Portal biliopathy treated with endoscopic biliary stenting

Portal biliopathy is defined as abnormalities in the extra- and intrahepatic ducts and gallbladder of patients with portal hypertension. This condition is associated with extrahepatic venous obstruction and dilatation of the venous plexus of the common bile duct, resulting in mural irregularities and compression of the biliary tree. Most patients with portal biliopathy remain asymptomatic, but approximately 10% of them advance to symptomatic abdominal pain, jaundice, and fever. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are currently used as diagnostic tools because they are noninvasive and can be used to assess the regularity, length, and degree of bile duct narrowing. Management of portal biliopathy is aimed at biliary decompression and reducing the portal pressure. Portal biliopathy has rarely been reported in Korea. We present a symptomatic case of portal biliopathy that was complicated by cholangitis and successfully treated with biliary endoscopic procedures.

Efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors for patient with leptomeningeal metastasis of epidermal growth factor receptor mutant non-small cell lung cancer / 영남의대학술지

We report on a 64-year-old man with leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) from an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated adenocarcinoma of the lung. He was treated with paclitaxel, cisplatin. After completion of chemotherapy, he complained of headache, nausea, and vomiting. EGFR-mutated tumor cells were identified from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Second-line therapy with gefitinib, methotrexate was started. After receiving gefitinib for 4 weeks, he had no more headaches or vomiting. Eleven months after initiation of gefitinib, he developed headache and nausea. Chest computed tomography showed aggravation of bone metastasis. Third-line therapy was started with gemcitabine and carboplatin. Two weeks later, he experienced disorientation. After a fourth relapse within the central nervous system, the therapy was switched to erlotinib and significant improvement of LM was achieved. This case shows that LM can be diagnosed by detecting EGFR mutation in CSF and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are effective for LM from EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

Iliopsoas Abscess Misconstrued as Aggravated Ankylosing Spondylitis / 대한내과학회지

An iliopsoas abscess is a collection of pus in the iliopsoas muscle caused by the direct spread of infection from adjacent internal organs or by hematogenous or lymphatic spread from distal sites. Its symptoms are vague back, hip, thigh or lower abdomen pain with insidious onset, similar to those of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Therefore diagnosing an iliopsoas abscess in patients with AS is difficult. A forty-three year-old man was treated with adalimumab, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, and clinical symptoms were subsequently observed to improve. One year after voluntary discontinuation of adalimumab, the patient returned with a recurrence of right buttock pain and was diagnosed as having aggravated AS. Following re-initiation of adalimumab, symptoms did not improve and fever developed. On the basis of imaging studies, the patient was diagnosed as having an iliopsoas abscess and was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics.

Two Cases of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas in the Cervical Lymph Nodes in Patients with Low-Grade Gastric Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma (MALT Lymphoma)

It is well known that gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and have a good prognosis. However, although rare, these low-grade lymphomas transform to the high-grade diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) which are thought to be the important cause of death in patients with MALT lymphoma. We report two cases of DLBCLs in the cervical lymph nodes that occurred 10 years and 1.5 years after diagnosing low-grade gastric MALT lymphomas.

A Large-Sized Phytobezoar Located on the Rare Site of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Bezoars are concretions of undigested material and are most often observed in the stomach. They can occur at any site in the gastrointestinal tract; however, duodenal localization is very rare. We report the case of a 71-year-old male who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy and experienced severe epigastric discomfort, abdominal pain, and vomiting for a few days. An approximately 7x8 cm-sized mass was found on an abdominal computed tomography scan. On following endoscopy, a large bezoar was revealed in the duodenum and was removed using an endoscopic removal technique, assisted by a large amount of Coca-Cola infusion.

A Case Report of Methimazole-Induced Acute Liver Failure Successfully Treated with Liver Transplantation / 대한내과학회지

Antithyroid drugs inhibit the synthesis and excretion of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. Propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole are well known as antithyroid drugs. In 2011, the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists published management guidelines for hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis, and recommended methimazole as the first-choice antithyroid drug for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Lower hepatotoxicity is an advantage of methimazole. Fulminant hepatitis rarely occurs in methimazole users, and spontaneous recovery is expected even if it does occur. We describe a rare case of acute liver failure after methimazole intake in a 60-year-old man who underwent liver transplantation.

A Case of Rifampin-Induced Recurrent Adrenal Insufficiency During the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Patient with Addison's Disease / 영남의대학술지

Adrenal insufficiency during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is a troublesome condition and can at times be lifethreatening if untreated. Rifampin is one of the most widely prescribed anti-tuberculosis agents. Furthermore, rifampin has been known to be capable of affecting the metabolism of various medications, including glucocorticoids. In this paper, a case of recurrent adrenal insufficiency induced by rifampin during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is reported. The patient was a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with Addison's disease 17 years earlier and had been undergoing glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Five months before, the patient manifested pulmonary tuberculosis and was immediately given anti-tuberculosis medication that included rifampin. After one week of medication, general weakness and hyponatremia occurred. Despite the increased dose of the glucocorticoid medication, the adrenal insufficiency recurred many times. Since the substitution of levofloxacin for rifampin, the episodes of adrenal insufficiency have not recurred so far.

A Case of Eosinophilic Fasciitis / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of eosinophilic fasciitis occurring in a 48-year-old man who showed tender, edemstous, indurated, and tight skin on the left forearm and elbow joint. Laboratory findings showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia. Other laboratory tests were negative or within normal limits including ANA and anti-DNA. Histopathological findings revealed sclerosis of dermis and thickening of fat and fascia with intense infiltrations of lymphocytes, histiocytes and eosinophils. He was treated successfully with oral prednisolone for 2 weeks.