An ALL Case with Trichosporon beigelii Pneumonia Developed during Severe Pancytopenic Period after Salvage Chemotherapy / 대한혈액학회지

Trichosporon beigelii belongs to the family of Cryptococcaceae. T. beigelii is a rare causative agent of invasive pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. T. beigelii pneumonia is characterized by persistent fever unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotic the- rapy, coughing with bloody sputum, and rapidly progressive dyspnea. Its diagnosis should be based on clinical suspicion and confirmed by culture and histologic examination of biopsy tissue. We describe an ALL patient with T. beigelii pneumonia developed during severe pancytopenic period after salvage chemotherapy.

A Case of Multiple Myeloma with Multiple Intrahepatic Extramedullary Plasmacytomas / 대한혈액학회지

Plasma cell neoplasms of the liver include primary extramedullary plasmacytoma and a local manifestation of multiple myeloma. Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the liver in multiple myeloma is extremely rare although extramedullary involvement frequently occur in extramedullary sites such as lymph nodes, lung, pleura, gastrointestinal tracts, nervous system and spleen. We experienced a case of multiple myeloma with multiple intrahepatic extramedullary plasmacytomas which initially presented as metastatic cancer of the liver. Intrahepatic extramedullary plasmacytoma confirmed by ultrasono-guided liver biopsy, which disclosed numerous neoplastic plasma cell infiltration.

Erythrocyte Depletion Effect of Compression Method with 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch in Human Umbilical Cord Blood / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplantation with high dose chemoradiotherapy has made it possible to cure a significant proportion of patients with hematopoietic malignancies. RBC purging is an essential step prior to transplantation in ABO mismatched setting. The purpose of this study is to develop a new simple method for RBC depletion from harvested stem cells. METHODS: Ten cord bloods were collected during deliveries at Kyungpook National University Hospital, Taegu, Korea at August, 1998. All nucleated cells were collected after the compression of bags with 6% hydroxyethyl starch and cord blood for 4 hours. The cell viability of mononucleated cell (MNC) was calculated after 24~72 hours. RESLUTS: The collected mean volume of cord blood was 37.1 +/- 6.7 ml. The WBC count was 10,852 +/- 1,137/microL. The 3.90 +/- 0.62x108 TNC and 1.82 +/- 0.36x108 MNC were obtained per collection. TNC efficiency was 83.8 +/- 7.01% and MNC efficiency was 90.9 +/- 9.23% by compression method with 6% hydroxyethyl starch. RBC contamination was negligible. The cell viabilities of mononuclear cell were kept in a range of 99~100% after 24~72 hours. CONCLUSION: Because compression method with 6% hydroxyethyl starch progresses in closed system is simple & easy, has high erythrocyte depletion efficacy, and can maintain high viability of stem cells, it can be used for RBC purging in ABO mismatched stem cell transplantation.

A Case of Relapsed Multiple Myeloma Presented as lntracranial Extramedullary Plasmacytoma / 대한혈액학회지

Intracranial plasmacytoma presented by extramedullary involvement of multiple myeloma is rarely reported. Neurologic complications by intracranial extramedullary plasmacytomas are cranial nerve palsy, visual disturbance, vertigo, nystagmus, headache, paralysis, mental change and etc. We experienced a case of relapsed multiple myeloma presented as intracranial extramedullary plasmacytoma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) disclosed a large soft tissue mass involving the sphenoidal sinus and cavernous sinus which invaded optic chiasma, occulomotor nerve and pituitary gland. Relapsed multiple myeloma with intracranial extramedullary plasmacytoma was confined by trans-sphenoidal biopsy and urine electrophoresis. Neurologic complications of the patient was improved after cranial radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy.