The first case of chyle ascites in childhood was reported by Morton in 1683. Its reported incidence varies between 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 in hospital admissions. The clinical picture is similar to that of acute diffuse peritonitis, and is most commonly mistaken as perforated appendicitis. Paracetesis, if performed, is the most useful diagnostic option. Treatment modalities fall into four areas-: Exploratory laparotomy with either direct ligation or drainage, A medium chain triglyceride diet, NPO and hyperalimentation or Venoperitoneal shunting. An 11-years old boy was admitted with RLQ pain. He had diffuse abdominal guarding. The initial diagnosis was perforated appendicitis, and appendectomy was performed. During the operation, the abdomen was found to contain 750cc of a thin, milky fluid. It was later diagnosed as chyle ascites. The small bowel mesentery and transverse colon were thickened and edematous, with a pale white subserosal exudate. The laboratory analysis of the ascites was as follows-: protein 4.6 g/dL, albumin 3.0 g/dL, triglyceride 700 mg/dL, cholesterol 113 mg/dL, glucose 209 mg/dL, LDH 848 U/L, and amylase 32 U/dL, with a pH of 9.0. An appendectomy was performed, and two drains placed in the pelvic cavity. In the postoperative-work-up from the abdominal CT scan, the results were normal. The patient-recovered and was discharged without complication 21 days postoperatively.
Abdomen ; Amylases ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Ascites* ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Chyle* ; Colon, Transverse ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Drainage ; Exudates and Transudates ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incidence ; Laparotomy ; Ligation ; Male ; Mesentery ; Peritonitis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality in Korea. The TNM stage at presentation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has the greatest impact on prognosis. Patients who undergo a complete resection for NSCLC are likely to develop recurrent and/or metastatic disease. There are several factors influencing the development of recurrence. We explored risk factors of recurrence in patients with stages I and II NSCLC, who had undergone curative resection. METHODS: We reviewed patients who had complete surgical resection as definitive treatment for stage I or II. Patients followed up for more than 36 months. We evaluated several factors which might have relationship with recurrence, such as patient's demographic factors, TNM staging, pathologic finding, tumor markers and surgical technique. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were enrolled for analysis, of whom 58 were men and 17 were women with mean age of 61 (range, 37 to 76) years. The average size of tumors was 3.9 cm (0.7 to 10 cm). There were 64 patients with stage I NSCLC and 11 with stage II NSCLC. Among 64 patients with stage I NSCLC, 35 patients showed recurrences whereas 8 patients have recurred in stage II NSCLC. Grade of differentiation of tumor was closely related to the recurrence. Seventy-five percent of patients who had poor tumor differentiation experienced a recurrence. In contrast, 3 patients of twelve had recurrences, who revealed differentiation in their tissue (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tumor differentiation could be a predictive factor for tumor recurrence in patients who have undergone curative resection for stage I or II NSCLC.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cell Differentiation ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in now the most widely used and the most useful marker for many cancers, including those of the colon, lung, pancreas, and breast. Also CEA is widely used for detection, staging, recurrence, and assessing the response to therapy in colorectal cancer. METHODS: From 1992 to 1998 the clinical value of the pre- and postoperative serum levels of CEA who underwent curative surgery at Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, Dongguk University KyungJu Hospital, in 140 s patient with colorectal cancer with abnormal levels of CEA (>or=5 ng/ml) was investigated. RESULTS: The results are as follows: 1) The positive rate of preoperative CEA level was 47%, so preoperative CEA level measurement was not useful as screening test for colorectal cancer. 2) There was no significant association between abnormal CEA level and the location of tumor. 3) There was significant association between increased levels of preoperative serum CEA and lymph node metastases. 4) The incidence of preoperatively elevated CEA levels in Dukes stages A, B, C, and D was 0%, 27%, 63%, 71%, respectively. There was significant association between increased levels of the preoperative serum CEA and the progressive stages of colorectal cancers. 5) There was no significant association between abnormal CEA level and histologic differentiation of tumor. In addition, there was no significant association between abnormal CEA level and ploidy status of tumor. 6) The recurrence rate was 20% and 77% in patients with preoperative levels of CEA<5 ng/ml and >5 ng/ml, respectively. 7) The recurrence rate was 11% and 64% in patients with postoperative levels of CEA <5 ng/ml and >5 ng/ml, respectively. 8) Considering as normal CEA levels up to 5.0 ng/ml, sensitivity was found to be 77%, specificity, 80%, and predictive value of an elevated CEA concentration, 77%. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it is suggested that measurement of preoperative and serial postoperative CEA is very useful in assessing the prognosis and in detecting recurrences in colorectal cancer.
Breast ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Ploidies ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of colorectal polyps with carcinoma of the colon and rectum. METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 1998, 203 consecutive patients with 423 colorectal polyps retrospectively documented at the Department of General Surgery and College of Medicine in Dongguk University. RESULTS: The peak age group of the colorectal polyp was in the fifth decades (33.5%). The proportions of malignant polyps were as follows: for size, 5.2% of polyps less than 1.0 cm and 19.5% of polyps larger than 1 cm (P<0.05); for morphology, 2.6% in polyps of Yamada type I, II and 18.5% in polyps of Yamada type III, IV (P<0.05); for location, 13.4% of the polyps located in rectum and sigmoid colon and 7.6% of the polyps located in descending to ascending colon (P>0.05); for number of polyp, 4.5% in cases of single polyp and 25.0% in cases of multiple polyps (P<0.05); for underlying histology, 9.2% in cases of tubular adenoma and 19.2% in cases of villous adenoma (p<0.05). The presence of distal adenomatous polyp was increased the risk of presence of the proximal adenomas (59.7%), whereas the presence of hyperplastic polyp did not (16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The malignant potential of colorectal polyps are correlated with size, histologic type, morphologic shape, multiplicity and distal location. The presence of hyperpalstic polyp should not be indication for colonoscopy because they are not associated with proximal adenoma when adjusting for patient characteristics and presence of distal adenoma.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Villous ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Polyps* ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are stress-responsive genes present in all species and play a major role in many cellular processes. These proteins are highly conserved molecules whose expression is induced in eukaryotic cells by a variety of environmental stresses. These proteins can also be expressed in virally transformed cells and cancer cells. Especially, HSP70 is found at a higher level in growing cells than in resting cells. Sulphomucin is secreted by immature foveolar cells of stomach and expressed in gastric adenocarcinomas. Also, it is known that the population of sulphomucin-producing cells increases with long-lasting stress. The purpose of this study was to determine HSP70 and sulphomucin expressions in gastric adenocarcinoma and the significance of expressions. METHODS: Thirty-one paraffin-embeded surgical specimens of gastric adenocarcinomas were obtained from April 1992 to March 1995 and were selected for analysis. The expressions of HSP70 and sulphomucin were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with HSP70 monoclonal antibody and the Spicer (HID) method. RESULTS: The expressions of HSP70 and sulphomucin were positive in 13 (42%) cases and 11 (35%) cases, respectively. The expression of HSP70 correlated with neither clinopathological factors nor sulphomucin expression. There was a significant correlation not only between sulphomucin expression and histologic differentiation (p=0.001) but also between disease-free survival and sulphomucin expression. CONCLUSIONS: Sulphomucin expression in gastric adenocarcinoma may be useful as a prognostic factor of gastric adenocarcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Stomach

Therapeutic bronchoscopy is widely employed as an effective first-line treatment for patients with central airway obstructions. Airway fires during rigid bronchoscopy are rare, but can have potentially devastating consequences. Pulmonologist and anesthesiologist undertaking this type of procedure should be aware of this serious problem and be familiar with measures to avoid this possibly fatal complication. We report the case of a 24-year-old patient with a silicone stent who experienced an electrocautery-induced airway fire during rigid bronchoscopy.
Airway Obstruction ; Bronchoscopy ; Electrocoagulation ; Fires ; Humans ; Mortuary Practice ; Silicones ; Stents ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Central venous catheterization is widely used to supply substantial amounts of fluids, total parenteral nutrition and hemodialysis in renal failure patients, as well as for measuring the central venous pressure. The most common complications encountered during central venous catheterization include catheter-related infections and subsequent sepsis. Therefore, when fever exists in patients with a central venous catheter, an immediate blood culture should be performed, and if the fever persists, an infection must be suspected and the catheter immediately removed; a culture of the catheter tip should also be performed. To date, no definite clinical details relating to this matter have been reported. METHODS: Between December 2002 and March 2005, a retrospective study was undertaken using the medical records of 85 patients. In those patients where a fever lasted for more than 8 hours, or when catheterization was no longer needed, the catheter tip cultures were sent to the microbiology laboratory. Blood cultures were also performed on 49 patients with a fever. The Chi-square method using the PC SPSS program, with P value less than 0.05 as statically significant. RESULTS: Of the 85 patients where the catheters were removed, significant microorganisms were detected 20 of the 49 with a fever. Only 5 of the remaining 36 patients had their catheters spontaneously removed. Moreover, 14 of the 20 patients with significant microorganisms were found to have kept their catheter in place for more than 14 days. Of the 49 patients with a fever, in who blood cultures were undertaken, 13 showed specific microorganisms, with 6 of these showing the same results for both their blood and catheter tip cultures, which enabled the definite diagnosis of the catheter-related infection and underlying sepsis. Various microorganisms were detected from the catheter tip cultures, including Staphylococcus species the CNS, with S. aureus being the most common, at 61.6%. CONCLUSION: A central venous catheter should be removed immediately when an infection is suspected, but early broad-spectrum antibiotics therapy should be commenced due to the time required to obtain the culture results. Moreover, even if a fever does not exist in patients with a catheter inserted for more than 14 days, infection and sepsis from the catheter should be of concern, with a more cautious approach being mandatory.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcus

A 22-year-old woman with a 1-month history of shortness of breath that was treated as a case of tuberculosis and pulmonary embolism was referred to the authors’ hospital. Because of the hemodynamic instability in this patient, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was administered in the intensive care unit. She underwent a pulmonary embolectomy for the treatment of progressive circulatory collapse secondary to a pulmonary embolism. The histopathologic result was consistent with a metastatic choriocarcinoma. Despite the surgical management, persistent refractory cardiogenic shock occurred. Subsequently, the patient was treated with chemotherapy in the presence of ECMO and responded well to chemotherapy. She was discharged after 3 months. This case suggests that metastatic choriocarcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in women of childbearing age presenting with a pulmonary embolism, and ECMO may be beneficial in patients with pulmonary embolism for bridging to surgical embolectomy and chemotherapy.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy* ; Dyspnea ; Embolectomy ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating* ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Tuberculosis ; Young Adult

Malignant lymphoma comprise 1~4% of the malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), although primary lymphoma of the appendix is exceedingly rare. Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the appendix reportedly represents 0.015% of all GIT lymphomas. Most cases of primary appendiceal lymphoma have presented with a clinical appearance of acute appendicitis. It is therefore difficult to diagnosis preoperatively. We report a case of primary NHL of the appendix in a 31 year-old female. Appendectomy was performed as a result of the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis, due to the rebound tenderness of McBurney's point and a thickend appendiceal wall seen on abdominal ultrasonography. Microscopic examination demonstrated an atypical large lymphoid cell dispersed in a background of small lymphocytes. There were no invading tumor cells on the resection margin. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the large atypical cells stained with B cell marker (CD20), Bcl-6, Ki-67 and UCHL-1 (CD45R0). The post-operative work- up consisted of a CT scan of the abdomen and thorax, a bone marrow biopsy and a gastrofiberscope. These results were normal. No further treatment was recommended. The patient is now 12 months post-operative and doing well.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

An eighteen year-old female visited the ER in our hospital with fever of 38.5degrees C for 2 days. She also had cough, myalgia, and dyspnea. Chest PA and lung HRCT showed mild pulmonary edema at both hilar areas. However, she had severe hypoxia (PaO2; 58 mmHg in room air). RT-PCR for H1N1 influenza/A of pharyngeal swab was positive. Tamiflu (150 mg/d) with broad-spectrum antibiotics was prescribed. Two days later, her dyspnea aggravated and chest PA showed diffuse bilateral infiltration. PaO2 dropped to 70 mmHg (O2 10 L/min by face mask with reservoir bag). She was transferred to the MICU and the Tamiflu dose was doubled (300 mg/day). Mechanical ventilator was set aside to prepare respiratory failure. Fortunately, her symptoms and oxygenation improved and she was discharged with full recovery. Although, most cases of ARDS require mechanical ventilatory support, early and adequate dose of Tamiflu may avoid it in the case of ARDS developed by H1N1 influenza/A.
Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung ; Masks ; Oseltamivir ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical