The Clinical Meaning of Benign Colon Uptake in 18F-FDG PET: Comparison with Colonoscopic Findings

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Benign colon 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake is frequently observed in asymptomatic individuals. Aims of this study were to investigate the benign colon uptake by whole body FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) in asymptomatic adults and to correlate those results with colonoscopic and histologic findings. METHODS: Among 3,540 subjects who had undergone FDG-PET, 43 subjects who were diagnosed to have benign colon uptake in FDG-PET and underwent colonoscopy were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were classified as diffuse or focal groups based on their FDG uptake patterns. PET results were analyzed together with colonoscopic and histologic findings. RESULTS: Forty-three subjects showed benign colon uptake in FDG-PET; 28 of them were shown as the diffuse group, while other 15 subjects were classified as the focal group. Five subjects among those showed diffuse uptake were diagnosed as adenoma. Seven among 15 subjects who showed focal uptake were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma (n=2), adenoma (n=3), or non-neoplastic polyp (n=2). Positive predictive values were 25% in the diffuse group and 47% in the focal group. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that patients showing benign FDG uptake in the colon should be further evaluated by colonoscopy, especially for patients with focal FDG uptake.

A Case of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Rectum Presenting as Constipation / 이화의대지

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and expresses CD117, a c-kit proto-oncogene, which can be detected immunohistochemically. We reported a GIST of the rectum of a 61-year-old-woman who had visited emergency room complaining of constipation over one week. Upon rectal examination, a round hard mass was palpated. Colonoscopy showed a 7x5 cm sized protruded lesion with surface ulceration on a rectum, adjacent the anus. And abdomen computed tomography revealed the soft tissue mass compressing anterolateral wall of the rectum and these findings suggest possibility of rectal submucosal tumor such as GIST. The patient had been treated with a ultra anorectal anastomosis with loop ileostomy. Immunohistochemical studies on the surgically resected specimen showed c-kit (+) and CD34 (+). The final diagnosis was a GIST of the rectum. She was grouped into high risk and she has been given adjuvant chemotherapy with Imatinib.

Impact of Rheumatologic Consultations on Detecting Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Connective Tissue Disease

OBJECTIVE: In patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with connective tissue disease (CTD), chronic ILD related symptoms may often dominate the clinical picture or precede systemic findings and thus often be seen by a non-rheumatologist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of rheumatologic consultation during ILD work up. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 64 patients with ILD from a single tertiary center for their clinical and laboratory characteristics, rheumatologic consultation status, and result of the consultation. American College of Rheumatology criteria for classification of each connective tissue disease were utilized. Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) was classified by pre-specified criteria. RESULTS: A total of 23 (36%) of the ILD patients had associated CTD. Five (8%) patients had underlying CTD before the diagnosis of ILD, whereas 18 (28%) patients were diagnosed with CTD after the rheumatologic consultation. ILD patients with CTD were predominantly female, had significantly more frequent radiographic diagnoses of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, increased frequencies of high titer antinuclear antibody positivity, and rheumatoid factor positivity. Rheumatologic consultation was referred in 36 (56%) patients. In 18 (50%) of the referred patients, CTD was diagnosed. In 61% of the patients diagnosed with CTD as a result of rheumatologic consultation, changes in therapy occurred. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of patients with ILD are found to have an underlying CTD upon evaluation by a rheumatologist. Since ILD associated with CTD mimics idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, rheumatologic consultation may have a significant impact on the clinical care of ILD.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Gastric Cancer and Survival Improvement by Surgical Treatment in the Elderly / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been known that elderly patients with gastric cancer show worse general condition and higher comorbidities. Therefore, few elderly patients undergo surgery. This study was designed to determine clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer in elderly patients and evaluate their survival improvements by the surgical treatment. METHODS: Gastric cancer patients, diagnosed at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between 2000 to 2004, were divided into two groups those aged > or =65 years vs. <65 years. Clinicopathological characteristics, incidence of postoperative complications, and survival time of patients in each group were analyzed. RESULTS: Total 370 patients were subjected and divided into the elderly and the younger group (55.4% vs. 44.6%). The elderly group showed higher incidences of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Well differentiated adenocarcinoma was more frequently found in the elderly group (19.0% vs. 10.0%, p=0.025). There were no differences of operation time (242.6+/-70.7 vs. 257.3+/-83.8 min, p=0.115), postoperative hospital stays (15.8+/-10.6 vs. 14.7+/-9.8 days, p=0.361), and incidence of any complications (6.7% vs. 9.9%, p=0.309) between the two subgroups. The significant factors related with the elderly patient's survival were the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (stage I, hazard ratio [HR] 1.00; stage II, HR 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-3.72; stage III, HR 4.06, 95% CI 2.08-7.92, stage IV, HR 9.78, 95% CI 4.97-19.26;p<0.001) and the treatment modality (laparoscopy, HR 1.00; open surgery, HR 3.90, 95% CI 2.43-6.26;p<0.001). The elderly patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery showed prolonged survival on TNM stage I, II, and III than those who were treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly patients with gastric cancer, those who had received surgical treatments showed significantly higher survival rate than those who had treated conservatively. Therefore, aggressive surgical treatments should be seriously considered even for the elderly patients with gastric cancer.

The Effect of Probiotics for Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer and a risk factor of gastric malignancy. Antibiotics based H. pylori eradication treatment is 90% effective, however, it is expensive and causes side effects and antibiotics resistance. Probiotics could present a low-cost, alternative solution to prevent or decrease H. pylori colonization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible articles were indentified by researches of electronic databases. RESULTS: In vitro studies demonstrated an inhibitory activity of probiotics on H. pylori growth and that this effect is extremely strain specific. The probiotics seem to be efficacious for the prevention of antibiotics associated side effects and might be of help for the prevention of H. pylori complications by decreasing H. pylori density and gastritis, and for the prevention of H. pylori colonization or re-infection by inhibiting adhesion to gastric epithelial cells. There was no significant evidence that probiotics may increase the H. pylori eradication rate. CONCLUSION: Probiotics could be an accessory treatment for H. pylori related gastric diseases, but more researches will be needed.

A More Appropriate Cardiac Troponin T Level That Can Predict Outcomes in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

PURPOSE: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a useful marker for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the general population, is significantly higher than the usual cut-off value in many end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients without clinically apparent evidence of AMI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of cTnT in ESRD patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred eighty-four ESRD patients with ACS were enrolled between March 2002 and February 2008. These patients were followed until death or June 2009. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. The cut-off value of cTnT for AMI was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We calculated Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and potential outcome predictors were determined by Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: AMIs were diagnosed in 40 patients (14.1%). The area under the curve was 0.98 in the ROC curve (p or =0.35 ng/mL compared to the other groups. Initial serum cTnT concentration was an independent predictor for mortality. CONCLUSION: Because ESRD patients with an initial cTnT concentration > or =0.35 ng/mL have a poor prognosis, it is suggested that urgent diagnosis and treatment be indicated in dialysis patients with ACS when the initial cTnT levels are > or =0.35 ng/mL.

Usefulness of Real-time Measurement of Colonoscopy Withdrawal Time during Fellow Training / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Attempts to increase colonoscopy withdrawal time have been the topic of several recent publications. We assessed whether the real-time measurement of withdrawal time affected the withdrawal time and polyp detection rate. METHODS: Real-time colonoscopy withdrawal time was measured in 197 subjects in a study group and 184 subjects comprised a control group without real-time measurements. Colonoscopies were performed by four endoscopy specialists and three fellows during their first year of training. Withdrawal time, clinical features, bowel preparation, and polyp detection rates were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences in age, gender, bowel preparation, or polyp history were found in the two groups. Withdrawal time was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group when a fellow performed the withdrawal. However, polyp detection rate did not significantly increase in the study group, regardless of physician. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time measurement of colonoscopy withdrawal time did not increase polyp detection rate, but the withdrawal time was significantly higher when a fellow performed the withdrawal phase than when a specialist performed withdrawal. Therefore, the real-time measurement of colonoscopy withdrawal time seems to be a useful tool for fellow training.

Sleep Disorder Associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may contribute to the development of sleep disturbance, which may, in turn, provoke or worsen GERD. We evaluated the prevalence of GERD, non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), and extra-esophageal syndrome in subjects with self-reported sleep disturbance. METHODS: Subjects presenting for a health check-up were enrolled. Valid self-administered questionnaires provided information about reflux symptoms and sleep disturbances. We defined insomnia as self-reported sleep disturbance that occurred at least twice a week. GERD was defined as at least weekly symptoms of heartburn or acid regurgitation. Factors affecting sleep disturbance were revealed by a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We recruited 1,701 subjects (men 57.5%; mean age 45.0 +/- 15.0 years). The prevalence of sleep disturbance was 16.3%. GERD was reported in 14.8% of the subjects with insomnia and 7.1% of controls (p < 0.001). The prevalence of NERD was 13.7% in subjects with insomnia and 6.2% in controls (p < 0.001). The prevalence of extra-esophageal symptoms was higher in the insomniacs than controls. There was a significant correlation between the number of extra-esophageal symptoms and the frequency of sleep disturbance. Multivariate analysis showed that having GERD, NERD, extra-esophageal symptoms, and high depression and anxiety scores were predictors of sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GERD is higher in subjects with sleep disturbance. The number of extra-esophageal symptoms was correlated with the severity of poor sleep quality, regardless of the presence of erosive change. These findings have therapeutic implications for GERD, NERD, and extra-esophageal syndrome in patients with sleep disturbance, and future trials are warranted.

Simultaneous Herpes Simplex and Candida Esophagitis in Renal Transplant Patients / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Infectious esophagitis usually occurs in immunocompromised patients with AIDS, malignancy and those receiving immunosuppresive therapy. Common pathogens causing esophagitis include Candida, Herpes simplex virus and Cytomegalovirus. However simultaneous esophageal infection with both Candida and Herpes simplex virus has rarely been reported. The endoscopic findings of Herpes simplex esophagitis combined with Candida infection does not show typical findings due to diffuse whitish or yellowish plaques; hence, accurate diagnosis can be delayed. We observed concomitant infection of Herpes simplex virus and Candida causing esophagitis in a 45-year-old renal transplant patient who had been receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The patient showed marked reductions in clinical symptoms and in endoscopic findings after anti-fungal and acyclovir therapy.

A Case of Persistent Hiccup in a Patient with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer / 결핵및호흡기질환

A hiccup is caused by involuntary, intermittent, and spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. It starts with a sudden inspiration and ends with an abrupt closure of the glottis. Even though a hiccup is thought to develop through the hiccup reflex arc, its exact pathophysiology is still unclear. The etiologies include gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory abnormalities, psychogenic factors, toxic-metabolic disorders, central nervous system dysfunctions and irritation of the vagus and phrenic nerves. Most benign hiccups can be controlled by traditional empirical therapy such as breath holding and swallowing water. However, though rare, a persistent hiccup longer than 48 hours can lead to significant adverse effects including malnutrition, dehydration, insomnia, electrolyte imbalance, and cardiac arrhythmia. An intractable hiccup can sometimes even cause death. We herein describe a patient with non-small cell lung cancer who was severely distressed by a persistent hiccup.