a failed therapeutic trial, considerations must be made not only to other inflammatory bowel diseases such as crohn's disease, but also to multi-drug resistance tuberculosis.