Prevalence and natural course of incidental gastric subepithelial tumors

Background/Aims@#Gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) are often encountered during the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening. We assessed the prevalence of gastric SETs and the risk factors for their progression. @*Methods@#We reviewed the electronic medical records of 30,754 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening at our medical center between January 2013 and December 2016. @*Results@#Among the 30,754 patients examined, 599 (1.94%) had gastric SETs. The prevalence increased with age and was 9.56% in patients aged ≥70 years. In total, 262 patients underwent serial endoscopy for more than 6 months. The median age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR], 61–74), and the number of females was 167 (63.7%). During a median follow-up of 58 months (IQR, 38–75), 22 patients (8.4%) showed significant changes in tumor size. An irregular border (odds ratio, 4.623; 95% confidence interval, 1.093–19.558; p=0.037) was a significant risk factor for progression. Seven patients underwent surgical or endoscopic resections. The pathologies of gastric SETs included leiomyomas (n=3), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (n=2), and lipomas (n=2). @*Conclusions@#The prevalence of gastric SETs increases with age. Most gastric SETs do not progress during long-term endoscopic examinations, and the risk of an increase in size is low in asymptomatic small SETs without irregular borders.

Successful Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Using Open Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Duodenal Neuroendocrine Tumor / 대한소화기학회지

Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are subepithelial tumors that are difficult to remove endoscopically, particularly when located just beyond the pylorus. This paper reports a case of a successful endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using open gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for a remnant duodenal NET detected after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). A 67-year-old male presented with a 5 mm remnant duodenal NET close to the pylorus after EMR for a duodenal polypoid lesion performed four months earlier. Duodenal ESD was performed under conscious sedation using I-type and IT II knives. The tumor adhered to the fibrotic tissue, and the submucosal cushion was insufficient. Open gastric POEM was performed concurrently during ESD, resulting in the complete resection of the NET. This case suggests that while challenging, open gastric POEM can serve as a valuable technique for endoscopic resection in cases of early gastric cancer or duodenal masses located around the pylorus.

Endoscopic Ultrasonography-guided Gastrojejunostomy for Patients with Gastric Outlet Obstruction and Pyloric Metal Stent Dysfunction / 대한소화기학회지

A 52-year-old woman with a gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) caused by pyloric cancer underwent pyloric endoscopic self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) insertion. She presented with abdominal distension 40 days later. The SEMS was dysfunctional, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastrojejunostomy (EUS-GJ) was performed using an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube. A 16 mm×31 mm Niti-S ™ HOT SPAXUS™ (TaeWoong Medical, Gimpo, Korea) was inserted successfully between the stomach and the adjacent jejunum. After the procedure, the patient had a good oral intake for more than seven months. GOO is a mechanical obstructive condition caused by various benign and malignant conditions. Traditionally, surgical GJ and SEMS insertion have been used to treat GOOs. EUS-GJ is a feasible treatment option for patients with GOO and a pyloric metal stent dysfunction.

Cannulation of the Portal Vein during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in a Patient with Choledocholithiasis / 대한소화기학회지

Cannulation of the portal vein is a rare complication of ERCP. This paper reports a case of portal vein catheterization during ERCP in a patient with choledocholithiasis. A 62-year-old man was admitted to the Presbyterian Medical Center with right upper quadrant pain and jaundice. ERCP was performed under the suspicion of obstructive jaundice caused by a radiolucent stone. Bile duct cannulation using a pull-type papillotome was attempted, but it failed. After needle-knife fistulotomy, wire-guided cannulation was performed successfully, and 10 mL contrast was injected. On the other hand, the fluoroscopy image showed that the contrast medium disappeared very quickly. Pure blood was collected when the catheter was aspirated to identify the bile reflux, indicating possible cannulation of the portal vein. The procedure was terminated immediately and abdominal computed tomography showed air in the portal vein. One day after, a follow-up CT scan showed no air in the portal vein. The patient underwent repeated ERCP, and the common bile duct was cannulated. In most cases, isolated portal vein cannulation does not result in severe morbidity. However, it is important to aware of this rare complication so that no further invasive procedure is performed on the patient.

Cannulation of the Portal Vein during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in a Patient with Choledocholithiasis / 대한소화기학회지

Cannulation of the portal vein is a rare complication of ERCP. This paper reports a case of portal vein catheterization during ERCP in a patient with choledocholithiasis. A 62-year-old man was admitted to the Presbyterian Medical Center with right upper quadrant pain and jaundice. ERCP was performed under the suspicion of obstructive jaundice caused by a radiolucent stone. Bile duct cannulation using a pull-type papillotome was attempted, but it failed. After needle-knife fistulotomy, wire-guided cannulation was performed successfully, and 10 mL contrast was injected. On the other hand, the fluoroscopy image showed that the contrast medium disappeared very quickly. Pure blood was collected when the catheter was aspirated to identify the bile reflux, indicating possible cannulation of the portal vein. The procedure was terminated immediately and abdominal computed tomography showed air in the portal vein. One day after, a follow-up CT scan showed no air in the portal vein. The patient underwent repeated ERCP, and the common bile duct was cannulated. In most cases, isolated portal vein cannulation does not result in severe morbidity. However, it is important to aware of this rare complication so that no further invasive procedure is performed on the patient.

Early Phase of Achalasia Manifested as an Esophageal Subepithelial Tumor / 대한소화기학회지

The Chicago classification (CC) defines an esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) as the presence of several instances of intact or weak peristalsis, elevated median integrated relaxation pressure above 15 mmHg, and a discrepancy from the criteria of achalasia. The revised CC addresses the potential etiology of EGJOO, including the early forms of achalasia, mechanical obstruction, esophageal wall stiffness, or manifestation of hiatal hernia. A 58-year-old woman visited the Presbyterian Medical Center with swallowing difficulty. The patient underwent a high resolution manometry (HRM) examination and was diagnosed with EGJOO. Chest CT was performed to exclude a mechanical obstruction as a cause, and CT revealed a subepithelial tumor (SET) at the upper part of the esophagogastric junction. Therefore, laparoscopic surgery was performed and eccentric muscular hypertrophy of the distal esophagus was observed. Longitudinal myotomy and Dor fundoplication were also performed. The histology findings of the surgical specimens were consistent with achalasia. This paper reports a case of early achalasia that was finally diagnosed by the histology findings, but was initially diagnosed as EGJOO using HRM and misdiagnosed as SET in the image study.

Early Phase of Achalasia Manifested as an Esophageal Subepithelial Tumor / 대한소화기학회지

The Chicago classification (CC) defines an esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) as the presence of several instances of intact or weak peristalsis, elevated median integrated relaxation pressure above 15 mmHg, and a discrepancy from the criteria of achalasia. The revised CC addresses the potential etiology of EGJOO, including the early forms of achalasia, mechanical obstruction, esophageal wall stiffness, or manifestation of hiatal hernia. A 58-year-old woman visited the Presbyterian Medical Center with swallowing difficulty. The patient underwent a high resolution manometry (HRM) examination and was diagnosed with EGJOO. Chest CT was performed to exclude a mechanical obstruction as a cause, and CT revealed a subepithelial tumor (SET) at the upper part of the esophagogastric junction. Therefore, laparoscopic surgery was performed and eccentric muscular hypertrophy of the distal esophagus was observed. Longitudinal myotomy and Dor fundoplication were also performed. The histology findings of the surgical specimens were consistent with achalasia. This paper reports a case of early achalasia that was finally diagnosed by the histology findings, but was initially diagnosed as EGJOO using HRM and misdiagnosed as SET in the image study.

Neuroendocrine Tumors in the Stomach, Duodenum, and Pancreas Accompanied by Novel MEN1 Gene Mutation / 대한소화기학회지

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome is a relatively rare disease, characterized by the occurrence of multiple endocrine tumors in the parathyroid and pituitary glands as well as the pancreas. Here, we report a case of MEN1 with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas. A 53-year-old man visited our hospital to manage gastric NET. Five years prior to his visit, he had undergone surgery for incidental meningioma. His brother had pancreatic nodules and a history of surgery for adrenal adenoma. His brother's daughter also had pancreatic nodules, but had not undergone surgery. The lesion was treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection and diagnosed as a grade 1 NET. Another small NET was detected in the second duodenal portion, resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection, which was also diagnosed as a grade 1 NET. During evaluation, three nodules were detected in the pancreas, and no evidence of pituitary, parathyroid tumors, or metastasis was observed. After surgery, the pancreatic lesions were diagnosed as NETs, with the same immunohistochemical patterns as those of the stomach and duodenum. Genetic testing was performed, and a heterozygous mutation was detected in the MEN1 gene, which is located on 11q13.

An Intractable Caustic Esophageal Stricture Successfully Managed with Sequential Treatment Comprising Incision with an Insulated-Tip Knife, Balloon Dilation, and an Oral Steroid

Bougie or balloon dilation is a good short-term treatment for caustic esophageal strictures, although recurrence after dilation occurs in approximately 30% of these cases. Therefore, long-term treatment options are required in some cases, and endoscopic incisional therapy has been used for patients with an anastomotic stricture in the gastrointestinal tract. A 58-year-old woman presented with severe swallowing difficulty because of a caustic esophageal stricture, which was caused by accidental exposure to anhydrous acetic acid at infancy. She had undergone several previous bougie and balloon dilations but the stricture did not improve. We performed sequential treatment comprising incision with an insulated-tip knife, balloon dilation, and an oral steroid, which resulted in the patient’s symptoms markedly improving. Thus, we report this case of an intractable caustic esophageal stricture, which was successfully treated using combined endoscopic sequential treatment.

Bedside Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Transgastric Gallbladder Aspiration and Lavage in a High-risk Surgical Case Due to Acute Cholecystitis Accompanied by Multiorgan Failure / 대한소화기학회지

Cholangitis and cholecystitis are intra-abdominal infections that show poor prognosis upon progression to sepsis and multiorgan failure. Administration of antibiotics with high antimicrobial susceptibility and removal of infected bile at the initial treatment are important. After undergoing ERCP for diagnostic purposes, a 58-year-old man developed acute cholangitis and cholecystitis accompanied by rhabdomyolysis, multi-organ failure, and severe sepsis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics with bedside endoscopic nasobiliary drainage were administered, but clinical symptoms did not improve. Therefore, bedside EUS-guided transgastric gallbladder aspiration and lavage was performed, resulting in successful treatment of the patient. We report the above described case along with a discussion of relevant literature.

A Case of Esophageal Stricture Due to Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosed by Using Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Biopsy

Metastatic cancer to the esophagus is rare and the breasts are the most common primary tumors that metastasize to the esophagus. Since metastatic breast cancer is located in the submucosal layer, diagnosis by general forceps biopsy is difficult. Hence, various techniques including endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration, endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy, unroofing technique, and submucosal tunneling method are used for diagnosis. Moreover, the patient's medical history should be inspected carefully and previous histological findings of cancer should also be evaluated. Herein, the authors report a case of metastatic breast cancer along with literature reviews. Endoscopy was performed in patient who had undergone breast cancer surgery 13 years previously. Histological examination from a midesophageal stricture was normal. Endoscopic ultrasound was performed and uneven hypoechoic masses were found in the third layer of the esophageal wall. The esophageal stricture was finally diagnosed as metastatic breast cancer by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy.

Intramural Gastric Abscess Caused by a Toothpick Presenting as a Subepithelial Tumor

In the present report, we describe an unusual case of an intramural gastric abscess caused by a foreign body, detected in the form of a subepithelial tumor. A 64-year-old woman was referred to our gastroenterology clinic for further evaluation of a gastric subepithelial tumor. The patient presented with a 1-month history of sustained dull epigastric pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an ill-demarcated, round, smooth, protruding lesion with a small central erosion on the great curvature of the proximal antrum. Endoscopic ultrasonography indicated the presence of an ovoid, heterogeneous, hypoechoic lesion with small echogenic foci located in the submucosa and muscularis propria layers. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed focal gastric wall thickening and regional lymph node enlargement. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed for definite diagnosis and management. Thus, we detected a toothpick and removed it using grasping forceps. The final diagnosis was an intramural gastric abscess caused by a toothpick.

Hypothermia-induced acute kidney injury in an elderly patient

Hypothermia, defined as an unintentional decline in the core body temperature to below 35degrees C, is a life-threatening condition. Patients with malnutrition and diabetes mellitus as well as those of advanced age are at high risk for accidental hypothermia. Due to the high mortality rates of accidental hypothermia, proper management is critical for the wellbeing of patients. Accidental hypothermia was reported to be associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in over 40% of cases. Although the pathogenesis remains to be elucidated, vasoconstriction and ischemia in the kidney were considered to be the main mechanisms involved. Cases of AKI associated with hypothermia have been reported worldwide, but there have been few reports of hypothermia-induced AKI in Korea. Here, we present a case of hypothermia-induced AKI that was treated successfully with rewarming and supportive care.

A Case of Duodenal Obstruction Due to Intestinal Malrotation Diagnosed in Middle-aged Man

Intestinal malrotation occurs because of an arrest of normal rotation of the embryonic gut. It is often diagnosed in first month of life because of acute complications and requires surgical management. If it is not detected at a young age, it is diagnosed incidentally in advanced age. It is very rarely reported at advanced age with symptoms. In Korea in the last 30 years only about 10 such cases have been reported. In 2010, intestinal malrotation was reported at advanced age in only one case who had acute duodenal obstruction due to non-rotation of the pre-arterial segment of mid-gut. Therefore, we report a case of a 45-year-old man with non-rotation of pre-arterial segment with duodenal obstruction who had complained chronic and mild epigastric discomfort from a year ago.