A Case of a Pancreaticogastric Fistula Following Acute Pancreatitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A pancreatic fistula (PF) is an abnormal connection between the pancreas and adjacent or distant organs, structures, or spaces resulting from leakage of pancreatic secretions from disrupted pancreatic ducts. A PF is a rare complication that occurs during a acute and chronic pancreatitis or after traumatic or surgical disruption of the pancreatic duct. PFs are frequently classified as internal or external depending upon whether they communicate with an internal organ or the skin. Pancreatico- colonic fistulas are the most common, whereas pancreatico-gastric fistulas are the rarest. We report a rare case of a pancreatico-gastric fistula complicated by acute pancreatitis.

A case of autoimmune hepatitis accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Autoimmune hepatitis accompanied by systemic erythematosus lupus is rare. Usually, lupus-related advanced liver involvement is indistinguishable from autoimmune hepatitis accompanied by lupus, as they share common clinical, biochemical, serological, and histological manifestations. However, each disease has its own diagnostic criteria, and they have been defined as two different categories. Therefore, distinguishing between the two diseases is important to determine the correct diagnosis and treatment. A 41-year-old woman was hospitalized with jaundice and a malar rash. The patient met the diagnostic criteria of both systemic erythematosus lupus and autoimmune hepatitis. After corticosteroid treatment, the patient's condition improved. Therefore, we report our experience of a rare case of autoimmune hepatitis accompanied by systemic erythematosus lupus with a review of the literature.

Culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction of Helicobacter pylori from Rectal and Terminal Ileal Fluid after Polyethylene Glycol (Colyte(R)) Ingestion in Healthy Adults with Positive Urea Breath Test / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) transmission route is not yet clearly understood. Isolating H. pylori from stool, saliva, and vomitus is very difficult. However, H. pylori could be cultured from feces in the setting of rapid gastrointestinal tract transit. The aim of this study was to isolate H. pylori by culture and PCR in the rectum and terminal ileum during colonoscopy. METHODS: Twenty subjects with positive UBT (urea breath test) were included. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and culture of H. pylori with the rectal fluid and terminal ileal fluid during colonoscopy. RESULTS: H. pylori was cultured with rectal fluid from 9 (45.0%) of 20 subjects and with ileal fluid from 11 (55.0%) of 20 subjects. H. pylori was a little more frequently cultured from the terminal ileal fluid than the rectal fluid without statistical significance (p>0.05). PCR test detected flaA (16/20, 80.0% and 17/20, 85.0%), 16S rRNA gene (16/20, 80.0% and 17/20, 85.0%), cagA (10/20, 50.0% and 12/20, 60.0%), and ureC (9/20, 45% and 11/20, 54.5%) from the rectal fluid and the terminal ileal fluid, respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of ureC were 100%. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori could be cultured from the rectal fluid and terminal ileal fluid in the setting of rapid gastrointestinal tract transit. These results suggest of fecal-oral transmission of H. pylori.

A case of superior mesenteric artery syndrome with hematemesis / 대한내과학회지

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare disorder, characterized by compression of the third segment of the duodenum by the mesenteric artery at the level of the SMA, resulting in duodenal dilatation. The most characteristic symptoms are postprandial epigastric pain, fullness, voluminous vomiting, and eructation. The diagnosis may be difficult, but can be confirmed by upper gastrointestinal (UGI) contrast studies. We report a case of SMA syndrome in a 66-year-old patient with hematemesis. Endoscopy showed deep circular ulcerations with bleeding in the distal esophagus. Computed tomography (CT) and an UGI contrast series revealed distension of the stomach and duodenum, with a cut-off in the third portion of the duodenum. We treated the patient conservatively, but the patient's symptoms did not improve. Ultimately, the patient underwent successful gastrojejunostomy with a favorable postoperative outcome.

A Case of Macroscopically Unvisualized Mucin-hypersecreting Biliary Papillomatosis Diagnosed by Microscopy / 대한소화기학회지

The mucin-hypersecreting biliary papillomatosis is a premalignant neoplasm characterized by intraductal papillary proliferation involving extensive areas of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile duct. We report a case of mucin-hypersecreting biliary papillomatosis manifested as obstructive jaundice and diagnosed only by microscopy, with a review of literatures. A 74-year-old female, who had a past history of cholecystectomy about 13 years ago, was admitted to our hospital with jaundice. A CT scan showed marked dilatation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct without intraductal filling defect or extrabiliary mass. During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, mucin extrusion from the duodenal major papilla and dilated common bile duct with amorphous filling defects was noted. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for cholangioscopy was failed. In the operation field, there was a lot of mucin but was no visible mass at the common bile duct with bare eyes and cholangioscopy. However, papilloma was detected at the random biopsy specimen by microscopy. The patient underwent partial resection of common bile duct and choledocho-jejunal anastomosis.

Dieulafoy's Lesion Coexisting with Early Gastric Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Dieulafoy's lesion is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, but can be associated with massive, life-threatening GI bleeding. This lesion is an isolated protruding vessel of the submucosal artery associated with a small mucosal defect and normal surrounding mucosa. Although this lesion can occur throughout the GI tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, rectum, etc), it has been rarely reported elsewhere than the stomach. Especially, there have been no reports of Dieulafoy lesion coexistent with early gastric cancer in Korea. We report the successful application of endoscopic hemoclipping for the treatment of a very rare Dieulafoy lesion coexistent with early gastric cancer.

Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk of Colorectal Adenoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased incidence of colon cancer. However, the relationship between DM and colorectal adenoma is not definite. In this study, we sought to determine the association between DM and the prevalence of colorectal adenoma. METHODS: We enrolled 606 patients with DM and 606 asymptomatic adults who underwent colonoscopy for routine health evaluations from June 2003 to June 2007. The frequency and characteristics of the colorectal adenomas were analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The sex ratio and mean age were 1.67:1 (M:F) and 58.1+/-10.6 years, respectively, in patients with DM, and 1.68:1 and 57.6+/-8.9 years, respectively, in patients without DM, and these values were similar. The frequency of colorectal adenoma was 33.2% for the patients with DM and 32.3% for the patients without DM. The frequency, location, number, size and histopathologic findings of the colorectal adenomas were not different between the two groups. Among the patients with DM, the frequency of colorectal adenoma was 35.7% in the patients treated with oral hypoglycemic agents and 31.4% in the patients treated with insulin. Also, the other characteristics of the colorectal adenomas were not different according to the treatment method. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency and characteristics of colorectal adenomas were not different between the patients with and without DM.

A Case of Primary Hepatic Burkitt's Lymphoma / 대한소화기학회지

Burkitt's lymphoma is a rare disease that belongs to the aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Herein, we report a case of primary hepatic Burkitt's lymphoma. A 19-year-old man visited the hospital for right upper quadrant pain. He felt fatigue for two months. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and no palpable lymph node. He had no fever, weight loss, or night sweating. Laboratory finding showed mild anemia (hemoglobin, 12.4 g/dL), mild elevated transaminase (ALT, 52 IU/L), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 437 IU/L), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP, 129 IU/L). The viral marker was positive for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc (IgG), and negative for anti-HBe, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV. CEA, AFP, and CA19-9 levels were within normal ranges. The HBV DNA quantitation was 1.3x10(9) copies/ml. Abdominal-Pelvis CT scan and abdominal MRI finding were compatable with malignant lymphoma. Liver biopsy examination confirmed Burkitt's lymphoma. No metastasis was detected in the thoracic cavity, bone marrow, and spinal fluid. The patient was treated with the combination regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone and high dose methotrexate. Cytosine arabinoside and methotrexate were added for CNS prophylaxis by intrathecal installation. Chemotherapy was administered every 3 weeks for fifteen cycles. Serial follow-up CT scan showed a marked decrease in the size of hepatic lesions. Follow-up CT scan and PET-CT scan were perfomed 4 weeks after the final cycle disclosed no definite residual or active lesion confirming the state of complete remission.

The etiology of acute viral hepatitis for the last 3 years at a single institution in Seoul / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis A is increasing during the recent years in Korea, and sporadic cases of hepatitis E are not rare. We investigated the etiology of acute viral hepatitis, including 27 cases of coinfection with hepatitis A and E, during the last 3 years. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of one hundred eleven patients with acute viral hepatitis at Chung-Ang University Hospital was done from January 2005 to July 2007. The patients were positive for any one of the following tests: IgM anti-HAV, IgM anti-HBc, HCV RNA and IgM anti-HEV. RESULTS: The proportions of acute viral hepatitis A, B and C were 94.6% (105/111), 4.5% (5/111) and 0.9% (1/111), respectively. Among the patients with hepatitis A, 27 patients (24.3%) were positive for IgM anti-HEV. We analyzed 105 patients with either hepatitis A only or they had coinfection of hepatitis A and E. The mean age, the duration of the hospital stay, the mean levels of serum transaminase, bilirubin and albumin and the protrombin time were similar between the patients with hepatitis A only and those with coinfection of hepatitis A and E. All the patients were discharged without serious complication such as fulminant hepatic failure. The biochemical liver function tests were normalized in all patients within 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The most common etiology of acute viral hepatitis in Koreans was the hepatitis A virus. Patients coinfected with hepatitis A and E were observed. The patients with coinfection of hepatitis A and E showed no significant difference in their clinical features and laboratory parameters, as compared to the patients with hepatitis A only.