A Case of Melanosis Ilei / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Melanosis ilei is a condition that's characterized by gross greyish-black or brownish-black pigmentation of the mucosa of the terminal ileum. There were several substances that produce gastrointestinal tract pigmentation such as lipofuscin, iron sulphide (FeS), Hemosiderin and exogenous material such as silicates and titanium. We report here on a case of a 58-year-old female who ingested charcoal for a long time, and she was diagnosed with melanosis ilei by colonoscopy. Her condition improved after she stopped ingesting the charcoal.

A case of hyereosinophilic syndrome with exudative pleural effusion / 대한내과학회지

Hypereosinophilic syndrome, the disease with continuous over production of eosinophil from bone marrow without any identifiable underlying disorder, causes various symptoms or signs by infiltrating organs. As many as 28,780/mm3 eosinophils in peripheral blood, the eosinophilic hyperplasia in bone marrow and features of hepatic involvement -revealed elevated serum AST, ALT and ultrasonogram of abdomen showed the multiple nodules scattered throughout the liver, we have reached to make a diagnosis of the rare hyper eosinophilic syndrome carrying the eosinophil-rich exudate in pleural effusion. The patient showed improvement of clinical symptoms with oral administration of predinisolone, and we report this case with literature consideration.

Effectiveness of Single-dose Sodium Phosphate on Bowel Preparation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oral sodium phosphate has been shown to be effective and safe but causes intravascular volume contraction, changes in serum calcium and phopshate level, and sleep disturbance when given two doses every 12 hours. Because the evening dose is inconvenient for many patients, we gave single morning dose, and compared it with conventional 12-hour-split dose. METHODS: Sixty one patients drank 90 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 AM and 58 patients drank 45 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in bowel cleansing between two groups (p=0.871). There was no significant difference in patient's tolerance and symptoms between two groups except sleep deprivation which was more frequent in the split dose group. None of the patients complained of postural dizziness or presyncope in both groups. Serum phosphate levels were increased and serum calcium levels were decreased after preparation in both groups, but patients showed no significant clinical symptoms such as tetany. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that giving a single morning dose of sodium phosphate is effective, well tolerated and safe in most patients for precolonoscopic cleansing, compared to conventional split dose of 12-hour interval.

Three cases of isolated rectal tuberculosis / 대한내과학회지

Isolated rectal tuberculosis commonly involves sigmoid, ascending, or transverse colon. Rectal involvement in tuberculosis is uncommon and poorly characterized. Isolated rectal tuberculosis was defined as focal lesions of rectum in the abscence of demonstrable lesions in the small and large bowel. Diagnosis of rectal tuberculosis was based on characteristic endoscopic appearance of lesions, histopathologic feature of tuberculosis in biopsy material and response to antitubercular therapy. Three patients with isolated rectal tuberculosis were seen at Kwak's hospital. The lesions observed was classified according to macroscopic morphology as follows: ulcerative, hypertrophic and ulcero-hypertrophic. Clinical manifestations were non-specific and consists of rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss, constipation and abdominal pain. One of the three patients had coexisting tuberculous pleurisy. Response to antitubercular chemotherapy was good.