ABSTRACT
A Carcinoid tumor of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare, accounting for less than 0.3% of all gastrointestinal carcinoids. Most reported cases have arisen from the gallbladder. An ampullary carcinoid most commonly presents with jaundice or upper abdominal discomfort, and bleeding from the tumor is exceedingly rare. A diagnosis is most frequently made postoperatively due to submucosal spread of the tumor. As the metastatic potential cannot be predicted by tumor size, a Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy rather than local excision is considered the treatment of choice. We herein report a case of a primary carcinoid tumor located at the ampulla of Vater that presented as gastrointestinal bleeding; the tumor was diagnosed by an endoscopic biopsy after a papillary sphinterotomy.
Subject(s)
Ampulla of Vater , Biopsy , Carcinoid Tumor , Diagnosis , Gallbladder , Hemorrhage , Jaundice , PancreaticoduodenectomyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of lamivudine therapy between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, whose ALT levels less than 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and patients whose ALT levels are more than 2 times ULN. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 508 consecutive patients with HBeAg-positive CHB who were treated with lamivudine for 1 year or more. Forty-six patients (Group A) with pretreatment ALT levels less than 2 times ULN were retrospectively compared with 462 patients (Group B) whose ALT levels are more than 2 times ULN. RESULTS: HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in 15 (32.6%) of group A and 162 (35.1%) of group B. The cumulative rates of HBeAg seroconversion in group A and B were 19% and 21% at 12 months; 35% and 31% at 24 months; and 38% and 39% at 36 months, respectively. HBV breakthrough was observed in 20 (43.5%) of group A and 192 (41.6%) of group B. The cumulative breakthrough rates of group A and B were 18% and 12% at 12 months; 33% and 29 % at 18 months; 45% and 42% at 24 months, respectively. Post-treatment relapse in group A and B occurred in 56% (5/9) and 41% (44/108), respectively. Therefore, the rates of the HBeAg seroconversion, breakthrough, and post-treatment relapse were not significantly different between these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine therapy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients whose ALT levels are minimally elevated is as effective as in treatment of the patients whose pretreated ALT levels are twice more than ULN.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Alanine Transaminase/analysis , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Viral , Hepatitis B e Antigens/analysis , Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis , Lamivudine/pharmacology , Prognosis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, renal disorder and neurologic signs. Its clinical course is rapid and its mortality rate is very high. However, the prognosis has much improved after plasma exchange was introduced as a therapeutic modality. We report a 31-year-old multipara pregnant woman with refractory TTP, who achieved complete remission after 54 plasma exchanges.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy , Female , Humans , MortalityABSTRACT
Bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxitity usually occurs in the elderly patients (graeatee than 70 years old), patients with a cumulative dose above 400 units, previous chest radiotherapy, oxygen therapy, and reanal failure. H owever, there are some reports of severe pneumonitis in that developed after dministering low bleomycin doses (less than 100 units). In sever bleomycin-induced pneumonitis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, the response to corticosteroid is poor and the mortality rate is very high, approximately 83%. Therefore, clinicians should have a low threshold for investigating and treating bleomycin-induced pneumonitis. Here, we report a case of severe bleomycin-induced pneumonitis as a complication of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Bleomycin , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin , Mortality , Oxygen , Pneumonia , Radiotherapy , ThoraxABSTRACT
Bone marrow necrosis is most frequently diagnosed at postmortem examination. Antemortem diagnosis is uncommon. However, organized studies using either bone marrow biopsy specimens or autopsy material showed that bone marrow necrosis can be demonstrated in approximately one third of specimens. Bone marrow necrosis has been observed during the course of a wide variety of diseases, most commonly in association with acute and chronic leukemia, carcinoma, malignant lymphoma, infections, and sickle cell disease. We report one case of bone marrow necrosis due to miliary tuberculosis. Although appropriate diagnosis and treatment were performed, the patient expired.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anemia, Sickle Cell , Autopsy , Biopsy , Bone Marrow , Diagnosis , Leukemia , Lymphoma , Necrosis , Tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, MiliaryABSTRACT
Biliary cystadenomas are very rare cystic neoplasms usually arising from the intrahepatic bile ducts. The majority of patients are middle-aged women who present with abdominal discomfort and/or a palpable mass. The diagnosis was performed using several methods such as abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, percutaneous cholangiography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and showed multiloculated cystic tumors with multiple internal septation. But confirmatory diagnosis was done by surgical pathology. Because the prognosis is comparatively better than after complete resection and the cystadenoma is warranted to avoid malignant change, early detection and surgical resection must be needed. We have experienced two cases, 30 and 50 year old females, which presented with nonspecific abdominal pain and dyspepsia. They were diagnosed as having intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma histopathologically which was confirmed after surgical resection. We report two cases of intrahepatic biliary cystadenoma with a review of literature.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Abdominal Pain , Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic , Cholangiography , Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde , Cystadenoma , Diagnosis , Dyspepsia , Liver , Pathology, Surgical , Prognosis , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Diffusely infiltrating primary colorectal carcinoma is a rare disease. This type of carcinoma extensively spreads beneath the mucosal layer. Clinically, it resembles inflammatory colorectal disease and metastatic carcinoma and is difficult to diagnosis. Moreover, the prognosis is extremely poor. A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of lower abdominal pain. Barium enema showed circumferential long segment narrowing in the proximal sigmoid colon without definite mass or ulceration and abdominal CT demonstrated colonic wall thickening. So it was diagnosed as inflammatory condition by image study. Colonoscopic examination showed hypertrophied mucosa and luminal narrowing on the 40 cm from the anal verge, but the oral side couldn't be examined because of stenosis. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and left hemicolectomy was done. The pathology showed diffusely infiltrating adenocarcinoma with metastasis in regional lymph node and mesentry involvement.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Abdominal Pain , Adenocarcinoma , Barium , Biopsy , Colon , Colon, Sigmoid , Colonic Neoplasms , Colorectal Neoplasms , Constriction, Pathologic , Diagnosis , Enema , Lymph Nodes , Mucous Membrane , Neoplasm Metastasis , Pathology , Phenobarbital , Prognosis , Rare Diseases , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , UlcerABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transradial approach for coronary intervention has a lower incidence of access site complications and can increase patient comfort after percutaneus tansluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA). The purpose of this study is to compare procedural success and complication rates of percutaneous transradial coronary stenting which was performed by four operators in two hospitals with those using transfemoral approach. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From September 1998 to July 1999, one hundred seventy five consecutive patients(201 lesions) treated with coronary stent implantation were enrolled for this study : 84 patients underwent transradial coronary stenting(Radial Group), and 91 patients transfemoral coronary stenting(Femoral Group). RESULTS: Seven patients who failed coronary cannulation via radial artery were crossed over to the Femoral Group. The measurements of the radial artery were not done. Patient demographics were similar in both groups. Procedural success was similar in both group(95.2% in Radial Group vs. 97.8% in Femoral Group, p=S). All transradial coronary stenting were possible using conventional guiding catheters which are used in transfemoral intervention. Local vascular complication rates showed a trend toward a reduction in the Radial Group(2.4% vs. 8.8%, p=.06). CONCLUSION: This study showed the similarity in the safety and efficacy of transradial coronary stenting compared to those of transfemoral approach.