Aortic Aneurysm Screening in a High-Risk Population: A Non-Contrast Computed Tomography Study in Korean Males with Hypertension

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Screening strategies for aortic aneurysm (AA) according to risk factors and ethnicity are controversial. This study explored the prevalence of AA and determined whether screening is necessary in a population of multiple risk factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From June, 2012 to April, 2013, 542 consecutive elderly (> or =65 years) male hypertensive patients without a history of AA were prospectively enrolled. After excluding 15 patients (2.8%) with aortic valve surgery, 30 patients (5.5%) with suboptimal computed tomography (CT) images, the remaining 496 patients (age 73+/-5 years) comprised the study population. Maximal diameters of the thoracic and abdominal aorta were measured using non-contrast CT. RESULTS: The prevalence of thoracic AA (TAA, diameter > or =40 mm) and abdominal AA (AAA, diameter > or =30 mm) was 36.5% (181/496) and 6.0% (30/496), respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, determinants for TAA were age {odds ratio (OR) 1.059, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.018-1.101, p=0.005}, dyslipidemia (OR 0.621, 95% CI 0.418-0.923, p=0.018), body surface area (OR 11.92, 95% CI 2.787-50.97, p=0.001), diastolic blood pressure (OR 1.029, 95% CI 1.009-1.049, p=0.004) and AAA (OR 3.070, 95% CI 1.398-6.754, p=0.005). In contrast, AAA was independently associated with dysplipidemia (OR 2.792, 95% CI 1.091-7.143, p=0.032), current/past smokerfs (OR 4.074, 95% CI 1.160-14.31, p=0.028), and TAA (OR 3.367, 95% CI 1.550-7.313, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AA was significant and TAA was more prevalent than AAA in elderly Korean males with hypertension. Future research should establish distinct screening strategies for TAA and AAA according to risk factors and ethnicity.

A Case of Idiopathic Recurrent Duodenojejunitis / 대한소화기학회지

There are various etiologies of duodenojejunitis such as Henoch-Schonlein purpura (H-S purpura), vasculitis, Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, ischemia, lymphoma, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, bacteria or parasite infection, radiation, drug induced jejunitis, eosinophilic jejunitis, and toxins. A 31-year-old man presented with left upper quadrant pain. He did not have febrile sense, hematochezia, melena, diarrhea, arthralgia and hematuria. He had neither drug history nor traveling history. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed diffuse mucosal erythema and segmental hemorrhagic erosions on the distal area to the descending portion of the duodenum and proximal jejunum, which were commonly observed in the gastrointestinal involvement of H-S purpura. However, he showed no skin lesions, joint and urologic problems until the discharge. Autoimmune markers such as antinuclear antibody and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody were negative. Celiac and mesenteric angiogram showed no vascular abnormality. After the administration of oral prednisolone 40 mg daily for therapeutic trial, abdominal pain and endoscopic lesions were improved. He experienced relapses of same episode without skin lesions 16 times during follow-up of 8 years, which were also treated with prednisolone. The abdominal computed tomography during the follow-up also showed no significant finding. We report a case of primary recurrent duodenojejunitis similar to the gastrointestinal involvement of H-S purpura without purpura.

A Case of Acquired Factor V Deficiency Treated with Corticosteroids and Cyclophosphamide / 대한내과학회지

Acquired factor V deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder, the severity of which ranges from mild to fatal. There are various suggested treatments, including transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or platelets, plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive therapy. We encountered a case of idiopathic acquired factor V deficiency with fatal retroperitoneal bleeding treated with steroid and cyclophosphamide.

A Case of Castleman's Disease Mimicking a Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature / 대한소화기학회지

Castleman's disease is a rare disease characterized by lymph node hyperplasia. Although Castleman's disease can occur wherever lymphoid tissue is found, it rarely appears in the abdominal cavity, and is especially rare adjacent to the liver. Here, we report a rare case of Castleman's disease in the portal area that mimicked a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a chronic hepatitis B patient. A 40 year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B presented with right upper quadrant discomfort. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results showed a 2.2 cm-sized, exophytic hypervascular mass in the portal area. HCC was suspected. However, histologic examination revealed Castleman's disease. We suggest that Castleman's disease should be included as a rare differential diagnosis of a hypervascular mass in the portal area, even in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

A Case of Acquired Factor V Deficiency Treated with Corticosteroids and Cyclophosphamide / 대한내과학회지

Acquired factor V deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder, the severity of which ranges from mild to fatal. There are various suggested treatments, including transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or platelets, plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive therapy. We encountered a case of idiopathic acquired factor V deficiency with fatal retroperitoneal bleeding treated with steroid and cyclophosphamide.

A Ten-year Follow-up of a Case with Gastric Adenoma Accompanied with Gastritis Cystica Profunda Treated by Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection / 대한소화기학회지

Gastritis cystica profunda (GCP) is an uncommon hyperplastic benign lesion, and histologically characterized by hyperplasia and cystic dilatation of the gastric glands extending into the submucosal layer. GCP usually occurs at a gastroenterostomy site, although it can occasionally be found in an unoperated stomach. GCP is thought to be a possible precancerous lesion, since a few early gastric cancers associated with it were reported. Herein, we report a case of gastric adenoma associated with GCP in an unoperated patient. The sizes of both the GCP and adenoma overlying it have increased during a 10 year follow-up period. Adenoma on the latest biopsy showed low grade dysplasia, and it was successfully treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

A Case of Ciliated Hepatic Foregut Cyst Discovered by Chance in Elderly Patient with Cholecystitis and Cholangitis

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare disease that originates from the tracheobronchial tree of the foregut. Most patients with CHFC, which is believed to be a non-malignant neoplasm, are clinically asymptomatic. However, there have been some case reports that identify it as changing to malignant in the last decade of the condition. Surgical excision is, therefore, preferred to observation as the treatment of CHFC. However, surgical excision of CHFC in asymptomatic elderly patients is controversial. We experienced a rare case of a 73-year-old female patient who was accidentally diagnosed with CHFC while being diagnosed for cholecystitis and cholangitis. The patient simultaneously underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and resection of CHFC, which was finally diagnosed as benign. We report asymptomatic CHFC in elderly patient, focusing our discussion on whether surgical excision of CHFC is necessary for asymptomatic elderly patients. According to a review of case reports, surgical excision of CHFC is not necessary for asymptomatic elderly patients.