2 Cases of Transcatheter Embolization Therapy of Massive Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding due to Typhoid Fever / 대한내과학회지

Typhoid fever is still endemic in developing countries and the cause of much morbidity and mortality. Complications such as intestinal hemorrhage, intestinal perforation, hepatitis, pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, osteomyelitis are known to occur. The classical approach to management of intestinal hemorrhage due to typhoid ulceration has been conservative. In, however, the event of massive, persistent and life-threatening hemorrhage not responding to conservative measures, early surgical intervention is life-saving. But surgical intervention is difficult due to multiple bleeding sites and friable distal ileum and colon. These two cases are reported in order to draw attention to the usefulness of mesenteric arteriography and the effectiveness of transcatheter embolization therapy in massive intestinal hemorrhage due to typhoid fever.

Subcutaneous Implantation Metastasis of a Cholangiocarcinoma of the Bile Duct after Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary catheterization (PTC) has not only been increasingly used in the localization of benign and malignant lesions, but it is also considered rapid, safe and effective method to establish internal and external drainage for decompression of biliary obstructions. Infections and granulomas at the catheter entry site can occasionally develop, but are easily managed. However, such technique, when used both for obtaining malignant cells for diagnosis and for percutaneous decompression of the biliary tract can exposure the patient at risk for dissemination of the tumor along the catheter tract. This rare complication has been observed in a patient who underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for malignant biliary tract obstruction. Although tumor cell seeding along the catheter tract is a very rare complication, we think that PTBD should be avoided when curative resection is planned.

A Case of Portal Vein Gas Embolism from Hydrogen Peroxide Ingestion / 대한내과학회지

We present a case of a 19-year-old male with portal vein gas embolism resulting from accidental ingestion of 35% hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly used germicidal cleansing agent. When it is applied to tissues, catalase causes its rapid molecular decomposition with the release of oxygen bubbles. The patient recovered without sequelae. Hyperbaric oxygenation may be of benefit in patients with respiratory compromise or central nervous system symptoms from gas embolism in hydrogen peroxide ingestion.

Three cases of primary mediastinal Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors / 결핵

Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor is extremely rare. Apart from rarity and large size, mediastinal germ cell tumors show striking similarity to testicular tumors in age, incidence, and tumor type. The symptoms associated with these tumors are related mainly to size, invasion of neighboring structures, and distant metastases. Tissue diagnosis is obtained by biopsy of the primary lesion or by biopsy of metastatic sites. Tumors often present with advanced bulky disease, which are unresectable. So these tumors require an aggressive multidisciplinary approach to management. Optimal management includes aggressive surgical debulking and early use of cisplatin-bleomycin-based combination chemotherapy. Serial biomarker measurements permit early recognition of recurrence and improved timing of surgical intervention. The prognosis for mediastinal germ cell tumors is poor, not only because they are far advanced at the time of diagnosis but also because some of the tumors-such as embryonal carcinomas, choriocarcinomas, and endodermal sinus tumors-are very aggressive. In these cases, we present three young male patients with large mass on anterior mediastinum. Tissue diagnosis was obtained by primary lesion biopsy. All patients received surgical debulking and combination chemotherapy and experienced a brief response and eventually had relapses. We report these cases with a review of literatures.