BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little information is available on the rate and predictive factors of rebleeding of unknown cause, which is very important in deciding further investigations on obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rebleeding rate and related factors in obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding patients who revealed normal gastroscopic and colonoscopic findings. METHODS: A total of 69 patients with negative first-line gastroscopy and colonoscopy were enrolled in this study as obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding cases. The relationships between rebleeding and clinical characteristics were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The causes of obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding were confirmed in 30 cases among the 69 cases. Small bowel tumors (14 cases) were the most common cause, followed by vascular lesions (6 cases). The mean follow-up period was 28 months and rebleeding was noticed in 19 patients (27.5%). Among these rebleeding patients, 14 cases (73.7%) occurred within 6 months. The past experience of previous bleeding was significantly related with rebleeding (p=0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Close observation and detailed investigations are needed for obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding patients with bleeding history, especially during 6 months follow-up.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiodysplasia/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/*etiology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms(a-NEN).

METHODSClinical data of 20 patients diagnosed with a-NEN at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University between January 2000 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Pathological diagnosis was based on the WHO classification criteria of digestive system tumors (2010 edition). Based on the mitotic count and Ki-67 index, a-NENs were divided into grade 1 neuroendocrine tumor (NET G1), grade 2(G2) NET G2) and grade 3 (neuroendocrine carcinoma, NEC). Some special types of a-NEN (e.g. goblet cell carcinoid) and mixed adenoneuroendocrine neoplasms were classified as mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). Follow-up was conducted by telephone or return visits. Univariate analysis was carried out using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to draw survival curves.

RESULTSOf 20 patients, 14 were male and 6 were female with median age of 54 years. Seventeen cases presented acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain, 1 chronic right lower quadrant abdominal pain, 1 persistent abdominal discomfort with outburst whole abdominal pain and 1 was found during body check without symptoms. Twenty cases comprised 8 G1 patients, 4 G2 patients, 3 G3 patients, and 5 MANEC patients. When diagnosed, there was 1 patient with liver metastasis, 1 patient with abdominal and pelvic metastases, and 2 patients with postoperative pathological findings of lymph node metastasis. Six patients underwent appendectomy, 12 underwent right hemicolectomy, 1 underwent right hemicolectomy plus small intestine resection, and 1 underwent partial hepatectomy plus right hemicolectomy. The follow-up time was 7-187 months(average, 36 months). The total 1- and 3-year survival rates were 94.7% and 60.2%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that age >50 years (χ=7.036, P=0.008), pathology grade as MANEC (χ=5.297, P=0.021), and metastasis (χ=6.558, P=0.010) indicated lower 5-year survival rate.

CONCLUSIONSMost a-NEN patients have no typical symptoms, and the main complaint at consultation is acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Prognosis is poor for patients with age >50 years, MANEC pathology grade and metastasis.

Appendiceal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Cowden's disease, also known as various hamartomatous malformations of multiple organs, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder. The most important feature of Cowden's disease is its frequent association with malignant neoplasm, particularly in the breast and thyroid gland. Cowden's disease with malignant neoplasms, is quite rare in Korea so far. We report a case of Cowden's disease associated with breast cancer in a 41-year-old female who underwent routine health cheek-up.
Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/*complications/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/pathology ; Gastroscopy ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Polyps/diagnosis

Gastrointestinal leiomyomas are commonly found in the stomach, and but 3% of them arises from the colon. Colonic leiomyomas are often found incidentally during colonoscopic examination. Most of patients with colonic leiomyoma are asymptomatic, but patients with large size leiomyoma occasionally have abdominal mass, hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction or perforation. Pedunculated leiomyomatous polyp is rare. Leiomyomatous polyps are occasionally misjudged as adenomatous polyps by endoscopist. We report a case of pedunculated leiomyomatous colonic polyp in 65 year-old female patient. She has complained of intermittent hematochezia and lower abdominal discomfort for 5 months. During colonoscopy, an 1 cm sized long pedunculated polyp at the splenic flexure was detected. It was removed by colonoscopic snare polypectomy. Leiomyomatous polyp was confirmed by microscopic and immunohistochemical findings.
Aged ; Anus ; Colonic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis ; *Colonoscopy ; English Abstract ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Humans ; *Leiomyoma/complications/*diagnosis

PURPOSE: The presence of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and its treatment might aggravate patient nutritional status. Malnutrition is one of the major factors affecting the postoperative course. We evaluated changes in perioperative nutritional status and risk factors of postoperative severe malnutrition in the GI cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nutritional status was prospectively evaluated using patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) perioperatively between May and September 2011. RESULTS: A total of 435 patients were enrolled. Among them, 279 patients had been diagnosed with gastric cancer and 156 with colorectal cancer. Minimal invasive surgery was performed in 225 patients. PG-SGA score increased from 4.5 preoperatively to 10.6 postoperatively (p<0.001). Ten patients (2.3%) were severely malnourished preoperatively, increasing to 115 patients (26.3%) postoperatively. In gastric cancer patients, postoperative severe malnourishment increased significantly (p<0.006). In univariate analysis, old age (>60, p<0.001), male sex (p=0.020), preoperative weight loss (p=0.008), gastric cancer (p<0.001), and open surgery (p<0.001) were indicated as risk factors of postoperative severe malnutrition. In multivariate analysis, old age, preoperative weight loss, gastric cancer, and open surgery remained significant as risk factors of severe malnutrition. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of severe malnutrition among GI cancer patients in this study increased from 2.3% preoperatively to 26.3% after an operation. Old age, preoperative weight loss, gastric cancer, and open surgery were shown to be risk factors of postoperative severe malnutrition. In patients at high risk of postoperative severe malnutrition, adequate nutritional support should be considered.
Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*surgery ; Humans ; Malnutrition/diagnosis ; *Nutritional Status ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although colonoscopy is not indicated in patients with hematochezia, many surgeons, internists, and physicians are recommending colonoscopy for these patients in Korea. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of colonoscopy for patients with hematochezia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of colonoscopy between January 2010 and December 2010. A total of 321 patients among 3,038 colonoscopies (10.6%) underwent colonoscopy to evaluate the cause of hematochezia. The patients with previous colorectal surgery (2) or polypectomy (5) were excluded. We analyzed endoscopic diagnoses. Advanced neoplastic polyps were defined as adenomas with villous histology or high grade dysplasia, or adenomas more than 10 mm in diameter. RESULTS: Hemorrhoid was the most common diagnosis (217 cases, 67.6%). Polyps were detected in 93 patients (29.0%), but advanced neoplastic polyps were found in only 14 cases (4.4%). Colorectal cancers were diagnosed in 18 patients (5.6%) including 14 rectal cancers. There was no cancer located above sigmoid-descending junction. Diverticuli were detected in 41 patients (12.8%) but there was only one case of suspected diverticular bleeding. Colitis was diagnosed in 24 patients (7.5%). Other lesions included acute anal fissure, rectal tumor, stercoral ulcer, and radiation proctitis. CONCLUSIONS: The colonoscopy had little value in patients with hematochezia because the most pathologic lesions were located below sigmoid colon. The first choice of diagnosis in patients with hematochezia is sigmoidoscopy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Colitis/complications/diagnosis ; Colonic Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Colonic Polyps ; *Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/*etiology ; Hemorrhoids/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is an unusual primary gastrointestinal lymphoma, particularly associated with celiac sprue. This tumor usually affects the jejunum and grossly presents as multiple circumferential ulcers without the formation of definite tumor masses. Moreover, mesenteric lymph nodes are commonly involved. The patients have typically suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhea, or weight loss whereas some patients may manifest with nonspecific symptoms for a period of years or an acute emergency of perforation, obstruction, or hemorrhage. The clinical course of EATL is very unfavorable and the prognosis is poor. Both celiac sprue and EATL are very rare diseases in Asia, except India and Middle East. We report a 60-year-old male diagnosed as having EATL after segmental small bowel resection, who presented with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.
Celiac Disease/*complications ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Intestine, Small/pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

Carney triad is a rare syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by having at least two out of three following neoplasms: gastrointestinal stromal tumor, pulmonary chondroma and extra-adrenal paraganglioma. About 100 cases have been reported worldwide. We report a case of Carney triad in a 42-year-old woman presented with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the stomach and a malignant functioning paraganglioma in the retroperitoneum that was fatal five years after diagnosis. The gastrointestinal stromal tumor was diagnosed as intermediate-risk of aggressive behavior and diffusely positive for c-kit whereas the retroperitoneal paraganglioma was negative for c-kit. Genetic analyses showed no mutations of KIT, PDGFRA, SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD genes in both tumors. To our best knowledge, this is the first case of Carney triad in Korea.
Adult ; Carney Complex/*chemically induced/complications ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Korea ; Paraganglioma/*diagnosis/pathology ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology

There have been several published reports on metastatic lesions in the stomach, but the number of cases have been limited due to the low frequency of the condition. Metastatic lesions in the stomach are usually asymptomatic. A 55-year-old man with known metastatic lung adenocancer exhibited epigastric pain, hematemesis, and melena. A bleeding, ulcerated gastric metastasis was found and treated with endoscopic therapy and omeprazole.
Neoplasm Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Lung Neoplasms/*complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*pathology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/*pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology ; Acute Disease

Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma (ETTL) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, it is a subtype of the peripheral T-cell lymphomas. This disease is associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy, has a high risk of intestinal perforation and obstruction, and is refractory to chemotherapeutic treatment. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who was diagnosed with enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma of the small intestine, which was positive for the markers of cytotoxic T cells, CD3, CD8, and CD56, on immunohistochemical staining after resection of the perforated terminal ileum.
Aged ; Celiac Disease/*complications/pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*complications/pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation/*diagnosis/*etiology/pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell/*complications/pathology