[Rectal Mucinous Cancer with Submucosal Tumor-Like Morphology Preoperatively Diagnosed Using EUS-FNAB - A Case Report].

A man in his 70s presented with a chiefcomplaint ofbleeding during bowel movements. Subsequent colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor-like elevated lesion ofapproximately 4 cm situated in the sigmoid section ofthe rectum. EUS-FNAB was performed, and the lesion was identified as mucinous cancer. Based on a diagnosis of rectal cancer(cT4a, cN0, cM0, cStage II), a low anterior resection was performed. Histopathological analysis of the resected specimen revealed a well-differentiated mucinous cancer. The tumor had ruptured the proper muscular layer and was developing in a submucosal tumor-like manner, protruding from the wall within a fibrous capsule. In Japan, only 15 cases of submucosal tumor-like colorectal mucinous cancer have been reported to date. It is rare for such cases to be preoperatively diagnosed as mucinous cancer using EUS-FNAB and then to undergo radical resection.

[A Case of Anal Canal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Detected with Anal Stenosis Eight Years Following Resection for Rectal Adenocarcinoma].

An 89-year-old woman underwent low anterior resection for rectal adenocarcinoma(Ra, pT3N0M0, pStage II , Cur A)in 2008. In February 2016, she underwent an outpatient examination because of a defecation disturbance. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and the stenotic region was biopsied. However, no malignancy was detected and the stenotic site expanded. However, the patient experienced recurrence of the same symptoms, developed severe anal stenosis, and underwent another examination in December 2016. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated a neoplastic lesion around the entire circumference of the anal canal. Transperineal needle biopsy results indicated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was diagnosed with postoperative rectal cancer and metachronous anal canal squamous cell carcinoma(P, cT4bN2M0, cStage III b). Laparoscopic artificial anus construction was performed with the aim of unblocking the anal canal stenosis. Considering the patient's age and performance status, radiation therapy was administered. Two months after administering radiation therapy, the tumor decreased in size, and anal pain reduced.

Capsule Endoscope Aspiration after Repeated Attempts for Ingesting a Patency Capsule.

Capsule endoscope aspiration into the respiratory tract is a rare complication of capsule endoscopy. Despite the potential seriousness of this complication, no accepted methods exist to accurately predict and therefore prevent it. We describe the case of an 85-year-old male who presented for evaluation of iron deficiency anemia. He complained of dysphagia while ingesting a patency capsule, with several attempts over a period of 5 min before he was successful. Five days later, he underwent capsule endoscopy, where he experienced similar symptoms in swallowing the capsule. The rest of the examination proceeded uneventfully. On reviewing the captured images, the capsule endoscope was revealed to be aspirated, remaining in the respiratory tract for approximately 220 s before images of the esophagus and stomach appeared. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a patient who experienced capsule endoscope aspiration after ingestion of a patency capsule. This case suggests that repeated attempts required for ingesting the patency capsule can predict capsule endoscope aspiration. We presume that paying sufficient attention to the symptoms of a patient who ingests a patency capsule could help us prevent serious complications such as aspiration of the capsule endoscope. In addition, this experience implies the potential risk for ingesting the patency capsule. We must be aware that the patency capsule could also be aspirated and there may be more unrecognized aspiration cases.

[HER2-Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Diffuse Bone Marrow Carcinomatosis Successfully Treated with S-1/Trastuzumab Chemotherapy--A Case Report].

Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), has been proven to result in a survival benefit for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer (AGC). However, data are lacking for the treatment of those with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and diffuse bone marrow carcinomatosis. A 77-year-old woman presented with back pain and fatigue since 2 months. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a scirrhous lesion in the gastric corpus, which was biopsied and identified as signet-ring cell carcinoma with HER2 overexpression on immunohistochemistry. Laboratory testing, bone scintigraphy, and bone marrow biopsy were conducted, and she was diagnosed with HER2-positive AGC with DIC and diffuse bone marrow carcinomatosis. She underwent chemotherapy with the following regimen: oral administration of 80 mg/m2 S-1 for 2 weeks and 6 mg/kg trastuzumab infusion on day 6 every 3 weeks, which significantly improved the DIC. She was discharged from the hospital 73 days after admission and survived for 438 days after diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report in which HER2-positive AGC complicated by DIC with diffuse bone marrow carcinomatosis was successfully treated with combined chemotherapy consisting of S-1 plus trastuzumab.

The close relationship between heparanase and cyclooxygenase-2 expressions in signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach.

Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRC) of the stomach exhibits diffuse growth and invasion without forming ducts. Destruction of the surrounding basal membrane and angiogenesis appear to be required for SRC to exhibit marked invasion and growth. We recently reported that heparanase (HPA) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were strongly correlated with microvessel density, and that COX-2 expression is up-regulated by HPA in esophageal cancer. In this study, we examined the relationship between HPA expression and that of COX-2 in SRC of the stomach. We examined HPA and COX-2 expression in 3 cell lines derived from SRC of the stomach and in 50 SRC lesions of stomach by immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We also examined the relationships among HPA expression, COX-2 expression, and the clinicopathologic features of SRC, mean age, sex, invasion depth, regional lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and venous blood vessel invasion. Of the 3 cell lines, 2 exhibited both HPA and COX-2 mRNA expression on RT-PCR. Of the 3 cell lines, 1 exhibited only HPA mRNA expression on RT-PCR. Heparanase expression was confirmed in 23 (46%) of 50 tumor samples by IHC. COX-2 expression was confirmed in 25 (50%) of the 50 tumor samples by IHC. In situ hybridization revealed messenger RNA expression in the same area as in that revealed by IHC. A close correlation was noted between HPA and COX-2 expressions (P < .0001). The present study thus elucidated the biologic features of SRC of the stomach related to growth and angiogenesis.