A Case of Esophageal Compression by a Right-sided Aortic Arch and Kommerell's Diverticulum Mimicking an Esophageal Submucosal Tumor / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A right-sided aortic arch and Kommerell's diverticulum, remnants of the left dorsal aortic arch in the circulation of the embryo, are uncommon congenital defects of the aorta. They may be asymptomatic in most cases, but symptoms are manifested by compressing mediastinal structures or are related to congenital heart anomalies. If aneurismal dilatation of the diverticulum presents with rupture, it is lethal. We report a case of esophageal compression by a right-sided aortic arch and Kommerell's diverticulum that mimicked an esophageal submucosal tumor in a patient who complained of symptoms during the past ten years of food retention in the upper thorax when a bolus of food was ingested.

Clinical Features of Pseudoaneurysms Complicating Pancreatitis: Single Center Experience and Review of Korean Literature / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pseudoaneurysm is a life-threatening complication of chronic or acute pancreatitis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical features of pseudoaneurysm complicating pancreatitis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 7 patients diagnosed as pseudoaneurysms with chronic pancreatitis in Korea University Guro and Anam Hospital from January 1995 to March 2006 and analyzed their demographics, clinical courses and outcomes. RESULTS: All patients were men and mean age was 54.6 years (range, 43-67 years). All the cases occurred in the setting of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis complicated by pseudocyst. Abdominal pain was the unique initial clinical symptom in 5 cases, hematemesis in 1 case, and simultaneous abdominal pain with hematemesis in 1 case. Bleeding into pseudocyst developed in 5 cases, flowing into duodenum through pancreatic duct in 1 case and rupture into the descending colon in 1 case. Mean duration between onset of symptom and diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm was 7.8 days (range, 1-23 days). Six cases were diagnosed by abdominal computed tomography disclosing characteristic finding of focal high density area in the pseudocyst. Pulsed doppler abdominal sonography was performed before computed tomography in 3 cases and results were negative in 2 cases. Transcatheter arterial embolizations were initially performed in 6 cases, and there was no recurrent bleeding except one case of splenic infarction. Distal pancreatectomy was initially performed in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudoaneurysms complicating chronic pancreatitis shows various clinical features. Transcatheter arterial embolization can be recommended as a primary therapeutic modality.

Rectal Polypoid Endometriosis Mimicking Malignant Rectal Tumor / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endometriosis is a disorder that presents as endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity and its musculature. It is a common gynecologic disease affecting approximately 15% of fertile women. However, polypoid endometriosis is rare. Our patient visited the hospital due to bowel habit changes and bloody stools. The colonoscopy revealed a large ulcerating polypoid mass in the rectum. Image studies including CT scan, MRI, and PET-CT suggested rectal cancer but the biopsy was negative for a malignancy. Finally, she was diagnosed with rectal polypoid endometriosis by a surgical rectal mass resection. We report a case of rectal polypoid endometriosis mimicking a rectal polypoid cancer.

A case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma in retroperitoneum / 대한내과학회지

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma occurs in less than 10% of all liposarcomas and is found most often in the retroperitoneum and extremities. Although cases of the primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma have been sporadically reported internationally, only one case with 8x4.5x4 cm size originated from spermatic cord and one case with 10x7x5 cm size in right gluteal region have been reported in Korea, but not in retroperitoneum. We report one case of the primary giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma occurred in retroperitoneum with 32x22x20 cm size and 4,250 g weight. A 56-year old man was admitted due to the weight loss and diffuse abdominal pain. The abdominal computed tomography showed that a round huge mass was pressing the surrounding structures and showed delayed enhancement. Surgical excision was carried out. Histologically the tumor was composed of well differentiated liposarcomatous area and malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like dedifferentiated area. The patient refused further treatment and now he is undergoing the follow-up.

Analysis of Eradication Rate of Helicobacter pylori According to Treatment Duration by Using 13C-Urea Breath Test Comparison of OAC 7, 10 or 14 days regimen / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Efficacy of triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (OAC) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) varies among different geographic regions and patient populations. And, there is no full consensus on how long this treatment should be maintained. We assessed the efficacy of the OAC regimen according to the treatment duration (7, 10 or 14 days) using 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT). METHODS: Two hundred fifty five H. pylori positive patients with peptic ulcer were randomly assigned to a OAC (omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxicillin 1.0 g b.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.d.) 7, 10 or 14 days regimen. Eradication of H. pylori was assessed by 13C-UBT 4 weeks after the completion of therapy. RESULTS: 140 male and 115 female (mean age, 51.3) patients were enrolled. The overall eradication rate of H. pylori in each group was significantly higher in OAC 14 days regimen than OAC 7 and 10 days regimen (91.9% in OAC 14 days, 74.4% in OAC 7 days, and 80.2% in OAC 10 days, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The overall eradication rate of H. pylori was highest in OAC 14 days regimen in our study. We have found significant differences in eradication rates with previous reports, using CLO and histology, in Korea. Thus, further studies focusing on the treatment period may be warranted.

A Case of Dieulafoy's Lesion of the Terminal Ileum Treated by Colonoscopic Electrocoagulation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Dieulafoy's lesion is an uncommon source of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage and is understood to represent a tiny submucosal defect with fibrinoid necrosis at its base, overlying a large, tortuous, thick-walled artery in the muscularis mucosa. The lesion predominantly occurs in the proximal stomach, but may occur in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract including small bowel, colon and rectum. Moreover, Dieulafoy's lesion of the terminal ileum is very rare. We herein report a case of a patient who presented with massive hematochezia from Dieulafoy's lesion of the terminal ileum which was successfully controlled with endoscopic treatment by utilizing electrocoagulation.

A Case of Two Synchronous Colon Cancers Accompanied by Streptococcus bovis Endocarditis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) organisms, part of the gastrointestinal normal flora are gram-positive group D streptococci that may be misidentified as enterococci or viridans streptocci. The most important clinical infections caused by S. bovis are bacteremias and endocarditis. S. bovis causes 27% of the episodes of streptococcal native valve endocarditis. Besides, it has been known that there is a association between S. bovis bacteremia and underlying malignancy of the colon. After this association was demonstrated by Klein in 1977, many cases have been reported. But, it is not clear if S. bovis plays an etiologic role in carcinoma of colon or merely a marker for the disease and cases from Korea have rarely been reported. Therefore, we report one case that two synchronous colon cancers, the one on ascending colon and the other on sigmoid colon is accompanied by S. bovis endocarditis.

A Case of Primary Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Liver Presented with Liver Abscess

Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver is a very rare type of cholangiocarcinoma and is defined as a cancer containing both squamous and adenomatous components in the same lesion. Recently, we experienced a primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver presented as liver abscess. A 63-year-old man was presented with a 4-day history of fever and chill. The radiologic study showed a 4 cm-sized, central hypoattenuated mass with peripheral rim enhancement in the left lobe of the liver. Ultrasonography-guided aspiration and biopsy suggested an adenocarcinoma with abscess in the liver. At laparotomy, the tumor occupied the left lobe of the liver and invaded the right diaphragm. An extended left lobectomy and a partial excision of the involved diaphragm were done. Grossly, the tumor was 6x5x5 cm in size and had an eccentric necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with a transitional area.