Follow-up Results of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Early Colorectal Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently colonoscopy and screening programs have led to the detection and removal of increasing numbers of early colorectal cancer (ECC), which can reduce its related mortality. We analysed the clinical, endoscopic, and histologic findings, as well as the follow-up data, to evaluate the effectiveness and the long-term results of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for ECC. METHODS: We analysed, retrospectively, 94 lesions in 92 patients who underwent EMR for ECC from January 2002 to June 2009. RESULTS: The overage age of patients was 60 years old. The mean follow-up period was 22.1 months (6-80). En bloc resection rate was 64.9%. Submucosal invasion was found in 30 cases (31.9%). De novo cancer rate was 26.6% which had higher submucosal invasion rate (60%, p=0.003). The complete resection rate was 87.2%, and there was no recurrence of cancer during follow-up (p=0.000). Twelve incomplete resection cases had received further surgical treatments. No procedure-related mortality was found and no recurrent malignancy was found except 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that EMR is an effective and safe treatment for ECC. En bloc resection provides precise histologic information and prevention of tumor recurrence.

Follow-up Results of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Early Colorectal Cancer / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently colonoscopy and screening programs have led to the detection and removal of increasing numbers of early colorectal cancer (ECC), which can reduce its related mortality. We analysed the clinical, endoscopic, and histologic findings, as well as the follow-up data, to evaluate the effectiveness and the long-term results of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for ECC. METHODS: We analysed, retrospectively, 94 lesions in 92 patients who underwent EMR for ECC from January 2002 to June 2009. RESULTS: The overage age of patients was 60 years old. The mean follow-up period was 22.1 months (6-80). En bloc resection rate was 64.9%. Submucosal invasion was found in 30 cases (31.9%). De novo cancer rate was 26.6% which had higher submucosal invasion rate (60%, p=0.003). The complete resection rate was 87.2%, and there was no recurrence of cancer during follow-up (p=0.000). Twelve incomplete resection cases had received further surgical treatments. No procedure-related mortality was found and no recurrent malignancy was found except 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that EMR is an effective and safe treatment for ECC. En bloc resection provides precise histologic information and prevention of tumor recurrence.

Clinical features of 28 acutely toxic hepatitis patients who ingested Dictamnus dasycarpus: A single center clinical experience / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of acutely toxic hepatitis associated with ingesting Dictamnus dasycarpus (D. dasycarpus). METHODS: Between January 2004 and July 2009, 28 patients were enrolled in this study. We reviewed the medical records retrospectively. Acutely toxic hepatitis associated with D. dasycarpus was diagnosed by a Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method Values (RUCAM) score of 6 or above. All patients were tested for viral hepatitis A, B, C, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. Other tests included anti-nuclear antibody, anti-mitochondrial antibody, and anti-smooth muscle antibody. Abdominal pelvic computed tomography was performed. RESULTS: The incidence was female predominant (64% vs. 36%). The mean patient age was 53.0+/-11 years. The symptoms were jaundice (68%), fatigue (57%), nausea (43%), anorexia (43%), and abdominal pain (24%). The mean RUCAM score was 7.0+/-0.8. The biochemical patterns of hepatotoxicity were hepatocellular (n=23, 82%) and mixed types (n=5, 18%). Radiologic findings were as follows: normal findings (29%), lymphadenopathy (50%), edema of the gall bladder wall (46%), periportal edema (43%), splenomegaly (11%), fatty liver (11%), and ascites (7%). The mean hospitalization period was 21.6+/-11.6 days. The mean duration of recovery from hepatitis was 56.6+/-30.4 days, and all patients recovered completely from the toxic hepatitis. One patient who had severe jaundice developed a complication of pure red cell aplasia during the hospitalization period. CONCLUSIONS: The biochemical pattern of liver injury was hepatocellular predominant. Although the initial manifestations and clinical course were variable, all patients completely recovered with supportive care or steroid treatment. Toxic hepatitis was accompanied by pure red cell aplasia in one patient.

A Case of Central Nervous System Myelomatosis Developing after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Central nervous system (CNS) myelomatosis, which is the presence of monoclonal plasma cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is extremely rare. We report a case of CNS myelomatosis developed in a 45-year-old woman with multiple myeloma in complete response, which was achieved by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen consisting of melphalan, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin. Two months after the transplant, she developed a moderate motor and sensory weakness in both lower extremities. Atypical plasma cells were found in the CSF, and immunofixation revealed monoclonal light chain in the CSF. She was given three courses of weekly intra-thecal chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, cytarabine, and dexamethasone, which cleared the CSF. This case indicates that the allogeneic transplantation could not control CNS myelomatosis, despite successfully treating the bone marrow myeloma.

A Case of Limbic Encephalitis Developed after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Limbic encephalitis is a rare neurological syndrome, which develops after stem cell transplantation, and is characterized by a series of neurological symptoms, including retrograde amnesia, behavioral disturbance, and progressive intellectual deterioration and high signal intensity in the hippocampus on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Herein is described the case of a patient with limbic encephalitis, which developed after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and was possibly due to HHV-6 infection. An 18-year-old man, with acute lymphoid leukemia, who underwent HLA-matched unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation, developed a fever and chill accompanied by neurological symptoms, including behavioral disturbance and retrograde amnesia, during the bone marrow recovery phase. A brain MRI revealed bright signal-intensity in both hippocampi. Examination of his cerebrospinal fluid suggested viral encephalitis. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of viral limbic encephalitis was highly suspected. Tests for casual causes of viral limbic encephalitis, including the CMV, HZV and HSV-1 and 2, in serum or CSF were all negative. The encephalitis responded well to ganciclovir therapy.

Pernicious Anemia: A Retrospective Analysis of 22 Cases

BACKGROUND: Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in western populations, but to date, only case reports or small series dealing with this malady have been reported in Korea. This study describes the clinical characteristics of pernicious anemia in Koreans. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for twenty-two Korean patients with pernicious anemia who were diagnosed during the period from 1995 to 2004 at Chungnam National University Hospital. RESULTS: Only two patients were diagnosed before 2000. The median age of the patients was 66 years and the male/female ratio was 1.8. Anemia-associated discomfort was the most common symptom (95.5%); this was followed by gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms (77.2% and 50.0%, respectively). Autoimmune disorders were found in five patients (22.7%). The median hemoglobin level was 7.0g/dL (range: 3.1~11.8g/dL) and pancytopenia was found in 12 patients (54.5%). The median serum vitamin B12 Level was 26pg/mL (range: 12~189pg/mL). Fifteen (78.9%) and eight (42.1%) of the 19 patients who underwent tests for antibodies were positive for anti-intrinsic factor and anti-parietal cell antibody, respectively. Nineteen of 21 patients who were treated with intramuscular cobalamin recovered from their cytopenia within 3 months. The gastrointestinal symptoms resolved completely for all the patients, while neurological symptoms remained for some of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the clinical features of pernicious anemia in Koreans are not different from those of the western cases. In addition, pernicious anemia is not a rare finding in Korea.

A Case of Soft Tissue Bleeding Due to a Possible Drug Interaction between Warfarin and TS-1

Warfarin is one of the most commonly used oral anticoagulant. It is well established that a wide range of drugs, including the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil, interact with warfarin; this results in altered coagulation parameters and bleeding sequelae. To date, any drug interaction between warfarin and TS-1 has not been reported on. A 58-yr old woman visited emergency department with gross hematuria and soft tissue swelling involving her left thigh and buttock. She had been diagnosed as having advanced colon cancer (Duke's classification D); she had undergone right hemicolectomy and partial hepatectomy, and she had received 5-FU/leucovorin chemotherapy two years prior to admission. Recurrent disease was revealed in the liver and lungs, and so 6 cycles of FOLFIRI (5-FU, leucovorin and irinotecan) chemotherapy were given. Follow-up abdominal CT scan showed progressive disease and then TS-1 oral chemotherapy was started. She took warfarin 2mg per day because of partial thrombosis in the lower inferior vena cava and left ovarian vein. The initial laboratory tests revealed a prothrombin time of 120 seconds and an international normalized ratio of 35. Fresh frozen plasma and a parenteral vitamin K injection were given. After resorption of the subcutaneous hematoma, warfarin was restarted at a dose of 1mg per day. This case shows the significant increased bleeding tendency following the combined administration of warfarin and TS-1. Because of the potential severity of this interaction, close monitoring of the coagulation parameters is recommended for patients receiving warfarin together with TS-1.