Successful Treatment with Empirical Erlotinib in a Patient with Respiratory Failure Caused by Extensive Lung Adenocarcinoma / 대한구급학회지

We herein describe a 70-year-old woman who presented with respiratory failure due to extensive lung adenocarcinoma. Despite advanced disease, care in the intensive care unit with ventilator support was performed because she was a newly diagnosed patient and was considered to have the potential to recover after cancer treatment. Because prompt control of the cancer was needed to treat the respiratory failure, empirical treatment with an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor was initiated before confirmation of EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma, and the patient was successfully treated. Later, EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma was confirmed.

Successful Treatment with Empirical Erlotinib in a Patient with Respiratory Failure Caused by Extensive Lung Adenocarcinoma / 대한중환자의학회지

We herein describe a 70-year-old woman who presented with respiratory failure due to extensive lung adenocarcinoma. Despite advanced disease, care in the intensive care unit with ventilator support was performed because she was a newly diagnosed patient and was considered to have the potential to recover after cancer treatment. Because prompt control of the cancer was needed to treat the respiratory failure, empirical treatment with an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor was initiated before confirmation of EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma, and the patient was successfully treated. Later, EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma was confirmed.

Renal artery stenosis presenting with nephrotic-range proteinuria: a case report

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is commonly presented with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. We report a rare case of RAS occurring in a 78-year-old man who presented with nephrotic-range proteinuria. Renal biopsy on the left side was performed, and results showed mesangiopathic glomerulonephritis, which was not compatible with the cause of nephrotic-range proteinuria. Proteinuria was decreased by angiotensin receptor blocker, but azotemia was aggravated. Therefore, angiotensin receptor blocker was discontinued inevitably and thorough evaluation for the possibility of RAS was performed. Computed tomography angiography revealed significant RAS on the left side and a renal artery stent was inserted. After stenting, aortic dissection developed and progressed despite tight control of blood pressure. After inserting another stent graft through the true lumen of the left renal artery, the patient's renal function and proteinuria improved markedly.

Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease Caused by Mycobacterium simiae: The First Reported Case in South Korea / 결핵및호흡기질환

This is a report of the first South Korean case of a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae. The patient was a previously healthy 52-year-old female. All serial isolates were identified as M. simiae by multi-locus sequencing analysis, based on hsp65, rpoB, 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer, and 16S rRNA fragments. A chest radiography revealed deterioration, and the follow-up sputum cultures were persistently positive, despite combination antibiotic treatment, including azithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of a lung disease caused by M. simiae in South Korea.

Skeletal Muscle Metastasis and Elevated beta-HCG Level Secondary to Tongue Cancer: a Case Report and Review of Literature / 대한내과학회지

Metastases to skeletal muscle and paraneoplastic syndromes involving beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) production are an extremely rare manifestation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We report a patient with a beta-HCG-secreting squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with diffuse metastases involving skeletal muscle. A 47 year old female, who was being treated heavily with palliative chemotherapy for metastatic tongue cancer, was admitted with a palpable thigh mass and pain. A magnetic resonance image showed an intramuscular metastasis in the thigh. Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the thigh mass confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. She was scheduled for enrollment into a clinical trial; however, a positive serum beta-HCG test was noticed. There was no evidence of pregnancy or a trophoblastic or non-trophoblastic tumor secreting beta-HCG. Finally, she was revealed to have a paraneoplastic syndrome with diffuse metastases and was ultimately referred for palliative care. We review the literature of previously reported cases of an increase of beta-HCG in patients with head and neck cancer.

A Case of Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Disease in a Patient with Cystic Fibrosis / 대한내과학회지

Although cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common hereditary disorders among Caucasians, it is very rare in the Korean population. Patients with CF are at particularly high risk for developing lung disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria such as the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex or Mycobacterium abscessus. Here, we report a successfully treated case of M. abscessus lung disease in a Korean patient with CF.

Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Disease in a Patient with Kartagener Syndrome / 결핵및호흡기질환

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by the congenital impairment of mucociliary clearance. When accompanied by situs inversus, chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis, PCD is known as Kartagener syndrome. The main consequence of impaired ciliary function is a reduced mucus clearance from the lungs, and susceptibility to chronic respiratory infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). There has been no report of NTM lung disease combined with Kartagener syndrome in Korea. Here, we report an adult patient with Kartagener syndrome complicated with Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. A 37-year-old female presented to our hospital with chronic cough and sputum. She was ultimately diagnosed with M. abscessus lung disease and Kartagener syndrome. M. abscessus was repeatedly isolated from sputum specimens collected from the patient, despite prolonged antibiotic treatment. The patient's condition improved and negative sputum culture conversion was achieved after sequential bilateral pulmonary resection.