BACKGROUND/AIMS: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by abnormal dense eosinophilic infiltration of esophageal mucosa and results in dysphasia and food impaction. EE is being increasingly recognized in adults. The prevalence is largely unknown. This study was performed to evaluate the detection rate of EE diagnosed based on pathologic criteria and to define the clinical characteristics of EE in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed biopsy specimen of the 1,609 patients who underwent esophageal biopsy from January 2006 till August 2008. The presence of more than 20 eosinophils per high power field in biopsy specimens was considered cases of EE. Clinical information and endoscopic findings were obtained. RESULTS: 7 (0.4%) patients were diagnosed as EE based on pathologic criteria retrospectively. Clinical symptoms were epigastric pain (43%), regurgitation (29%), dyspepsia (14%), and no symptom (14%). Endoscopic findings were whitish exudates or granules (57%), esophageal polyp (29%), and hyperemic change (14%). Two patients received treatment. One patient with bronchial asthma improved after treatment with inhaled corticosteroid, and one patient improved after 8 week proton pump inhibitor therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophilic esophagitis was found in 0.4% of the total esophageal biopsied cases. Our results suggest that Korean patients with eosinophilic esophagitis showed symptoms mimicking gastroesophageal reflux disease and atypical endoscopic findings. Therefore, regardless of the gross appearance of the mucosa, meticulous diagnostic approaches are needed for patients with swallowing difficulty and lack of response to proton pump inhibitor.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Dyspepsia/etiology ; Eosinophilia/epidemiology/*pathology ; Esophagitis/epidemiology/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Incidental Findings ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regurgitation, Gastric/etiology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of comprehensive treatment and examine the impact of clinical factors on the survival outcome of limited-stage small cell lung cancer.

METHODSThe clinical records of 335 patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer treated in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 1996 and December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test and Cox regression were used for univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 54 months for all patients, the median survival time was 23.8 months, and progression-free survival was 12.5 months. The 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 47.3%, 32.9%, and 22.9%, respectively. The acute toxicity during comprehensive treatment was tolerable. The incidence of ≥grade 3 hematological toxicity, ≥grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity, ≥grade 2 radiation pneumonitis and ≥grade 2 acute esophagitis were 37.0%, 14.9%, 11.0%, and 38.8%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that KPS<80, smoking and high LDH level significantly reduced the overall survival time in patients with limited-stage SCLC. The multivariate analysis showed that KPS and weight loss were independent factors affecting the prognosis for the limited stage SCLC patients (P<0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONSSequential chemoradiotherapy can be safely and effectively performed in limited-stage small cell lung cancer. Krnofsky performance status and weight loss are independent prognostic factors for the overall survival of LS-SCLC.

Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophagitis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo compare the effectiveness and safety of different treatment modes for limited-stage small cell lung cancer(SCLC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 171 SCLC patients who had received different therapies were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOf these 171 patients,55 had received concurrent radiochemotherapy,66 received sequential radiochemotherapy,and 50 received chemotherapy alone. For these 171 patients,the overall response rate(ORR)was 73.1%,overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were 23.5 months and 15.2 months,respectively,and the 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rates were 76.2%,30.4%,and 16.3%,respectively. For the concurrent group,sequential group,chemotherapy alone group,the median OS were 30.6,23.1,and 19.1 months,the median PFS were 19.7,13.3,and 11.5 months,and the 5-year survival rate was 28.7%,13.6%,and 9.4%,respectively(all P<0.05). The main toxic effects were myelosuppression,radiation pneumonia,and radiation esophagitis. The incidences of 1-2 grade myelosuppression were 92.7%,89.4%,and 92% in the concurrent group,sequential group,and chemotherapy alone group(P=0.25). For concurrent group and sequential group,the incidence of 1 grade radiation pneumonia were 47.2% and 50%,respectively(P=0.61),whereas the incidence of 1-2 grade radiation esophagitis were 94.5% and 75.8%(P=0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that gender,ECOG score,TNM stage,and thoracic radiation therapy were the independent prognostic factors for SCLC.

CONCLUSIONConcurrent radiochemotherapy is the treatment of choice for SCLC patients because it can improve the survival with tolerable toxicities.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemoradiotherapy ; methods ; Drug Therapy ; methods ; Esophagitis ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate

Objective: To compare the incidence of radiation-related toxicities between conventional and hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and to explore the risk factors of hypofractionated radiotherapy-induced toxicities. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from consecutive limited-stage SCLC patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from March 2016 to April 2022. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups according to radiation fractionated regimens. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version 5.0) was used to evaluate the grade of radiation esophagus injuries and lung injuries. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with radiation-related toxicities in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group. Results: Among 211 enrolled patients, 108 cases underwent conventional IMRT and 103 patients received hypofractionated IMRT. The cumulative incidences of acute esophagitis grade ≥2 [38.9% (42/108) vs 35.0% (36/103), P=0.895] and grade ≥ 3 [1.9% (2/108) vs 5.8% (6/103), P=0.132] were similar between conventional and hypofractionated IMRT group. Late esophagus injuries grade ≥2 occurred in one patient in either group. No differences in the cumulative incidence of acute pneumonitis grade ≥2[12.0% (13/108) vs 5.8% (6/103), P=0.172] and late lung injuries grade ≥2[5.6% (6/108) vs 10.7% (11/103), P=0.277] were observed. There was no grade ≥3 lung injuries occurred in either group. Using multiple regression analysis, mean esophageal dose ≥13 Gy (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.23-9.01, P=0.018) and the overlapping volume between planning target volume (PTV) and esophageal ≥8 cm(3)(OR=3.99, 95% CI: 1.24-12.79, P=0.020) were identified as the independent risk factors associated with acute esophagitis grade ≥2 in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group. Acute pneumonitis grade ≥2 was correlated with presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, P=0.025). Late lung injuries grade ≥2 was correlated with tumor location(P=0.036). Conclusions: Hypofractionated IMRT are tolerated with manageable toxicities for limited-stage SCLC patients treated with IMRT. Mean esophageal dose and the overlapping volume between PTV and esophageal are independently predictive factors of acute esophagitis grade ≥2, and COPD and tumor location are valuable factors of lung injuries for limited-stage SCLC patients receiving hyofractionated radiotherapy. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.
Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Lung Injury ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiation Injuries/epidemiology* ; Esophagitis/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications*

Prevalence of erosive esophagitis (EE) has been increasing in Korea. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of EE among low socioeconomic population in Korea and to investigate risk factors for EE. We reviewed the medical records of 7,278 subjects who were examined by upper endoscopy in the Korean National Cancer Screening Program at Chung-Ang University Yong-san Hospital from March 2003 to March 2008. The study population included subjects > or = 40 yr of age who were Medicaid recipients and beneficiaries in the National Health Insurance Corporation. Multivariate analysis was used to determine risk factors for EE. Prevalence of EE was 6.7% (486/7,278). According to the LA classification system, LA-A in 344 subjects, LA-B in 135 subjects, and LA-C and D in 7 subjects. In multivariate analysis, age > or = 60 yr, male sex, BMI > or = 25, current smoking, alcohol consumption, fasting glucose level > or = 126 mg/dL, and endoscopic hiatal hernia were significant risk factors for EE. The prevalence of EE in low socioeconomic Korean population is similar to that in personal annual medical check-ups. Risk factors for EE among them include old age, male sex, BMI > or = 25, current smoking, alcohol consumption, fasting glucose level > or = 126 mg/dL, and hiatal hernia.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagitis/*epidemiology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors