Suspicious T1 colon cancer with synchronous liver metastasis not detected by preoperative imaging study

Colorectal carcinoma invading the submucosa but not the muscularis propria (pT1) represents the earliest form of clinically relevant colorectal cancer in most patients. T1 colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastasis is considered to be rare. We report a rare case of T1 colon cancer with synchronous liver metastasis not detected by preoperative imaging study. A 54-year-old male patient presented to our department for treatment of sigmoid colon cancer following an endoscopic submucosal dissection. Histopathological examination revealed the pedunculated mass was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma without lymphovascular invasion and the depth of submucosal invasion was 2,000 µm, the resection margin was not involved. We performed a laparoscopic anterior resection with lymph node dissection. After the 3 months, the patient's carcinoembryonic antigen level elevated from 1.4 to 7.26 ng/mL (normal level: <1.5 ng/mL) and the abdominal computed tomography and FDG-PET/CT (positron emission tomography-computed tomography) showed multiple hepatic metastases in both hepatic lobes (SUVmax: 5.6) without evidence of local recurrence or lymphadenopathy. We strongly suspected a synchronous liver metastasis not detected by imaging study as opposed to a systemic recurrence. Therefore, evaluation and follow-up protocol of T1 colorectal cancer should be changed for discovery and prediction of synchronous liver metastasis; because we cannot exclude the possibility of synchronous liver metastasis.

Preliminary Study on Safety of Robotic or Endoscopic Thyroidectomy via Bilateral Axillo-breast Approach (BABA) without Drainage Procedure: Multicenter Trial / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy via bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) without a drainage procedure. METHODS: A total of 64 patients who underwent robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy via BABA without a close suction drain between February and March 2012 were enrolled. We checked postoperative symptoms or signs including change of vital signs, dyspnea, swelling or fluctuation of anterior chest and neck and compression symptoms at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours and 1 month after surgery. Postoperative ultrasonography was performed in patients with at least one or more postoperative symptoms or signs in order to confirm hematoma or fluid collection. RESULTS: None of the enrolled patients had dyspnea or change of vital signs. Two of 64 patients had swelling, 1 of 64 patients had fluctuation on the anterior chest, and 1 of 64 patients had compression symptoms. Fluid collection was confirmed in 2 of 4 of the above mentioned patients and the collected fluid was aspirated. The amounts of aspirated fluid were 25 mL and 8 mL. Thereafter, the follow up ultrasonography showed no more fluid collection in all patients. In addition, we rechecked the above mentioned symptoms or signs at 1 month after surgery; none of the enrolled patients had symptoms or signs. CONCLUSION: Robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy via BABA without a closed suction drain shows no serious seroma or hematoma collection. Therefore, we expect that robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy via BABA without a closed suction drain can reduce the pain, discomfort or longer hospital stay as a result of closed suction drain using this method.

A Case of Maple Syrup Urine Disease Associated with Acrodermatitis Enteropathica-like Syndrome Due to Iisoleucine Deficinecy During Diet Therapy

Maple syrup urine disease(MSUD) is an autosomal recessive disorder involving the metabolism of the branched-chain amino acids(BCAA) such as leucine, isoleucine and valine. The disorder is due to a defect in branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase(BCKAD) and the classic form causes rapid progressive and overwhelming illness beginning in the first weeks of life, present with poor feeding, lethargy, change in muscle tone, acidosis, seizures and coma. The goal of therapy in acutely ill patients with MSUD is an immediate reduction in the plasma levels of the BCAAs and branched-chain ketoacids. In this report, we describe an infant with MSUD who was treated by dietary therapy alone. During the therapy, acrodermatitis enteropathica-like syndrome developed with low plasma isoleucine concentration while she was receiving a formula deficient in BCAAs.

Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of small cell uterine cervical carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. METHODS: Patient's medical records were reviewed retrospectively who were diagnosed as small cell carcinoma of uterine cervix and were treated at Hanyang University Hospital between 1972 and 1997. RESULTS: Between 1972 and 1997, of 1164 patients who were diagnosed as invasive cervical cancer, there were 10 cases of small cell carcinoma of uterine cervix in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Hanyang University Hospital. The incidence of small cell carcinoma in invasive cervical cancer was 0.9% (10/1164). Of 10 small cell carcinoma, seven(70%) were neuroendocrine types which were identified with several kinds of immunohistochemical stains (Chromogranin, Grimelius, and/or NSE). The age of these 7 patients ranged from 34 to 63 years (mean 49). Two were in stage Ib, 3 in stage lla, I in stage IIIb, and 1 in stage IVb. Patients with stage Ib-IIb (n 5) received 3-5 courses of neoadjuvant VBP chemotherapy (vinblastine, bleomycin and cis-platinum) followed by radical hysterectomy with pelvic and paraaortic node dissection. One IIIb patient was managed with concurrent chemo-radiation(3 cycles of cis-platinum & 5-FU) followed by 6 courses of chemotherapy. One IVb patient was treated by palliative chemotherapy with 8 cycles of VBP chemotherapy. Of 5 paticn(s who underwent surgery, none showed pelvic lymph node metastases. These 7 patients were folk>wed for 8 - 62 months (average: 20 months). During this period, 5 patients died of disease hetween 8 and 62 months later and 2 patients are still alive for 12 (stage Ib) and 26 months (stage Ib), respectively. In the contrary, of 3 patients without neuroendocrine differentiation, who underwent neoadjuvant VBP chemotherapy followed by radical hysterctomy with pelvic and paraaortic node dissetion or concurrent chemo-radiation, two stage IIb patients are still alive for 58 and 74 months, and one IIIb patient died of disease 12 months later. CONCLUSION: In summary, neuroendocrine differentiation seemed to adversely affect the prognosis and longterm survival of small cell carcinoma of uterine cervix. So, for this high risk group, more aggressive therapy would be need to improve outcome. However, as the number of patients were small in our study, further study with large number of patients are warranted.

Prediction of the Diagnosis of Adnexal Masses According to the Ultrasonographic Morphologic Scoring System and Doppler Velocity Wave Form / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative usefulness of the morphologic scoring system and spectral doppler ultrasonographic analysis in differentiating between benign and malignant adnexal masses. METHODS: All patients scanned between July 1995 and June 1998 with sonographically identified and pathologically confirmed adnexal masses formed the study group. The adnexal masses were scored as benign or malignant on the basis of their sonographic appearance. Specific categories included inner wall structure, wall thickness, septal structure, and echogenicity. Women whose morphologic findings were suspicious for malignancy underwent doppler sonography. A threshold pulsatility index of 1.0 and resistance index of 0.4 were used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. The findings were correlated with the presence of malignancy. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty one patients formed the study group; 215 patients were benign and 36 patients were malignant pathologically. Using the morphologic scoring system, 31 of the 36 malignant masses were classified as suggestive of malignant tumor, and 147 of the 215 benign masses were classified as not suggestive of malignant tumor (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 68%; positive predictive value, 31%; negative predictive value, 97%). Doppler velocimetry was performed on a total of 62 patients, 19 patients with malignant tumors and 43 patients with benign tumors. A mean PI value of 0.85 and RI value of 0.52 for malignant tumors and mean PI value of 2.00 and RI value of 0.75 for benign tumors was shown. The PI value was significantly lower (p 0.001) in malignant than that of in benign masses, but RI value was not significant (p 0.184). The sensitivity and specificity in the detection of malignancy combined with doppler velocimetry was 86% and 67%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Doppler velocimetry studies did not add substantially to the prediction of malignancy using the morphologic scoring system.

Clinico-Pathologic Study on Borderline Epithelial Tumors of the Ovary / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

Twenty six cases of borderline ovarian tumor(BOT) were treated between Jan. 1985 and Dec. 1997 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University. The clinical records were reviewed for all patients including histopathology, clinical features, and follow-up. The frequency of BOT was 12%(26/214) of epithelial ovarian malignancies, and patients with these tumors tend to present at a younger age(36 yrs) than those with invasive carcinomas. In terms of histologic type, mucinous type(21/26: 81%) were more prevalent than serous tumor(5/21: 19%) in this study. The positive rate of CA 125 was 20% in serous, and the positive rate of CA 19-9 was 24% in mucinous tumor. The size of mucinous was larger than that of serous tumors(17.1 cm vs 9,3 cm). Almost all of these tumor categorized as early stage(stage I: 96%), however, only one patient with serous tumor had advanced stage of disease(stage III: 4%), Therefore BOT tend to be diagnosed as earlier than invasive carcinoma. About 2/3 of patients were treated as conservative surgery(unilateral salpingooophorectomy or enuclation). Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was not given about half of cases(13/26). Median follow-up was 43 months and recurrent case was found only one in serous tumor, All patients in this study are still alive and free of disease except one, 5-year survival rate was 100%. But large number of study and long-term follow-up are needed to make a decision to treat and manage of BOT.

Accuracy of Cervical Pap Smear / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a theoretically preventable disease because its precursor lesions can be detected by cervical Papanicolau smears and appropriately treated, Although cervical cytology screening programmes have resulted in the redution of cervical cancer incidence and mortality, Pap smear have been subjected to intense scrutiny and criticism in recent years. The focus of criticism has been the false-negative Pap smear, and the false-negative Pap smear is the major quality issue currently facing the physicians. To reduce the false-negative rate of Pap smear, it is essential to improve the accuracy of Pap smear. But false-negative rate of Pap smear has been reported variously. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate accuracy of Pap smear by study false-negative and false-positive rate of Pap smear and to determine whether false-negative and false-positive rate had any correlations with clinical factors. STUDY DESIGN: The study population was comprised of 346 women, who were undertaken gynecologic operation at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Hanyang University hospital between March, 1997 and April, 1998. All patients were taken Pap smear before operation. In 93 women of these, preoperative diagnosis were cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma in situ of uterine cervix, and in 253 women of these, preoperative diagnosis were benign disease as uterine myoma or adenomyosis, etc. All of their surgical specimen were examined. Pap smear, pathology, medical charts of all patients were reviewed retrospectively, and false-negative rate and false-positive rate were calculated. Clinical factors that associated with false-negative and false-positive rate were evaluated. Fishers exact test and Pearson chi-square test were used of statistical analysis, RESULTS: False-negative rate of Pap smear was 7.2%, false-positive rate was 4.6%, corresponding rate with histology was 88.2%. Sensitivity and specificity of PAP smear were 87.0% and 97.0% respctively. According to gross finding of uterine cervix, erosion was 46.6% in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 67.8% in carcinoma in situ, 66.6% in microinvasive carcinoma of uterine cervix and 55.3% of 103 erosion findings was cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, carcinoma in situ or microinvasive carcinoma. 23.1% of cervical lesion were normal gross finding. Menopause was associated with false-negative rate and previous vaginal infection history, previous cervical minor operation, delivery mode, contraception method, pelvic inflammatory disease history, vaginal bleeding at Pap smear and gross finding of cerbix were not associated. There were no clinical factors that were associated with false-positive rate. CONCLUSION: Compared with other reports, false-negative rate(7.2%) and false-positive rate(4.6%) of Pap smear was lower and corresponding rate(88.2%) was higher in Hanyand university hospital. Because of higher false-negative rate in menopausal women, it need more careful to take and interpretate Pap smear in these group.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for the Bulky-endophytic or Barrel-shaped Cervix / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study was conducted to analyze the hypothesis that with neoadjuvant chemotherapy of vinblastine, bleomycin, and cisplatin followed by radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy and concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin based regimen would improve survival in patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic (Diameter > 4cm) cervical carcinomas than those of radiation alone or combined radiation and surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-eight patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic cervical carcinomas, treated at the Hanyang University Hospital from 1983 to 1997, were the subjects of this investigation. Fifty-six of these patients were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy ( Stage I b2, 8; IIa, 15; IIb, 20; III- IV, 13), twelve patients were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy ( Stage Ilb, 4; IIJ-IV, 8), and twenty patients were treated by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy ( Stage IIb, 2; III-IV, 18). RESULTS: The incidence of parametrial extension and pelvic lymphnode metastases was higher in patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic cervical carcinomas than non-barrel-shaped cervix (p .025: .001). 5-years disease free survival rate was determined for patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was 73.3 %. For patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy it was 45.7%. For patients treated by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy it was 46.1%. CONCLUSION: These data support an improvement in survival of patients with barrel-shaped or bulky-endophytic cervical carcinomas treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy and concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.

Predictability of the Survival using Prognostic Index (PI) of Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: To predict of the survival of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, multivariable analysis was done to identify variables with independent prognostic factors. Based on materials from 191 clinical trials performed by Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University Hospital, we constructed a prognostic index (Pp with considerable predictive power for long-term survival of patients with epithelial ovatian cancer treated with cis-platin based combination chemotherapy, METHODS: On identifying variables with independent prognostic value, statistical analysis were performed with clinicopathologic variables including age, FIGO stage, histologic subtype, histologic grade, residual tumor, presence of ascites, pretreatment levels of hemoglobin, platelet, and tumor markers(CA 125, CA 19-9). We also analyzed biological variables using immunohistochemical staining for GST-pie (glutathione-s-transferase-pie), p-glycoprotein, and MT (metallothinein) as a drug resistance and uPA (urokinase type plasminogen activator), PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-l), nm23 (nonmetastatic gene 23) as a tumor invasion and metastasis. In addition, univariable analysis was performed followed by multivariable analysis using Coxs proportional hazards model to identify variables predictive of poor prognosis. Prognostic index (PI) was calculated based on sum of individual beta-coefficient of the most important independent prognostic value. RESULTS: With univariable analysis, age, FIGO stage, histologic grade, histologic subtype, presence of ascites, residual tumor, initial value of CA 125, MT, uPA, and PAI-1 were found to predict of patients survival. In the multivariable analysis and proportional hazard model, the pretreatment characteristics needed for the calculation of the PI are the age, the site of metastases expressed as stage, the histologic subtype, the size of residual tumor, the histological grade, and the presence of ascites. In the subgroup comprising the 10% of the patients with the best prognosis, 5-year survival rate was 78.9%, whereas in the subgmup comprising the 10% with the poorest prognosis, 5-year survival rate was 7.1%, which illustrates the large variability of the prognosis among patients. CONCLUSIONS: The PI was found to retain its value after response was achieved. The information provided by the PI can be expected to be useful in treatment planning and the proper stratification of patients in clinical trials.