Intraluminal High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for the Tumors of Gastrointestinal Tract / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: Intraluminal High dose rate brachytherapy is an accepted treatment for the tumors of GI tract. However, there is only some limited clinical data for intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy for the tumors of GI tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1991 and July 1993, 18 patients who have the tumors of GI tract (esophageal cancer-8 cases, rectal cancer-10 cases) were treated with gigh dose rae iridium-192 afterloading system )Microselectron-HDR, Nucletron CO, Netherland) at the department of therapeutic radiology, St. Mary's hospital, Catholic university medical college. Age rage was 47-87 years with a mean age 71 years. All patients were treated with intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy within two weeks after conventional external radiation therapy and received 3-5 Gy/fraction 3-4 times per week to a total dose 12-20 Gy (mean 17 Gy). Standard fractionation and conventional dose were delivered for external radiation therapy. Total dose of external radiation therapy ranged 41.4-59.4 Gy (mean 49.6 Gy). Median follow up was 19 months. RESULTS: The analysis was based on 18 patients. The complete response and partial response in esophageal cancer was similar (38%). Two year rates for survival and median survival were 13% and 10 months, respectively. Among 10 patients of rectal cancers, partial response was obtained in 6 patients (60%). There was no complete response in the patients with rectal cancer, but good palliative results were achieved in all patients. CONCLUSION: Although the number of patients was not large and the follow up period was relatively short, these findings suggested that intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy could be useful in the treatment of the patients with advanced tumors of GI tract.

A Case of Colonoscopically Removed Granular Cell Tumor in the Ascending Colon / 대한소화기내시경학회지

This case report describes a patient with semipedunclated granuylar cell tumor(granular cell myoblastoma) of the proximal ascending colon removed by endoscopic polypectomy. A 39-year old femalie was visited to our hospital for intermittent abdominal pain and loose stool. Colonoscopic examination showed a semipedunclated lesion covered with yellowish white smooth mucosa in the proximal ascending colon. The tumor was removed by endoscopic polypectomy. The collected specimen was 0.9x0.8 cm in size. The cut surface of the specimen showed a white round firm tumor covered with mormal epithelium of the colon. Using immunohistochemical study, the tumor cells were to be positively stained by S-100 protein and negatively stained by desmin, which supports the concept of the Schwann cell origin of granular cell tumor. In Korea, 2 cases of granular cell tumor of the colon and rectum, which were treated by surgical removal, have been reported. This case in the first endoscopic polypectomy of granular cell tumor of the colon and retum in Korea. The endoscopic polypectomy is thought to be useful for the therapy of small pedunclated or semipedunclated granular cell tumor, intracolonic type.