Discrepancy between Clinical and Final Pathological Evaluation Findings in Early Gastric Cancer Patients Treated with Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

PURPOSE: Early gastric cancer cases that are estimated to meet indications for treatment before endoscopic submucosal resection are often revealed to be out-of-indication after the treatment. We investigated the short-term treatment outcomes in patients with early gastric cancer according to the pretreatment clinical endoscopic submucosal resection indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with early gastric cancer that met the pretreatment endoscopic submucosal resection indications, from 2004 to 2011. Curative resection rate and proportion of out-of-indication cases were compared according to the pre-endoscopic submucosal resection indications. Pre-endoscopic submucosal resection factors associated with out-of-indication in the final pathological examination were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 756 cases, 660 had absolute and 96 had expanded pre-endoscopic submucosal resection indications. The curative resection rate was significantly lower in the patients with expanded indications (64.6%) than in those with absolute indications (81.7%; P65 years, tumor size of >2 cm, tumor location in the upper-third segment of the stomach, and undifferentiated histological type in pre-endoscopic submucosal resection evaluations were significant risk factors for out-of-indication after endoscopic submucosal resection. CONCLUSIONS: Non-curative resection due to out-of-indication occurred in approximately one-third of the early gastric cancer cases that clinically met the expanded indications before endoscopic submucosal resection. The possibility of additional surgery should be emphasized for patients with early gastric cancers that clinically meet the expanded indications.

Hypoparathyroidism and Subclinical Hypothyroidism with Secondary Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is an inherited genetic disorder of iron metabolism which can also occur as a secondary result of iron-overload. It leads to organ damage such as cardiomyopathy, liver cirrhosis, hypogonadism, and diabetes. This paper discusses a case of secondary hemochromatosis associated with repeated transfusions, presenting as asymptomatic hypoparathyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism with multiple organ involvement. The 29-year-old female, who had severe aplastic anemia, received multiple transfusions totaling approximately 1,400 units of red blood cells over 15 years. During her routine laboratory examination, hypocalcemia was detected with decreased intact parathyroid hormone and increased thyroid stimulating hormone. Serum ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity had increased to 27,583.03 ng/mL, 291 microg/dL, and 389 microg/dL, respectively. She had unusually bronze skin and computed tomography revealed iron deposition in the thyroid, liver, and heart. Multiorgan involvement as seen in this case is rare in hemochromatosis associated with secondary transfusions. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first case report in Korea of hypoparathyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism due to iron deposition in the parathyroid and thyroid gland.

A Case of Serum Sickness-Like Reaction and Anaphylaxis - Induced Simultaneously by Rifampin

Rifampin is commonly used as a first-line anti-tuberculosis drug, but it can induce a serum sickness-like reaction or anaphylaxis. However, it is possible for 1 drug antigen to induce 2 or more simultaneous immunologic reactions. Here, we report a case of a serum-sickness-like reaction and anaphylaxis induced concurrently by rifampin. A 25-year-old male presented with high fever and a maculopapular rash with vesicles on the hands, which developed 2 weeks following regular administration of anti-tuberculosis drugs for tuberculous meningitis, including rifampin. Elevated liver enzymes, peripheral neuropathy, and decreased serum C3 and C4 levels were found. Interestingly, these symptoms were accompanied by severe hypotension. A serum-sickness-like reaction was considered after excluding other potential causes for the fever. A drug provocation test showed that the fever developed after oral administration of rifampin, suggesting that rifampin was the cause of the allergic reaction. However, hypotension, epigastric discomfort, and diarrhea also accompanied these symptoms, indicating that IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity could be part of the serum sickness-like reaction. An intradermal skin test clearly showed an immediate positive reaction to rifampin. This case was diagnosed as concurrent serum-sickness-like reaction and anaphylaxis induced by rifampin. One drug may therefore induce combined allergic reactions via 2 or more simultaneous hypersensitivity responses.

A case of churg-strauss syndrome: evidence of eosinophilic vasculitis on liver biopsy

PURPOSE: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare disease characterized by pulmonary and systemic small vessel necrotizing vasculitis and peripheral blood eosinophilia occurring in asthmatics. Cases of CSS with hepatic involvement have been rarely reported. Here, we reported a case of CSS involving liver, in which liver biopsy revealed eosinophilic vasculitis. METHODS: A 75-year-old man complained of dyspnea and hemoptysis. He had severe blood eosinophilia (white blood cell 28,320/microL, eosinophils 79%). Computed tomography of chest and abdomen showed infiltrations in lungs and multifocal infiltrations in both hepatic lobes. Methacholine PC20 was 2.89 mg/mL, which was in asthmatic range. RESULTS: Ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy was performed, showing eosinophilic vasculitis and portal granulomas. CSS can be diagnosed based on evidence of asthma, blood eosinophilia, pulmonary infiltration and vasculitis on biopsy. CONCLUSION: Taken together, in a suspected case of CSS presenting as hepatic involvement, liver biopsy may be useful to demonstrate the presence of vasculitis.

The Effect of Ethanol Ablation for the Treatment of Benign Cystic Thyroid Nodules / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol ablation for benign cystic thyroid nodules, and to identify the clinical factors associated with therapeutic outcome. METHODS: We examined 46 patients with benign cystic nodules. After removal of cystic fluid, 99% ethanol was injected under ultrasound guidance. Follow-up ultrasonography was then performed 2 weeks and 6-36 months after the therapy to evaluate the early and late response, respectively. An effective response (ER) was defined as volume reduction > 50% or the absence of any residual cystic lesion; partial response (PR) as a 25-50% volume reduction; and no response (NR) as volume reduction < 25% or a volume expansion. RESULTS: During the early response, ER, PR, and NR were 67.4, 30.4, and 2.2%, respectively. The initial mean cyst volume of 12.0 +/- 7.8 mL (3.4-41.3) was reduced significantly after ethanol ablation therapy to 5.4 +/- 3.2 mL (0-33.0; 55% volume reduction, p < 0.001), and to a final late response volume of 4.4 +/- 3.4 mL (0-23.3; 63% volume reduction, p < 0.01). Except for 6 patients who received additional ethanol injection therapies, ER was obtained in 31 of 40 (77.5%) patients in the late response. A large initial volume was the factor associated with therapeutic failure (p = 0.04). Eleven patients (23%) reported transient mild local pain. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation is a safe and highly effective therapeutic method for cystic thyroid nodules. However, more sophisticated approaches are needed for large cystic nodules.

A Case of Diaphragmatic Hernia Induced by Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한소화기학회지

Because of its safety and treatment effectiveness, the popularity of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has gradually increased. However, some serious complications of RFA such as hepatic infarction, bowel perforation, and tumor seeding have been reported. Recently, we experienced a case of diaphragmatic hernia after RFA for HCC. A 61-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis was diagnosed with a 1.0 cm sized HCC in segment (S) 5 and a 1.3 cm sized HCC in S 8 of the liver. He was treated by transarterial chemoembolization and RFA. After RFA, an abdominal CT revealed a diaphragmatic defect with herniating mesentery. Twenty-two months after the RFA, the chest CT showed the diaphragmatic defect with herniating colon and mesentery. Because he had no symptoms, and surgical repair for the diaphragmatic hernia would be a high risk operation for him, we decided to treat the patient conservatively. For its great rarity, we report this case with a review of the literature.