Central Nervous System Relapse in Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Treated with All-trans Retinoic Acid / 대한내과학회지

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is distinguished from other subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by its distinctive morphology, specific chromosomal abnormality, coagulopathy, and unique response to treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in APL. Most CNS relapses occur in patients with hyperleukocytosis at initial presentation, and the optimal management of such patients is still controversial. We report five patients with APL who had CNS relapse with or without evidence of cytological and molecular disease of the bone marrow after ATRA treatment. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed leptomeningeal infiltration and cerebrospinal fluid examination showed the presence of promyelocytes. Patients were treated with a combination of systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy with or without intrathecal chemotherapy, and most were subsequently treated with arsenic trioxide (ATO) as maintenance therapy. Among these patients, one received allogeneic stem cell transplantation in second complete remission.

Three Cases of Non-Surgical Treatment of Stent Loss During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting is widely used for ischemic heart disease. Because stent loss, which occurs rarely during the procedure, might have dire consequences, such as bleeding, stent embolism, acute myocardial infarction, emergency coronary artery bypass graft, and death, appropriate treatment is needed as soon as stent loss occurs. We report three cases of stent loss which were successfully treated with three different non-surgical methods.

A case of a fractured and impacted central venous chemoport in a patient with stomach cancer / 대한내과학회지

A central venous port catheter is widely used to administer fluids, chemotherapeutic agents, and parenteral nutrition; however, similar to other invasive procedures, it has numerous potential complications. Among them, distal migration of a fractured central venous port catheter is a rare complication. A 66-year-old man had a central venous port catheter implanted into the right subclavian vein for adjuvant stomach cancer chemotherapy and presented with an ulceration at the chemoport insertion site. While removing the port catheter, it fractured and the distal tip and migrated and impacted the annulus of the right atrium. The impacted port catheter was successfully removed through a femoral vein approach using a radiofrequency ablation catheter and a multi snare.

Recognition of Advance Directives by Advanced Cancer Patients and Medical Doctors in Hospice Care Ward / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: We undertook this study to find out the recognitions of terminal cancer patients and doctors about advance directives (ADs), of how they would do in non-response medical conditions and whether ADs could be one of medical options for their dying with dignity. METHODS: One hundred thirty four cancer patients in the Hospice Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, and 97 medical doctors in the Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Medical Center, were asked about ADs, including Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR), medical power of attorney, living will and medical options. RESULTS: One hundred thirty patients (97%) and 38 doctors (39.2%) were unfamiliar with ADs, however, 128 patients (95.5%), 95 doctors (97.9%) agreed with it. Seventy nine patients (59.0%) and 96 doctors (99.0%) wanted DNR rather then intensive treatments if they were in non-response medical conditions. Eighty four patients (62.7%) and 75 doctors (77.3%) were agreeable to medical power of attorney. One hundred Thirty four patients (100.0%) and 94 doctors (96.9%) did not want medical options to be in terminal conditions, and hoped to die in peace. CONCLUSION: Most of patients did not know about ADs and how to make it. However, they showed positive attitudes about it. If we advertise it properly, it is highly likely that a large number of cancer patients would make their living wills easily by ADs. Nevertheless, many legal and ethical problems have to be solved. Doctors should engage their patients in an ongoing communication about the end-of-life. Therefore, let the patients have opportunities to plan their own deaths.