Acute Pancreatitis Associated with Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b and Ribavirin Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C

Acute pancreatitis is an uncommon side effect of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-2b and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy. In South Korea, There is a no report of acute pancreatitis associated PEG-IFN alpha-2b plus RBV combination therapy. Here, acute pancreatitis associated with PEG-IFN alpha-2b plus RBV treatment is described in two patients with chronic hepatitis C. We started on weekly subcutaneous injection of PEG-IFN alpha-2b plus daily RBV. During this therapy, acute pancreatitis occurred in these patients without other causes of acute pancreatitis. We thought that the cause of acute pancreatitis in these patients was PEG-IFN alpha-2b and RBV. We stopped the treatment of PEG-IFN alpha-2b and RBV, and patients were improved.

A Case of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Bleeding of the Pancreas Manifesting As Cholangitis / 대한췌담도학회지

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the second most common urological malignancy and it has diverse range of clinical manifestation. One third of the patients show the metastasis at the time of the diagnosis. The common sites of metastasis are the lung, bone, lymph nodes and metastasis to the pancreas is rare. In case of pancreatic metastasis, more than half of the patients are asymptomatic. Patients with symptoms visit hospital complaining of abdominal pain, weight loss, steatorrhea and rarely biliary obstruction. Although about 40% of all patients visit hospital with hemorrhage, cholangitis caused by spontaneous pancreatic hemorrhage is rare. We report an interesting case of 61-year-old woman with cholangitis caused by bleeding due to pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.

Postoperative Residual Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma Treated with Gamma Knife Surgery

Juvenile nasophayngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a histologically benign but highly vascular, agressively expansile lesion that occurs exclusively in prepubescent or pubescent males. Traditional treatmemt strategy of JNA has included open surgical approaches for majority of tumors. However, radiosurgery has been rarely applied for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) and cumulative reports are lacking. The authors report a case of successful treatment of postoperative residual JNA with gamma knife radiosurgery.

A Case of Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome after Surgical Excision of a Giant Acoustic Neuroma / 대한이비인후과학회지

Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome (CSWS) is defined as the development of extracellular volume depletion due to a dysfunction of the renal sodium transport system. Differentiation of CSWS from the Symdrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone in patients with intracranial disease is difficult because both syndromes include hyponatremia and concentrated urine with natriuresis. However, distinguishing between these two syndromes is very important because the treatment options differ. We report a 41 year-old Asian woman who presented initially with hyponatremia, and was finally diagnosed with CSWS after an operation for an acoustic neuroma. Based on this case, we discuss a possible mechanism and disclose insights about differential diagnosis thereof.

Oncologic and Functional Outcomes of Supraglottic Partial Laryngectomy: 18 Years Experience / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Supraglottic partial laryngectomy (SPL), which provides the removal of selected tumors involving the upper structure of the glottis, shows equivalent oncologic outcome when compared to total laryngectomy with functional preservation. We report our 18-year experience of applying supraglottic partial laryngectomy in the Yonsei Head and Neck Cancer Clinic. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 78 patients who underwent SPL. We divided the patients into two groups, the early and the recent, and performed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and chi2-test on the groups. The post-operative functional outcome was assessed. RESULTS: The 3-year-disease-specific survival rate of the early and recent period was 87% and 84.6%, respectively. Decannulation and tolerability of an oral diet was possible in 93% and 95% of the earlier group, and 95% and 98% in the recent group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in survival rate, recurrence pattern, decannulation and tolerability of oral diet between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We achieved a satisfactory survival rate through SPL. In addition, almost all patients could be decannulated and eventually tolerated an oral diet. Our results confirm that SPL is an oncologically & functionally sound procedure for selected supraglottic tumors.

Endoscopic Thyroidectomy via an Axillo-Breast Approach without Gas Insufflation for Benign Thyroid Nodules and Micropapillary Carcinomas: Preliminary Results

PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility of endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET) via an axillo-breast approach without gas insufflation for large thyroid tumors and micropapillary carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients in the benign group were separated into groups 1 (n=95, or =4 cm in tumor diameter). Also, 57 patients in the micropapillary carcinoma group underwent an endoscopic hemithyroidectomy (HT) (group 3) and were compared with 60 patients who received conventional open HT (group 4). Postoperative functional outcome, local complications, surgical outcomes, and pathological outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: In the benign group, there was no significant difference in mean operating time, hospital stay, or overall perioperative complications between the two groups. In the micropapillary carcinoma group, mean operating time and hospital stay in group 3 were significantly longer than in group 4 (p=0.015 and p or =4 cm and micropapillary carcinomas. Although it has the advantage of better cosmetic results over open thyroidectomy, there is room for improvement in terms of lessening its invasiveness and shortening the operative time.

A Case of Intrapancreatic Accessory Spleen Mistaken as a Pancreatic Mass due to Different Enhancing Pattern from Normal Spleen / 대한소화기학회지

Most cases of accessory spleen show similar features as normal spleen in imaging studies. However, some accessory spleen has unusual scan feature which can be misdiagnosed. We present a case of intrapancreatic accessory spleen that was discovered incidentally during a workup for abdominal pain in a 47-year-old woman. CT and MRI revealed a different enhancing pattern from that of the spleen. Further evaluation with endoscopic ultrasonography failed to identify the pancreatic mass. Therefore, it was surgically removed and diagnosed pathologically as an accessory spleen.

A Case of Intussusception Due to a Jejunal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Intussusception is seen often in children but relatively few cases occur in adults. In many cases, the etiology of intussusception in adults is a tumor, with adenocarcinoma being the most common tumor in the small intestine. Gastro-intestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is caused by a mutation of the interstitial cells of Cajal, which controls the speed of peristalsis by being involved in the autonomic innervation between the bowel wall and the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, and is rarely a factor in adult intussusception. We reported a case of a 74-year-old male patient who came to our hospital with hematochezia and was found to have jejunal intussusception from GIST.

Effect of Transdermal Fentanyl Patches on the Motility of the Sphincter of Oddi

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pain is one of the most troublesome symptoms of pancreatitis. Transdermal fentanyl patches (TFPs) are long-acting analgesics with a reduced risk of dependency. This prospective study evaluated the effect of TFPs on sphincter of Oddi (SO) motility for the management of pain in pancreatitis. METHODS: SO manometry (SOM) was performed using triple-lumen catheters anterogradely inserted through the percutaneous transhepatic route during cholangioscopy in 16 patients. The basal pressure, amplitude, and frequency of the SO were assessed before and after applying a TFP at 24 hour at doses of 25 and 12.5microgram/hr, respectively. RESULTS: Two of 16 patients receiving a 25microgram/hr. TFP were excluded because of adverse side effects (headache and/or nausea). The mean basal pressure, amplitude, and frequency of SOM did not change significantly in the 25microgram/hr TFP group (n=4 patients). Parameters of SO function also did not significantly change in the 12.5microgram/hr TFP group (n=11 patients). CONCLUSIONS: TFPs below a dose of 25microgram/hr may not affect the motility of the SO. Administration of TFPs at lower dosages seems to be a safe analgesic treatment for the pain control of patients with pancreatitis without affecting the function of the SO.

Postoperative Change of Intrahepatic Bile Duct Dilatation in Choledochal Cyst

Choledochal cyst is a congenital dilatation of the bile duct. Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation of type IVa by Todani's classification at the time of diagnosis resolved spontaneously after cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy in many cases. It should be distinguished from the true cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic ducts, which tends to persist, albeit after some regression. We therefore studied postoperative intrahepatic duct dilatation changes in choledochal cyst. A total of seventy-six choledochal cysts were managed at the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center from May 1995 to December 2005. The ratio of males to females was 1:2.8. Preoperative radiologic diagnosis by Todani's classification was Type I (n=52, 68.4 %), II (n=1, 1.3 %), IVa (n=23, 30.3 %). Among fifty-five patients with intrahepatic bile duct dilatation we were able to follow up forty-eight by ultrasonography. Twenty-two patients were type IVa, and twenty-six patients were type I and showed intrahepatic duct dilatation. Mean follow-up duration was 35.3 months (9~105 months). Complete regression of dilated intrahepatic duct was observed in fifteen patients of type IVa and twenty-four patients of type I. Incomplete regression of dilated intrahepatic duct was observed in six patients in type IVa and two patients in type I. Only one patient in type IVa showed no change in ductal dilatation during a follow-up period of 15 months. We conclude that true type IVa is much less frequent than what was diagnosed preoperatively by imaging study. Therefore in type IVa patients who are diagnosed preoperatively the decision to perform liver resection should be carefully considered. Postoperative long term follow up of choledochal cyst with intrahepatic bile duct dilation is needed.

A Case of Successful Conservative Treatment of Esophageal Perforation from Penetration of Esophageal Wall by a Fish Bone

A 71-year-old man with a history of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) was referred to our clinic with a one-day history of a continuous substernal chest pain radiating to his left shoulder. In retrospect, he experien- ced chest discomfort after eating fish one day before but did not seek medical attention then. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. The cause was not visible during the advancement of the endoscope through the eso- phagus, but a small segment of a fish bone protruding from an ulcerative lesion in the lower esophagus was iden- tified while withdrawing the endoscope. The fishbone was immediately removed. A follow-up CT scan revealed pneumo- mediastinum. Now hemodynamically stable, the patient underwent conservative medical treatment including total parenteral nutrition(TPN) and intravenous antibiotic drugs. The patient made complete recovery. We report a case of a 71- year-old male found to have an esophageal perforation from an ingested fish bone, which was managed successfully with conservative treatment. A pertinent literature review is also included.

The Eleven Years' Experience with Fundoplication in Infants and Children

Fundoplication is a common surgical procedure for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Recently the procedure has been performed with increased frequency laparoscopically. The aim of this study is to review our 11 years experience with fundoplication in infants and children. From October 1994 to December 2005, 59 fundoplications in 55 patients were performed at Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Medical Center. Medical records and laboratory results of these children were retrospectively reviewed for sex, age, symptoms and signs, coexisting disease, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and length of operative time. Open fundoplication was performed in 41 cases and laparoscopic fundoplication in 18 cases. Simultaneous gastrostomy was done in 27 cases. Recurrent GERD symptom occurred in four patients (7.2 %) within 2 years after first fundoplication and all 4 patients had re-do fundoplication. There were no intra- and immediate post-operative complications. Gastrointesitnal symptoms were the most common indication for fundoplication in neurologically normal patients. The most frequent diagnostic studies were upper gastrointestinal series (76.3 %) and 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring (78.2 %). Fundoplication had been increased since 2004 and mostly done laparoscopically. In conclusion, our 11 years' practice of open and laparoscopic fundoplication indicates that both approaches are safe and effective in the treatment of GERD for infants and children.

Two Cases of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using an Ultra-Slim Upper Endoscope after Endoscopic correction of Endoscopic after Stone Removal / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Peroral cholagioscopy is a good procedure that permits direct visualization of the biliary tree and target biopsies of lesions. However, peroral cholangioscopy with a mother-baby system requires two experienced endoscopists, and the procedure remains time consuming and expensive and the apparatus is easily broken. Therefore, an easier technique to get direct visual examination of the biliary tree is needed. Direct peroral cholangioscopy (direct POC) with using an ultra-slim upper endoscope was performed in two patients after endoscopic stone removal for diagnosing their biliary stricture. One patient had wire-guided direct POC performed and the patient was diagnosed benign biliary stricture on the proximal CBD after forcep biopsy. Another patient had overtube-assisted direct POC performed and that patient was found to have a polypoid lesion at the bifurcation. Future advances in endoscope development, as well as specifically designed accessories, are expected to increase its clinical utility.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Acinetobacter Nosocomial Pneumonia between MDR and non-MDR / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen worldwide. The incidence of these infections has recently begun to increase. The mortality rate associated with these infections is high (bacteremia; 52% , pneumonia: 23%~73%) and multidrug resistance has been reported. For the effective control of multidrug- resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(MDR-AB), the impact of these organisms in clinical practice should be determined. This study compared the clinical characteristics, mortality and morbidity of Acinetobacter nosocomial pneumonia between MDR strain and non-MDR strain. METHODS: From Jan. 1, 2002 to Nov. 1. 2004, 47 adult patients with Acinetobacter nosocomial pneumonia in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital were recruited and analyzed retrospectively. MDR-AB was defined as showing in vitro resistance to all commercially available antibiotics against A. baumannii. RESULTS: There were 47 patients with Acinetobacter nosocomial pneumonia. MDR-AB and non MDR-AB was the cause of the pneumonia in 17 and 30 patients, respectively. Mean age of the former was 69+/-11 years old and the latter was 70+/-13 years old. The mean APCHE II score, ICU days and mortality were not different between the two groups(16.1+/-5.4 vs. 14.9+/-4.8, P=0.43, 25.1+/-13.6 vs. 39.1+/-31.0, P=0.2, 58.8% vs. 40%, P=0.21). CONCLUSION: There are no significant differences in mortality and morbidity between MDR and non-MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. The mortality of the two groups is surprisingly high, therefore proper infection control practices are essential.

A Case of Liver Abscess Caused by Toothpick Penetrating Gastric Wall / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The ingestion of foreign bodies into the gastrointestinal tract is common, and most are passed out spontaneously without causing any problems. However, a perforation can cause a variety of complications involving considerable morbidity and mortality. Moreover, clinical presentation of a perforation can vary and patients are often unaware of the episode. Hence, a pre-operative diagnosis is difficult under these circumstances. We report an unusual case of a liver abscess that developed secondary to a toothpick that had penetrated the gastric wall and migrated to the liver. The liver abscess was treated successfully with internal drainage by inserting an endoscopic pigtail catheter through the hepato-gastric fistula. The toothpick was removed using an endoscopic snare.

Urachal Anomalies in Children

Failure of the urachus to regress completely results in anomalies that may be classified as patent urachus, urachal sinus, urachal cyst and bladder diverticula. The presenting symptoms of children with urachal anomalies are variable and uniform guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are lacking. The purpose of this study was to elucidate our conclusions regarding the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of urachal anomalies by reviewing our experiences. We retrospectively analyzed the records of 32 patients who were admitted for urachal anomalies from March 1995 to February 2005. The age distribution of these patients at presentation ranged from 1 day to 14 years old (median age 1 month) and they included 20 boys and 12 girls. The 32 cases comprised 13 cases of urachal sinus (40.6%), 10 urachal cyst (31.3%), and 9 patent urchus (28.1%). The presenting symptoms were umbilical discharge (14 patients), umbilical granuloma (8), abdominal pain and fever (3), fever (3), abdominal pain (2), and a low abdominal mass (2). In 30 patients ultrasonography was used for diagnosis and 2 patients with patent urachus were explored without using a diagnostic method. Twenty-three patients were confirmed by ultrasonography alone and 7 patients were examined using additional modalities, namely, computed tomography for 2 patients with an urachal cyst, magnetic resonance imaging for 1 patient with an urachal cyst, and fistulography for 3 patients with an urachal sinus. Excision was performed in 29 patients, and 3 patients were conservatively managed. Urachal anomalies in children most frequently presented in neonates, and the most common complaint was umbilical discharge with infection. Urachal anomalies can be diagnosed by a good physical examination and an appropriate radiographic test, and ultrasound was found the most useful diagnostic method. Complete surgical excision of an urachal anomaly is recommended to avoid recurrence, and even, though rare, carcinoma development.

A case of abdominal actinomycosis simulating Dieulafoy's ulcer / 대한내과학회지

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative and granulomatous disease caused by Actinomyces species and characterized by sulfur granule formation. Depending on the site of primary infection, it is generally classified as cervicofacial, thoracic and abdominal type. Abdominal actinomycosis is often difficult to diagnose before operation because of low frequency and no characteristic clinical features of the disease. As it progresses chronically, it can be misdiagnosed such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or other abscess. The diagnosis is usually based on histologic demonstration of sulfur granules in pus or surgically resected specimen. In vast majority of cases, treatment has consisted of long-term antibiotic therapy coupled with surgical resection. We experienced a case of colonic actinomycosis initially diagnosed as Dieulafoy's ulcer and confirmed by colonoscopic biopsy. Treatment with intravenous penicillin for 4 weeks was successful independently, and we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

A case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented only as unilateral pleural effusion / 대한내과학회지

We experienced a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented only as right side pleural effusion, that is primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), in a 75 year-old male patient in Korea where is the endemic area of tuberculosis. He visited our hospital complaining of exertional dyspnea. He did not have B symptoms. The breathing sound was decreased on the right side chest, but we could not find external lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly on physical examination. Simple chest radiograph showed right side pleural effusion. The cells of pleural fluid were lymphocyte-predominant and the pH, protein, lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine deaminase of the fluid was 7.31, 38 g/L, 381 U/L, 31 U/L, respectively. The biopsy specimen of the parietal pleura was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of small lymphocytic type. Computed tomograph of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and the biopsy of bone marrow were negative for disease. We tried up to 3 cycles of chemotherapy with adriamycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone and there was a marked decrease in the amount of the pleural effusion.

A Case of Intestinal Tuberculosis Extensively Involving the Upper and Lower Intestinal Tract, Accompanied by Tuberculous Lymphadenitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The prevalence of intestinal tuberculosis has been markedly decreased with the development of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, preventive medicine, vaccinations, early detection and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, and improved eeonomic conditions. Nowadays, intestinal tuberculosis is a disease that should be differentiated from the inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Behcet's disease, and colon cancer and amebic colitis. This disease also has a new clinical significance in that it has an increased infection rate and unfavorable outcomes in patients infected by HIV or in those who undergo organ transplantation or receive immunosuppressive agents. Tuberculosis of the duodenum was a rare disease and was not reported in the last decade. Moreover Intestinal tuberculosis extensively involving the small bowel including the duodenum and colon was very rarely reported in the various relateid literature. Recently we experienced a case of advanced intestinal tuberculosis involving the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon accompanied by tuberculous cervical and abdominal lymphadenopathies, in a 49-year-old woman who manifested profound general weakness, diarrhea, and marked weight loss. She was diagnosed pathologically by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, and fine needle aspiration cytology as well as by roentgenologic examination. The patient was given antituberculous medication which resulted in dramatic clinical improvement. In this report, we present this case with review of the related literature.

Esophagus, Stomach & Intestine; A Case of Malignant Carcinoid Tumor of the Ampulla of Vater / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Carcinoid tumor of the ampulla of Vater comprises about 2.0-8.9% of the gastrointestinal earcinoid tumors and 3-5.5% of the duodenal tumor. The climcal manifestations of the carcinoid tumor of the ampulla of Vater are jaundice, hemorrhage, obstruction of duodenurn, or carcinoid syndrome. But the symptoms of carcinoid tumor are nonspecific and diagnosis is delayed until far advanced state, usually. Recently we experienced one case of carcinoid tienor in a 33-year-old woman who had epigastric pain and intermittent melena, so we report it with a review of the literature