Two Cases of Tsutsugamushi Meningitis

Meningitis associated with tsutsugamushi is not a rare disease and simple, effective treatments are available. However, the diagnosis of meningitis is important since it is potentially associated with significant mortality rates. Case 1 : A 47-year-old woman had a headache and high fever with chills for 3 days. She fell into a stupor, and her blood pressure dropped to 80/60 mmHg on the fifth day of admission to the hospital. The patient was treated with 200 mg of doxycycline given intravenously. Case 2 : A 48-year-old woman was admitted with a 7-day history of fever with chills, severe headache, vomiting, and a generalized non-pruritic erythematous maculopapular rash. The patient was treated with 200 mg of doxycycline given orally. CSF examinations revealed predominantly lymphocytic pleocytosis in all cases. The indirect immunofluorescent antibody titer for Orientia tsutsugamushi were 1:20,480 in case 1 and 1:5, 120 in case 2. We report two cases of meningitis associated with tsutsugamuschi disease.

A Study on the Usefulness of ERCP in Patients with Pyogenic Liver Abscess / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of ERCP in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. METHODS: An endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic study of 70 consecutive cases of pyogenic liver abscess was conducted during the period from January, 1993 to December, 1997. Among 70 cases of pyogenic liver abscess, the male to female ratio was 1.69 :1, and the peak incidence was in the sixth decade. RESULTS: The common associated diseases were liver cirrhosis (11.4%), diabetes mellitus (8.5%), and malignancy (5.7%). The most common origins of the abscess in decreasing order of frequency were, transbiliary infection (51%), hematogenous spread, and trauma-associated causes. The ascending infection through the biliary tract as the etiology of liver abscess, has been common since the 1970's. The positive rate of abdominal US, CT, and ERCP in the diagnosis of the etiology of the liver abscess was 68, 82, 84% respectively. The treatments of the pyogenic liver abscess were, surgical drainage in 15 cases (21%) and percutaneous drainage in 51 cases (73%). Among 70 patients treated for pyogenic liver abscess, 12 patients had CBD stones and 11 patients were cured by EST. CONCLUSIONS: The most common origin of liver abscess is ascending infection through the biliary tract and ERCP may be a effective tool in the assessment and management of the etiology of pyogenic liver abscess.

Choledochoduodenal Fistula after Placement of Endocoil Spiral Stent for Pancreatic Head Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Retrograde endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic bile duct drainage is the treatment of choice for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction. An expanding metal stent, Endocoil spiral stent, with strong radial force was developed to solve the problems of other metal stents which include obstruction by tumor ingrowth, migration, and epithelial trauma from the distal hard edges of the stent. A choledochoduodenal fistula is occasionally found during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatiography (ERCP) or barium radiography. Cholelithiasis is suspected to be the leading cause in some endemic areas like Korea but duodenal ulcer is more common in Western countries. The case reported here is of a 78-year-old woman, suffering from vomiting, epigastric pain, and abdominal distension, who had a Endocoil spiral stent in the common bile duct (CBD) for pancreatic head cancer for 8 months. During barium radiograph, a fistulous connection between the proximal second part of duodeum and the CBD was identified.

The Prognostic Factors In Progression Of Pneumoconiosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis is the parenchymal lung disease that results from the inhalation and deposition of dust, usually mineral dust of occupational or environmental origin. Most of the pneumoconiosis can be categorized to coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) in Korea. No effective treatement is currently available, and the therapy for symptomatic CWP is limited to treatment of complication. Therefore authors analyzed and reviewed clinical features and radiological findings of 95 patients with pneumoconiosis for assessing the prognostic factors in disease progression. METHOD: We reviewed medical records of 95 cases with pneumoconiosis including history, chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, electrocardiography, AFB stain and culture of sputum, and routine blood examination between June 1995 and June 1997 in Seonam University Namkwang Hospital. RESULTS: All of cases are male(mean age, 57.4 years), 91 cases out of them are miners. The mean duration of exposure to dust is 18.8 years. 2) Major clinical symptoms are dyspnea (100%), sputum (71.6%), chest pain (55.8%), cough (23.2%), and hemoptysis (6.3%). 82% of cases are over Morgan-Seaton Grade 2 in the degree of dyspnea. Small opacity on chest x-ray is 82.1% and large opacity is 17.9%. Small opacity has t/t type (37.2%), q/q type (25.6%) and r/r type (11.5%). B type is 42.2% in large opacity. For the pulmonary function test, restrictive type is 40.3%, mixed type 19.5% and obstructive type 8.3%. The more increasing chest X-ray density, the more decreasing FEV1 (p<0.01). 38% of patients show tuberculosis in chest X-ray, 15.8% positive smear of acid fast bacilli in sputum. The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis is high in patients with poor clinical condition. The cases with the active pulmonary tuberculosis have severe dyspnea. 6) Expired cases show 100% and 75% of positive pulmonary tuberculosis in chest X-ray and sputum examination, respectively. 75% of expired cases show the chronic cor pulmonale, who died of acute respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that tuberculosis infection has a decisive influence on the progress and prognosis of pneumoconiosis.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and ERCP with Sphincterotomy in a Woman with Situs Inversus Totalis

Situs inversus totalis is a mirror image of the normal anatomy in the thoracic and the abdominal cavity. The cardiac apex, the stomach and the aortic arch are all on the right side. It is a rare condition with a genetic predisposition that is autosomal recessive and is associated with a 5-10% incidence of congenital heart disease. In a situs inversus totalis with cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed three days after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy. In the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, pneumoperitoneum was made by a closed method, and the cholecystectomy was performed using the three trocar technique. Although we should pay much attention to the details of left-right reversal, these techniques can be safely and effectively applied to situs inversus totalis patients.

A Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Common Bile Duct / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 57-year-old female with jaundice and right upper quadrant abdominal pain, was found on exploration to have squamous cell carcinoma of the common bile duct. Squamous cell carcinoma of the common bile duct is a very rare tumor, simulating adenocarcinoma in its clinical presentation and aggressiveness. Although no consistent causative factors for this tumor has been demonstrated, it has been theorized that the normal columnar epithelium of the bile duct under the influence of an inflammatory stimulus, can develop into squamous epithelium with the ongoing process leading to squamous metaplasia, and eventually carcinoma. Cholelithiasis has been implicated as a cause for bile duct cancer, which was manifested in this patient. The prognosis of this carcinoma was grave, despite all forms of surgical and medical management. A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the common bile duct is reported with a review of relevant literature.

Diagnostic Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasonograpy (EUS) for Common Bile Duct (CBD) Stones not Confirmed by Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the best imaging procedure for the diagnosis of common bile duct (CBD) stones. But the difficulties of diagnosis are mostly due to problems involving cannulation, microlithiasis and pancreatitis etc. The diagnostic utility of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the diagnosis of CBD stones not detected by ERCP was retrogradely assessed in 8 patients. METHODS: All the patients (N=98) underwent ERCP, and in the case where CBD stones were not confirmed by ERCP, EUS was performed. Final diagnosis was determined by ERCP with an endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) or operative exploration. RESULTS: 98 patients with CBD stones were studied. The first ERCP successfully imaged CBD stones in 90 patients and an EST was performed in 84 patients. In 6 patients, stones were removed through operative exploration. ERCP images were incomplete or of poor quality in 8 patients. EUS images were excellent or good in all 8 cases, where ERCP was ineffective. Factors associated with incomplete results for CBD stones included; inability to cannulate the ampulla of Vater (N=1), nonvisualized CBD (N=4), microlithiasis (N=2), and association with the periampullary fistula (N=1). The second ERCP and EST successfully confirmed the diagnosis of CBD stones in 6 patients. In 2 patients, operative exploration was needed to confirm the diagnosis of CBD stones. CONCLUSIONS: An EUS appears to be an accurate and useful diagnostic tool for assessing CBD stones in cases where an ERCP was ineffective.

A Case of Multiple Esophageal Ulcerations in Behcet's Disease / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The diagnostic criteria of Behcet' s disease - which requires the presence of recurrent oral ulceration plus any two of recurrent genital ulceration, typical defined eye lesions, typical defined skin lesions or a positive pathergy test - was proposed by the International Study Group for Behcet' s Disease (ISGBD). Intestinal Behcet' s disease most commonly affects the ileocecal region, but esophageal involvement of Behcet' s disease is rare, only 8 cases have previously been reported in Korea. A 23-year old female who had a 10-year history of recurrent oral and genital ulcer and recurrent erythematous skin eruption, was admitted to our hospital because of dysphagia and substernal pain. Endoscopic exami-nation showed multiple small sized ulcers on oral cavity and two diffuse deep ulcers surrounded with irregularly nodular and hyperemic edematous mucosa at distal esophagus. The pathologic finding was subepithelial accumulation of chronic inflammatory cells, especially around the vessels. So she was treated with steroid under the diagnosis of esophageal involvement of Behcet' s disease. She has been followed in improvement status without recurrence.

A Case of a Solid and Papillary Epithelial Neoplasm of the Pancreas with Local Invasion into the Duodenum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas is a very rare and low-grade type of malignancy, although an increasing number of cases have been reported in recent years. Patients with a solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas have a good prognosis and may be cured if the disease is diagnosed before metastasis and diffuse local invasion. A 23-year-old female who had a 4-year history of recurrent abdominal pain, was admitted due to lower abdominal pain. Incidentally a calcified, 6 4 cm sized ovoid mass was found in the right upper quadrant, from a simple abdominal X-ray. An ERCP, abdominal sonography, and CT were performed, as well as a pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. Gross pathologic examination revealed a well encapsulated mass with cystic degeneration and hemorrhagic necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor had papillary fronds with a fibrovascular connective tissue core. There was focal infiltration of tumor cells into the duodenal wall and heterotropic pancreatic tissue in the submucosa. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for neuron-specific enolase. The patient maintained a healthy status for one year since the operation.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Reliability of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography in Postcholecystectomy Patients / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Accurate assessment of the retained or recurrent bile duct stone is important in postcholecystectomy patients who have signs of cholangitis or other pancreatobiliary disease. This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic reliability of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in postcholecystectomy patients. METHODS: From October 1975 through August 1995, we reviewed 311 patients retrospectively who had undergone on cholecystectomy. Our study was based on assessment of their age, sex, symptoms and physical findings, comparison between sonographic and endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic findings, and stone removal rate using endoscopic sphincterotomy, basket, electro-hydraulic lithotripsy. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 1:1.67, and the mean age was 56+/-14.3 years. After cholecystectomy, they visited our clinic within 2 years in 25 patients(8.4%), beyond 2 years in 286 patients(91.6%). Most common symptoms and physical findings were epigastric pain or tenderness(63.6%). We detected bile duct stone using endoscopic retrograde cholangiography 219 patients. In case of the bile duct stone, we successfully removed it using endoscopic sphincterotomy, basket, electrohydraulic lithotripsy in 194 patients(88.6%). CONCLUSION: From the above results, we concluded that endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic method in postch- olecystetomy patients who have signs of cholangitis.

The Evaluation and Treatment of the Obstructive Biliary Disease through the Percutaneous Transhepatic Choledocoscopy (PTCS ) / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstructive jaundice is developed from the cholangiocarcinoma, biiliary tract stone, biliary benign stricture and pancreatic head cancer and is rapidly progress to cholangitis or sepsis. So early decompression, accurate diagnosis and treatment are very important. Percutaneous transhepatic choledocoscopy (PTCS) and endoscopic retrograde choledocoscopy (ERCS) have been used for evaluation of the obstructive jaundice. We performed, through the PTCS, electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) for biliary tract stone rernoval, biopsy for diagnosis of biliary stric and self expandible metalic coil stent (EndocoilTM stent, Instent Co.) insertion on biliary stricture to evaluate the usefullness of PTCS in patients with obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Between Auguest 1994 and September 1995, PTCS was performed in 37 patients with obstructive jaundice. First, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) with 7Fr. drainage tube was done. Three days later, we exchainged the 7Fr. drainage tube with 16Fr.. Seven days later, through the PTCS, we performed EHL, biopsy and EndocoilTM stent insertion.

Esophagus, Stomach & Intestine; Evaluation of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Gastric Carcinoma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic Ultrasonography(EUS), a combination of endoscopy and ultrasonography is one of the most useful tools for diagnosis of digestive system diseases. EUS is useful in staging the primary tumor invasion and regional lymph node metastasis because of its ability to image the gut wall and adjacent structures in unique detail. We performed a study preoperatively for assessing the accuracy and limitation of EUS in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: In 75 patients(Male 54, Female 21, Mean age 62.3 years) with a gastric carcinoma confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, we performed EUS preoperatively. The results were compared with the postoperative histopathologic staging. RESULTS: 1) In assessing the depth of tumor invasion, EUS accuracy on depth of invasion was 76.0% and overstaging and understaging were 14.7% and 9.3%, respectively. 2) In assessing the lymph node metastasis, the accuracy rate of EUS was 65.3%. A rate of false-positive diagnosis was 27.3%, and a rate of false-negative diagnosis was 24.5%.3) In assessing the incidence of lymph node metastasis for each T stage, the involve rate was 10.5% in pT1, 36.4% in pT2, 95.7% in pT3, 100% in pT4. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is the most accurate diagnostic methods presently available to determine tumor infiltration depth and lymph node metastasis.

Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy(EHL) of Large Common Bile Duct Stone and Endocoil Insertion with Percutaneous Transhepatic Choledochoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Electrohydraulic lithotrypsy(EHL) under cholangioscopic control has been performed for difficult bile duct stones. The percutaneous transhepatic approach is technically easy and useful in diagnosis and treatment of bile duct obstruction and stones. Biliary stenting with self expanding metal stent is gaining increasingly wider acceptance as a palliative treatment of bile duct obstruction. METHODS: Between Sep. 1994 and Sep. 1996, EHL under choledochoscopy by percutaneous transhepatic approach was performed in 30 cases(Male: 13, Female: 17). After PTBD with 7F pig tail catheter, the percutaneous transhepatic passage was dilated over guide wire with dilaters of increasing size up to 16Fr in 3-Sdays. In one week, after fistula had been estabilished, choledochoscopy was performed. RESULTS: (1) Mean age was 61.3 years. Mean stone number was 2.5. And mean stone size was 1.6 X 2.3 cm. (2) Com.plete removal of the stone was achieved in all patients(100%). (3) There were no serious complications. (4) In six cases, Endocoils were implanted with successful decompression of obstructions and simultaneous removal of biliary stones located at both side of stricutre. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopy is easy and safe and assists in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary stricture and the management of difficult CBD stone.

589 Cases of Endoscopic Ultrasound Diagnosis in Upper Gastrointestinal Tract and Pancreaticobiliary System Diseases / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-a combination of endoscopy a.nd ultrasonography was one of the most useful tools for diagnosis of digestive system diseases. This technique was known to be very effective in the assessment of depth of invasion in gastric cancer and in pancreatico-biliary diseases. We performed EUS in 589 patients with upper gastrointestinal and pancreatico-biliary tract lesion prior to surgery for past 22 months and examined the diagnostic accuracy of EUS, respectively. The results were compared to surgical histology in esophagus and stomach cancer,to concordance witb endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) results for pancreaticobiliary diseases. 1) In 589 patients diagnosed with EUS, the mean age of the patients was 55.9 years with a male to female ratio of 1.7: 1. 2) Patients were divided into three groups; post-upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, post ERCP and undiagnosed with other diagnostic tools. 3) Among post-upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 64 cases were operated due to esophageal and gastric cancer and then compared to surgical histology. After compared, EUS accuracy on depth of invasion was 78.1% and sensitivity and specificity on lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer were 76.9% and 74.3%, respectively. 4) In post-ERCP cases, EUS results were compared to ERCP results and then concordance rate was 95.4%. 5) In undiagnosed cases, EUS was performed and results were reported.

Prophylactic Endoscopic Variceal Ligation Compared with Endoscopic Variceal Ligation for Bleeding Esophageal Varices / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic Variceal Ligation(EVL) was developed as an alternative to endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS) for decreasing of complication rate. This new technique involves placement of small elastic O-rings around the variceal channels in the distal esophagus. To evaluate the efficacy of EVL for treatment of the acute bleeding esophagea1 varices and the efficacy of prophylactic EVL, we compared EVL in 88 patients who had recently bled from esophageal varices(Group 1) and prophylactic EVL in 45 patients with large size(Grade 2 or 3 or 4) and red color sign on endoscopic finding who had not previously had upper gastrointestinal bleeding(Group 2). Also, we compared prophylactic EVL group(Group 2) and control group(Group 3) who did not performed EVL. At the time of treatment 28.4%(25/88) of patients had active bleeding. They were all treated acutely with EVL and repeated treatment for the long-term goal of variceal eradication. Initial hemostatic efficacy of EVL for acute bleeding varices was 92%(23/25). Varices were eradicated or reduced to Grade 1 in 68%(17/2S). Early mortality rate within 2 weeks was 8%(2/25). Among patients who had eradicated or reduced to Grade 1 varices by repeated EVL sessions, over a mean follow-up of 11 months there was no difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in recurrent rate(49.1%(27/63) vs. 46.8% (15/32)), rebleeding rate(10.9'Yo (6/55) vs. 9.3% (3/32)), rebleeding interval(average 75 days vs, 83.6 days). There was significant difference between prophylactic EVL group and con- trol group in bleeding rate(9.3%(3/~32) vs. 43.7%(14/32))~(p<0.05). Three patients(6.6%) died in prophylactic EVL group, two from ligation site bleeding of esophageal varix, one from hepatic failure. In conclsion, EVL is an effective method for treatment of acute bleeding esophageal varices with repeated sessions. Although prophylactic EVL can be used to prevent bleeding by eradication with lower initial morbidity are necessary because of EVL-related complications.

A Clinical Analysis on Primary Cancer of the Gall Bladder / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Carcinoma of Gall bladder remains a terminal illness in most patients despite improved diagnostic capabilities, better perioperative care and a more aggresive surgical approch based on improved knowledge of this tumors natural histiory. Overall 5-year survival rates remain below 5%. This failure to significantly improve patient oucome is largely due to late recognition of gall badder cancer. Authors experienced 21 cases of gall bladder cancer confirmed by operation at the Kwang Ju Christian hospital from march 1983 to March 1991, and the results obtained were summarized as follows. (continue...)

A Case of Occult Adenocarcinoma of Cystic Duct Associated with GB Empyema / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A case of adenocarcinoma of cystic duct associated with GB empyema is presented. A 72 year old male was admitted to Kwangju Christian hospital because of abdominal pain in right upper quadrant for 4 days. He underwent explolaparotomy under the impression of GB empyema or GB cancer. For seeking causative factor of GB empyema, serial sections of cystic duct and mapping were performed. We can find adenocarcinoma of cystic duct in the specimen removed at cholecystectomy. The criteria for disgnosis of cystie duct carcinoma which was outlined by Farrar. These criteria are; 1) The growth must be restricted to the cystic duct, 2) There is no neoplastic process in the gall bladder, hepatic and common bile duct. 3) Histopathological examination must be comfirm carcinoma. Here we report a case of adenocarcinoma of cystic duct associated with GB empyema with brief review of Literature.

A Case of Cystic Duct Stone and Cholecystitis Misdiagnosed as Gall Bladdr Carcinoma: A case report / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 56 year old female was admitted because of the right upper quadrant mass for 4 days. She complained of intermittent colicky RUQ pain, fever and chills. So diagnostic procedures was performed: Blood chemistry testings. Ultrasonography. Barium enema, Liver scan, Hepatobiliary scan, ERCP and Abdomen CT, which diagnosed as gall bladder carcinoma. So explolaparotomy was performed and gross operative finding was gall bladder carcinoma with metastatic lymph node and cystic duct stone. So cholecystectomy, hemigastrectomy and anterior segmentectomy of right liver was done. But the biopsy result was cystic duct stone, cholecystitis and gall bladder empyema.

A Case of Cholangiocarcinoma Associated with Clonorchiasis: A Case Report / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A fifty-five year old male was admitted because of fever and chill for one month. He complained of upper abdominal pain, malaise, anorexia and weight loss. So diagnostic procedures were performed: stool exam., bload chemistry testing, ultrasonography, radionuclide scintigraphy. ERCP, abdominal CT, and sonoguided liver aspiration, which revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma associated with clonorchiasis.

Clinical Significance of Periampullary Choledochoduodenal Fistula / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Sine 1976, 2380 eases of ERCP were performed at the Kwangju Chrietian Hospital. Nighty eight patients with periampullary choledochaduodenal fistula diagnosed at ERCP were revewed, Following result were obtained 1) Cases were most commonly noted from fifth decade to seventh decade, and sex distribution was similar. 2) Right upper quadrant abdominal was most common clinical manifestation, and duration of illness prior to diagnosis were from 2 months to 20 years. Several weeks or days before ERCP, sudden disappearance of pain suggeeted spontaneous extrustion of a stone from the common bile duct to the duodenum with resultant PACD formation. 3) On past history, various types biliay operations had carried out in 26 patients. Subtotal gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy in 1 patients, operation for CBD ascaris removal in 1 patient. 4) Most PACDF had finding formed recently on ERCP and fibrosis, inflamation, granulation, atrophic change, adhesive stenosis were noted additionally. 5) Most common cause of PACD by ERCP was biliary teact stone. 6) Endoscopic sphincteropapillotomy(EST) were performed in 39 patients with PACDF due to CBD stone and surgical intervention were done in 36 patients due to CBD stone also. It was interesting that EST were performed in 3 patients with old stenotic fistula.