Patterns of Metachronous Adenoma after Colorectal Cancer Surgery / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: After colorectal cancer surgery, colonoscopic surveillance should be done for prevention and early detection of secondary cancer. This study aimed to identify the group with high risk of developing colorectal adenoma after curative surgery of colorectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of the subjects of 130 patients who had been examined using colonoscopy before and after the curative surgery. RESULTS: The average age was 59.4 years. Synchronous adenomas were in 42 patients (32.3%). The occurrence rate was significantly high in men (38.8%) than women (22.0%). After the operation, the mean interval of examining colonoscopy was 11.6 months (3-24 months) and metachronous adenomas were detected in 26 patients (20.0%). The patients who have both metachronous and synchronous adenomas were observed in 13/42 (30.9%) and the patients of metachronous adenomas without synchronous adenomas were observed in 13/88 (14.8%). The occurrence rate of metachronous adenomas with synchronous adenomas was significantly high. The frequency of synchronous adenomas didn't increase with age. However, the frequency of metachronous adenomas increased with age: 0/9 (0%) under 40 years, 7/49 (14.3%) in 41-61 years and 19/72 (26.4%) over 61 years. The occurrence rate was higher in men (26.3%) than women (10.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence rate of metachronous adenomas after colorectal cancer surgery was higher in the patients with synchronous adenomas, male gender and old aged patients.

Recent Changes of Organism and Treatment in Pyogenic Liver Abscess / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: With the advance of antibiotics and the development of newer imaging techniques, marked changes in etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of liver abscess have been reported. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data related to 94 patients with pyogenic liver abscess. RESULTS: Of the 94 patients in the study group, the male to female ratio was 1.4:1 and the peak incidence of liver abcess was in the 7th decade. About three quaters (74.5%) of the abcesses were of unknown origin. The predominant location was in the right lobe (70.3%). Single lesion was found in 80 patients and multiple lesions in 14 patients. Pathogens were identified in 67 patients, of which Klebsiella pneumoniae (65.7%) and E. coli (16.4%) were the most common. The modalities of treatment were percutaneous drainage with antibiotics (73.4%), percutaneous aspiration with antibiotics (16.0%), or antibiotics alone (8.5%). The case fatality rate, mainly from associated underlying diseases, was 9 cases (9.6%). Associated diseases were diabetes mellitus (14.9%) and malignancy (10.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the most common organism was Klebsiella pneumoniae and percutaneous needle aspiration and/or catheter drainage were safe and effective treatment modalities for pyogenic liver abscess. Prognosis was determined by the underlying condition.

Clinicopathological Study on Laterally Spreading Tumor (LST) / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laterally spreading tumors (LST) were growthed along the colonic wall. These tumors were high malignant potential compared to colon polyp. We analyzed clinicopathological characteristics of these tumors. METHODS: From June 1996 to June 2001, twenty nine patients were diagnosed by colonoscopy. These lesions were classificated macroscopic (granular type and nongranular type) and microscopic findings. RESULTS: 20 male and 9 female were enrolled (mean age, 68.1). Among the LST, 41.4% were 20~30 mm in diameter, and 7% were larger than 30 mm. According to macroscopic findings granular types were 72.4% (21/29) and nongranular types were 27.6% (8/29). In macroscopic findings, tubular types were 48.4% (14/29), malignant changes were 31.3% (9/29). Tumor size was only significant factor in malignant potential of LST (p=0.004). Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed in 72.4% (21/29), operation in 8 (27.6%). Rate of submucosal invasion in LST was 3.4% (1/29, sm1). Recurrent rate of endoscopic treatment group was 9.5% (2/21). CONCLUSIONS: Most of LST were good indication for endoscopic treatment, but larger tumor size and irregular surface of tumor were suspected to be submucosal invasion. Therefore these lesions were performed other procedures as endoscopic ultrasound or computerized tomography for invasion depth.

Two Cases of Achalasia with Normal Lower Esophageal Sphincter Pressure / 대한소화관운동학회지

Achalasia is an uncommon esophageal motility disorder in which affected patients present with progressive dysphagia. Various causes were known in this disease. Esophageal achalasia is diagnosied by barium esophagogram, endoscopy and esophageal manometry. Treatment of esophageal achasia are pharmacotherapy, pneumatic dilatation, or botulinum toxin injection and surgical therapy. Balloon dilatation is a safe effective first line treatment. We report two cases of achalasia with normal lower esophageal sphincer pressure, typical endoscopic and typical esophagogram findings, which was treated successfully with pneumatic balloon dilatation.

Endoscopic diagnosis of the depth of invasion in early gastric cancer / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: In order to decide on a strategy of the treatment against gastric cancer, an accurate preoperative evaluation of the depth of tumor invasion is essential. We have studied the depth of invasion in early gastric cancer by endoscopic findings.METHODS: The preoperative endoscopic diagnosis of the depth of invasion was compared with pathologic findings in a total of 108 cases with early gastric cancers (EGC) which were confirmed pathologically in resected specimen. RESULTS: Of one hundred eight EGCs, forty-one were elevated type, others were flat-depressed type. There was no relationship between the depth of invasion and macroscopic type of EGC. All of the elevated typed EGCs were differentiated carcinoma. In the depressed typed EGCs, Forty-five percent was differentiated carcinoma and fifty-five percent was undifferentiated carcinoma. The incidence of lymph node metastasis in submucosal cancers (14.8%) was significantly more than in mucosal cancers (1.6%). Among the submucosal cancers, the incidence of nodal metastasis in double lesions (100%) was significantly more than in single lesions (14.8%). In the elevated typed EGCs, mucosal cancers were small in size less than 3.0 cm (83%), and contained whitish patches, and showed uneveness and erosion. Submucosal cancers were large in size, and contained ulcers, and showed submucosal tumor-like shapes and bridging folds. In the depressed typed EGCs, it was difficult to determine endoscopically the depth of invasion. Submucosal cancers showed the fusion of converging folds and unevenness of the depressed base. The regularity of the depressed base without ulcer was primarily found in mucosal cancer. CONCLUSION: When the tumor was elevated, the endoscopic diagnosis for the depth of invasion was determined easily by size of the lesion and features of the elevated surface. For the depressed tumor, diagnostic clues were the pattern of the base of the depression and the converging fold, and the endoscopic diagnosis of the depth of invasion was much more difficult than the elevated type EGC.

Long-Term Outcome of Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation of Benign Pyloric Stricture / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Balloon dilatation is a useful alternative to surgery in patients with benign pyloric stenosis. However, little data are available on the long-term outcome of the procedure. This report was attempted to determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic balloon dilatation for 14 patients with gastric outlet obstruction caused by duodenal ulcer. METHODS: Review of medical records or telephone interview was performed retrospectively. RESULTS: Follow-up was conducted for median 18.5 months (3-48 months). Gastric outlet strictures had a median diameter 6 mm (range, 2-9 mm). Five (35.7%) patients had active ulcer. 12 mm to 18 mm balloons were inflated a median of 1 times (range, 1-4 times) for a median of 4 minutes (range, 1-11 minutes). Thirty-two procedure (1.5/patient) were performed; 9 patients (64.3%) had one treatment and 5 patients (35.7%) had multiple treatment. Immediate symptomatic relief was achieved in 13 patients (92.8%) and 7 patients (50%) achieved sustained symptomatic relief. Dilatation failed only in 2 patients (14.3%) ultimately and both recovered by palliative bypass surgery. No complication was noted during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic balloon dilatation is safe and effective for most patients with gastric outlet obstruction induced by duodenal ulcer. And due to limitation of retrospective aspect of this report, further prospective, randomized studies must be performed.

Clinical study of chronic inflammatory bowel disease / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare the difference of the symptom, sign and laboratory findings among chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis in Korea. METHODS: We studied in Chungnam National University Hospital from March, 1990 to December, 1998. Seventy-eight cases of ulcerative colitis, fifteen cases of Crohn's disease, and thirty-nine cases of tuberculous colitis were analyzed in terms of age, sex, symptomatology, laboratory findings, radiologic findings and consequence of treatment. RESULTS: The sex ratio of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis were 1.17:1, 1.14:1, and 1.29:1, respectively, and the mean age were 39.3, 26.5 and 36.0 years, respectively. The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis were bloody stool, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, respectively. In terms of symptoms and signs, we found that significant differences were bloody stool, diarrhea, and weight loss. Patients with tuberculosis colitis revealed significantly high rate of tuberculous lesion on chest X-ray. Among them, 14(35.9%) of the cases showed active tuberculous lesions. In terms of anatomical distribution of the lesion, the most frequently involved sites of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis were rectosigmoid colon. descending colon, and ileocecal valve, respectively. CONCLUSION: In differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and tuberculous colitis, we should consider clinical findings, laboratory findings, colonoscopic appearance, histologic assessment, anatomical distribution of the lesions, and treatment course.

The Correlation of Bile Acid and Gastroduodenal Lesions in Hepatobiliary, Pancreas Diseases / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Various gastric and duodenal lesions were observed in patients with obstructive biliary disease. Previously we knew that serum bile acid level may be correlated with gastric and duodenal lesion in obstructive biliary disease. Now we will confirm the correlation of the serum bile acid concentration and gastro-duodenal lesions. METHODS: A clinical analysis of the endoscopic finding and serum bile acid concentration was carried out in 120 patients with hepatobiliary and pancreas disease, from January 1999 to December 1999, in the department of Internal medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital. RESULTS: 1) In the 120 patients, sex distribution showed predominance in the males (84/36). 2) Disease profiles were included, liver cirrhosis (66.7%), hepatocellular carcinoma (38.3%), pancreatic cancer (15.8%). 3) The gastroduodenal lesions were erosive gastritis (33.3%), gastric ulcer (20.0%), duodenal ulcer (16.7%) in orders. 3) According to serum bile acid concentration, gastroduodenal lesions were more than in elevated bile acid concentration group. CONCLUSIONS: Gastroduodenal lesions in hepatobiliary and pancreas disease patients were related with serum bile acid concentration.

The Comparative Study of Ligation and Histoacryl(R) Injection in Gastric Varix Bleeding / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The variceal bleeding has high rebleeding rate, and mortality rate was higher in gastrix varix. Managements of variceal bleeding were included such as drugs, endoscopic procedures, surgical management and radiological intervention. Recently histoacryl(R) injection method has been introduced. We have compared the effects of the endoscopic ligation and Histoacryl(R) injection therapy (HAI) in patient with gastric variceal bleeding. METHODS: We analyzed the effects of hemostasis, complications, rebleeding rates, and survival rates in gastric varix bleeding of 22 patients with Histoacryl(R) injection therapy and 20 patients with endoscopic ligation therapy, from January 1995 to March 1999. RESULTS: There were no difference in the complication rate between the 2 stretigies (12/14). Most common complication was chest pain in EVL group, but fever was common in HAI group. Also early and post rebleeding rates were not different in both groups. The main cause of death during follow up period was rebleeding in both groups. The survival rates were 65.0% in EVL group and 77.0% in HAI group (p>0.05, duration: 23+/-2, 28+/-4 month), and there was no difference in mortlity rate (p=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: There were no difference in the hemostatic effect, complications, rebleeding rate and survival rate in EVL group and HAI group. However, evaluation of larger numbers of patients and prospective studies were needed to define the effectiveness and complications of these therapies.

A Case of Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis and Acute Hepatitis due to Salmonella Typhi / 대한간학회지

Salmonella infection is an acute systemic disease that can lead to diffuse organ involvement with septicemia and cause clinically a variety of complications. But acute acalculous cholecystitis and acute hepatitis with jaundice due to Salmonella typhi occurred rarely. A 42 years old female was admitted with fever, chilling sensation and abdominal pain. On admission, the blood, stool, bile acid and bone marrow cultures were positive for Salmonella typhi. The patient had subsequently developed acute acalculous cholecystitis and acute hepatitis with jaundice. Her symptoms and signs resolved after cholecystostomy, parenteral antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) and supportive treatment. We report a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis and acute hepatitis with jaundice in a 42-ear-ld female, whose conditions were recovered completely after cholecystostomy and administration of ciprofloxacin, with reviewing the literatures.