A Patient with Achalasia Misdiagnosed as Asthma Until Age 17 / 대한내과학회지

Achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by functional obstruction of the distal esophagus and subsequent dilation of the proximal esophagus. The most common symptoms in children and adolescents are vomiting, progressive dysphagia, weight loss, recurrent pneumonia, nocturnal cough, and chest pain. A girl who had been diagnosed with asthma poorly responsive to inhaled steroids until age 17, presented at the hospital with cough, sputum, and fever. Finally, she was diagnosed with achalasia and underwent esophageal balloon dilatation, which relieved her GI and pulmonary symptoms. We report this case with a literature review.

A Case of Chemical Pneumonitis Induced by Teflon Inhalation / 대한내과학회지

Chemical pneumonitis is defined as lung irritation caused by inhalation of substances toxic to the lungs. Acute chemical pneumonitis causes swelling of the lung tissue, movement of fluid into the air spaces in the lung, and a decreased ability to absorb oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide. Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a commonly used synthetic fiber or insulator. To our knowledge, chemical pneumonitis and acute respiratory failure induced by Teflon inhalation has not been previously reported in Korea. We experienced a 44-year-old patient who had a cough and dyspnea that were aggravated 10 h after smoking tobacco wet by Teflon for 5 min at his workplace. Upon arrival at the emergency room, his blood pressure was low and his arterial blood gas analysis revealed hypoxemia. A chest radiograph showed diffuse haziness on both mid- to-lower lung fields. Following treatment by conservative therapy, including oxygen supply and steroid use, his condition was relatively good and his chest radiograph normalized.

A case of lung metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with tuberculous pleurisy / 대한내과학회지

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most prevalent type of thyroid cancer. Metastasis of this carcinoma commonly occurs in the lung and has been reported to present 5 to 30 years after the initial diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Pleural effusion can mask this metastatic spread. In patients with pleural effusion, laboratory measurement of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) level in the pleural fluid can be effective in identifying and ranking pulmonary metastasis in the differential diagnosis. A 70-year-old female patient visited our hospital with dyspnea. She presented with a considerable amount of pleural effusion. A pleural biopsy was performed and the Ziehl-Neelsen stains revealed a few acid-fast bacilli, but the ADA level in the pleural fluid was 2.4 IU/L. After drainage of the pleural effusions, we discovered pulmonary nodules by computed tomography (CT), which were later diagnosed through histologic examination as pulmonary metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma. We report this case.

A Case of Atypical Distribution of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Bedridden Patient with Quadriplegia / 결핵및호흡기질환

Pulmonary tuberculosis has intermediate prevalence in Korea. It is known that tuberculosis infection predominantly involves the upper lobes, based on the fact that multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is favored in areas with decreased pulmonary blood flow, impaired lymphatic drainage, and high oxygen tension. We report this case of a 40-year-old man who was brought to our hospital with hemoptysis and dyspnea. Prior to admission, the patient had been in a bedridden state for 15 years due to an injury of the cervical spine 4~5. A 3-Dimensional computed tomography showed predominantly longitudinal distribution of centrilobular nodules along the anterior chest wall, in the left lung. MTB-PCR and AFB culture of bronchial washing fluid revealed pulmonary tuberculosis. This case shows that long-standing supine posture and decreased motion of the anterior chest wall may change the distribution of preferential infection site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lung, resulting in a ventral predominance of tuberculosis infection in the quadriplegic patient.

A Case of Atypical Distribution of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Bedridden Patient with Quadriplegia / 결핵및호흡기질환

Pulmonary tuberculosis has intermediate prevalence in Korea. It is known that tuberculosis infection predominantly involves the upper lobes, based on the fact that multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is favored in areas with decreased pulmonary blood flow, impaired lymphatic drainage, and high oxygen tension. We report this case of a 40-year-old man who was brought to our hospital with hemoptysis and dyspnea. Prior to admission, the patient had been in a bedridden state for 15 years due to an injury of the cervical spine 4~5. A 3-Dimensional computed tomography showed predominantly longitudinal distribution of centrilobular nodules along the anterior chest wall, in the left lung. MTB-PCR and AFB culture of bronchial washing fluid revealed pulmonary tuberculosis. This case shows that long-standing supine posture and decreased motion of the anterior chest wall may change the distribution of preferential infection site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lung, resulting in a ventral predominance of tuberculosis infection in the quadriplegic patient.

Hounsfield Number Measurement after a Uterine Fibroid Embolization: Significance as a Predictive Factor of Embolization Success

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of the Hounsfield number, measured by a non-contrast enhanced pelvic CT, after a uterine artery embolization as an index of the successful outcome of a uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects included 15 women (age range: 28-49 years, mean age: 36.4 years) diagnosed with symptomatic uterine myomas and seen from March 2003 to August 2005. A non-contrast enhanced pelvic CT scan was performed six hours after a uterine artery embolization. The global and maximal CT numbers were measured for each myoma. In addition, a pelvic MRI was performed to measure the volume of each myoma prior to and 6 months after the UFE. The relationship between fibroid volume reduction and the global CT number were prospectively analysed. RESULTS: The mean global CT number was 91.25 HU in Group I and 40.8 HU in Group II. Further, the mean fibroid volume reduction rate was 73% in Group I and 10% in Group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The global CT number measured by a non-contrast enhanced pelvic CT is a useful predictive factor of a successful uterine fibroid embolization.

Mucocele of the Remnant Appendix Following Incomplete Appendectomy: A Case Report

Appendiceal mucoceles are rare lesions. There has been only one report of a mucocele of the remnant appendix not communicating with the cecum. We report a remnant appendiceal mucocele following an incomplete incidental appendectomy, which presented as a lobulated cystic mass on ultrasonography and a cystic mass with an irregular wall on computed tomography. A borderline malignant mucinous tumor of the appendix was diagnosed.

High-Resolution Ultrasonography (US) of Appendiceal Specimens: Differentiation of Acute Non-perforated Appendicitis from Perforated Appendicitis

PURPOSE: To analyze surgical specimens from patients with acute non-perforated and perforated appendicitis using high-resolution ultrasonography (US), and to correlate the US features with the pathologic findings. MATERIALS and METHODS: One hundred and six surgical appendix specimens obtained from patients with suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated. The following US features were evaluated for differentiating acute non-perforated appendicitis from perforated appendicitis: circumferential loss of the echogenic submucosal layer, disruption of the serosal layer, asymmetrical wall thickening, the sum of opposing walls > or = 9 mm and the presence of appendicoliths. The sensitivity and specificity of the US findings for diagnosing perforated appendicitis were determined. RESULTS: All US features were detected significantly more often in the perforated appendicitis group of specimens. The disruption of the serosal layer was the most significant independent predictor of perforation (p or = 9 mm, and the presence of appendicoliths individually was 84.6%, 69.2%, 61.5%, 73.1% and 46.2%, respectively. The specificity for all of these findings was 86.3%, 98.7%, 95.0%, 85.0% and 85.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: High-resolution US of appendiceal specimens was very useful for differentiating acute non-perforated from perforated appendicitis.

Ovarian Protection by Selective Coil Embolization of a Uteroovarian Anastomosis before Uterine Fibroid Embolization: A Report of Two Cases

Premature menopause can be developed as a result of undesired nontarget ovary embolization during the performance of uterine fibroid embolization. The etiology of ovarian failure after uterine fibroid embolization is not yet clearly defined, but one of the leading possibilities is nontarget embolization of the ovaries. We report here on two cases in which superselective coil embolization of distal uterine artery collateral pathways to the ovary was performed during uterine fibroid embolization.

Ovarian Protection by Selective Coil Embolization of a Uteroovarian Anastomosis before Uterine Fibroid Embolization: A Report of Two Cases

Premature menopause can be developed as a result of undesired nontarget ovary embolization during the performance of uterine fibroid embolization. The etiology of ovarian failure after uterine fibroid embolization is not yet clearly defined, but one of the leading possibilities is nontarget embolization of the ovaries. We report here on two cases in which superselective coil embolization of distal uterine artery collateral pathways to the ovary was performed during uterine fibroid embolization.