Tuberculosis of Cystic Duct Lymph Node Associated with Cholecystitis / 대한소화기학회지

Tuberculosis of the cystic duct lymph node is very rare. Only four cases have been reported in the literature. This paper presents the case of a young male patient with a tuberculous cystic duct lymph node and chronic cholecystitis, who was diagnosed with cystic duct stones and a gall bladder polyp preoperatively.

Clinicopathologic correlation with MUC expression in advanced gastric cancer

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between MUC expression and clinicopathologic factors in advanced gastric cancer.METHODS: A total of 237 tumor specimens were assessed for MUC expression by immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathologic factors were investigated with MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6.RESULTS: MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 expression was identified in 148 of 237 (62.4%), 141 of 237 (59.5%), 186 of 237 (78.5%), and 146 of 237 (61.6%) specimens, respectively. MUC1 expression was correlated with age, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, lymphatic invasion, Lauren classification and histology. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between MUC1expression and lymphatic invasion, diffuse type of Lauren classification. MUC5AC expression was correlated with HER2 status, Lauren classification and histology. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between MUC5AC expression and HER2 status, diffuse and mixed type of Lauren classification. MUC2 and MUC6 expression were not correlated with clinicopathologic factors. The patients of MUC1 expression had poorer survival than those without MUC1 expression, but MUC2, MUC5AC or MUC6 were not related to survival. In an additional multivariate analysis that used the Cox proportional hazards model, MUC1 expression was not significantly correlated with patient survival independent of age, N-stage, and venous invasion.CONCLUSION: When each of these four MUCs expression is evaluated, in light of clinicopathologic factors, MUC1 expression may be considered as a prognostic factor in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Therefore, careful follow-up may be necessary because the prognosis is poor when MUC1 expression is present.

Inflammation-based score (Glasgow prognostic score) as an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the systemic inflammatory response in colorectal cancer patients, and to estimate the usefulness of the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) as a prognostic factor. METHODS: Patients with biopsy-proven colorectal adenocarcinoma who were operated between April 2005 and December 2008 were enrolled in this study. The GPS was estimated based on the measurement of CRP and serum albumin level. The GPS was compared with other clinicopathological factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors affecting cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: GPS was significantly higher in patients with anemia, thrombocytosis, a high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, tumor of the colon, and large tumor. Patient age, gender, serum CEA level, tumor gross appearance, TNM stage, and tumor differentiation were not related with the GPS. In univariate analysis, hemoglobin, CEA, gross appearance of tumor, TNM stage, tumor differentiation, and GPS were associated with cancer-specific survival. In multivariate analysis, TNM stage (III or IV : I or II; hazard ratio [HR], 12.322; P = 0.015), tumor differentiation (poorly differentiated : well or moderately differentiated; HR, 3.112; P = 0.021), and GPS (GPS 2 : GPS 0 or 1; HR, 5.168; P = 0.003) were identified as independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the GPS was an independent variable from tumor stage and a good and convenient prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients.

Carcinosarcoma of the Stomach: A Case Report

Carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant, biphasic tumor comprised of carcinoma and sarcoma components. In the gastrointestinal tract, carcinosarcoma is most frequently seen in the esophagus and rarely in the stomach. We report a 51-year-old female patient with 2-month-history of epigastric pain and dyspepsia. Endoscopic finding revealed a huge ulcerative lesion that infiltrated from the antrum to the mid-body. An endoscopically taken biopsy revealed poorly differentiated malignant round cell neoplasm. After the palliative subtotal gastrectomy, immunohistochemical studies showed two positive reactions for the epithelial marker and mesenchymal marker. Based on the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with gastric carcinosarcoma. The immunohistochemical analysis is a critical method in making an accurate diagnosis of carcinosarcoma.