Duodenal amyloidosis secondary to ulcerative colitis

Amyloidosis is defined as the extracellular deposition of non-branching fibrils composed of a variety of serum-protein precursors. Secondary amyloidosis is associated with several chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatologic or intestinal diseases, familial Mediterranean fever, or chronic infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Although the association of amyloidosis with inflammatory bowel disease is known, amyloidosis secondary to ulcerative colitis (UC) is rare. A 36-year-old male patient with a 15-year history of UC presented with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. He had been treated with infliximab for 6 years. At the time of admission, he had been undergoing treatment with mesalazine and adalimumab since the preceding 5 months. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed mucosal erythema, edema, and erosions with geographic ulcers at the 2nd and 3rd portions of the duodenum. Duodenal amyloidosis was diagnosed using polarized light microscopy and Congo red stain. Monoclonal gammopathy was not detected in serum and urine tests, while the serum free light chain assay result was not specific. An increase in plasma cells in the bone marrow was not found. Secondary amyloidosis due to UC was suspected. The symptoms were resolved after glucocorticoid therapy.

Metastatic Spermatic Cord Tumor From Colorectal Cancer

Metastatic tumors of the spermatic cord are extremely rare, and the prognosis for patients is typically poor. In the majority of cases, the primary tumor occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with a metastatic spermatic cord tumor. The patient complained of groin discomfort with a tender mass in the right inguinal area. An excisional biopsy was performed, and the pathologic finding was a metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma. We performed a systemic evaluation including colonoscopy, abdominal computed tomography, and total-body positron emission tomography, and the primary tumor was confirmed to involve the total colon, including the cecum, sigmoid colon, and rectum. The pathologic finding for rectum revealed a mucinous adenocarcinoma compatible with a metastatic spermatic cord tumor.

Case of Malignant Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum and Pleura / 대한내과학회지

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare aggressive tumor and arises from mesothelial cells in the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities. Median survival is -1 year and the incidence is approximately 0.7 per million persons, and is increasing annually in Korea. It is difficult to diagnose malignant mesothelioma because of nonspecific symptoms, signs and laboratory findings. It needs to be confirmed by histological examination and immunohistochemistry. There is no case report of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum and pleura in Korea. We report a rare case of malignant mesothelioma with simultaneous involvement of the peritoneum and pleura in a 75-year-old man without evidence of asbestos exposure.

Intractable Ventricular Arrhythmia Induced by Aconite and its Successful Treatment with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

Aconite, derived from the roots of certain aconitum species (Racunculaceae), is widely distributed in Korea. Aconitine, an extremely toxic substance present in aconite, has pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and positive inotropic actions. Due to its relatively low safe dose, we sometimes encounter cases of serious aconite intoxication. The toxic compound mainly affects the CNS, heart, and muscle tissues, resulting primarily in cardiovascular complications. Aconite poisoning presents with a combination of neurological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal features. The main cause of death is severe cardiotoxicity causing refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias and asystole. As there is no specific antidote, management of aconite poisoning is supportive. All patients require close monitoring of blood pressure and cardiac rhythm since ventricular arrhythmias may occur during the first 24 hours of poisoning, resulting in sudden deterioration in the patient's clinical condition. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has traditionally been utilized for perioperative cardiac failure and cardiomyopathies. More recently, the indications for ECMO have expanded to patients with acute cardiovascular decompression including intractable arrhythmias. We report on a patient who developed life threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia after ingestion of herbal tablets containing aconite alkaloids. Our patient was resuscitated with intravenous infusion of amiodarone, repeated cardioversion/defibrillation, and mechanical circulatory support with ECMO.

A Case of Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma in Young Adult with Nodular Gastritis; On Follow-up without Helicobacter pylori Eradication

A 29-year-old man with nodular gastritis diagnosed by previous gastroscopy was referred to our hospital for an evaluation of laryngeal discomport and soreness. The patient had no previous history of eradication for Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. Gastroscopy demonstrated the presence of gooseflesh-like nodularities on antrum and whitish discoloring lesion with depression on lesser curvature of lower body. The whitish discoloring lesion with depression was histologically diagnosed a signet ring cell carcinoma by endoscopic biopsy. We report this case of a patient with nodular gastritis who received no eradication therapy and was diagnosed with signet ring cell carcinoma with a review of the literature.

A Case of Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma in Young Adult with Nodular Gastritis; On Follow-up without Helicobacter pylori Eradication

A 29-year-old man with nodular gastritis diagnosed by previous gastroscopy was referred to our hospital for an evaluation of laryngeal discomport and soreness. The patient had no previous history of eradication for Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. Gastroscopy demonstrated the presence of gooseflesh-like nodularities on antrum and whitish discoloring lesion with depression on lesser curvature of lower body. The whitish discoloring lesion with depression was histologically diagnosed a signet ring cell carcinoma by endoscopic biopsy. We report this case of a patient with nodular gastritis who received no eradication therapy and was diagnosed with signet ring cell carcinoma with a review of the literature.