Peroral Direct Cholangioscopic-Guided Biopsy and Photodynamic Therapy Using an Ultraslim Upper Endoscope for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Intraductal Tiny Nodular Tumor Growth

Bile-duct invasion is rare in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report a case that received peroral direct cholangioscopy (PDCS)-guided endoscopic biopsy and photodynamic treatment (PDT) for recurrent HCC with intraductal tiny nodular tumor growth. A 64-year-old woman presented with recurrent right upper-quadrant pain. Six months previously she had been diagnosed with HCC with bile-duct invasion in the right anterior segment and had received right anterior segmentectomy. On pathological examination, the margin of resection was clear, but macroscopic bile-duct invasion was noted. On admission, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed a 0.5-cm-sized polypoid mass at the hilar portion. ERCP-guided biopsy failed, and an ampullary stricture was noted. PDCS-guided endoscopic biopsy was thus performed, and histopathology of the retrieved specimen revealed HCC. The patient submitted to PDT. There was no procedure-related complication. After 1 month of PDT the polypoid lesion and scar change at the hilar lesion had disappeared.

A case of hemobilia caused by an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct / 대한내과학회지

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (biliary IPN) is a rare disease characterized by multicentric proliferation of adenomatous epithelium within the bile ducts. The common clinical manifestations are recurrent abdominal pain, jaundice, and acute cholangitis. We report a case of hemobilia caused by biliary IPN. A 59-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of hemobilia of unknown origin. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiography revealed dilatation of the S6 segmental duct with an ovoid-shaped intraductal mass. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy showed multiple papillary masses with bleeding in the S6 segmental duct. The patient underwent a right lobectomy, and the pathology revealed a well differentiated intraductal papillary adenocarcinoma.

A Case of Yellow Nail Syndrome Manifesting as Chronic Recurrent Pleural Effusion / 결핵및호흡기질환

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare cause of pleural effusions. This syndrome is characterized by yellow discoloration of nails, lymphedema, and respiratory disorders, including pleural effusion, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and chronic sinusitis. The etiology of this syndrome is obscure, but the pathogenesis seems to be related with impaired lymphatic drainage. We report a case of yellow nail syndrome in a 70-year-old female with the typical clinical findings (yellow discoloration of nails, lymphedema, and chronic pleural effusion) of this disorder and with proven lymphatic obstruction on lymphoscintigraphy.

A Case Report of Rituximab Therapy for Recurrent Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare medical condition characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, neurologic manifestations, and infrequently, renal involvement. In many cases, TTP is associated with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13, and treatment with plasma exchange is effective in the majority of patients. We report a patient with acute TTP in whom remission was not achieved by initial treatment consisting of plasma exchange and corticosteroids. In view of the severe autoantibody-mediated ADAMTS-13 deficiency, treatment was initiated with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the CD 20 antigen present on B lymphocytes. The patient received 4 weekly infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m2). Four weeks after the last infusion of rituximab, a complete clinical and laboratory remission was documented. We conclude that rituximab should be considered in patients with TTP with acquired ADAMTS-13 deficiency, who fail to respond to standard treatment with plasma exchange and corticosteroids. Rituximab may result in a lowered requirement for plasmapheresis and avoid the complications of salvage immunosuppressive therapy.