Sarcomatoid Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Rare Case of Primary Liver Cancer

Sarcomatoid carcinoma arising from intrahepatic cholangiocyte, an extremely rare primary liver cancer, has highly invasive and metastatic potential. The pathogenesis of this tumor is unclear, although histogenetic mechanisms, such as transdifferentiation/dedifferentiation (epithelial-mesenchymal transition or metaplastic transformation), biphasic differentiation (combination and collision), and redifferentiation, might be suggested to explain the simultaneous co-existence of carcinoma and sarcoma components in the same tumor. Immunohistochemical staining might be necessary to differentiate whether sarcomatous component is originated from hepatocyte or cholangiocyte. We report a case of sarcomatoid intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a 58 year-old man presenting as an incidentally detected liver mass on regular health examination, which was diagnosed by an application of immunohistochemical methods after surgical resection, with a review of the literature based on 9 cases reported in Korea.

Recurrent Stent Thrombosis in Different Coronary Arteries / 대한내과학회지

Drug-eluting stents (DES) dramatically reduce the rate of restenosis and the need for repeat revascularization. Despite these promising results, stent thrombosis seems to occur more frequently with DES and often seems to be associated with premature discontinuation of antiplatelet agents. We experienced a case of recurrent stent thrombosis with separate lesions. Recurrent stent thrombosis is a very rare event, and simultaneous stent thrombosis is also rare. Here, we report a case of recurrently developing stent thrombosis involving separate lesions.

Analysis of prognostic factors and 5-year survival rate in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center experience / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the third most common cancer in Korea, has a very poor prognosis. However, only a few studies have performed a comprehensive survival-related analysis in all patients who were consecutively diagnosed and treated over a given period of time. The aim of this study was to determine the 5-year survival rate and its prognostic factors among HCC patients. METHODS: In total, 257 patients who were consecutively diagnosed with HCC between January 2000 and December 2003 were followed until death or until December 2008. We analyzed their survival outcomes according to their clinical characteristics, tumor staging, and treatment modalities, and determined the independent prognostic factors affecting survival. RESULTS: The patients were aged 59+/-10 years (mean+/-SD). During the follow-up period, 223 patients (86.8%) died and the overall median survival was 10.8 months; the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 44.4%, 21.0%, and 12.1%, respectively. The outcomes in patients with tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage I or II and Child-Pugh class A or B were significantly better with surgical resection than with other treatment modalities (P<0.01). Patients who underwent supplementary transcatheter arterial chemoembolization as a second-line treatment after surgical resection had better outcomes than those who underwent surgical resection alone (P=0.02). Initial symptoms, Child-Pugh class, serum alpha-fetoprotein, tumor size, portal vein thrombosis, and TNM stage were found to be independent prognostic factors for survival among HCC patients. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective cohort study elucidated survival outcomes and prognostic factors affecting survival in HCC patients at a single center.

A Case of Late Stent Thrombosis Following Platelet Transfusion in a Patient With Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic anemia is a condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce adequate numbers of peripheral blood elements. The incidences of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction in patients with congenital coagulation disorders and chronic thrombocytopenia are very low. In this paper, a case of late stent thrombosis within a drug-eluting stent occurring after platelet transfusion in a patient with aplastic anemia is presented. The authors' observations emphasize the risks of platelet transfusion and the authors' support withholding such a treatment unless vitally indicated, in patients with coronary artery stent implantation and even in those on dual antiplatelet therapy.

Intrathyroidal Metastasis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Presenting as Subacute Thyroiditis

One of the rare diseases for differential diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis is metastases within the thyroid gland. We report here on a 72-year-old-woman with painful goiter and signs of hyperthyroidism. Her serum concentration of thyroid hormone was in the upper limit of normal, and the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid was completely depressed. Although subacute thyroiditis was suspected, an additional work up that included a chest CT scan was done for the combined cough and chronic weakness. The result was lung cancer with metastatic involvement of the thyroid and multiple lymph nodes. She refused further anti-cancer therapy and died 5 months after the diagnosis. For the differential diagnosis of such a rare case, careful examination is important even in patients with the typical symptoms and laboratory findings of subacute thyroiditis.