Abnormalities of liver function tests in patients with hyperthyroidism / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of liver function tests are common in patients with hyperthyroidism and may reflect thyroid hormone status. The aim of our study was to analyze the frequency of abnormal liver function tests in the patients with hyperthyroidism at diagnosis and the association with the thyroid function state after antithyroid therapy. METHODS: Three hundred seventy eight patients with hyperthyroidism who visited Chungnam National University Hospital from June 2004 to May 2005 and had no other causes for abnormal liver function tests were examined. At diagnosis, 272 of 378 patients had various abnormalities seen on the liver function tests. Among 272 patients, 65 were followed up for liver function tests and were analyzed for sex, age, use of an antithyroid drug, and thyroid function tests after administration of an antithyroid drug. We analyzed the frequency of liver function abnormalities and the relevance between abnormalities of liver function and the thyroid function state. RESULTS: Abnormalities in AST, ALT, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and GGT were observed in 16.4%, 31.0%, 3.2%, 48.7% and 26.9% of the 378 patients with hyperthyroidism, respectively. The level of alkaline phosphatase was the most common abnormal parameter. After antithyroid therapy, 48 (73.8%) of 65 patients had normalization of their liver function abnormalities. The normalization rate for AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase and GGT were higher in the euthyroid status group than the sustained hyperthyoid status group. The normalization rate for ALT was significantly higher in the female group than in the male group, but the effect of antithyroid drug use and age on the normalization rate was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that abnormalities of liver function tests are common in patients with hyperthyroidism and these abnormalities are strongly associated with thyroid hormone status.

Venous gangrene and migratory thrombophlebitis associated with pancreatic carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

It is a common belief that pancreatic carcinoma has an inherent and unique ability to induce hypercoagulable diathesis that leads to clinically significant thrombosis. The reported incidences of disease range from 17% to 57%. Thromboembolic disease is causally associated with an intrinsic hypercoagulable state. Pancreatic cancer cells activate platelets and these express several procoagulant factors, including tissue factor and thrombin. There are a variety of clinical presentations, include deep vein thrombosis, migratory thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation, portal or superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, and extremity ischemia. Venous gangrene is a very unusual and severe form of venous thrombosis of an extremity, and this hasn't yet been reported in Korea. We report here on a case with repeated deep vein thrombosis that was associated with pancreatic carcinoma. Despite of aggressive treatment with low molecular heparin and oral anticoagulant warfarin, the repeated thrombosis was aggravated to venous gangrene of the lower extremity.

Our Experience of Gastritis Cystica Profunda Cases and Its Clinical Study / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastritis cystica profunda (GCP) is a rare disease that is characterized by a hyperplastic and cystic dilatation of the pseudopyloric gland with submucosal invasion. GCP is regarded as a benign lesion. However, there is some controversy regarding its malignant potential. This study reviewed the clinical features and association with malignancy. METHODS: From January 2001 to June 2005, 1,010 cases of resected and 1,228 cases of an endoscopic mucosal resection or polypectomy were examined. RESULTS: Thirty-nine cases (1.7%) were confirmed pathologically and were not associated with prior gastric surgery mostly. The mean age was 60.0+/-11.4 years old and there were 29 male patients. The body was most commonly located on the longitudinal axis (57.1%). Eleven cases (28.2%) were not associated any other gastric lesion, the majority of which were the polypoid type (82.0%). However, two cases were found as a hypertrophic mucosal fold, and a submucosal tumor, respectively. Seventeen cases (43.6%) were associated with early gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its rarity, GCP should be considered when an endoscopically polypoid lesion or submucosal tumor (SMT) is found. Because of its association with early gastric cancer or adenoma, more study will be needed to examine the relationship between GCP and gastric carcinogen

Clinicopathological Features and Differences of p53 and Ki-67 Expression in Adenosquamous and Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Stomach / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study reviewes the clinicopathological features, prognosis, and differences in the expression of p53 and Ki-67 immunochemical staining in squamous cell and adenosquamous carcinoma of the stomach. METHODS: From January 1995 to June 2005, 2,282 cases of gastric carcinoma were resected surgically in our hospital and 191 additional cases were resected by endoscopic mucosal resection. Retrospective pathologic review and immunochemical staining of p53 and Ki-67 were performed. RESULTS: The study consists of eight cases (0.032%) of primary squamous cell carcinoma (one case) and adenosquamous carcinoma (seven cases) without early gastric cancer. Six cases (75.0%) were male and two cases were female. The mean age was 66 year-old. The clinical presentation and physical findings did not differ from those of adenocarcinoma. The mean tumor size was 5.2+/-1.7 cm. Macroscopically, five were Borrmann type 3 (62.5%) and three were type 2. At the initial diagnosis, six (75%) were stage IV based on TNM tumor staging. Six cases (75%) progressed despite the therapy while two cases responded to the treatment. The median survival time was 11.0 months (range 4.3+/-17.7). Overexpression of p53 was seen in five cases (62.5%) and their survival was poor when compared to the p53-negative group (p=0.04). The mean Ki-67 labeling index was 70.0+/-20.8%, and was not associated with p53 staining (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adenosquamous and squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach are very rare. They tend to be at advanced stages on initial diagnosis, and progress rapidly. They show p53 protein overexpression and high Ki-67 labeling index, which might be related to poor prognosis.

Two Cases of Adenocarcinoma Arising from Gastric Hyperplastic Polyp / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Epithelial gastric polyps can be categorized as being either hyperplastic or adenomatous. Hyperplastic polyps accounts for 75~90% of gastric polyps. In contrast to the adenomatous polyps, the potential of a malignant transformation of hyperplastic polyps was originally believed to be quite low (an incidence of 1.5~2.1%), which is considerably lower than that of an adenoma of the stomach. Most of reported cases of a hyperplastic gastric polyp with a transformation to adenocarcinoma were well differentiated histopathologically. There are few reports of a hyperplastic polyp in which malignant changes developed during the endoscopic surveillance. We report a rare case of a 1.2 cm sized moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma arising in a hyperplastic polyp on the cardia in the stomach with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Endoscopic Treatment of Foreign Bodies in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The ingestion of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract usually happens as a result of accidental swallowing, and rarely produces symptoms. Although most foreign bodies are eliminated spontaneously, 10~20% of cases need treatment with endoscopy. We evaluated the role of endoscopy for removing foreign bodies from the upper gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: We analyzed one hundred and thirty-nine cases of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract which were endoscopically treated at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 2001 to July 2004. RESULTS: Patients' age ranged from 6 months to 96 years old (mean 36.0 years old). The ratio of males to females was 1.2 : 1. The common foreign bodies included coins (29 cases) and fish bones (23 cases), animal bones (19 cases), and stones (15 cases) follows in order. The most common location was the esophagus (79.9%). In most cases (73.4%), the foreign body was removed using an alligator tooth and a grasping forceps. Twenty-eight among one hundred and thirty-nine patients had a co-morbid condition, such as esophageal disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stomach cancer, or a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic removal is a very powerful and useful method for removing foreign bodies from the upper gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, a simpler and more efficient endoscopic equipment is required

Ileal Perforation due to Cytomegalovirus Enteritis in a Patient with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of important opportunistic infections and cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The colon, stomach, and esophagus are the organs frequently involved with CMV infection. CMV enteritis makes up less than 10% of the CMV gastroenteritis cases, usually presents with diarrhea, bleeding and perforation. Several reports have described patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in whom CMV enterocolitis were complicated by ileal perforation, but have been rarely reported in Korea. We report a case of multiple ileal perforation associated with CMV enteritis in 67 years old man who was diagnosed as AIDS later. He complained of hematochezia and abdominal pain. During emergency operation, multiple perforated lesions were seen at the distal ileum above ileocecal valve. Colonoscopic examination revealed multiple shallow aphthoid ulcers at descending colon. CMV enteritis and colitis were diagnosed by microscopic findings of both surgical and endoscopic specimens. He was recovered by antiviral therapy with ganciclovir.

Long-term Outcome of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Gastric Adenoma and Factors Related to Recurrence / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has been known as a method of local treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) or gastric adenoma. It has been widely accepted as a useful method due to its minimal invasiveness, safety and satisfactory result. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the recurrence after EMR. METHODS: Three hundred twenty adenomas in 297 patients were treated by EMR from January, 1991 until July 2003. Among those, 197 lesions in 184 patients that could have been followed-up were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 15.0 (1~89) months. Of the 197 lesions, there were 35 recurrences (17.7%). The recurrence rate was higher in lesions associated with severe mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in surrounding mucosa (p=0.035). Other factors showed no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we concluded that the presence of intestinal metaplasia and severe atrophic background mucosa were related to the recurrence of gastric adenoma after EMR.