A Study on the Usefulness of ERCP in Patients with Pyogenic Liver Abscess / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of ERCP in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. METHODS: An endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic study of 70 consecutive cases of pyogenic liver abscess was conducted during the period from January, 1993 to December, 1997. Among 70 cases of pyogenic liver abscess, the male to female ratio was 1.69 :1, and the peak incidence was in the sixth decade. RESULTS: The common associated diseases were liver cirrhosis (11.4%), diabetes mellitus (8.5%), and malignancy (5.7%). The most common origins of the abscess in decreasing order of frequency were, transbiliary infection (51%), hematogenous spread, and trauma-associated causes. The ascending infection through the biliary tract as the etiology of liver abscess, has been common since the 1970's. The positive rate of abdominal US, CT, and ERCP in the diagnosis of the etiology of the liver abscess was 68, 82, 84% respectively. The treatments of the pyogenic liver abscess were, surgical drainage in 15 cases (21%) and percutaneous drainage in 51 cases (73%). Among 70 patients treated for pyogenic liver abscess, 12 patients had CBD stones and 11 patients were cured by EST. CONCLUSIONS: The most common origin of liver abscess is ascending infection through the biliary tract and ERCP may be a effective tool in the assessment and management of the etiology of pyogenic liver abscess.

A case of cholangiocarcinoma associatd with neurofibromatosis type 1 / 대한내과학회지

Neurofibromatosis is characterized by multiple cutaneous neurofibromas, cafe-au-lait spots and a broad spectrum of clinical, pathologic and radiologic finding. The incidence of malignant neoplasms complicating neurofibromatosis has never been satisfactorily estabilished ; estimates range from 3% to 15%. The malignant tumors are usually derived from neural crest tissue. Gastrointestinal involvement appears to be rare and usually consists of neurofibromas, ganglioneuromas and leiomyomas. Hepatobiliary involvement in neurofibromatosis is rare and mostly located at the periampullary region. Most of theses tumors are carcinoids or less frequently neurofibromas. The authors report a case of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

A Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Common Bile Duct / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 57-year-old female with jaundice and right upper quadrant abdominal pain, was found on exploration to have squamous cell carcinoma of the common bile duct. Squamous cell carcinoma of the common bile duct is a very rare tumor, simulating adenocarcinoma in its clinical presentation and aggressiveness. Although no consistent causative factors for this tumor has been demonstrated, it has been theorized that the normal columnar epithelium of the bile duct under the influence of an inflammatory stimulus, can develop into squamous epithelium with the ongoing process leading to squamous metaplasia, and eventually carcinoma. Cholelithiasis has been implicated as a cause for bile duct cancer, which was manifested in this patient. The prognosis of this carcinoma was grave, despite all forms of surgical and medical management. A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the common bile duct is reported with a review of relevant literature.

A Case of a Budd-Chiari Syndrome Associated with a Large Atrial Thrombus in Antithrombin Deficiency and Antiphospholipid Syndrome / 대한혈액학회지

Antiphospholipid antibody is associated with a clinical syndrome of vascular thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, recurrent fetal loss and cerebrovascular accident whether or not the clinical diagnosis of SLE coexists. Antithrombin deficiency leads to thromboembolism in the venous system. It develops an asymptomatic venous occlusion in many cases, but when it develops cerebral venous thrombosis, mesenteric venous thrombosis or Budd-Chiari syndrome, it leads to special clinical problems. We report the finding of a low anti-thrombin level and IgM anticardiolipin antibody in a patient who has had episodes of a large thrombus in the right atrium and Budd-Chiari syndrome due to the thrombus.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Reliability of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography in Postcholecystectomy Patients / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Accurate assessment of the retained or recurrent bile duct stone is important in postcholecystectomy patients who have signs of cholangitis or other pancreatobiliary disease. This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic reliability of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in postcholecystectomy patients. METHODS: From October 1975 through August 1995, we reviewed 311 patients retrospectively who had undergone on cholecystectomy. Our study was based on assessment of their age, sex, symptoms and physical findings, comparison between sonographic and endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic findings, and stone removal rate using endoscopic sphincterotomy, basket, electro-hydraulic lithotripsy. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 1:1.67, and the mean age was 56+/-14.3 years. After cholecystectomy, they visited our clinic within 2 years in 25 patients(8.4%), beyond 2 years in 286 patients(91.6%). Most common symptoms and physical findings were epigastric pain or tenderness(63.6%). We detected bile duct stone using endoscopic retrograde cholangiography 219 patients. In case of the bile duct stone, we successfully removed it using endoscopic sphincterotomy, basket, electrohydraulic lithotripsy in 194 patients(88.6%). CONCLUSION: From the above results, we concluded that endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic method in postch- olecystetomy patients who have signs of cholangitis.

A Case of Spontaneous Regression of Small Cell Lung Cancer / 대한암학회지

Small cell lung cancer is the most aggressive tumor among lung cancers and has a greater tendency to be widely disseminated by the time of diagnosis. Without treatment, the median survial time of small cell lung cancer patients is only 2~4 months. However, though spontaneous regression of the malignant tumor has been frequently reported, spontaneous regression of the small cell lung cancer is rare. In this study a spontaneous regression of the small cell lung cancer is reported, along with a brief review of the literature. A 69 year-old woman was admitted for an evaluation for dyspnea. A chest roentgenogram obtained on admission revealed an abnormal mass shadow at the right hilus. She was diagnosed as having small cell lung cancer through a bronchoscopic biopsy. However this tumor regressed spontaneously without specific treatment after 12 months.

A Case of Extrapulmonary Paragonimiasis Involiving Liver and Cecum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

We report a caae of hepatic and intestinal infestation with paragonimus wewstermani complicating abscess formation. The pathway by which the paragonimus westermani reaehea liver and intestine is not well understood. However, there was possiblity that it may become lodged in other organs that the lung because of polonged larval migrations through the diaphragm or into various sites in the abdomen. The patient, 52-year-old female gave a history of having reyeatedly consumed raw crabs. An x-ray film of the chest showed clear lunga Skin test for paragonimus-westermani was positive. Abdominal ultrasonogram showed enlargement of the liver with multiple hypoechoic lesiona ERCP revealed multiple ie lesions in the right lobe of the liver. Abdaminal CT showed multifocal abscess cavities with slight rim enhancements. Above meetioned diagnostic procedures suggested liver abscess or hepatoma. Then, an exploratory laparotomy was done for a definite diagnosis, Frozen biopsy, from liver and surgically exe mass from ileocecal region revealed extrpulmonary paragnomiasis involving liver and cecum. Thus, the patient was treated with prasiquantel. Three months later, abdominal ultrasonogram demonstrated slight enlargement of the liver but no evidence of abnormal mass like lesions.