Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Spleen Associated with Autoimmune Thyroiditis / 대한내과학회지

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a benign disease entity, which is histologically composed of inflammatory cells and fibrotic stroma. It is mainly found in the respiratory tract, but it has also been reported in the liver, central nervous system, soft tissues, urological system, and gastrointestinal tract. It is extremely rare in the spleen and there have been no cases of splenic inflammatory pseudotumor associated with autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea. The pathogenesis or etiology is unknown, but hypotheses include infection, autoimmunity, and parenchymal necrosis with hemorrhage. Because inflammatory pseudotumor may mimic malignant tumors on radiologic findings, pathologic confirmation is necessary to distinguish it from lymphoproliferative disorders of the spleen and other malignant tumors. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen associated with autoimmune thyroiditis in a patient who complained of periumbilical pain.

The Usefulness of Double Balloon Enteroscopy for Diagnosis and Treatment of Small Bowel Diseases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Double balloon eneterscopy is a promising endoscopic method to examine the entire small bowel and to conduct therapeutic procedures. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical outcome and usefulness of double balloon enteroscopy. METHODS: We enrolled patients with suspected small bowel disease. Double balloon enteroscopy was performed in 61 patients and 89 procedures were undetaken between August 2004 and October 2007 at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital. RESULTS: Indications for double balloon enteroscopy were obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic abdominal pain or diarrhea and the presence of a suspicious small bowel tumor. Double balloon enteroscopy contributed to the diagnosis of small bowel diseases in 82.0% of patients. In 46 patients (75.4%), specific treatments were influenced by the results of double balloon enteroscopy. There were no significant complications. CONCLUSIONS: Double balloon enteroscopy is one of the most useful methods for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel disease.

Two Cases of Infective Endocarditis in Burn Patients Requiring Surgical Intervention / 감염과화학요법

No abstract available.

A Case of Granular Cell Tumor of the Ascending Colon / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 40-year-old woman was admitted with a history of intermittent abdominal pain at the right lower quadrant area. Colonoscopy showed a 1.5 1.5 cm sized polypoid lesion that had yellowish surface, central depression, and normal mucosal covering. The tumor was removed by endoscopic tumorectomy following injection of hypertonic saline solution with epinephrine for lifting the lesion. The tumor consisted of granular tumor cells which were positive for S-100 protein, NSE, and PAS stain. We report a case of granular cell tumor of the ascending colon with a review of the literature.

A Case of Retroperitoneal Paraganglioma Accompanying Bile Duct Dilatation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Retroperitoneal paraganglioma is a kind of uncommon tumor that occurs most commonly in the organ of Zuckerkandl located in the paraaortic area between the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery and the origin of the iliac artery. We experienced a case of retroperitoneal paraganglioma with an unusual location in a 52-year-old woman who had epigastric pain. Abdominal CT scan and ERCP showed a hypervascular mass near the distal CBD with bile duct dilatation. The surgically resected mass was diagnosed as paraganglioma. We report this unusual retroperitoneal paraganglioma, with a review of the literature.

Two Cases of Infective Endocarditis in Burn Patients Requiring Surgical Intervention / 감염과화학요법

No abstract available.

Clinical Significance of Atrioventricular Plane Displacement for Evaluating Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) has been used for evaluating systolic function. However, its relations with other echocardiographic variables reflecting diastolic function are not well documented. This study was designed to assess the relations between AVPD and those echocardiographic variables known to reflect diastolic function, especially using mitral annulus velocity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven patients with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function (normal echocardiography group (Group I, n=44), concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) group (Group II, n=43)) and 51 patients with LV dysfunction (Group III) were studied. To evaluate the correlation with echocardiographic variables reflecting LV systolic and diastolic function, we measured mitral inflow velocity and mitral annulus Doppler tissue velocity. RESULTS: AVPD was correlated negatively with age, the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity and early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/E'), isovolumic relaxation time, and E/A ratio. AVPD was correlated positively with deceleration time, ejection fraction, and systolic mitral annulus velocity (S'). By multivariate analysis, AVPD was independently correlated with S' (beta=0.4, p<0.001) and E' (beta=0.5, p<0.001) in the normal LV function group, and with S' (beta=0.6, p<0.001) and E/E'(beta=-0.3, p=0.005) in the LV dysfunction group. CONCLUSION: AVPD may be used as a diagnostic tool for evaluating LV diastolic function.

Irinotecan (CPT-11)-induced hemorrhagic colitis / 대한내과학회지

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits topoisomerase I and has shown efficacy against advanced colorectal cancer. Diarrhea is the most common toxicity that has been reported to be as high as 87% in patients treated with irinotecan. However, the serious complications including acute hemorrhagic colitis, intestinal ulceration, and intestinal perforation may be uncommon events with irinotecan therapy. We report the first Korean case of acute hemorrhagic colitis induced by irinotecan administration in the patient with advanced colon cancer.