Risk factors for mortality in patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the majority of patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome (MWS) have a benign course, in some patients MWS results in a fatal outcome. Therefore, this study was carried out to analyze the risk factors for mortality in patients with MWS. METHODOLOGY: The medical records of patients with MWS seen between March 1994 and July 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory parameters, and endoscopic findings of the patients were analyzed and the risk factors for mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of ninety-three patients (13 female and 80 male patients; median age, 53 years) were treated. The mortality rate was 9.7% (9/93). The patients with a fatal outcome were of advanced age and had a higher frequency of shock on arrival, lower hemoglobin level, more prolonged prothrombin time, higher AST and ALT levels, higher frequency of detection of exposed vessels on endoscopy, higher frequency of rebleeding, longer hospital stay, and required a larger volume of blood transfusion than those who did not have a fatal outcome. According to the results of a multivariate analysis, the significant risk factors for mortality in the MWS patients were advanced age (OR 1.222, 95% CI 1.015-1.028), very low hemoglobin level (OR 2.137, 95% CI 1.063-4.295), elevated AST level (OR 1.007, 95% CI 1.001-1.013), and presence of the clinical symptom of tarry stool (OR 45.45, 95% CI 1.080-1000). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive care with close monitoring is required for patients of advanced age with a low hemoglobin level, an elevated AST level, and the clinical symptom of tarry stool, since these are of prognostic importance in terms of the mortality in MWS patients.

Solitary Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyps in the duodenum are not always associated with a low risk of cancer: two case reports.

INTRODUCTION: A hamartomatous polyp without associated mucocutaneous pigmentation or a family history of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome is diagnosed as a solitary Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyp. As compared with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyps are diagnosed with a lower risk of cancer and are regarded as a different disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: In case one, we describe an 84-year-old Japanese man with a 14 mm duodenal polyp. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed and histological examination showed findings suggestive of a hamartomatous polyp with a focus of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. In case two, we describe a 76-year-old Japanese man who had been treated for prostate, rectal and lung cancer. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal polyp measuring 15 mm in diameter. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed, and histological examination showed findings suggestive of a hamartomatous polyp. Liver and thyroid cancers were found after the endoscopic treatment. CONCLUSION: Although duodenal solitary hamartomatous polyps are associated with a lower risk of cancer, four patients, including our cases, have been diagnosed with cancerous polyps. Patients with duodenal solitary hamartomatous polyps should be treated by endoscopic or surgical resection and need whole-body screening.