Durable Response to Pazopanib in a Patient with Metastatic Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma / 이화의대지

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma, and frequently, metastases are found at diagnosis. In patients with metastatic or unresected ASPS, systemic treatment is extremely limited, because conventional chemotherapeutic agents have not been effective in most cases. A novel agent inhibiting angiogenesis, pazopanib, has been proven to be effective for metastatic soft tissue sarcoma in a second-line setting. However, the efficacy of pazopanib in ASPS has not yet been reported. A 22-year-old man presented with right calf ASPS and multiple lung metastases. Pazopanib as a second-line treatment showed significant tumor response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the effectiveness of pazopanib in ASPS.

Acute Obstructive Cholangitis Complicated by Tumor Migration after Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Case Report and Literature Review / 대한소화기학회지

Intraductal tumor invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered rare. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is effective for tumor thrombus of HCC in the bile duct. However, a few cases of obstructive jaundice caused by migration of a tumor fragment after TACE have recently been reported. The aim of this study was to identify factors that affect tumor migration after TACE. At this writing, a review of the medical literature disclosed seven reported cases of biliary obstruction caused by migration of a necrotic tumor cast after TACE. We, herein, report on an additional case of acute obstructive cholangitis complicated by migration of a necrotic tumor cast after TACE for intrabile duct invasion of HCC, in a 71-year-old man. The tumor cast in the common bile duct was removed successfully using a basket during ERCP and was pathologically confirmed to be a completely necrotic fragment of HCC. The patient's symptoms showed dramatic improvement. In summary, physicians should be aware of acute obstructive cholangitis complicated by tumor migration in a patient undergoing TACE. We suggest that an intrabile duct invasion would be a major predisposing factor of tumor migration after TACE and drainage procedures such as ERCP or percutaneous transbiliary drainage could be effective treatment modalities in these patients.

Reduction of propofol injection pain by utilizing the gate control theory / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Propofol is the most commonly using intravenous hypnotic for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. However, pain on propofol injection is a well known adverse event. Currently, acute and chronic pain can be controlled by utilizing the "gate control" theory. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive lidocaine (0.5 mg/kg; Group L), touch on IV injection site (Group T), combination lidocaine (0.5 mg/kg) and touch on IV injection site (Group B), or normal saline (Group S) with venous occlusion for 1 minute, followed by administration of propofol (0.5 mg/kg) into the largest dorsal vein of the hand. Immediately after administering propofol, an investigator blinded to the group assignments asked the patient about pain at the injection site and assessed pain intensity using a 4-point verbal rating scale (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe). RESULTS: A significant decrease in the incidence of pain on propofol injection was achieved in group L (37%) and group B (23%) compared to either group T (80%) and group S (83%) (P < 0.001). But, the incidence of moderate and severe pain was significantly lower in group L (7%), group T (20%) and group B (0%) when compared to group S (53%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Light touch and rubbing reduced pain, although while, they did not reduce the incidence of pain, they reduced the intensity of pain. This method might be considered as an alternative to other treatments but may be contraindicated for use with other drugs.

The Shoulder Pain due to Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Case Report

A rotator cuff tear causes shoulder pain and limits movement of the shoulder joint. A chronic degenerative change or impingement is the reason for a rotator cuff tear. Diagnosis is made based on medical history and, physical and radiological examinations. Other causes of shoulder pain include calcific tendinitis, degenerative arthropathy, joint dislocation, fracture, and primary or metastatic neoplasm. However, metastatic cancer in the shoulder joint is difficult to diagnosis. We experienced a case in which a 46-year-old female patient complained of left shoulder pain and limited joint mobility, and these symptoms were due to metastatic breast cancer in the shoulder.

Generalized infection following facet joint injection: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Facet joints have been shown to be a source of chronic low back pain, and it is generally accepted in clinical practice that diagnostic and therapeutic facet joint injections are the most reliable technique for the treatment of facet joint pain, which is considered to be an easy and safe procedure. Serious complications and side effects are uncommon after facet joint injection. However, infectious complications including septic arthritis, epidural abscess, meningitis and endocarditis have been reported following facet joint injections. We report here the first case of death following lumbar facet joint injection due to generalized infection.

The Efficacy and Incidence of Side Effects in Patient Controlled Analgesia Using Hydromorphone / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Hydromorphone, a derivative of morphine, has the same actions and uses as morphine, has about eight times more potency on a milligram basis. Hydromorphone is used for the relief of moderate to severe pain. There has been no report in Korea on patient controlled analgesia (PCA) using hydromorphone. Here, the efficacy and incidence of side effects of PCA, with hydromorphone, were investigated. METHODS: 68 patients scheduled for spinal, urological, gynecological and general surgery were enrolled. Patients received standardized general anesthesia, with the PCA initiated at the end of surgery. Parameters for PCA were a 0.1 mg bolus and 0.05 mg/hr infusion of hydromorphone, with a 10 min lockout interval. A verbal rating scale (1: none, 2: very mild, 3: mild, 4: moderate, 5: severe) of pain, nausea (mild, moderate, severe), vomiting, dizziness and somnolence were assessed at 6, 12, 24 hr postoperatively. The amount of hydromorphone used and the requirements for symptomatic relief were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean pain scores were 3.5+/-0.8, 2.9+/-0.8 and 2.5+/-0.7, and the amounts of hydromorphone delivered were 1.0+/-0.1, 1.8+/-1.0 and 2.7+/-1.3 mg, 6, 12 and 24 hr postoperatively, respectively. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, dizziness and somnolence were 17.6, 4.4, 8.8 and 1.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous PCA, with hydromorphone, was effective in controlling postoperative pain, with fewer eide effects than morphine, as reported in the literature.