BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac myxomas are uncommon. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to reduce morbidity or mortality. Before 1970, preoperative diagnosis was difficult. With the development of echocardiography, a correct diagnosis is made before operation. We reviewed our clinical experience in diagnosis and management of 52 cases of myxomas seen over a 33-year period, 1966 to 1998. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 20 males (38%) and 32 females (62%);age range 7 - 80. All the patient's medical records were reviewed. In twenty-five patients in whom echocardiographic features could be reviewed, clinical fetures were compared according to two distinct echocardiographic features;Round and polypoid type. RESULTS: Eighty-four percents of the presenting symptoms were cardiac origin while systemic embolism (SE) accounted for 15%. Echocardiography was used most often for diagnosis. The myxomas were located in the left atrium in 50 (96%), right atrium in 2 (4%). One patient had multiple myxoma. The incidence of SE was significantly higher in polypoid type than in round type (58% vs 0%, p<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed polypoid type was the only independent predictor of SE (p=0.0029). Follow-up duration was ranged from 1 to 266 months. There was no deaths associated with myxoma. One patient presented with a recurrence 3 years after resection, and reoperation was performed uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Due to the nonspecific presentation of myxoma, a high index of suspicion is needed. Surgical excision of myxoma can be considered curative with excellent long-term result. However, because of high possible occurrence of SE, a close attention should be given to those patients who have myxoma of polypoid type.
Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Embolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Myxoma* ; Recurrence ; Reoperation

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is heterogeneous, chronic relapsing disorder. Inappropriate and exaggerated immune response for the luminal antigen is known as a main pathogenesis. Genetic, infectious, and environmental factors are responsible for unbalanced immune response, but the definite pathogenesis is still unclear. Genetic factor is the most important role of all. That is based on high concordance rate of identical twins and family history. The incident rate and prevalence of IBD for the Asian population is relatively lower than Western population, and the lack of NOD2 or TLR4 genetic polymorphisms in Korea and Japanese population suggests the difference in genetic background between Asian and Western population. In Korea, the case of familial aggregation of IBD is pretty rare. We report a case of the daughter with ulcerative colitis and her mother with Crohn's disease who have a -159C/T promoter polymorphism of CD14 gene for IBD.
Antigens, CD14/genetics ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Colonoscopy ; Crohn Disease/*diagnosis/genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Mesalamine/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Mothers ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Tomography, X-Ray ; Young Adult

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is heterogeneous, chronic relapsing disorder. Inappropriate and exaggerated immune response for the luminal antigen is known as a main pathogenesis. Genetic, infectious, and environmental factors are responsible for unbalanced immune response, but the definite pathogenesis is still unclear. Genetic factor is the most important role of all. That is based on high concordance rate of identical twins and family history. The incident rate and prevalence of IBD for the Asian population is relatively lower than Western population, and the lack of NOD2 or TLR4 genetic polymorphisms in Korea and Japanese population suggests the difference in genetic background between Asian and Western population. In Korea, the case of familial aggregation of IBD is pretty rare. We report a case of the daughter with ulcerative colitis and her mother with Crohn's disease who have a -159C/T promoter polymorphism of CD14 gene for IBD.
Antigens, CD14/genetics ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*diagnosis/drug therapy/genetics ; Colonoscopy ; Crohn Disease/*diagnosis/genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Mesalamine/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Mothers ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Tomography, X-Ray ; Young Adult

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are solid neoplastic mesenchymal proliferations composed of myofibroblastic spindle cells admixed with inflammatory infiltrates. The documented sites in the gastrointestinal tract include the esophagus, small intestine, colon, appendix, rectum, pancreas, spleen, liver, and Meckel's diverticulum. Biliary IMTs are rare, and IMTs arising from the ampulla of Vater have not been reported previously. Herein we report the case of a 65-year-old woman with an extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to IMT of the ampulla of Vater, and a successful therapeutic approach using endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopic papillectomy.
Aged ; Ampulla of Vater ; Appendix ; Colon ; Endosonography ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Liver ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Myofibroblasts ; Pancreas ; Rectum ; Spleen

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is caused by compression of the transverse part of the duodenum between the SMA and the aorta, where the distance between these vessels decreases with loss of mesenteric fat. It occurs most frequently in patients with rapid weight loss. Conventionally, the diagnosis is established by digital fluoroscopy and contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT). A 17-year old woman was admitted via the emergency department with postprandial fullness, nausea, and bile stained vomiting. The initial radiological examination revealed severe gastroptosis. Fluoroscopic evaluation after barium swallowing failed due to a markedly distended stomach. The diagnosis of SMA syndrome was made by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) using a mini-probe. EUS findings were in good agreement with the CT angiogram. A conservative trial was attempted, but symptoms remained refractory. Surgery was an alternative option and we treated the patient successfully with laparoscopic duodeno-jejunostomy.
Aorta ; Barium ; Bile ; Deglutition ; Duodenum ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Nausea ; Stomach ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the clinical relevance of angiogenesis in patients with gastric cancer, we investigated the microvessel count in gastric cancer tissues and compared the results with several clinicopathologic factors and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 256 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative surgery were included in this study. Microvessel count was determined by im-munohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody against factor VIII-related antigen. RESULTS: The statistical significance between the microvessel count and clinicopathologic factors (age, sex, tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, histologic type) was analized. The tumor stage and histologic type were correlated with microvessel count. And also there was statistical significance with survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate between high (microvessel count> or =42) and low angiogeneic group (microvessel count< 42). The Cox's proportional hazard model showed that stage, histologic type, angiogeneic score were one of the significant and independent prognostic variables. CONCLUSION: The tumor angiogenesis of gastric carcinoma may be independent prognostic factor for predicting recurrence and survival.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Prognosis* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; von Willebrand Factor

Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed drugs, and they are known to be responsible for many cases of gastroduodenal ulcerations by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis via blocking the cyclo-oxygenase production. Colonic side effects of these drugs are rare, but they are increasingly being reported to be due to the popularization of colonoscopy and the new formulations of drugs such as enteric coated pills or slow release pills. There is currently no consensus for making the clinical diagnosis and administering the proper therapy for drug-induced colonopathy in Korea. We experienced the patient who had multiple colonic ulcers after ingesting large amounts of aspirin and NSAIDs. In near future, we hope to determine the clinical and endoscopic features of drug associated colon injury.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Aspirin ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Consensus ; Humans ; Korea ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Ulcer

Jejunal diverticulosis is a rare malady and it is often asymptomatic. It may lead to chronic non-specific or acute symptoms such as malabsorption, intussusception, obstruction, bleeding, perforation and abscess formation. It usually is seen as an incidental finding on computerized tomography, enteroclysis or during an emergency operation. Since the advent of double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy, several cases of small bowel diverticulosis with complications have recently been reported. Lipomas are the rare benign tumors of the small intestine with no malignant potential and they are mostly incidentally encountered during investigation of the gastrointestinal tract. We report here on a case of massive small bowel bleeding with jejunal diverticulosis, and a pedunculated elongated lipoma was incidentally found.
Abscess ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Diverticulum ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Emergencies ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Incidental Findings ; Intestine, Small ; Intussusception ; Lipoma

Isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) without aortic dissection is a rare cause of acute mesenteric ischemia. A sudden decrease of intestinal blood flow can lead to fatal complications such as ischemic necrosis, shock, and death. Therefore, early diagnosis and therapeutic approach before the occurrence of intestinal infarction are the most important factor to determine the patient's prognosis. A 52-year-old male presented with postprandial periumbilical pain, and isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery with mural thrombus was detected by abdominal computed tomography with contrast enhancement. By the percutaneous implantation of vascular metallic stent via femoral artery, he was treated successfully. We report a case of isolated spontaneous dissection of the SMA treated by a percutaneous endovascular stent replacement with a review of literature.
Aneurysm, Dissecting/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; *Mesenteric Artery, Superior/radiography ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion/etiology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; *Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) without aortic dissection is a rare cause of acute mesenteric ischemia. A sudden decrease of intestinal blood flow can lead to fatal complications such as ischemic necrosis, shock, and death. Therefore, early diagnosis and therapeutic approach before the occurrence of intestinal infarction are the most important factor to determine the patient's prognosis. A 52-year-old male presented with postprandial periumbilical pain, and isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery with mural thrombus was detected by abdominal computed tomography with contrast enhancement. By the percutaneous implantation of vascular metallic stent via femoral artery, he was treated successfully. We report a case of isolated spontaneous dissection of the SMA treated by a percutaneous endovascular stent replacement with a review of literature.
Aneurysm, Dissecting/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; *Mesenteric Artery, Superior/radiography ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion/etiology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; *Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed