A case report of malignant paraganglioma with hepatic metastases / 대한내과학회지

We report a case of malignant paraganglioma with hepatic metastases. A 70-year old woman developed huge hepatic tumor 2years after complete resection of the retroperitoneal paraganglioma. CT imaging of abdomen revealed huge hepatic masses, which had not been found previously. A needle biopsy on the liver was performed, resulting in a diagnosis of malignant paraganglioma. These tumors are usually benign but can occasionally produce local and distant metastases. Development of metastatic localizations is the only formal proof of malignancy as histology cannot distinguish between benign and malignant paragangliomas. Surgery is the basis of treament and should be performed early in the operable course. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy could be given, but satisfactory outcomes were not obtained. We suggest that close investigations for metastasis in patient with paraganglioma, seemed benign initially, as well as periodic follow up examinations should be emphasized.

A Case of Gastric Ulcer associated with Mucormycosis / 대한내과학회지

Mucormycosis is an uncommon, frequently fatal, opportunistic fungal infection. Rhino-cerebral and pulmonary involvement are the most common forms and usually occur in immunecompromised patients. Gastrointestinal involvement is extremely rare, the stomach being the most frequently involved site among them. We report a case of gastric mucormycosis in a 37 year old male alcoholic with gastric ulcer. On histological examination, characteristic findings of hyphae with irregular width and right angle branchings were observed in the gastric mucosa and ulcer debris. The diagnosis of gastric mucormycosis was made by the characteristic histological nature. The patient was treated aggressively with antibiotics and antiulcer regimen for 6 weeks, and then no fungus was present on follow up biopsy of gastric mucosa.