A Case of Corrosive Injury-Induced Pharyngeal Stricture Treated by Endoscopic Adhesiolysis Using an Electrosurgical Knife

Here, we report a case of corrosive injury-induced pharyngeal stricture in a 69-year-old female, which was successfully treated with endoscopic adhesiolysis using an electrosurgical knife. The patient had ingested sodium hydroxide in an attempted suicide, and immediate endoscopy revealed corrosive injuries of the pharynx, esophagus, and stomach. When a liquid diet was permitted, she complained of nasal regurgitation of food. Follow-up endoscopy revealed several adhesive bands and a web-like scar that did not allow passage of the endoscope into the hypopharyngeal area. For treatment of the hypopharyngeal stricture, the otolaryngologist attempted to perform an excision of the fibrous bands around the esophageal inlet using microscissors passed through an esophagoscope, but this procedure was not effective. We then dissected the mucosal adhesion and incised the adhesive bands using an electrosurgical knife. After this procedure, nasal regurgitation of food no longer occurred. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of endoscopic adhesiolysis with an electrosurgical knife in a patient with a corrosive injury-induced pharyngeal stricture.

A Case of Stercoral Perforation of Sigmoid Colon Diagnosed by Colonoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Stercoral perforation of the colon is a rare disease. Yet, in recent times, the number of reported cases has increased because of the growing elderly population. Stercoral perforation of the colon usually occurs in the elderly or bedridden patients with chronic constipation. Stercoral perforation may cause a massive hemorrhage or peritonitis. The prognosis of stercoral perforation is poor, as the reported postoperative mortality is 35~40%. So, early diagnosis and proper treatment are very important for improving survival. However, making an early diagnosis may be difficult because of the nonspecific initial symptoms. We experienced a case of stercoral perforation that was diagnosed by colonoscopy. The defect was in the sigmoid colon, and it was covered with peritoneum. The patient completely recovered after resection and anastomosis of the perforated colon. We report here on this case with a review of the relevant literature.

A Case of Chlamydia trachomatis Peritonitis Mimicking Tuberculous Peritonitis / 대한소화기학회지

Lymphocytic ascites with low serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) are observed mainly in tuberculous peritonitis, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and pancreatic disease. However, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) induced generalized peritonitis causing diffuse ascites has been rarely described. We report a 26-year old female patient, who was diagnosed as generalized peritonitis with diffuse ascites due to Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Gynecologic examination did not show the clue of PID and in the analysis of ascites, low SAAG, predominant lymphocyte count and high level of adenosine deaminase were noted. Although the best impression was tuberculous peritonitis on the base of these findings, the laparoscopic finding was consistent with PID and the PCR for C. trachomatis infection in cervical swab was positive. This case suggests that C. trachomatis peritonitis should be considered as a rare cause of low SAAG and lymphocytic ascites in sexually active women and should be intensively evaluated including laparoscopic examination.

Clinical Factors Predicting for Neoplastic Transformation of Gastric Hyperplastic Polyps / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hyperplastic polyps (HPs) are the most common cause of all benign epithelial gastric polyps, constituting 30 to 93%. Although gastric HPs are usually considered as benign lesions compared with adenoma, neoplastic transformation has been known to occur rarely. We aimed to identify the clinical factors of gastric HPs predicting for neoplastic transformation. METHODS: Between January 2002 to August 2010, a total of 274 gastric HPs, which had been removed by endoscopic polypectomy or surgical resection from 210 patients, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Neoplastic transformation was found in 15 cases (5.5%) of 274 HPs including 10 cases of low grade dysplasia (3.7%), 2 cases of high grade dysplasia (0.7%) and 3 cases of adenocarcinoma (1.1%). Neoplastic transformations were significantly associated with >1 cm in size (n=10 [66.7%] vs. n=91 [35.1%], p=0.024), with pedunculated shape (n=9 [60.0%] vs. n=62 [23.9%], p=0.002), with previous history of gastrectomy (n=3 [20.0%] vs. n=3 [1.2%], p=0.002) and with synchronous neoplastic lesions occurring elsewhere in the gastric mucosa (n=5 [33.3%] vs. n=31 [12.0%], p=0.021). However, no significant difference was found between HPs with and without neoplastic transformation in terms of age, sex, number of polyps detected per patient, location, macroscopic appearance such as erosion, hyperemia. CONCLUSIONS: Neoplastic transformation of gastric HPs had significant relationships with >1 cm in size, pedunculated shape, postgastectomy state, and synchronous neoplastic lesion. Therefore, endoscopic polypectomy should be considered in these HPs to avoid the risk of missing HPs with neoplastic potential.

A case of clopidogrel induced neutropenia / 대한내과학회지

Clopidogrel is an oral agent that blocks ADP receptor-mediated platelet aggregation. Clopidogrel along with aspirin was shown by the CURE trial to result in a 20% relative reduction of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke. Ticlopidine has been shown to reduce the incidence of stent thrombosis compared with warfarin, but it may cause serious hematological side effects. However, the reported neutropenia has been similar to clopidogrel and aspirin treatment groups (0.01 vs 0.17%, respectively) with corresponding rates (0.05 vs 0.04%, respectively) of severe neutropenia. We treated a 72-year-old female patient with severe neutropenia who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent placement and had no neutrophils in the peripheral blood at 11 days after clopidogrel use. Therefore, clinicians should be alerted to the possibility of severe neutropenia with clopidogrel treatment.

A Case of Boerhaave's Syndrome after Bowel Preparation with Polyethylene Glycol / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Polyethylene glycol (Colyte(R)) electrolyte lavage solution is widely used for bowel preparataion before colonoscopy and surgery. The minor complications associated with PEG solution, i.e., nausea and bloating have been reported on. However, major complications such as PEG electrolyte lavage solution-induced Mallory-Weiss tear, esophageal rupture, asystole and aspiration have rarely been reported on. Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave's syndrome) is a very rare disease and it is often diagnosed late or it is misdiagnosed because of the atypical clinical symptoms. Its mortality increases proportionally to the time between esophageal rupture and treatment. It can cause a fatal outcome unless it is treated early. We authors report here on a case of spontaneous esophageal rupture after bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol.

Immune hemolytic anemia secondary to ABO minor incompatibility in renal recipients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Immune hemolysis secondary to ABO minor incompatibility is a rare graft versus host disease in renal recipients, secondary to anti-ABO antibody produced by lymphocytes of donor origin that reacts against recipient RBCs. METHODS: To investigate the incidence and clinical features of immune hemolysis secondary to ABO minor incompatibility in renal allograft recipients, clinical records of 358 renal transplantation performed in Maryknoll Hospital since 1991 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Fifty four (15%) of 358 renal transplants were ABO minor incompatible. Immune hemolysis secondary to anti-ABO antibody developed in 5 (9.2%) of 54 ABO minor incompatible renal transplant recipients. Immune hemolysis occurred in 3 (13.6%) patients among 22 allografts from blood type O donor to A recipients and 2 (10%) patients among 20 from blood type O donor to B recipients. All 5 patients received cyclosporin with prednisolone, and MMF was administered to one patient additionally. Immune hemolysis developed on 14+/-3 days after renal transplantation and lasted for about 10+/-3 days. The maximum reduction of hemoglobin was 3.3+/-1.0 g/dL. All patients required donor type (blood type O) washed RBCs transfusion (5.0+/-2.6 units per patient) and plasmapheresis were performed in 3 patients (4.0+/-1.0 per patient). All patients recovered without deterioration of graft function. Age, number of HLA mismatch, creatinine at 1 year after transplantation, frequency of acute rejection and serum cyclosporin level during first 2 weeks were not significantly different between hemolysis group (N=5) and non-hemolysis group (N=49). Living unrelated transplantation is associated with increased incidence of immune hemolysis compared with living related transplantation (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Although immune hemolysis secondary to ABO minor incompatibility is uncommon, we experienced cases with marked reduction of hemoglobin that required a large amount of transfusion. Therefore, this type of immune hemolysis needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis of posttransplant hemolysis. As our center routinely performs donor specific transfusion (DST), the incidence may be higher than that of other centers where DST is not usually given.

A Case of Esophageal Tuberculous Abscess / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Primary esophageal involvement by tuberculosis is rare. Clinical symptoms are variable and nonspecific in which dysphagia is the most common presenting symptom. Endoscopic findings are also diverse and nonspecific and ulcerative form is a common manifestation. For a definite diagnosis, Endoscopic biopsies are useful but typical granuloma is seen in approximately 50% of cases and acid-fast bacilli are demonstrated in less than 25% of patients. Fine needle aspiration cytology and polymerase chain reaction are helpful for diagnosis. A 54-year-old man was presented with throat discomport. Endoscopy demonstrated hematoma like lesion with pus discharge from ulceration in the proximal esophagus. Esophageal tuberculosis was confirmed based on the biopsy and culture results, and he was treated with antituberculous medications. At the follow-up endoscopy, 6 months later, previous lesion was completely healed to scar.

A Case of Hepatic Angiosarcoma Presenting as Submucosal Tumor Resulting from Gastric Invasion / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Angiosarcoma accounts for 1% of all soft tissue sarcoma. Common sites of occurrence include the skin, breast, soft tissue, and liver. It metastasizes to the lungs, bone, and spleen. The cause of hepatic angiosarcoma in the 60% of cases is unknown, although specific risk factors such as vinyl chloride, arsenic, thorotrast and external-beam irradiation have been identified. Since 1986, about eight cases of hepatic angiosarcoma have been reported in Korea, but it had not been reported in which the hepatic angiosarcoma invaded to the stomach, yet. So we report a case of histopathologically confirmed primary hepatic angiosarcoma with gastric involvement. In this case, a sixtythree-year-old female was presented with indigestion and epigastric soreness for 1 year. Endoscopic examination of the stomach revealed a submucosal tumor-like protruding mass from the antrum to angle. The mucosal surface showed severe hyperemia and shallow ulcerative change was seen. Endoscopic biopsy and percutaneous liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of hepatic angiosarcoma invading the gastric wall.

A Case of Giant Mesenteric Hemangioma with involvement of the mucosa of duodenum and pancreatic parenchyme / 대한내과학회지

A giant mesenteric hemangioma with small intestinal involvement was rarely found as the cause of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. Enteric hemangiomas account for 7~10% of all benign tumors of the small intestine and the jejunum is the most common location. A 52-year-old man was admitted with recurrent melena for 4 years. Submucosal tumor like elevated lesion was found at just distal Ampulla of Vater. This lesion was seen woozing type bleeding. For evaluation of bleeding focus, mesenteric angiogram was done. A mesenteric angiogram revealed normal gastro-duodenal, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. Whole abdominal computed tomography revealed low- density lesion at distal to duodenal 2nd portion. To prevent further recurrent bleeding, Whipple's operation was done. The histologic diagnosis of the lesion was a giant mesenteric hemangioma of mesentery with involvement of the mucosa of duodenum and pancreatic parenchyme.