A case of hepatoblastoma misdiagnosed as combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma in an adult

Hepatoblastoma usually occurs in children under the age of 2 years, with very few cases reported in adults. We experienced a case of adult hepatoblastoma in a 36-year-old female with chronic hepatitis B . She had experienced sudden onset abdominal pain. Her serum alpha-fetoprotein level was markedly elevated, and abdominal CT showed a 9-cm mass with internal hemorrhage in the right hepatic lobe with hemoperitoneum, so an emergency hepatic central bisectionectomy was performed. The initial histologic examination revealed that the mass mimicked combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma with spindle-cell metaplasia of the cholangiocarcinoma element. Follow-up abdominal CT performed 3 months later showed a 5.5-cm metastatic mass in the left subphrenic area. Laparoscopic splenectomy with mass excision was performed, and hepatoblastoma was confirmed histologically. A histologic re-examination of previously obtained surgical specimens also confirmed the presence of hepatoblastoma. Metastatic hepatoblastoma was found at multiple sites of the abdomen during follow-up, and so chemotherapy with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and vincristine was applied, followed by carboplatin and doxorubicin . Despite surgery and postoperative chemotherapy, she died 12 months after symptom onset.

Comparison of Blood Leptin Concentration and Colonic Mucosa Leptin Expression in Colon Adenoma Patients and Healthy Control / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyp, and one of the underlying mechanisms of this increase is considered to be due to the growth promoting effects of adipokines, such as leptin. In order to investigate this finding, leptin expression in the colonic tissue and blood leptin concentration of the colonic adenoma patients were compared to those of the control group. METHODS: Colonic adenoma tissues were obtained by polypectomy (n=60). In these patients, normal colonic mucosa at remote areas from the polyp was also obtained and blood samples were collected as well. Age and sex matched control subjects were selected among those who showed normal colonic mucosa in health screening colonoscopy (n=60). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum leptin concentration between the colonic adenoma patients and control subjects. Leptin expression was noted in 43.3% of the colonic adenomas, but only in 6.7% of normal colonic mucosa from the control subjects (p<0.01). There were ten cases of concurrent adenocarcinoma in situ in adenoma patients, eight cases of which expressed leptin (p=0.01). In adenoma group, leptin expression rate was significantly high in larger adenomas and in obese patients (p<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between leptin expression in colonic mucosa and serum leptin level. CONCLUSIONS: Leptin expression was more frequently observed in colonic adenomas, especially in larger adenomas associated with adenocarcinoma in situ, but blood leptin level was not related to tissue leptin expression. Leptin expression was more frequently observed in obese patients from the adenoma group. Therefore, leptin may play an important role in colonic tumorigenesis and progression, especially in obese patient.

Comparison of Blood Leptin Concentration and Colonic Mucosa Leptin Expression in Colon Adenoma Patients and Healthy Control / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyp, and one of the underlying mechanisms of this increase is considered to be due to the growth promoting effects of adipokines, such as leptin. In order to investigate this finding, leptin expression in the colonic tissue and blood leptin concentration of the colonic adenoma patients were compared to those of the control group. METHODS: Colonic adenoma tissues were obtained by polypectomy (n=60). In these patients, normal colonic mucosa at remote areas from the polyp was also obtained and blood samples were collected as well. Age and sex matched control subjects were selected among those who showed normal colonic mucosa in health screening colonoscopy (n=60). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum leptin concentration between the colonic adenoma patients and control subjects. Leptin expression was noted in 43.3% of the colonic adenomas, but only in 6.7% of normal colonic mucosa from the control subjects (p<0.01). There were ten cases of concurrent adenocarcinoma in situ in adenoma patients, eight cases of which expressed leptin (p=0.01). In adenoma group, leptin expression rate was significantly high in larger adenomas and in obese patients (p<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between leptin expression in colonic mucosa and serum leptin level. CONCLUSIONS: Leptin expression was more frequently observed in colonic adenomas, especially in larger adenomas associated with adenocarcinoma in situ, but blood leptin level was not related to tissue leptin expression. Leptin expression was more frequently observed in obese patients from the adenoma group. Therefore, leptin may play an important role in colonic tumorigenesis and progression, especially in obese patient.

Is Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Safe in Patients 90 Years of Age and Older?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This case-control study evaluated the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients 90 years of age and older. METHODS: From January 2005 to August 2011, 5,070 cases of ERCP were performed at our institution. Of these, 43 cases involved patients 90 years of age and older (mean age, 91.7+/-1.9 years). A control group of 129 cases (mean age, 65.7+/-14.8 years) was matched by the patient sex, sphincterotomy, and presence of choledocholithiasis using a propensity score. The patients' medical records were retrospectively reviewed for comorbidity, periampullary diverticulum, urgent procedure, conscious sedation, technical success, procedure duration, ERCP-related complication, and death. RESULTS: Between the case and control groups, there was no significant difference with regard to comorbidity, periampullary diverticulum, and urgent procedure. Conscious sedation was performed significantly less in the patient group versus the control group (28 [65%] vs 119 [92%], respectively; p=0.000). There was no significant difference in the technical success, procedure duration, or ERCP-related complications. In both groups, there was no major bleeding or perforation related to ERCP. Post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred significantly less in the patient group compared to the control group (0 vs 13 [10%], respectively; p=0.004). One death occurred from respiratory arrest in the case group. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP can be performed safely and successfully in patients aged 90 years and older without any significant increase in complications.

A Case of Minimal Change Disease Treated Successfully with Mycophenolate Mofetil in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The World Health Organization classifies lupus nephritis as class I to V or VI. However, a few cases of minimal change glomerulopathy have been reported in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mycophenolate mofetil has been shown to be effective for treatment of minimal change disease and lupus nephritis. A 24-year-old woman diagnosed with SLE five years prior to presentation complained of a mild generalized edema. The urinalysis showed microscopic hematuria and proteinuria. The assessed amount of total proteinuria was 1,618 mg/24 hours. A renal biopsy demonstrated diffuse fusion of the foot processes of podocytes on electron microscopy. Mycophenolate mofetil was started in addition to the maintenance medications of prednisolone 10 mg/day and hydroxychloroquine 400 mg/day. After six months of treatment, the microscopic hematuria and proteinuria resolved, and the total urine protein decreased to 100 mg/24 hours.

Three Cases of Fever Unknown Origin with Lymphoproliferative Features and a Unique Pattern of 18-FDG Uptake on the Fusion PET/CT / 영남의대학술지

Evaluation of a fever of unknown origin (FUO) is complex. Recently, PET scanning has been approved for screening in FUO evaluation. We treated three cases of FUO associated with increased FDG uptake in the bone marrow of the femur and tibia on the fusion PET/CT; all three had the same pattern of uptake. Bone marrow biopsies revealed mature lymphocyte and histiocyte infiltration and myxoid changes in one case, and cortical bone involvement in another case. The cases were all young females who had fever with neutropenia and relative lymphocytosis that lasted for several weeks and then remitted spontaneously. Even though the results of the studies were not diagnostic, the unique uptake pattern on PET/CT and the histology might be related to the cause of the illness and should be studied further to assess the association with classic FUO.

Identification of Interleukin 1-Responsive Genes in Human Chondrosarcoma SW1354 cells by cDNA Microarray Technology / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence shows that interleukin(IL)-1 plays a critical role in inflammation and connective tissue destruction observed in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. IL-1 induces gene expression related to cytokines, chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases by activation of many different transcription factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chondrosarcoma cell line, SW1353, is known to be a valuable in vitro system for investigating catabolic gene regulation by IL-1beta in chondrocytic cells. To explore and analyze the changes in gene expression by IL-1 responsible for arthritis, SW1353 was treated with IL-1 for 1, 6 and 24 h and then total RNAs were purified for each time. The changes in gene expression were analyzed with 17k human cDNA microarrays and validated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Greater than a two-fold change was observed in 1,200 genes including metallothioneins, matrix metalloproteinases, extracellular matrix proteins, antioxidant proteins, cytoskeleton proteins, cell cycle regulatory proteins, proteins for cell growth and apoptosis, signaling proteins and transcription factors. These changes appeared to be correlate with the pathophysiological changes observed in early osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: cDNA microarray analysis revealed a marked variability in gene expression, and provided insight into the overall molecular changes. The result of this study provide initial information for further studies to identify therapeutic targets in osteoarthritis pathogenesis.

A Case of Protein-losing Enteropathy Treated with High Dose Intravenous Glucocorticoid Therapy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 영남의대학술지

Generalized edema and hypoalbuminemia are relatively common presenting manifestations in many clinical situations. The differential diagnosis of hypoalbuminemia include: Kwashiorkor, synthetic dysfunction of the liver, and excessive protein loss as in nephrotic syndrome. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), hypoalbuminemia and generalized edema are most commonly due to protein loss associated with lupus nephritis; gastrointestinal involvement is uncommon, and therefore protein loss through the gastrointestinal tract is quite rare. We report a case of a protein losing enteropathy (PLE) associated with SLE. The patient was referred to our hospital for generalized edema, arthralgia and facial rash. After clinical evaluation, the patient met the criteria for the SLE diagnosis; hypoalbuminemia with general edema was consistent with a protein losing enteropathy. After two weeks of therapy with parenteral high dose glucocorticoid, the patients was improved in laboratory findings as well as clinical symptoms.

Huge Seminal Vesicle Cyst Associated with Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis / 대한남성과학회지

We report a case of huge seminal vesicle cyst associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis in a 49-year-old man with frequency, urethral discomfort with a full bladder, and tenesmus as complaints.