Efficacy of Hood-cap Assisted Colonoscopy; Comparison with Conventional Colonoscopy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A few studies showed that hood-cap assisted colonoscopy (CAC) had improved cecal intubation rate and cecal intubation time but did not help in finding colon polyps in comparison with conventional colonoscopy (CC). However, other studies have shown different results. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of CAC for the cecal intubation time and polyp detection rate. METHODS: Patients for colonoscopy in Busan St. Mary's Medical Center were enrolled to this randomized controlled trial between July 2010 and September 2010. The evaluated outcomes were polyp detection rate, adenoma detection rate, and cecal intubation time in all patients, in difficult cases (history of previous abdominal or pelvic surgery, obesity, old age), and in the expert and non-expert groups. RESULTS: A total of 260 patients enrolled in this study were randomly allocated to the CAC group (n=130), or CC group (n=130). The overall cecal intubation time was shorter in the CAC group (5.7+/-3.4 min vs. 7.8+/-5.7 min, P<0.001). The polyp detection rate was higher in the CAC group (58.4% vs. 43%, P=0.008). The cecal intubation time in the expert and non-expert groups were shorter in the CAC group (expert: 4.1+/-2.2 min vs. 5.5+/-2.0 min, P=0.001; non-expert: 6.7+/-3.7 min vs. 9.4+/-5.9 min, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of CAC improved the detection rate of colon polyps and shortened the cecal intubation time for both the expert and non-expert groups.

A Case of Successful Treatment of Stomal Variceal Bleeding with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt and Coil Embolization

Variceal bleeding from enterostomy site is an unusual complication of portal hypertension. The bleeding, however, is often recurrent and may be fatal. The hemorrhage can be managed with local measures in most patients, but when these fail, surgical interventions or portosystemic shunt may be required. Herein, we report a case in which recurrent bleeding from stomal varices, developed after a colectomy for rectal cancer, was successfully treated by placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with coil embolization. Although several treatment options are available for this entity, we consider that TIPS with coil embolization offers minimally invasive and definitive treatment.

A Case of Anomalous Drainage of the Common Bile Duct into the Duodenal Bulb with Pancreatic Duct Anomaly / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The common bile duct normally enters the posteromedial aspect of the second part of the duodenum. However, anomalous drainage of the common bile duct into the stomach, pyloric channel, duodenal bulb and fourth portion of the duodenum has been reported in the literature. An anomalous pancreatic duct, with ectopic drainage of the common bile duct, is particularly rare. Herein, we report the case of a 69-year-old woman who showed pancreatic ductal variation and anomalous drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb. The patient required a cholecystectomy and choledochoenteric anastomosis to relieve the obstructive jaundice and abdominal pain.

A Case of Spontaneous Dissection of the Superior Mesenteric Artery Treated by Percutaneous Stent Placement / 대한소화기학회지

Acute mesenteric ischemia can result from emboli, arterial and venous thrombi or vasoconstriction secondary to low-flow states. Isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery is a rare cause of acute mesenteric ischemia. The mortality rates of acute mesenteric ischemia averages 71% with a range of 59-93%. Diagnosis before the occurrence of intestinal infarction is the most important factor in improving survival rate for patients with acute mesenteric ischemia. A 68-year-old female presented with postprandial epigastric pain, and a dissection of the superior mesenteric artery and a gallbladder polyp were shown in abdominal computed tomographic scan. After the percutaneous metalic stent placement and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, her symptoms improved. We report a case of spontaneous dissection of main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery which was successfully treated by percutaneous stent placement with a review of literature.

Multiple Cavitary Pulmonary Metastases from Cholangiocarcinoma / 결핵

Because a cavitary pulmonary metastasis is rare, it may not be readily identified. However, various types of cancers can metastasize to the lung in the form of cavities. We report a case of a multiple cavitary metastases to the lung from a cholangiocarcinoma in a 60-year-old man. He complained of generalized weakness and a poor oral intake for 2 months. The plain chest radiography and the chest computed tomography showed multiple small thick-walled cavities and nodules the both lungs. A bronchoscopic examination revealed a focal irregularly elevated surface of the mucosa at the orifice of the superior segment of the right lower lobe and the biopsy demonstrated an infiltrative metastatic adenocarcinoma. The abdomen-pelvis computed tomography showed an ill-marginated and irregularly low-dense area in the right lobe of the liver and a diffuse dilatation of the peripheral intrahepatic bile ducts. The esophagogastroscopy and colonoscopy showed no abnormal findings. It was concluded that the cholangiocarcinoma of the liver metastasized to the lung in the form of cavities. Thereafter, the patient underwent six cycles of the systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, and the follow-up imaging studies showed a partial response.

Diagnostic Utility of Pleural Fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 for Malignant Pleural Effusions / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA 21-1) tumor markers as complementary tools for the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The levels of pleural and serum CEA and CYFRA 21-1 were prospectively assayed in 222 patients with pleural effusions (150 benign effusions, 57 bronchogenic carcinomas and 15 metastatic carcinomas). RESULTS: The levels of pleural fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in the malignant effusions were significantly higher than those in the benign effusions. With a specificity of 95%, the cut off values for the CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in pleural effusions were 5 and 89 ng/ml, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivities of the pleural fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in malignant effusions were 72 and 54%, respectively, whereas using a combination of the two, the sensitivity increased to 87% (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS : These findings suggest that a combination of the pleural fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in pleural effusions can be useful in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

A Case of Aortobronchial Fistula with Massive Hemoptysis after Aortic Stent Graft / 결핵

Aortobronchial fistula may cause a massive fatal hemoptysis. Recently prosthetic aortic graft insertion or endovascular stent graft is a cause of aortobronchial fistula. We report a rare case of hemoptysis from a fistula between an aortic arch aneurysm and the left main bronchus in a patient who had undergone an endovascular stent graft in pseudoaneurysm of descending thoracic aorta one year before.

Efficacy of Individual Prediction Model for the Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Screening tests for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the high risk population can detect tumors at an earlier stage and thus confer a higher chance of receiving treatment. However, the usefulness, frequency and cost-effectiveness of screening for HCC may differ in different areas, possibly reflecting differences in risk factors. Last decade, we have identified risk factors for HCC in 4339 Korean patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and usefulness of individual prediction model for the early diagnosis of HCC. METHODS: We studied a total of 833 patients who visited Yonsei University Medical Center for regular check-up including ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein from January 1999 to December 2000. The patients were classified into a low risk group ( 15%) by the probability of HCC development according to individual prediction model (IPM). The patients who developed HCC during the follow-up periods were analyzed using IPM. All the detailed data of clinical parameters were obtained by our self-exploited data base system prospectively and analyzed by SAS program. RESULTS: 44 (5.3%) out of 833 patients developed HCC during mean follow-up periods of 36 months. According to IPM, 2 (0.62%) of 324 patients in the low risk group, 20 (4.84%) of 413 patients in the intermediate risk group, and 22 (22.9%) of 96 patients in the high risk group were diagnosed as HCC. In 29 of 44 HCC patients (65.9%), initial presentation of tumor size was less than 3 cm in diameter. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the reliability of established IPM for screening of HCC and this model may help screening program to be done effectively by focusing high risk groups for HCC.

The Utility of Measurement of Plasma N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide in Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic respiratory disease. However, diagnosing pulmonary hypertension is a difficult procedure which often requires an invasive test. Thus new alternative biochemical markers would be useful in clinical field and are in search. We sought to assess the role of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. METHOD: We measured plasma NT-proBNP level in twenty nine patients suspected for pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as being right ventricular systolic pressure more than 35 mm Hg estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma NT-proBNP level was measured by electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. RESULTS: The log-transformed values for plasma NT-proBNP levels showed a linear correlation (correlation coefficiency: 0.783, p-value <0.001) with right ventricular systolic pressure. Plasma NT-proBNP levels closely correlated with right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, interventricular septal flattening and right ventricular dilatation. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the measurement of plasma NT-proBNP level is an useful marker of the presence of pulmonary hypertension.