The Prevalence of Abdominal Cystic Lesion in Patients with Vascular Disease

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prevalence of cystic disease in the intra-abdominal organs in a normal population and a group of patients with vascular disease. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and computed tomography scans of the vascular disease group and the control group. Vascular disease group (n=586) were patients who suffered with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AOD) and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and who were treated in our institute. The control group (n=424) were patients who visited the health promotion center in our institute during the same period. RESULTS: The prevalence of abdominal cysts in the control group and the vascular disease group was 41.7% and 65.2%, respectively. The vascular disease group showed a higher prevalence of abdominal cystic lesion for all the specific vascular diseases. However, when the two groups were stratified according to age, the vascular disease group displayed no significant difference in the prevalence of abdominal cyst compared to that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Abdominal cystic lesions are common in patients with vascular disease, including AAA, AOD, and PAOD. But this high prevalence of abdominal cystic lesions seems to be associated with the advanced age of vascular disease patients. Further molecular-based research is needed to clarify the pathogenetic relationship between vascular disease and abdominal cystic lesions.

Polymorphism of the 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene and Microsatellite Instability (MSI) in Mucinous Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: Generally, a mucinous carcinoma (Muc) of the colon show higher rates of microsatellite instability (MSI) than a non-mucinous carcinoma (non-Muc). Mutated methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) brings about low enzyme activity, which may reduce genomic DNA methylation. These processes may be critical for the oncogenic transformation of human cells. We compared the relationship of MSI and MTHFR polymorphism in Muc to that in non-Muc. METHODS: From March 2003 to August 2007, genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood and tissue specimens of 285 colorectal cancer patients (Muc: 31 cases, non-Muc: 254 cases) and 448 normal control patients. These were subjected to MSI analysis and MTHFR genotyping by using PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. RESULTS: MSI was significantly more frequent in the Muc group (40.7%) than in the non- Muc group (14.8%). The frequencies of polymorphism of MTHFR 677C>T were CC (31.5%), CT (57%), and TT (11.5%) in the patient group and 32.4%, 53.1%, and 14.5% in the control group. In the Muc group, the frequencies of polymorphism of MTHFR 677C>T were CC (36%), CT (56%), TT (8%), and in the non-Muc group, they were 31.1%, 57%, and 11.9%. The frequencies of polymorphism of MTHFR 1298A>C were AA (73%), AC (21.3%), and CC (5.7%) in the patient group and 69.6%, 28.6%, and 1.8% in the control group. In the Muc group, the frequencies of polymorphism of MTHFR 1298A>C were AA (50%), AC (30%), and CC (20%), and in the non-Muc group, they were 76%, 20.3%, and 3.7%. The Muc group showed higher frequencies of the CC variant than the non-Muc group (P-value=0.018). No relation between MSI and MTHFR polymorphisms were seen in any comparison of the Muc and the non-Muc groups. CONCLUSIONS: The Muc group showed higher rates of MSI than the non-Muc group, but no definite difference between the Muc and the non-Muc groups was noted in the case of polymorphism of MTHFR 677C>T. However, the TT-type variant showed slightly lower frequencies in the Muc group than in the non-Muc group. On the contrary, the Muc group showed a higher rate of the CC variant in polymorphism of MTHFR 1298A>C. These inconsistent results seem to be due to the small size of the Muc group, so further study is needed.

Liver Tumors in Children

Liver tumors in children are rare, relatively complex, and encompass a broad spectrum of disease processes. This study reviews our experience of liver tumors during the last 10 years. Medical records of 36 cases of liver tumors?in children, treated at Samsung Medical Centers, from October 1994 to December 2005, were reviewed in this study. We analyzed disease characters and survival rates as a whole and by specific disease. The median age was 3.6 years. Male and female ratio was 1:1. The most common symptom was the palpable mass in 15 cases. Others were abdominal distension in 9 cases, jaundice in 2, vomiting in 2, weight loss in 2, and pubic hair growth in 1. CT or US and liver biopsy were performed for diagnosis. There were 28 malignant tumors: malignant rhabdoid tumor (1 case), hepatocellular carcinoma (3 cases), hemangioendothelioma type II (3 cases), angiosarcoma (1 case), and hepatoblastoma (20 cases). Eight tumors were benign; hepatic adenoma (1 case), focal nodular hyperplasia (2 cases), hemangioendothelioma type I (2 cases), mesenchymal hamartoma (3 cases). In this study the clinical characteristics were not different from the other reports. Liver transplantation was performed in 3 cases-1 with hepatoblastoma and 2 with hepatocelleular carcinoma. Accurate and early diagnosis, and individualized multi- modality therapeutic approaches might be important for better outcome.

Clinical Experiences of Pancreatic Tumors in Children

Pancreatic tumors in children are very rare but have a better prognosis compared with that in adult. Pediatric pancreatic tumors are more often benign and easier to resect. To evaluate the characteristics and prognosis, the records of 13 patients who underwent pancreatic resection, from June 1997 to May 2005, at Samsung Medical Center were reviewed. The mean follow up period was 48 months. The male to female ratio was 1: 1.6. Mean age was 10.3 years. Signs and symptoms included abdominal pain (7), abdominal palpable mass (5), jaundice (1), hypoglycemic (1), and non-specific GI symptoms (4). The commonly used diagnostic tools were CT and abdominal sonography. In addition, MRI, ERCP, EEG, and hormone test were also done when indicated. Surgical procedures included distal pancreatectomy (5), pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (4), tumor excision (3), and subtotal pancreatectomy (1). Locations of lesions in pancreas were head (4), tail (5), and body and tail (4). Postoperative complications developed in 3 cases; postoperative ileus (1), wound problem (1), and pancreatitis (1). The pathologic diagnosis included solid-pseudopapillary tumor (6), congenital simple cyst (1), pancreatic duplication cyst (1), serous oligocystic adenoma (1), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (1), rhabdomyosarcoma (1), insulinoma (1), and pancreatoblastoma (1). Three cases received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Overall survival rate was 81%. One patient with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma died. In this study, pancreatic tumors in children were resectable in all patients and had good survival. Surgery of pancreatic tumors should be regarded as the gold standard of treatment and a good prognosis can be anticipated in most cases of benign and malignant tumors.