Malignant melanoma is one of the most common malignancies associated with metastatic disease to the gastrointestinal tract. Malignant melanotic melanomas metastasized to the stomach and duodenum, stomach, small bowel, and rectum have been reported in Korea. However, amelanotic malignant melanoma metastasized to the gastrointestinal tract, to our knowledge, has not been reported in Korea. Recently, we experienced a case of amelanotic malignant melanoma metastasized to the duodenum in a 48 year-old man. The primary site was presumed to be the soft tissue near the right knee. Pulmonary and pancreatic metastasis were also noted at presentation. Despite systemic chemotherapy, the patient died of progressive disease at about 13 months after presentation.
Drug Therapy ; Duodenum* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Knee ; Korea ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Use of single donor apheresis platelets and concerning for the quality of apheresis platelets has been rapidly increased. Apheresis platelets depleted white blood cell(WBC) are used to prevent or to reduce febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, alloimmunization and cytomegalovirus infection. We compared COBE Spectra LRS (leukoreduction system) and COBE Spectra with PALL PXL 8 in terms of the yield predictors, processing times, and WBC contamination. METHOD: Seventy-two single donors who visited Apheresis Unit(APU) in St. Mary s hospital were prospectively randomized into COBE Spectra LRS and COBE Spectra followed by PALL PXL 8 between September 1997 and October 1998. We used Coulter counting for platelet and Nageotte hemocytometer for WBC count. Data were analyzed by independent t-test. RESULTS: The mean platelet yield per unit was 3.6+ 1.0 x 10 ' with COBE spectra LRS compared to 2.9+ 1.1 X 10 with COBE Spectra(p=0.002), and the mean WBC content per unit with COBE spectra LRS was 4.1 x 104(0.4-23.5) compared to 3.7 x 104(0.43-17.9) with PALL PXL""8(p=0.0728). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that COBE Spectra LRS has higher platelet yields than that of COBE Spectra, and similar WBC contamination compared to PALL PXL 8. Therefore, this data suggests that COBE Spectra LRS is conveient than COBE Spectra with PALL PXL 8 in clinical practice. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 43-51, 1999)
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Platelets* ; Blood Transfusion ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Humans ; Leukocytes* ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Donors*

BACKGROUND: Use of single donor apheresis platelets and concerning for the quality of apheresis platelets has been rapidly increased. Apheresis platelets depleted white blood cell (WBC) are used to prevent or to reduce febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, alloimmunization and cytomegalovirus infection. We compared COBE Spectra LRSTM (leukoreduction system) and COBE Spectra with PALL PXLTM8 in terms of the yield predictors, processing times, and WBC contamination. METHOD: Seventy-two single donors who visited Apheresis Unit (APU) in St. Mary's hospital were prospectively randomized into COBE Spectra LRSTM and COBE Spectra followed by PALL PXLTM8 between September 1997 and October 1998. We used Coulter counting for platelet and Nageotte hemocytometer for WBC count. Data were analyzed by independent t-test. RESULTS: The mean platelet yield per unit was 3.6 +/- 1.0X1011 with COBE spectra LRSTM compared to 2.9 +/- 1.1X1011 with COBE Spectra (p=0.002), and the mean WBC content per unit with COBE spectra LRSTM was 4.1X104 (0.4-23.5) compared to 3.7X104 (0.43-17.9) with PALL PXLTM8 (p=0.0728). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that COBE Spectra LRSTM has higher platelet yields than that of COBE Spectra, and similar WBC contamination compared to PALL PXLTM8. Therefore, this data suggests that COBE Spectra LRSTM is conveient than COBE Spectra with PALL PXLTM8 in clinical practice.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Platelets* ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Humans ; Leukocytes* ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Donors*