Clinical Features and Risk Factors of Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients With Cancer Admitted to the HospitalistManaged Medical Unit

Background@#The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (AI) overlap with the common effects of advanced cancer and chemotherapy. Considering that AI may negatively affect the overall prognosis of cancer patients if not diagnosed in a timely manner, we analyzed the incidence, risk factors, and predictive methods of AI in cancer patients. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 184 adult patients with malignancy who underwent a rapid adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation test in the medical hospitalist units of a tertiary hospital. Their baseline characteristics and clinical features were evaluated, and the risk factors for AI were identified using logistic regression analysis. @*Results@#Of the study patients, 65 (35%) were diagnosed with AI, in whom general weakness (63%) was the most common symptom. Multivariate logistic regression showed that eosinophilia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–16.63; P = 0.036), history of steroid use (aOR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.10–5.15; P = 0.028), and history of megestrol acetate use (aOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.38–5.33; P = 0.004) were associated with AI. Baseline cortisol levels of 6.2 μg/dL and 12.85 μg/dL showed a specificity of 95.0% and 95.4% for AI diagnosis, respectively. @*Conclusion@#AI was found in about one-third of patients with cancer who showed general symptoms that may be easily masked by cancer or chemotherapy, suggesting that clinical suspicion of AI is important while treating cancer patients. History of corticosteroids or megestrol acetate were risk factors for AI and eosinophilia was a pre-test predictor of AI.Baseline cortisol level appears to be a useful adjunct marker for AI.

A Clinicomedical Jurisprudence Approach to Medical Disputes / 대한법의학회지

This study reviews the various types of medical accidents that have emerged over the past two years in hospitals where an agency specializing in medical disputes has been established, as well as the process through which medical accidents are resolved and the results thereof. In addition, the role of these specialized agencies in resolving medical disputes is also analyzed herein. The effective resolution of medical disputes through either judicial or non-judicial means requires that the organization overseeing the resolution of the relevant issue be objective and fair, able to forge independent decisions, and possess specialized knowledge of the issue at hand. The most significant advantage possessed by medicolegal offices since their inception has been the fact that they have featured specialists in the relevant fields who have been able in many cases to correctly perceive the central issues at play in a medical dispute from early onwards, and that these have promoted the establishment of reasonable means through which to resolve such medical disputes based on medical reviews and legal analyses. These medicolegal offices have been designed to create an opportunity to directly discuss the medical complaints raised by the plaintiffs with the medical staff, and for the plaintiffs to receive firsthand explanations with regards to their medical questions and suspicions. This process has helped to resolve numerous medical disputes. To this end, medicolegal offices are encouraged to play the role of objective mediators helping those involved in medical disputes reach settlements acceptable to all parties, and to shy away from the extreme method known as medical litigation that seeks resolutions which favor only one of the concerned parties.

Effectiveness of Single-dose Sodium Phosphate on Bowel Preparation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oral sodium phosphate has been shown to be effective and safe but causes intravascular volume contraction, changes in serum calcium and phopshate level, and sleep disturbance when given two doses every 12 hours. Because the evening dose is inconvenient for many patients, we gave single morning dose, and compared it with conventional 12-hour-split dose. METHODS: Sixty one patients drank 90 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 AM and 58 patients drank 45 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in bowel cleansing between two groups (p=0.871). There was no significant difference in patient's tolerance and symptoms between two groups except sleep deprivation which was more frequent in the split dose group. None of the patients complained of postural dizziness or presyncope in both groups. Serum phosphate levels were increased and serum calcium levels were decreased after preparation in both groups, but patients showed no significant clinical symptoms such as tetany. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that giving a single morning dose of sodium phosphate is effective, well tolerated and safe in most patients for precolonoscopic cleansing, compared to conventional split dose of 12-hour interval.

Cystic Lymphangioma of the Colon: Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasonography / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Lymphangioma occasionally occurs in gastrointestinal tract, small intestine and mesentery. Cystic lymphangioma is a rare cause of colonic submucosal mass. Endoscopic ultrasonography is very valuable in differential diagnosis of colonic submucosal masses. A 61-year old woman visited our hospital due to lower abdominal pain for two months. In the colonoscopic examination, cystic mass which had smooth mucosal surface was noted at the ascending colon. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed anechoic, multicystic mass confined to the submucosa. The underlying muscularis propria was intact. Endoscopic resection, using a ligating device, was performed for histopathologic diagnosis and treatment. On the histopathologic examination, the cystically dilated spaces lined by endothelium and separated by fibrous septa were present in the submucosa. The histological diagnosis was cystic lymphangioma of the colon.

A Case of Pseudomembraneous Colitis Associated with Ascites / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Antibiotics associated colitis due to Clostridium difficile is a common nosocomial infection associated with significant morbidity. In severe cases, pseudomembraneous colitis may be associated with intraperitoneal fluid accumulation. However, the characteristics of the fluid are seldom described. This case report describes pseudomembraneous colitis patient who was presented with low serum-ascites albumin gradients and lymphocytic ascites, without the evidence of infection, malignancy, or inflammatory peritoneal disease.

A Clinical Study of Esophageal Tuberculosis: 3 Cases Report / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Esophageal tuberculosis is a rare form of adult tuberculosis, even in countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis. Secondary esophageal tuberculosis is more common than primary tuberculosis and may result from direct extension from adjacent mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes with tuberculosis or from extension from the pharynx or larynx. Clinical symptoms related to esophageal tuberculosis are dysphagia, mild fever, hematemesis and melena. Because esophageal tuberculosis has clinical symptoms and radiological appearance similar to that of esophageal malignancy, esophageal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of esophageal malignancy. In this report, we describe three patients with esophageal tuberculosis, diagnosed by endoscopy with biopsy and responed well to antituberculosis chemotherapy.

Bone Marrow Scintigraphy with Antigranulocyte Antibody in Multiple Myeloma: Comparison with Simple Radiography and Bone Scintigraphy / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Simple X-ray study and bone scan have limiitations for early diagnosis of bone or bone marrow lesions in multiple myeloma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of bone marrow imrnunoscintigraphy using anti-granulocyte monoclonal antibody for the evaluation of bone involvement I:n multiple myeloma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 22 patients (Male: 15, Female: 7) with multiple myeloma, we perforrned whole-body immunoscintigraphy using ' Tc-labelled antigranulocyte antibody (BW 250/183, Scintimum Granulozyt CIS, France) and compared the findings with those of simple bone radiography and "" Tc-MDP bone scan. Abnonnal findings in bone marrow scintigraphy were, considered to be present in case of expansion of peripheral bone marrow or focal photan defect in axial bones. RESULTS: Marrow expansion was noted in 15 of 22 patients (68%). Focal photon defects were found in 18 patients (82%). While one (33%) of 3 patients with Stage II disease showed focal defects in bone marrow scan, abnormal focal defects were observed in 17 of 19 (90%) patients with Stage III. Among 124 focal abnormal sites which were observed in bone marrow scan, bone scan or simple bone radiography, bone rnarrow scan detected 92 sites (74%), whereas 82 sites (66%) were observed in simple bone radiography(58 sites, 47%) or bone scan(40 sites, 32%). Fifty-one (41%) out of 124 bone lesions were detected by bone marrow scan only, and located mostly in thoracolumbar spine. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow scan using "" Tc-labelled antigranulocyte antibody seems to be a more sensitive procedure for the detection of pathologic bone lesions than simple bone X-ray ar bone sean in patients with multiple myeloma.

Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Efficacy of Low Dose Cytarabine in High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: High risk myelodysplastic syndrome has various clinical courses and refractoriness to various therapies. It is important to analyze clinical characteristics and therapeutic responses in high risk myelodysplastic syndrome. METHODS: Sixty nine cases of primary high risk myelodysplastic syndrome at diagnosis were enrolled in this study at Kyungpook National University Hospital and Taegu Hyosung- Catholic University Hospital from January 1987 to June 1996. We have investigated the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes after low dose cytarabine chemotherapy. RESULTS: 1) The median age of the patients was 48 years. Male to female ratio was 2.1:1. The each numbers of RAEB, CMML and RAEB-T patients were 38, 11 and 20, respectively. 2) The most common chief complaint was dyspnea on exertion. General weakness, fever and dizziness were also observed. The most common physical finding was pallor. 3) The peripheral blood findings showed anemia in 65 cases (94.2%), thrombocytopenia in 64 cases (92.8%), leukopenia in 32 cases (46.4%) and pancytopenia in 26 cases (37.7%). 4) Twenty two cases transformed to acute myelogenous leukemia during the follow-up periods. Chemotherapy was done in 18 cases among 22 cases of transformed acute myelogenous leukemia. Complete remission was achieved in 3 cases (16.7%), partial remission in 4 cases (22.2%) and no response in 11 cases (61.1%). 5) Forty seven cases were treated by low dose cytarabine chemotherapy. Complete response was achieved in 11 cases (23.4%), partial response in 13 cases (27.7%) and no response in 23 cases (48.9%). Median duration of complete response was 12 weeks. 6) We made score system, which based on Sanz score and Gattermann score, according to age, hemoglobin, platelet and bone marrow blast. Overall survival was higher in group A (score or = 6). Complete response of low dose cytarabine chemotherapy was higher in group A than group B but overall survival according to low dose cytarabine chemotherapy was not different in group A and group B. CONCLUSION: Low dose cytarabine chemotherapy was not effective in survival benefit. Score system according to prognostic factors was important to predict therapeutic response and prognosis. In the future, more intensive therapeutic plan and analysis of prognostic factors should be considered.

Scintigraphic Evaluation of Hematologic Diseases with Tc-99m Labeled Antigranulocyte Antibody / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow scintigraphy using Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody has been reported to be able to evaluate bone marrow status. We have performed antigranulocyte antibody scan and hematopoietic activity in order to identify bone marrow status in patients with hematologic diseases. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients were enrolled in this study from October 1995 to May 1997. Images were acquired at four and twenty-four hour after injecion of 20mCi 99mTc labeled antigranulocyte antibody (BW 250/183). Patients were divided into four groups according to scintigraphic findings, those with increased marrow uptake (marrow expansion), decreased uptake, focal defect and normal findings. RESULTS: Leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes frequently showed bone marrow expansion. Seventeen of 21 patients (81%) with AML, and all of ALL and biphenotypic leukemias showed bone marrow expansion. Five of 6 with CML, all Hodgkin's diseases and 3 of 4 MDS also showed marrow expansion. In contrast, all aplastic anemia patients showed decreased marrow uptake, and extra-axial noted in 2 patients with aplastic anemia. All of ten patients with multiple myeloma and 2 of 4 (50%) with Hodgkin disease showed focal marrow defects. Three of 11 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 4 of 21 with AML also showed focal marrow defects. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow scintigraphy using antigranulocyte antibody has clearly demonstrated the distribution of bone marrow in various hematologic diseases. Thus, it seems to be a useful method in the assessment of bone marrow status in patients with hematologic disease.

Safety Profile of Adenosine Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous adenosine has proved efficacy for the diagonosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease. To determine the safety of adenosine infusion in conjunction with radionuclide imaging, we evaluated prospectively 1,093 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion study. METHODS: Informations on safety and adverse events during and immediately after adenosine infusion were collected and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The adverse events were reported in 730 patients (66.8%), but no death or myocardial infarction. There asverse events were well tolerated and no prolonged effect was noted. Chest pain occured in 223 patients(20.4%) and facial flushing and dyspnea were reported by 246 patients(22.5%) and 253 patients(23.1%), respectively. ECG changes, such as mild arrhythmia, ST depression and AV block were checked in 230 patients(21.0%). The infusion was prematurely terminated in 32 patients(2.9%), due to serve chest pain, serve brochospasm, or third degree AV block. Higher frequency of chest pain was reported in women compare to men(p<0.05), and ST segment depression was more frequent in patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion scitigraphic findings(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that intravenous infusion of adenosine is relatively safe, and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with intravenous ademosine is feasible technique in the evaluation of the coronary artery disease patients unable to exercise.