A Case of Idiopathic Pancreatitis in a Patient with Crohn's Disease / 대한소화기학회지

Pancreatitis has been occasionally associated with Crohn's disease (CD). A definite etiology of pancreatitis can be identified in most patients, but a very small proportion remain idiopathic. We report a case of idiopathic pancreatitis resolved along with the clinical improvement of CD in a 25-year-old man. He presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea for 8 years. Ileocolonoscopy and enteroclysis showed multiple, longitudinal ulcers and strictures at the ileojejunum. The laboratory findings showed elevated serum amylase (951 IU/L) and lipase (326 IU/L) without positive autoantibodies. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, enhanced pancreatic CT, and MRCP showed no abnormalities at ampulla of Vater, pancrease, and pancreaticobiliary duct. With the treatment with antibiotics, 5-aminosalicylic acid, steroid, and azathioprine, as a whole, decreasing pattern and intermittent fine coordinated fluctuation of the levels of amylase and lipase along with the decrease of Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and the CRP levels were observed. Then, three months after the start of the treatment, normalization of the pancreatic enzymes was observed, and there was recurrent elevation of pancreatic engyme during 12 months maintenance therapy. This report supports the concept of an association between idiopathic pancreatitis and CD, based on a significant and close relation between the levels of serum amylase and lipase, and CDAI.

A Case of a Small Rectal Carcinoid Tumor with Multiple Liver Metastasis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Carcinoid tumors originate from the enterochromaffin cells. Rectal carcinoid tumors comprise 12.6% of all carcinoid tumors and they represent the third largest group of the gut carcinoids. However, a recent report showed that the number of reported cases has increases rapidly, which is probably due to the increased number of colonoscopic examinations. The aggressiveness of rectal carcinoid tumors is determined by the depth of invasion and the presence of metastasis. The clinical course of rectal carcinoid is benign, but these tumors may have a malignant character when the lesion is larger than 2 cm in diameter. We have experienced a case of rectal carcinoid tumor smaller than 2 cm in diameter and the patient had multiple liver metastasis.

A Case of Synchronous Triple Early Gastric Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Multiple gastric cancers have several clinicopathologic characteristics that are different from those of solitary cancer and the incidence of multiple gastric cancers has recently been on the increase due to the development of diagnostic endoscopy, chromoscopy, and radiological examination. It is important to determine the proper surgical area after evaluating the synchronous multiple gastric cancer by performing closed endoscopy and radiological evaluation prior to surgery. Generally, elderly men have a relatively high incidence of multiple gastric cancers and the well differentiated type is most common. There have been reports on the diagnoses of multiple gastric cancers of elderly men and the well differentiated type, but there are no prior reports concerned with multiple gastric cancers of younger patients and the different pathologic differentiation. We experienced a case of synchronous multiple early gastric cancer of a younger man and this showed different pathologic differentiation.

A Case of a Colonic Giant Lipoma Removed by Endoscopic Resection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A gastrointestinal lipoma, though rare, is a mesencymal tumor of the large bowel, and the second most common benign colonic tumor detected after an adenomatous polyp. The lesion may be asymoptomatic when small and may be detected incidentally, usually during a colonoscopic examination for another purpose. Lipomas of the large bowel that are not causing symptoms probably need no treatment, as malignant transformation has not been documented. If the mass is large, it can cause pain, anal bleeding due to intussusception, bowel obstruction and diarrhea, and thus resection should be considered. Due to the risk of perforation, endoscopic resection of large colonic lipomas has been discouraged. However, large colonic lipomas can be removed safely by endoscopic resection with the use of an endoscopic ultrasonogram and submucosal injection to elevate the lesion.

A Case of Early Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Intraabdominal Schwannoma in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type I / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder with an overall incidence of one in 3,000~4,000, and type 1 (Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis) characterized by the presence of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas, axillary and groin freckling, and cafe- au-lait spot. The neurofibromatosis type 1 gene is a tumor suppressor gene. Patients with the neurofibromatosis type 1 are at increased risk of developing nervous system neoplasm, including plexiform neurofibromas, optic gliomas, ependymomas, meningiomas, astrocytomas, and pheochromocytomas. Neurofibromas may undergo secondary malignant degeneration and sarcomatous changes. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 show a high incidence of Wilm's tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, nonlymphocytic leukemia, and pheochromocytoma but the gastrointestinal involvement appears to be relatively rare and usually consists of neurofibroma, ganglioneuroma, and leiomyoma. We have identified a case of early gastric adenocarcinoma and intraabdominal schwannoma in a 65-year-old man afflicted with neurofibromatosis type 1.

A Case about Use of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Acute Renal Failure Associated with Lupus Nephritis / 대한신장학회잡지

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a immunosuppressive agent increasingly used in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease. We report a case about use of MMF in SLE patient with rapidly worsening renal function. A 24-year old female was admitted due to 1-week history of generalized edema. Despite use of diuretics and conventional supported care, generalized edema was more aggravated and serum creatinine was elevated up to 5.2 mg/dL. Ten days after the initial admission, we started hemodialysis. After hemodialysis, improvement of generalized edema was achieved. Eighteen days after initial hemodialysis, we started corticosteroids and MMF because she shows persistent heavy proteinuria and oliguria. After use of corticosteroids and MMF, clinical improvement of renal complication was achieved in this patient. About 6 weeks later, we could discontinue hemodialysis. On two year follow up duration, she shows good renal function and no evidence of lupus flare-up signs. We suggest MMF is one of therapeutic options for patients with severe lupus nephritis, especially those refractory or intolerant to conventional cytotoxic agents.

A Case of Anal Gland Cyst Treated by Endoscopic Resection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The anal canal is the most distal part of the gastrointestinal tract, and it is developed and formed during the embryonic period. Infection is the most common disease process that occurs around the anorectum, yet tumors or cysts are occasionally encountered. The abnormal development of these parts of the gastrointestinal track during the embryonic period can result in congenital lesions that are discovered in young children or adults. A 72-year-old woman presented to us with postprandial lower abdominal discomfort and fecal incontinence. An anorectal mass was felt on the rectal examination. The colonoscopy demonstrated a submucosal tumor that was closely located to the anorectal junction. The tumor was excised with a snare and it was diagnosed as an analgland cyst due to the histologic features. It is necessary to differentiate anal gland cyst from the other diseases that have submucosal characters, such as carcinoid tumor.

The clinical outcome of renal transplantation with a poor HLA matched living kidney donors / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Poor HLA matched donors may become an additional organ source for renal transplantation. This study is conducted to predict the clinical outcomes of renal transplantation in a poor HLA matched group (0 or 1 or 2 HLA matching) by comparing them with those of HLA haploidentical group. METHODS: This study compared a poor HLA matched group (N=89) with HLA haploidentical group (N=79) to analyze differences between two groups in graft survival, incidence of acute rejection, cause of graft failure, posttransplant serum creatinine at 1, 2, 3, 5 years. Total 168 cases, appeared in the medical records for more than six months in Bong-Saeng Hospital, from December, 1984 to March, 2004 were traced and identified as relevant cases for this study. RESULTS: Allograft survival rate at 1, 3, 5, 10 years for poor HLA matched group and HLA haploidentical group were 100%, 98.6%, 95.4%, 72.5% and 100%, 100%, 96.1%, 86.2% (p=not significant) respectively. Acute rejection developed in 25.8% of poor HLA matched group versus 18.9% of HLA haploidentical group (p=not significant). The most common causes of graft failure in both groups were chronic rejection. CONCLUSIONS: It should be actively encouraged to consider renal transplantation in a poor HLA matched group as the results of this study support that the clinical outcomes of renal transplantation in a poor HLA matched group are equivalent to those of HLA haploidentical group.