Primary Adenocarcinoma with Focal Choriocarcinomatous Differentiation in the Sigmoid Colon / 대한소화기학회지

Primary colorectal choriocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm. Only 19 cases have been reported worldwide, most of which involved adenocarcinomas. The prognosis is usually poor, and the standard therapy for this tumor has not been established. A 61-year-old woman presented with constipation and lower abdominal discomfort. She was diagnosed with primary adenocarcinoma with focal choriocarcinomatous differentiation in the sigmoid colon and liver metastasis. Because the serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level was not significantly elevated, and because only focal choriocarcinomatous differentiation was diagnosed, we selected the chemotherapy regimen that is used for the treatment of metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. The patient survived for 13 months after the initial diagnosis. This is the first case in Korea to assess the suppressive effects of the standard chemotherapy for colorectal adenocarcinoma against coexisting colorectal choriocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

A Case of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Peritonitis Due to Brevundimonas vesicularis / 대한신장학회지

A 53-year-old male was hospitalized with abdominal pain and turbid peritoneal fluid. He was diagnosed with hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and started continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) 4 years ago. Initial peritoneal fluid analysis demonstrated CAPD peritonitis. As initial antibiotic therapy, ceftazidime/vancomycin were injected intraperitoneally. But drug sensitivity test revealed these regimens were ineffective. On sixth hospital day, Brevundimonas vesicularis (B. vesicularis) was cultured from peritoneal fluid, this strain was susceptible to imipenem, piperacillin and resistant to ceftazidime. Accordingly we changed the antibiotics to imipenem, which was administered for 14 days, but analysis of peritoneal fluid was seldom improved. Finally, CAPD catheter was removed, and hemodialysis was started. After CAPD catheter removal, peritonitis improved rapidly. B.vesicularis is a rare opportunistic organism in CAPD peritonitis. Because this peritonitis may not improve in spite of medical treatment with susceptible antibiotics, CAPD catheter must be removed finally.

A case of gingival hyperplasia caused by felodipine / 대한내과학회지

Felodipine is a calcium channel blocker that is used in the management of hypertension. Calcium channel blockers, along with phenytoin and cyclosporin, are implicated as a cause of gingival hyperplasia. Calcium channel blockers associated with this undesired side-effect include nifedipine, nicardipine, isradipine, amlodipine, felodipine, verapamil, and diltiazem. Several cases of adverse gingival hyperplasia related to felodipine have been reported since 1991, although no case has been reported in Korea. We report a case of gingival hyperplasia in a 55-year-old man on long-term felodipine.

A Case of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Patient having Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis / 대한신장학회지

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical radiologic syndrome which is characterized by reversible neurological and radiological findings. It is associated with an abrupt and severe increase in blood pressure, eclampsia, chronic kidney disease with hypertension and using various immunosupressive drugs. Patient with chronic kidney disease could be especially vulnerable to this syndrome because they are frequently exposed to several possible causes as uremia, hypertension, or electrolyte imbalance. We report a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient having continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

A Case of Ankylosing Spondylitis with Cricoarytenoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

The cricoarytenoid joint is a diathrodial synovial joint and it can be affected by various diseases. The etiology includes infectious, rheumatic and degenerative diseases. Cricoarytenoid arthritis that's caused rheumatoid arthritis is the most well known, yet cricoarytenoid arthritis that's caused by ankylosing spondylitis is very rare. Hoarseness, dysphagia, throat discomfort, dyspnea and dyspnea on exertion are the major symptoms. If there was no severe airway obstruction, this condition can be managed by systemic steroid or intraarticular steroid injection. We experienced a case of a 47 years old man with ankylosing spondylitis and he presented with hoarseness, dyspnea on exertion and dysphagia. He was finally diagnosed with cricoarytenoid arthritis and he improved after etanercept administration. So we report here on this case along with a review of relevant literature.