Although cases of simultaneous esophagus and stomach cancer have been reported sporadically, there are rare reports of successful treatment using chemotherapy. We report a case of synchronous esophageal and gastric cancer successfully treated using docetaxel and cis-diammineedichloro-platinum (CDDP) combination chemotherapy instead of surgery. A 82-years-old man with anorexia and progressive weight loss was diagnosed with synchronous esophageal and gastric cancer by endoscopy. Both cancers were diagnosed as resectable by the preoperative clinical staging. However, surgery was contraindicated because of severe lung dysfunction. Moreover, he actively refused radiotherapy and endoscopic management. Therefore, the patient was given combined chemotherapy with docetaxel (65 mg/m2) and CDDP (60 mg/m2). The esophageal and gastric lesion completely disappeared on endoscopy, and there were no residual tumor cells on endoscopic biopsy after three cycles of chemotherapy. Metastatic lymph nodes also completely disappeared on the CT scan. The patient received a total of ten cycles of chemotherapy, without severe adverse effects. The patient remained asymptomatic for 18 months after discontinuation of the chemotherapy, without evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis. Surgery or endoscopic treatment of both esophageal and gastric cancers is desirable, but, if medically inoperable, chemotherapy can be alternative treatment option.
Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Cisplatin/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal Neoplasms/complications/*drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications/*drug therapy/pathology ; Taxoids/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Symptomatic gastro-intestinal metastasis in lung cancer is extremely rare and only a few case reports have been published. Here, we report a case with lung adenocarcinoma that presented with acute abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting due to duodenum, jejunum, and colon obstruction by the gastro-intestinal metastasis. The patient underwent colonoscopy and the pathologic report was adenocarcinoma. When there are similar histologic findings in both colon and pulmonary lesion, the question is whether both lesions are primary cancer or the colon lesions are metastases from lung cancer. Microscopic examination of a conventional pathologic section was not sufficient to make this determination. Immunohistochemistry was positive for thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and cytokeratin 7 (CK7), and negative for cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and caudal-related homeobox transcription factor-2 (CDX-2) on colon mucosa specimen. Accordingly, we used immunohistochemical marker for differential diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the lung with gastro-intestinal metastasis.
*Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*pathology/secondary ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-20/metabolism ; Keratin-7/metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transcription Factors/metabolism

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a rare cartilaginous neoplasm of an extraskeletal origin, and this predominately occurs in the head and neck, and also in the lower extremities. Fewer than twenty cases of cardiac mesenchymal chondrosarcoma have so far been reported on. For the most part, the results of treatment for patients with this condition have been dismal. In this study, we describe a case of cardiac mesenchymal chondrosarcoma that responded to chemotherapy following surgical biopsy. A 46-year-old man was referred for evaluation of his pleural effusions in both lungs. Chest computed tomography revealed an ovoid-shaped mass in the posterior wall of the patient's left atrium. The echocardiogram revealed a large ovoid-shaped immobile mass (11 x 6 cm2) in the pericardiac space, which was attached to the posterior wall of the left atrium. Emergency pericardiostomy with closure thoracostomy was performed. Seven days later, a thoracotomy was performed for reduction and diagnosis of the cardiac mass. The pathological diagnosis was extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the heart.. Postoperative chemotherapy was performed for the huge remaining mass with a combined regimen of etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin. After 6 cycles, the patient showed a partial response without symptoms. Although cardiac mesenchymal chondrosarcoma has been reported to be chemotherapy- resistant with a short survival duration, chemotherapy may prove to be an effective treatment modality.
Biopsy ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal* ; Cisplatin ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy* ; Emergencies ; Etoposide ; Head ; Heart Atria ; Heart* ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pericardial Window Techniques ; Pleural Effusion ; Thoracostomy ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Recently the incidence of severe hyponatremia is increasing in old patients but there is no report about clinical findings of old patients with hyponatremia. We evaluated the cause and clinical manifestations of severe hyponatremia in old patients who had been admitted via emergency room. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of the hyponatremic patients who had been admitted from 2000 to 2007. We enrolled 53 patients (Age >60 years, Na <125 mEq/L) without severe liver cirrhosis, heart failure or chronic kidney disease. We analyzed data to evaluate the differences of clinical manifestations according to the presence of symptoms, taking diuretics, urine sodium concentrations and the degree of hyponatremia. RESULTS: Mean serum sodium concentration was 111.4+/-6.9 mEq/L and urine sodium concentration was 68.7+/-43.8 mEq/L. There was no difference in serum sodium concentration according to age. Twenty-nine (54.7%) patients had nausea and vomiting and 19 patients (35.8%) had neurologic symptoms. Patients with neurologic symptoms showed lower serum and urine sodium concentration than patients without neurologic symptoms. The main causes of severe hyponatremia were poor oral intake (79.2%), diuretics use (37.7%) and recent operation (15.1%). The mean sodium concentration of the fluid administered to achieve 125 mEq/L of serum sodium level was 336.5+/-160.6 mEq/L. CONCLUSION: The urinary sodium loss, e.g., diuretics abuse, may be the main cause of severe hyponatremia in elderly patients over 60 years. In elderly patients, diuretics should be carefully administered with frequent electrolyte monitoring.
Aged ; Diuretics ; Emergencies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nausea ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium ; Vomiting

The incidence of acute cholecystitis complicating endoscopic retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is rarely reported at 0.2% but is usually associated with a cystic duct obstruction caused by gallstones, gallbladder polyps, or cancer. However, acute cholecystitis with a gallbladder perforation after ERCP without a history of cystic duct obstruction can develop very rarely and has not yet been reported in Korea. We report a case of acute cholecystitis with gallbladder perforation and aggravation of a pancreatic pseudocyst after diagnostic ERCP in a man with a pancreatic cystic lesion. He has been successfully cured using only percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and antibiotics with no surgery.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Incidence ; Korea ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst ; Polyps

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of i-scans for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially where only minimal change is involved. METHODS: The esophageal mucosa was inspected using an i-scan following conventional white light endoscopy. The examination with iscan was performed under tone enhancement (TE) esophagus (e) mode. Patients with subtle distal esophageal mucosal changes without definite mucosal breaks, such as blurring of Z-line (B), mucosal coarseness (C), hyperemic or purplish discoloration (D), erythema (E), ectopic gastric mucosal islet (I) and mixed type were classified as minimal change. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients were included. Using i-scan endoscopy, the number of minimal change was found to further increase from 94 (conventional endoscopy; 19B, 9C, 29D, 13E, 5I, 19 mixed type) to 109 (i-scan; 15B, 8C, 29D, 16E, 5I, 36 mixed type). And 14 patients who had single type by conventional endoscopy were converted to mixed type after i-scan. Therefore, 29 of 156 patients were upgraded after i-scan, they were account for 19% (p<0.0001; 95% confidence interval, 0.13 to 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: The use of i-scan endoscopy significantly improves the identification of minimal change and helps to identify more precisely the type of minimal change.
Endoscopy ; Erythema ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Light ; Mucous Membrane

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of i-scans for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially where only minimal change is involved. METHODS: The esophageal mucosa was inspected using an i-scan following conventional white light endoscopy. The examination with iscan was performed under tone enhancement (TE) esophagus (e) mode. Patients with subtle distal esophageal mucosal changes without definite mucosal breaks, such as blurring of Z-line (B), mucosal coarseness (C), hyperemic or purplish discoloration (D), erythema (E), ectopic gastric mucosal islet (I) and mixed type were classified as minimal change. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients were included. Using i-scan endoscopy, the number of minimal change was found to further increase from 94 (conventional endoscopy; 19B, 9C, 29D, 13E, 5I, 19 mixed type) to 109 (i-scan; 15B, 8C, 29D, 16E, 5I, 36 mixed type). And 14 patients who had single type by conventional endoscopy were converted to mixed type after i-scan. Therefore, 29 of 156 patients were upgraded after i-scan, they were account for 19% (p<0.0001; 95% confidence interval, 0.13 to 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: The use of i-scan endoscopy significantly improves the identification of minimal change and helps to identify more precisely the type of minimal change.
Endoscopy ; Erythema ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Light ; Mucous Membrane

Serum CA 125 is the most useful marker for monitoring patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. However, it can be elevated above normal level in a variety of conditions other than ovarian cancer such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammation disease, and other malignant or nonmalignant disorders, including pulmonary diseases. Recently, we experienced a case of bronchiectasis in which the serum CA 125 level was elevated, changing with the patient's condition. There was no evidence of underlying malignant disease on positron emission tomography or on gynecologic examination, including transvaginal ultrasonography. During follow-up for 14 months, we could not find any clue of malignant disease that could have been the cause of the elevated levels of serum CA 125. Elevated serum CA 125 level should be interpreted carefully according to the patient's clinical condition. In addition, our case suggests that CA 125 may be used as a surrogate marker for acute inflammatory status for chronic pulmonary diseases.
Biomarkers ; Bronchiectasis ; CA-125 Antigen ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Exotoxins produced by Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae (Apx) play major roles in the pathogenesis of pleuropneumonia in swine. This study investigated the role of ApxI in hemolysis and cellular damage using a novel apxIA mutant, ApxIA336, which was developed from the parental strain A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 10 that produces only ApxI in vitro. The genotype of ApxIA336 was confirmed by PCR, Southern blotting, and gene sequencing. Exotoxin preparation derived from ApxIA336 was analyzed for its bioactivity towards porcine erythrocytes and alveolar macrophages. Analysis results indicated that ApxIA336 contained a kanamycin-resistant cassette inserted immediately after 1005 bp of the apxIA gene. Phenotype analysis of ApxIA336 revealed no difference in the growth rate as compared to the parental strain. Meanwhile, ApxI production was abolished in the bacterial culture supernatant, i.e. exotoxin preparation. The inability of ApxIA336 to produce ApxI corresponded to the loss of hemolytic and cytotoxic bioactivity in exotoxin preparation, as demonstrated by hemolysis, lactate dehydrogenase release, mitochondrial activity, and apoptosis assays. Additionally, the virulence of ApxIA336 appeared to be attenuated by 15-fold in BALB/c mice. Collectively, ApxI, but not other components in the exotoxin preparation of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 10, was responsible for the hemolytic and cytotoxic effects on porcine erythrocytes and alveolar macrophages.
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae/genetics/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Blotting, Southern ; Exotoxins/*genetics ; Hemolysin Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Hemolysis ; Macrophages, Alveolar/metabolism/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Swine ; Virulence

PURPOSE: The patients with metastatic breast cancer are routinely exposed to taxane and anthracycline as neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and palliative chemotherapeutic agents. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using a vinorelbine and ifosfamide (VI) combination treatment in patients with taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: We evaluated the use of a VI regimen (25 mg/m2 vinorelbine administered on days 1 and 8 plus 2,000 mg/m2 ifosfamide administered on day 1-3 every 3 weeks) for breast cancer patients who evidenced tumor progression after palliative taxane treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 35 patients were enrolled in this study: Their median age was 50 years (range, 38-72 years). The overall response rate was 40.0% (14 patients; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23-57%). The median time to progression was 4.5 months (95% CI, 3.5-5.4 months). The median overall survival was 18.3 months (95% CI, 12.9-23.6 months). In the 190 cycle of treatment, the incidence of grade > or =3 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia was 29.3%, 4.2%, and 2.0%, respectively. Neutropenic fever was noted in 6 cycles (3.1%). The non-hematological toxicities were not severe: grade 1 or 2 vomiting was observed in 22.8% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the use of vinorelbine and ifosfamide (VI) combination chemotherapy appears to be effective and it showed an acceptable toxicity profile in the patients with taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer.
Anemia ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Bridged Compounds ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fever ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; Incidence ; Neutropenia ; Taxoids ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vinblastine ; Vomiting