A Case of Splenic Pseudocyst Difficult to Differentiate from Splenic Lymphangioma / 대한소화기학회지

Splenic pseudocyst is a rare complication of abdominal trauma. Although it is rare, splenic pseudocyst is well-documented in the literature. According to the current classification, approximately 30% of all splenic cysts or pseudocysts result from direct abdominal trauma. In addition, chronic pancreatitis leads to change of nearby organs with possible acute and chronic complications including splenic lesions. This unusual complication can occur in both emergent and nonemergent conditions. The useful diagnostic procedures to assess intrasplenic pseudocyst are sonogram, CT scan, splenic scan, and occasionally angiography. However, definite diagnosis of pseudocyst is possible only after splenectomy when the absence of epithelial lining is confirmed histologically. Splenic pseudocyst requires surgical resection. We experienced a 31-year-old man who confirmed of warmness in the left side of back with left upper quadrant abdominal pain for several months. First impression was splenic lymphangioma based on CT scan and sonogram finding. Splenectomy was performed. Microscopic examination revealed splenic pseudocyst with fibrous capsule without epithelial lining.

Plasma Homocysteine Concentration and Genotype Variation of Enzymes as Risk Factors in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased plasma homocysteine(tHcy) has been implicated as an independent risk factor for coronary artery diseas(CAD), but the relationship has not been firmly established. Present study aimed to determine the difference of plasma homocysteine between patients with CAD and normal control, and to identify the relation between plasma homocysteine and genotype variation of its metabolic enzymes, and serological characteristics. METHODS: Plasma homocysteine, fasting and post-methionin loading, folate and vitamin B12 were measured among 149 patients and 80 control subjects. Both group consisted of those younger than 65 years. Frequencies of prevalent mutations of enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism, cytosine to thymidine transition (C(677)T) of methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 85 patients and 47 control. RESULT: There was no significant difference in homocysteine level between patients and control group (fasting tHcy; 10.4 +/- 3.6 vs 11.4 +/- 8.4 ng/ml, post-methionine loading tHcy; 18.8 +/- 4.9 vs 17.2 +/- 9.5 ng/ml, p> 0.05 respectively). Genotype frequency of MTHFR C(677)T was similar between two groups. Plasma homocysteine level did not appear to vary with genotypes of MTHFR both in patients and control subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis identified smoking as the most significant factor affecting plasma homocysteine level, followed by age, MTHFR genotype, obesity, and folate level. CONCLUSION: Homocysteine concentration was not different between controls and patients with CAD. Significant variation of homocysteine level according to genetypic polymorphism of metabolism enzymes was not observed. On multiple linear regression, several factors were identified to be related to homocysteine level, including MTHFR genotype. Further study is warranted to clarify the significance of homocysteine in the development of CAD.

Two Cases of Tuberous Sclerosis Patients with Renal Anomaly / 대한신장학회잡지

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare disease, which occurs sporadically or hereditarily and is recognized by its neurological and dermatological manifestations and may be accompanied with renal anomalies. The classical triad is composed of seizure, mental retardation and adenoma sebaceum on face. We experienced two cases of tuberous sclerosis in sporadic forms by mutation without any familial history which suggests the diseases were occurred by mutation rather than by autosomal dominant inheritance. In the first case, a 24-year-female patient with hypertension and abnormal renal function tests which were noted on the routine prenatal check at 32 weeks of gestation delivered normally at 37 weeks. The daughter of patient had seizure when she was 6 years old and was diagnosed as polycystic kidney disease by abdominal computed tomography. This case developed sporadic form of disease without familial history but, the daughter of patient might inherited by autosomal dominant form. The patient's clinical feature was characterized by history of epilepsy, painless abdominal mass due to polycystic kidney disease, abnormal renal function, skin abnormalites including angiofibroma and shagreen patch. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated numerous variable sized cysts throughout both kidney. In second case, the patient was a 32-year-female patient complaining of 5kg weight gain, abdominal distension due to palpable masses. Her clinical feature was characterized by bilateral huge renal angiomyolipoma with normal renal function and skin abnormality such as erythematous papule on the face. Abd CT and MRI revealed huge angiomyolipoma of about 15cm X 18.5cm X 30cm and 14.5cm X 18cm X 30cm respectively. We presented the two cases with brief review of the literatures.

Usefulness of Deep Seating Technique for Transradial Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND: Smaller guiding catheter had a problem with poor backup support during the transradial coronary intervention which resulted in higher failure rate. This study sought to prove the usefulness of deep seating technique which improves the backup support of the guiding catheter required to deliver interventional materials during the transradial coronary intervention. METHODS: Thirthy-five patients(23 males) were included in this study since March 1998 to August 1999. Clinical presentation of these patients were stable angina(7 patients), unstable angina(17 patients), acute myocardial infarction(11 cases). The mean age was 68+/-8 years. The treated vessel was left anterior descending artery in 22, left circumflex artery in 2 and right coronary artery in 11 of 35 vessels. RESULT: Twenty-six lesions were treated with stents, 3 with PTCA, and 6 with rotablator. Procedural success were achieved in 33 out of 35 cases(94%). Guiding catheters were used mostly with 6 Fr(30/35). In the left coronary system, usual Judkins left type was used in most of the patients(24/26, 92%), and in right coronary Judkins, Amplatz and multipurpose catheters were used similiarly. Hypotension and sinus bradycardia was encountered in one case without clinical significance and there was no dissection in all patients. CONCLUSION: Deep seating technique is a safe and effective technique without major adverse event during the transradial coronary intervention in selected cases.

Usefulness of Deep Seating Technique for Transradial Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND: Smaller guiding catheter had a problem with poor backup support during the transradial coronary intervention which resulted in higher failure rate. This study sought to prove the usefulness of deep seating technique which improves the backup support of the guiding catheter required to deliver interventional materials during the transradial coronary intervention. METHODS: Thirthy-five patients(23 males) were included in this study since March 1998 to August 1999. Clinical presentation of these patients were stable angina(7 patients), unstable angina(17 patients), acute myocardial infarction(11 cases). The mean age was 68+/-8 years. The treated vessel was left anterior descending artery in 22, left circumflex artery in 2 and right coronary artery in 11 of 35 vessels. RESULT: Twenty-six lesions were treated with stents, 3 with PTCA, and 6 with rotablator. Procedural success were achieved in 33 out of 35 cases(94%). Guiding catheters were used mostly with 6 Fr(30/35). In the left coronary system, usual Judkins left type was used in most of the patients(24/26, 92%), and in right coronary Judkins, Amplatz and multipurpose catheters were used similiarly. Hypotension and sinus bradycardia was encountered in one case without clinical significance and there was no dissection in all patients. CONCLUSION: Deep seating technique is a safe and effective technique without major adverse event during the transradial coronary intervention in selected cases.

Quadricuspid Aortic Valve: Report of Two Cases

Quadricuspid aortic valve is an uncommon congenital anomaly and cause of aortic regurgitation. We report two cases of quadricuspid aortic valve with aortic regurgitation. Case 1, a 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for fatigue and chest tightness. She had to and fro murmur along the left sternal border. Transthoracic echocardiography and transeso- phageal echocardiography showed grade 2-3 aortic regurgitation with quadricuspid aortic valve. The aortic valve consisted of four cusps of equivalent size(Hurwitz type a). Case 2, a 35-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for exertional dyspnea and chest tightness. He had grade 4/6 to and fro murmur along the left sternal border. Transthoracic echocardiography showed grade 4 aortic regurgitation with suggested quadricuspid aortic valve. The aortic valve consisted of two equal larger cusps and two equal smaller cusps and a supernumerary cusp located between the right and noncoronary cusps(Hurwitz type c). He was performed aortic valve replacement with a 21 mm On-X valve.