No abstract available.
Age Factors ; Eosinophilia/classification/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Gastroenteritis/classification/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Sex Factors ; Steroids/therapeutic use

Although many papers concerning the ultrasonographic findings of liver abscess have been appeared, there is afew literatures for the analysis of its echognic patterns. Twenty-nine cases of surgically proven liver abscesswere studied by ultrasonography in our hospital during recent 3 years. The results were as follows: 1.Ultrasonography permitted correct diagnosis in 26 of 29 patients with sensitivity 90%. 2. All the 7 cases ofamebic abscess were single lesions and 6 cases of them were distributed in the right lobe of liver, while pyogenicabscesses showed single or multiple lesions. It was very difficult to distinguish pyogenic abscess from amebicabscess in cases of single lesion. 3. It was impossible to differentiate pyogenic abscess from amebic abscess bythe echopattern of abscess wall and internal echogenicity. 4. The wall of obscess was ill-defined in the majority,and internal echogenecity of abscess was variable although weak internal echogenecity was more comon. 5. Theechopattern of abscess was gradually converted to echolucent or hypoechoic area with weak internal echoes infollowing up study. 6. Clinical findings and ultrasonic findings should be carefully analysed to secure correctdiagnosis of there is any possibility of co-existing necrotizing metastatic lesion.
Abscess ; Amebiasis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Liver ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Determining the depth of tumor invasion and the presence of regional lymph node metastasis is important in deciding therapeutic strategies. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in detecting the depth of tumor invasion and regional lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 141 consecutive patients underwent preoperative evaluation using EUS, CT, and PET CT from November 2005 to June 2009 in Pusan National University Hospital. We reviewed the patients' medical records and compared EUS and pathologic findings. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients were included in the final analysis. The overall accuracy of EUS in predicting the correct T stage was 79.7% (95% CI, 66.8~88.6%). EUS accurately predicted T stage in 93.2% (95% CI, 82.7~97.8%) of T1 tumors, 79.7% (95% CI, 66.8~88.6%) of T2 tumors, and 86.4% (95% CI, 74.5~93.6%) of T3 tumors. Overall, EUS accurately predicted N stage in 83.1% of cases. EUS correctly predicted N stage in 91.4% of N0 tumors and 70.8% of N1 tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Overall accuracy of EUS for the T and N staging of esophageal cancer was high. Thus, EUS is a useful diagnostic modality in determining the initial stage of esophageal cancer.
Busan ; Diagnosis ; Endosonography* ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Gastropleural fistula is a very rare disorder, caused by various conditions, such as trauma and postoperative complication, subphrenic abscess, malignancy, hiatal hernia. The major causes of the gastropleural fistula have changed from trauma and subphrenic abscess to postoperative complication of malignant disorders. We report a case of empyema that developed respiratory failure caused by gastropleural fistula in a middle age woman with review of related articles.
Empyema ; Female ; Fistula* ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Subphrenic Abscess

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laryngopharyngeal symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) such as globus sensation, hoarseness and chronic cough are becoming increasingly recognized. This study was aimed to investigate the diagnostic usefulness of combined dual channel multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII)/pH-metry in 'off-proton pump inhibitor (PPI)' patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms of GERD were included. All patients were 'off-PPI' state for at least 2 weeks prior to the study, and underwent endoscopy and dual channel combined MII/pH-metry. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 49.8 +/- 10.9 years and there were 44 males (44.9%). Fifty-three patients (54.1%) showed pathologic gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Combined dual channel MII/pH-metry achieved highest diagnostic yield of 49.0% and diagnostic yield of single channel combined MII/pH-metry was 37.8%. Addition of MII to standard pH-metry increased twofold of the diagnostic yield for detecting GER. Among 37 patients (37.8%) who had pathologic GER being detected by MII/pH-metry, 19 patients (19.4%) had nonacid GER (nonacid GER group) while 18 patients (18.4%) had acid GER (acid GER group). Pathologic GER group, as classified by MII/pH-metry showed more frequent globus sensation than nonpathologic GER group. Acid GER group had more proximal reflux than nonacid GER group, especially in the upright position. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, combined dual channel MII/pH-metry showed the highest diagnostic yield for detecting GER. This technique can be performed primarily to accurately diagnose laryngopharyngeal reflux disease and exclude other causes of laryngopharyngeal symptoms.
Cough ; Electric Impedance ; Endoscopy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ; Male ; Sensation

Hemobilia occurs when injury or disease causes communication between intrahepatic blood vessels and the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary system. The causes of hemobilia include trauma, gallstone disease, vascular malformation, inflammation, and biliary or hepatic tumors. Hemobilia could be diagnosed by endoscopy, hepatic angiography, computed tomography, and ultrasonogram. Patients with hemobilia may present with biliary colic, obstructive jaundice and gastrointestinal bleeding. Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma usually presents with obstructive jaundice and is one of the unusual cause of hemobilia. We, herein, report a case of hemobilia caused by cholangiocarcinoma in a 69-year-old woman. She had the past history of lung cancer and choledochoduodenostomy due to gallstone. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a blood clot protruding from the choledochoduodenostomy site and the ulcerative mass in the common bile duct. Pathologic examination of the ulcerative mass was compatible with those of cholangiocarcinoma.
Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Choledochostomy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Hemobilia/*diagnosis ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Knowledge of the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) may be helpful for developing PEG recommendations. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical risk factors associated with adverse clinical outcomes after PEG, especially regarding the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data from PEG patients at seven university hospitals between June 2006 and January 2012. All patients were followed up through February 2012 after PEG, and the clinical risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes after PEG were analyzed. RESULTS: Data from 1,021 PEG patients were analyzed. PPI users were more frequently included in the complication group than the noncomplication group (p=0.040). PEG-related complications (p=0.040) and mortality (p=0.003) were more frequent in the PPI group than in the control group. In the subgroup analysis of complicated PEG cases, infectious complications were more frequently found in the PPI group than in the control group (35.8% vs 27.8%). After adjustment for multiple possible confounding factors, PPI users (odds ratio, 1.531; 95% confidence interval, 1.017 to 2.305) and diabetic patients had increased mortality after PEG. CONCLUSIONS: PPI use may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with PEG; however, further prospective studies investigating this issue are warranted.
Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Enteral Nutrition/adverse effects/mortality ; Female ; Gastroscopy/*adverse effects/mortality ; Gastrostomy/*adverse effects/mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/*adverse effects ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Angiosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor which occurs frequently in the skin and soft subcutis. Moreover, primary gastrointestinal angiosarcomas are very rare. This tumor manifests as non-specific symptoms such as gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and nausea. The diagnosis is often made at an advanced stage. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the mainstay of treatment. However, the prognosis is very poor. We report a case of primary angiosarcoma of the small intestine presenting as recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. A 54-year-old man was admitted with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. An abdominal CT scan revealed an ileo-ileal intussusception. Segmental resection was performed with ileo-ileal anastomosis. The ileal mass was diagnosed as angiosarcoma on immunohistochemical stain. He received 3 cycles of chemotherapy, but died 5 months after the diagnosis.
English Abstract ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Hemangiosarcoma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; *Intestine, Small/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) are similar in color to the adjacent mucosa, so they are difficult to recognize. This study aimed to investigate the features of LSTs by morphologic classification and find effective diagnoses and treatments. METHODS: This retrospective study was done between March 2006 and August 2008. We reviewed patients' medical records, endoscopic findings, and histological findings. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients met criteria for LSTs. Eighty-seven lesions (57.6%) were of the granular type. The most frequent location was ascending colon (37.1%), followed by rectum and sigmoid colon (36.4%). The cecum is a common site in the granular type, but the transverse colon is common in the nongranular type. The overall malignancy rate was 21.2%, and the malignant rate increased in proportion to size. Malignant rates were higher for the mixed nodular type (25.9%) and pseudo-depressed type (41.2%) than for the homogeneous granular type (3.0%) or flat elevated type (10.0%). CONCLUSIONS: LSTs showed different clinicopathologic characteristics according to their morphologic classification. The homogenous type has a lower malignant potential. Piecemeal resection for those with a large diameter is possible, while the pseudo-depressed and mixed nodular types have a higher malignant potential and should receive en-bloc resection as soon as possible.
Cecum ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mucous Membrane ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and nausea. Her abdomen was distended with obstructive bowel sounds on exam. There was diffuse abdominal tenderness but no palpable masses. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large gallstone in the ileum. Surgical intervention was deferred given patient's known significant liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B). Instead colonoscopy was performed and a large gallstone was found to be impacted at the ileocecal valve. The gallstone was fragmented using electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) and then retrieved with snare and forceps. The patient made a full recovery and was eventually discharged home. This is the first reported case of an impacted gallstone at the ileocecal valve with successful colonoscopic treatment using electrohydraulic lithotripsy in Korea. This case highlights the potential therapeutic benefits for colonscopic retrieval of a gallstone impacted at the ileocecal valve in well selected individuals.
Abdominal Pain/radiography ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gallstones/*diagnosis/therapy ; Humans ; Ileus/*diagnosis/therapy ; Intestinal Obstruction/diagnosis/therapy ; Lithotripsy/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed