The Anatomic Figure of Saphenofemoral Junction in Primary Varicose Vein

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to measure the diameter of saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) by using duplex scan and to assess the different anatomic characteristics of SFJ according to the clinical manifestation. METHODS: 100 Limbs of 77 patients with varicose veins due to greater saphenous vein (GSV) were assessed prospectively about sex, symptom, disease duration, morphology of varicose vein. The diameter of GSV (GSVD), SFJ, femoral vein (FVD) and the ratio of each value-GSV/FV (GFDR) and SFJ/FV (JFDR)-were measured by color-flow duplex scanning. Findings were compared with clinically normal 20 control limbs. RESULTS: The mean value of GSVD, FVD, SFJ, GFDR, JFDR in patients group were different from that of control group with statistical significance except FVD. There were statistically significant differences in the mean value of GSVD, FVD, GFDR, JFDR between men and women. The mean value of GSVD, FVD, SFJ, GFDR, JFDR between symptomatic and asymptomatic group were not different statistically. The result of comparison according to the disease duration showed statistically significant difference, which the more duration of disease were longer, the more the mean value of SFJ were increased. In comparison of the findings according to the morphologic classification, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean value of GSVD, FVD, SFJ, GFDR, JFDR. CONCLUSION: Dilatation of SFJ may be related to the cause of varicose veins from the result that the mean value of SFJ was more increased in patients group than control group.

Early Experience of Virtual Colonoscopy on Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: Virtual colonoscopy (VC) is a newly developing non-invasive technique used to detect polyps and cancers of the colon. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of VC in the detection of synchronous polyps or cancers in preoperative patients as well as metachronous polyps of postoperative colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Both VC and conventional colonoscopy (CFS) were performed on 40 patients with colorectal cancer (10 cases of preoperative state and 30 cases of postoperative follow-up) during Sep. 2002 to June 2003 in Daegu Catholic Medical Centre, Catholic University of Daegu, Republic of Korea. The success rate and the detection rate of polyps or cancers along with the locations and sizes of masses and the findings of anastomotic site were compared between VC and CFS. RESULTS: The entire colon was clearly visualized by CFS in all cases. In the preoperative group, VC was successfully performed in 8 out of 10 cases (80%). 8 out of 10 cancers, 4 out of 4 polyps (5 mm or more in diameter) and 3 out of 6 polyps (5 mm or less in diameter) were identified. The success rate of VC in the postoperative group were 58% of low anterior resection (LAR) from cecum to hepatic flexure, 89% of LAR, 45% of right hemicolectomy (RHC) from hepatic flexure to splenic flexure, 63% of LAR, 45% of RHC from splenic flexure to sigmoid colon, and 53% of LAR, 72% of RHC in rectum. The causes of failure were inadequate bowel distension and retained fluid. In postoperative group, VC identified only 3 of 7 polyps(5 mm or more in diameter), 1 of 10 polyps (5 mm or less in diameter) and 1 of 1 recurrent cancer. The anastomotic site was clearly seen by VC in 9 of 19 cases (47%) of LAR and 3 of 11 cases (27%) of RHC. VC also identified 28 extracolonic findings. CONCLUSIONS: Although the efficacy of VC in postoperative colorectal cancer follow up seems to be disappointing, but it can be used as an alternative method for patients with incomplete conventional colonoscopy due to anastomotic site stricture or for other failed cases. Further technological advancement of VC is needed in order for it to replace conventional colonoscopy as a postoperative follow-up test.

Analysis of Clinical Features and Factors Predictive of Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Tumor of the Pancreas: Multi-center Analysis in Korea / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite of increasing numbers of reports on intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT), there is still difficulty in its' diagnosis, treatment and prediction of prognosis. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the clinico-pathological features of IPMT in Korea and suggest the prediction criteria of malignancy in IPMT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinico-pathological data of 208 patients who underwent operations with IPMT between 1993 and 2002 at 28 institutes in Korea. RESULTS: Of the 208 patients with a mean age of 60.5+/-9.7 years, 147 were men and 61 were women. 124 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, 42 distal pancreatectomy, 17 total pancreatectomy, 25 limited pancreas resection. Benign cases were 128 (adenoma (n=62), borderline (n=66)) and malignant cases were 80 (non-invasive (n=29), invasive (n=51)). A significant difference in 5-year survival was observed between benign and malignant group (92.6% vs. 65.3%; p=0.006). Of the 6 factors (age, location, duct dilatation, tumor appearance, main duct type, and tumor size) that showed the statistical difference in univariate analysis between benign and malignant group, we found three significant factors (tumor appearance (p=0.009), tumor size (p=0.023), and dilated duct size (p=0.010)) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Although overall prognosis of IPMT is superior to ordinary pancreatic cancer, more curative surgery is recommended in malignant IPMT. Tumor appearance (papillary), tumor size (> or =30 mm) and dilated duct size (> or = 12 mm) can be used as preoperative indicators of malig-nancy in IPMT.

Treatment of Paradoxical Puborectalis Contraction (PPC) Using Botulinum Toxin-A

PURPOSE: Paradoxical puborectalis contraction (PPC) or Anismus is known to have a pathogenesis of abnormal contraction of puborectalis at defecation and its managements are not satisfactory. Recently, therapy of PPC and its associated symptoms using Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) has been introduced. we evaluate the effect of BTX-A injection to the puborectalis for the patients with PPC. METHODS: Fourteen patients were diagnosed as paradoxical puborectalis contraction on defecography and/or anorectal manometry and electromyography (EMG) during September 1998 to January 2001 in Daegu Catholic Medical Centre, Catholic University of Daegu. All patients were underwent 30 (15 15) units of BTX-A injection on each side of puborectalis guided by EMG. Among them, five patients needed further injection of 20 (10 10) units because the expected results were not satisfied. Follow-up were conducted on one month and one year after BTX-A injection and the patients were assessed for the constipation score and anorectal manometry. RESULTS: After injection of BTX-A, constipation score was significantly decreased from 15.5 +/- 3.5 (mean SD) to 5.7 +/- 4.3. Maximal resting and squeezing pressure also decreased from 48.4 +/- 22 mmHg, 96.9 +/- 39.8 to 41.2 +/- 17, 68.3 +/- 38.2, respectively. Twelve patients who were followed up more than one year after injection, the constipation score (n=12) increased up to 7.7 +/- 2.9 (mean SD). Among them, three patients have had stool softeners or laxatives to evacuate and the remained nine patients did not have any kinds of drug or food for defecation. There was no complication for the injection BTX-A. CONCLUSIONS: BTX-A injection seems to be effective for the treatment of PPC and the long term therapeutic effect can be defined through double blind placebo-controlled trials.

Acute Occlusion of the Abdominal Aorta by Various Causes

We report various causes of acute abdominal aortic occlusion, a condition which is infrequent but usually ends catastrophically. The three cases are embolic occlusion by myxoma, thrombotic occlusion of aortic aneurysm, and thrombosis of an atherosclerotic aorta; the first two causes are very rare clinical presentations. All patients showed leg paralysis, pain, and severe ischemic symptoms. Diagnosis was done by emergent-CT (computed tomography) scan and surgery was performed urgently. Nevertheless, all patients died in the early postoperative period. As acute aortic occlusion is infrequent, its diagnosis may be delayed. The mortality rates remains high even with urgent surgical care.

Growth and Metastasis of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Grafted to huPBMC-SCID Mouse / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: The severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice which lack the functional T and B lymphocytes have been widely used for the research of various human diseases including AIDS, transplantation, autoimmune disease and cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the huPBMC-SCID mouse as an animal model for human breast cancer research. METHODS: 5x10(7) human PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell) were injected intraperitoneally in 18 SCID mice. After 24 hours, 2.5x10(6), 5x10(6) and 10x10(6) MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were innoculated subcutaneously in the right flank of each of the 3 groups of 6 huPBMC-SCID mice. RESULTS: 4 subcutaneous ecchymosis (2 perioral area, 2 scalp), 1 splenomegaly and 1 hepatic embolism were found during the 20 weeks after the injections. The growth of tumor xenograft was identified in 14 of the total 18 huPBMC-SCID mice, and the growth rate of the tumor was proportional to the number of the innoculated cancer cells. Distant metastases were found in the retroperitoneum, kidney, pelvic cavity, omentum, perisplenic area and regional lymph node in 50 % of mice, but not in the lung and liver at 20 weeks. CONCLUSION: In summary, the huPBMC-SCID mouse was expected to play an important roles as an animal model of human cancers including breast cancer.

Comparative Nerve Distribution of the Pylorus in Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) a common childhood disorders characterized by nonbilious projectile vomiting, an olive shaped mass in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and visible gastric peristaltic wave in the upper abdomen. Its etiology and pathogenesis are not clear but abnormal nerve distribution of the pylorus has been postulated2-6. We performed immunocytochemical staning to the pyloric muscle from 10 IHPS and 3 controls patients, utilizing specific monoclonal antibody to NCAM(neural cell adhesion molecule). In IHPS patients, the number of NCAM protein immunoreactive nerve fibers were less than that in normal subjects. Auerbach myenteric plexuse was well developed and interbundle nerve plexuse was present but nerve fibers supplying individual muscle cells in smooth muscle bundles were poorly developed. These results indicate reduction of innervation in smooth muscles in IHPS patients that possibly contributes to the pathogenesis of IHPS.

Clinical Significance of Tumor Angiogenesis in Gastric Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The aim of present study is to define the relationship of microvessel density to clinicopathologic data, the recurrence rate and the overall survival in patients with gastric carcinomas. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with gastric carcinomas who underwent a gastrectomy at Yeungnam University Hospital during one year (January to December 1991) were evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining with the factor VIII-related antigen (Dako, USA) was used to assess of angiogenesis. RESULTS: Microvessel counts increased in proportion to lymph-node metastases, perineural invasion, and lymphatic invasion. Histologic type, primary tumor invasion, stage and distant metastasis did not correlate statistically with microvessel counts. The microvessel counts increased with higher pathologic stages, but the difference was not statistically significant. The microvessel counts were significantly higher in the group with LN metastasis than in those without LN metastasis (p or =62), the overall 5-year survival rate was shorter than in those with low microvessel counts (<62), but the difference was not statistically significant. The microvessel counts were higher in the group with recurrence than in those without recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, microvessel count may be a prognostic indicator of gastric carcinomas.

Changes of Antioxidant Capacity in Colorectal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: Free radicals are defined as any species capable of independent existence that contains one or more unpaired electrons and they have the effects on carcinogenesis and tumor progression by causing mutations on genetic structure or suppressing repair of mutated DNA. This study was aimed to identify changes of antioxidant capacity in carcinogenesis and tumor progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We studied the level of serum antioxidant capacity using ABTS technique for 34 CRC patients who were operated between July 1997 and January 1998 at department of surgery, Taegu Catholic Medical Center and compared with 38 persons who had normal value of liver function during the same period. RESULTS: CRC patients showed decreased serum antioxidant capacity level compared to that of control group (CRC male 1.23 0.15 mmol/L, CRC female 1.11 0.13 mmol/L, control male 1.40 0.15, control female 1.35 0.11 mmol/L). Changes of antioxidant capacity levels were not correlated with stages, even though the marginal difference between T-stages (T1/2 1.23 0.10 mmol/L, T3/4 1.16 0.15 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Free radicals may be the causative agent of colorectal carcinogenesis and can be associated with early phase of carcinogenesis rather than tumor progression.

A Case of Small Cell Carcinoma of the Stomach

A case of a small cell carcinoma of the stomach is reported. A small cell carcinoma of the stomach is a very rare disease. Preoperative diagnosis is very difficut. The prognosis of this disease is very poor compared with the common type of gastric carcinoma. Considering the poor prognosis of this particular disease, adjuvant chemotherapy might be mandatory in all cases even when a surgically curative resection is perfomed. A 63-year-old male was referred to our hospital for elective surgery for gastric cancer, which is located in the cardia. A total gastrectomy and splenectomy with D4 systematic lymph node dissection were perfomed. The serosal layer was invaded. The metastases were found in the number 1, 7, 8, and 12 lymph node. Thirteen of the 62 dissected nodes were positive. Other organs were grossly intact. The tumor cells were show small-sized cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scanty cytoplasms, and were arranged in solid nests. No glandular differentiation was observed in the tumor itself. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was perfomed with etoposide and carboplatin. The patient has been followed up for 10 months he appears to be relatively healthy and is doing well, but the prognosis is expected to be poor.

Clinical Characteristics of the Patients with a Long Operative Time in a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND: Almost all cholecystectomies these days are performed using laparoscopic equipment. Recently, this has been applied in all possible pathologies of the gallbladder by many surgeons. However, we occasionally have had bitter experiences, difficult operations and long operative times, when doing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. The aim of this study was to detect the factors causing long operative times, conversions to open surgery, and higher postoperative complication rates, when difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies are encountered. METHODS: From among the 250 patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomies during the recent 5 years (from November 1992 to January 1998), the clinical data of the 58 patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomies with operative times over 120 minutes (a long operative time) were compared with those of 45 patients with operative times of 60 minutes or less (short operative time). RESULTS: Clinical data for the patients with long operative times showed a higher incidence of steady pain (29.3 versus 0%), fever (36.2 versus 4.4%), previous history of upper abdominal surgery (6.9 versus 4.4%), tenderness (48.3 versus 4.4%), rebound tenderness (20.0 versus 0%), palpable tender mass (12.1 versus 0%), thick abdominal wall (13.8 versus 4.4%), leukocytosis (36.2 versus 8.9%), elevated bilirubin level (10.3 versus 0%), wall thickening of the gallbladder (34.5 versus 6.7%), fibrous adhesion after gastric surgery (5.1 versus 0%), inflammatory adhesion (39.7 versus 2.2%), and contracted gallbladder (1.2 versus 0%), as well as a higher required level of surgical experience (5.2 versus 2.2%). The surgical complication rate was 13.8% in the long-operation group and 0% in the short-operation group. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was completed successfully in 250 of the 258 patients and the overall conversion rate to open surgery was 3.1%; that of the long-operation group was 7.9%. CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a long operative time is inevitable in patients with acute severe inflammation of the gallbladder, previous history of gastric surgery, and a contracted gall-bladder. Also, the surgeon needs a learning period to be able to overcome the long operation. In spite of the higher rates complications and conversions to open surgery in the long-operation group, a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a long operative time is a clinically acceptable procedure in patients who need a cholecystectomy.

A Case of Bleeding Vascular Malformation of the Jejunum

Vascular malformations are known by several names, such as angiodysplasia, vascular ectasia, arteriovenous malformation, and telangictasia. Arteriovenous malformations may occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. The large intestine is the most commonly involved location, usually on the right side. Arteriovenous malformations, which consist of enlarged, tortuous and dilated, often thin-walled blood vessels, usually occur in the submucosa or mucosa. Occasionally, they can cause recurrent and even massive hemorrhage. The authors treated a case of angiodysplasia in the upper jejunum, which caused massive bleeding. A 67-year-old female patient was admitted because of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The bleeding point was found by angiography, injection of methylene-blue dye, and intraoperative endoscopy. The bleeding lesion in jejunal segment was resected, and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day.

Differential Diagnosis between Malignant and Benign Breast Diseases Using Localized Proton Magnetic Resonance / 한국유방암학회지

Proton magnetic rcsonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) has demontrated its abilities to detect an increase of choline containing compounds (Cho) in various brain tumors and prostatic cancer tissues. Based on preclinical works done by other authors using multinuclei MRS, it is reasonable to assume malignant breast tumors will have elevated level of Cho compared to that of normal tissues and benign breast lesions. Several challenges must be met to obtain clinically useful 1H breast spectrum. Good water and fat suppression, Bo homogeneity are required to detect low level metabolic signals like choline if any. In this study, we investigated the clinical utility of 1H MRS with simultaneous suppression of water and fat signals, using breast imaging surface coil for evaluating breast cancer with small lesions. All studies were performed using a GE signa MRI unit (1.5 T, Ver 5.5) and 2-channel breast coil (GE). Water suppression was achieved by chemical selective saturation, and fat signal was attenuated using inversion recovery sequence. Spectroscopic data were acquired with PRESS sequence. Twenty-three patients, age 14-75, were examined. Eleven of these patients presented with invasive ductal carcinoma. The remaining patients presented with benign processes including fibroadenoma, fibrocystic change, galactocele, adenosis, ductal ectasia and dystrophic calcification. The size of lesions were variable (8-90 mm in diameter). Choline at 3.25 ppm was visible in the spectra of all cancer patients, while invisible in the spectra of all benign lesions except a lesion of dystrophic calcification. We concluded that in vivo detection of choline containing compounds in breast carcinomas using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated its potential as a noninvasive tool for differential diagnosis of malignant and benign breast lesions larger than 7 mm in diameter.

Clinical Significance of Cellular Fibronectin as a Tumor Marker in Gastric Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND : Fibronectins (FNs) are adhesive glycoproteins that have variable primary structures owing to cell type-specific splicing of the FN precursor mRNA. FNs can be classified as plasma (p-FN) and cellular (c-FN) types, and c-FN may play a role as a marker of malignancies. CEA and CA 125 have been reported as useful tumor markers, but FNs have not studied adequately in gastric cancers. METHODS : We evaluated the clinical significance of urinary and plasma c-FN in thirty-five patients who were operated on our department due to gastric cancer from January 1997 to August 1997. The c-FN level was determined by enzyme immunoassay using a FIBRONECTIN EIA kit (Takara Shuzo Co., Kyoto, Japan). RESULTS : The levels of urine c-FN in gastric cancer patients (215.6 470.2) were higher than those in the control groups (94.1 63.0 ng/mgCr) and also showed a tendency to increase with advancing of tumor growth. A higher rate of increased urine c-FN also was identified in patients with distant metastasis than in patients without distant metastasis (6/8 vs. 10/27, p=0.05). However, p-FN didn't showed any differences according to extent of tumor invasion and/or presence of distant metastasis. Other parameters, such as age, sex, preoperative tumor size, and depth of invasion, were not correlated with urine and plasma c-FN. CONCLUSIONS : Urine c-FN may be useful as a new tumor marker in gastric cancer and can be helpful in early detection of metastasis and peritoneal seeding, but further studies and follow up are needed for complete clinical application.

Clinical Significance of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood from Gastric Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND : There are plenty of documented observations of gastric cancer patients having suppressed cellular immunity, and this immunity may be correlated to recurrence. We studied the changes in the peripheral T-lymphocyte subpopulations in gastric cancer patients and their predictive roles for recurrence. METHODS : Lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood from thirty-eight gastric cancer patients who were operated on at Taegu Catholic Medical Center from September 1995 to February 1997 were measured by 3-color direct immunofluorescence analysis with a Coulter S-plus IV automatic counter. RESULTS : CD4 significantly increased with tumor size and depth of invasion although other immune parameters, such as CD8, CD19, the CD4/CD8 ratio, and total lymphocyte count did not changed. In the patients with lymph-node metastasis, increases in CD3 and CD4 and a decrease in CD19 were observed. CD19 and the B lymphocyte count also decreased in advanced gastric cancer patients. However, T-lymphocytes subpopulations did not significantly change with stage. There were significant decreases in CD8 and in the T- & B-lymphocyte counts, without changes in CD4 and the CD4/CD8 ratio in the postoperative immune parameters.The preoperative values of the T- & B-lymphocyte counts and CD8 and CD19 were lower in patients who had recurrences during six months to two years of follow up, compared to recurrence-free patients. CONCLUSIONS : On the basis of these results, we found changes of T-lymphocyte subpopulations with size, depth of invasion, and regional lymph node metastasis, but not with stage. Postoperatively, there were significant decreases in the T- & B-lymphocyte counts. Suppressed immunity correlated with recurrence, and preoperative evaluation of peripheral T-cell subpopulations may be helpful for predict recurrence and for postoperative prognosis.

Clinical Analysis of 36 Appendectomies in Pregnant Women

Appendicitis is the most common acute abdominal condition that requires an operation during pregnancy. Variable clinical presentations in pregnant women make the diagnosis of acute appendicitis difficult, delay operative intervention, and cause many fetal or maternal complications. From January 1990 through December 1996, 36 appendectomies were performed on pregnant women at our hospital. This is a retrospective analysis of our cases compared to control group. 1. Thirty six pregnant women (0.1 %) from all labor cases during this period underwent appendectomies, representing 10.3 % of all appendectomies in women of childbearing age. 2. The age distribution was 21-25 (38.9 %), 26-30 (55.6 %) and 31-35 (5.5 %) years, which was similar to the age distribution of the non-pregnant group. 3. Acute appendicitis during pregnancy was most common in the spring. 4. No significant difference in the occurrences of various symptoms between the pregnant and the non-pregnant groups was observed. 5. The pregnant patients visited our hospital earlier, but underwent operations later, than the non-pregnant women. (p 0.05) 8. No significant differences between the pregnant and the non-pregnant groups were noticed in terms of operation time and types of anesthesia. (p > 0.05) 9. The wound infection rates were similar for the pregnant (16.7 %) and the non-pregnant (17.4 %)groups, but there were 3 fetal losses (8.3 %)from pregnant patients after their appendectomies. 10. The mean hospital stay was longer for the pregnant patients (7.6 days) than for the non-pregnant group (6.2 days).

Microcystic Adenoma of Pancreas: Case report

Microcystic adenoma, also known a glycogen rich or serous cystadenoma is very rare and usually presents grossly a large multiloculated mass, and the individual cystic cavities being small and filled with a clear(serous) fluid. The cut surface is spongy in appearance. Microscopically, cysts are composed of multiple small cysts lined by small, flat or cuboidal cells containing abundant glycogen but only an insignificant amount of mucin. The microcystic cystadenoma is benign, but mucinous cystadenoma is potentially malignant,so the two cysts should be differentiated, and should never be treated by-pass sugery in the case of mucinous cystadenoma. A 43-year-old female was admitted to this hospital with the palpable epigastric mass, postprandial nausea and weight loss for the preceeding 2 years, and increase in size in the past recent 8 months. Upper G.I series and ultrasonographic studies revealed a huge mass in the pancreatic head portion. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, which disclosed a round adult fist sized multicystic mass in the pancreatic head. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. In gross specimen examination, the mass was 9x7.5x7 cm in size, the outer surface was smooth and grayish white, the cut surface was sponge- like with multiple small cysts. The content of cysts was serous fluid. Microscopically, the cystic mass was composed of small cysts, in which the lining of the cell shows flat and mild secretory activity. There was no malignant evidence. The patient was discharged uneventfully on the 22nd postoperative days.

The Comparative Analysis of Therapeutic Results between a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and an Open cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the treatment of choice for the surgical treatment of uncomplicated cholelithiasis. Application of this rule in acute cholecystitis is still controversal, in spite of the eagerness of the experts in the field of laparoscopic surgery.The role of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute cholecystitis was evaluated by comparing clinical data from a laparoscopic cholecystectomy group with those from an open cholecystectomy group.Clinical data for 24 patients with acute cholecystitis who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the mid 1990, were compared with data for 31 patients with acute cholecystitis who went through an open cholecystectomy in the early 1990s. Preoperative clinical data showed no statistical difference between the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group and the open cholecystectomy group. The operating time, the postoperative hospitalization, the duration of drainage, and the returning time of intestinal motility were shorter in laparoscopic cholecystectomy group, and the incidence of wound infection was lower. However, the incidence of bile duct or bowel injury was larger in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely in most patients with acute cholecystitis, in spite of the difficulties in observation, traction and dissection, which can be overcome with complete understanding, confirmation of the biliary anatomy, and sufficient experience.

One Case of Mucin Hypersecreting Papillary Adenocarcinoma of the Left Intrahepatic Duct / 한국간담췌외과학회지

A patient with mucin hypersecreting papillary adenocarcinoma of intrahepatic bile duct had jaundice and symptoms of cholangitis. Radiologic evaluations-ultrasonography and computerized tomographyrevealed passage disturbance of bile at the level of the distal common bile duct or ampulla of Vater. But, primary lesion was located at left intrahepatic duct proximal to the ductal dilatation. This peculiar phenomenon confused clinicians. A 59-year-old man was referred to our hospital for evaluation of recurrent cholangitis. Ultrasonogram, computerized tomogram and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography disclosed dilatation and amorphous filling defect extending from left intrahepatic bile duct to common bile duct suggesting choledochal cyst(type IVa). Preoperative endoscopic examination showed spillage of mucin through duodenal papilla. Abdominal exploration revealed mucin hypersecreting papillary adenocarcinoma of left intrahepatic duct and dilated distal common bile duct filled with tenacious mucin. Left hepatic lobectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy were performed.

A clinical study of colorectal cancer

No abstract available.