Acute mesenteric ischemia can result from emboli, arterial and venous thrombi or vasoconstriction secondary to low-flow states. Isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery is a rare cause of acute mesenteric ischemia. The mortality rates of acute mesenteric ischemia averages 71% with a range of 59-93%. Diagnosis before the occurrence of intestinal infarction is the most important factor in improving survival rate for patients with acute mesenteric ischemia. A 68-year-old female presented with postprandial epigastric pain, and a dissection of the superior mesenteric artery and a gallbladder polyp were shown in abdominal computed tomographic scan. After the percutaneous metalic stent placement and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, her symptoms improved. We report a case of spontaneous dissection of main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery which was successfully treated by percutaneous stent placement with a review of literature.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/complications/*therapy ; *Angioplasty, Balloon ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia/etiology ; *Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion/etiology ; *Stents

The purpose of this paper is to review the colonoscopic fingings of twenty two patients with colonic tuberculosis which were diagnosed by colonoscopic finding, histopathology, and follow-up observation after antituberculosis chemotherapy at Pusan National University Hospital from January 1992 to December 1994. The results were as follows: 1) The male to female ratio was 1: 1.2, and the average age of the patients was 39.4 years with a slight predominance in women. The age of peak incidence was the 4th decade 40.9%). 2) Abdominal pain(95%), diarrhea(63%), and weight loss(50%) were the most common clinical findings. Others were constipation, melena, and palpable abdominal mass. The location of the pain was right lower abdomen, epigastrium, central abdomen, and left lower abdomen in decreasing order. 3) Hematologic findings showed decrease in hemoglobin level, increase in ESR, and positive CRP(61.5%). The white blood cell counts were mostly normal. 4) The stool examination showed positive occult blood in 7 cases among 18 cases (38.9%). Acid-fast bacteria was observed in stool of one case. 5) On colonoscopy, the lesion sites were ileoeecal valve(75%), ascending colon(72.7 %), terminal ileum(52.6%), cecum(42.9%), transverse colon(31.8%), descending colon (27.3%), sigmoid colon(9%), and rectum(9%) in decreasing order of frequency. Most of them involved ileocecal area. 6) On colonoscopy, the shape of ulcer revealed circular(41%), fusion(36%), and irregular pattern(18%). It found skipped area in 9 cases, pseudopolyp in 8 cases, patency of ileocecal valve in 5 cases, and severe deformity of ileocecal valve in 6 cases. 7) Microscopic finding of biopsy specimens revealed noncaseating granulomatous inflammation in 12 cases, and nonspecific ulcerative inflammation in 10 cases. In conclusion the diagnostic yield may be greatly enhanced by obtaining multiple target biopsies frorn tbe deep portion of the ulcer bed and margins. Judged from the colonoscopic finding and clinical improvement after antituberculosis chemotherapy, more accurate diagnosis can be acquired.
Abdomen ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Busan ; Colon* ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Melena ; Occult Blood ; Tuberculosis* ; Ulcer

A 42-year-old man without any signs or symptoms of illness underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for a routine health check up. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, multiple small and yellowish mucosal plaques were detected in the mid to distal esophagus. These plagues proved to be ectopic sebaceous glands of the esophagus according to the histologic examination. On the immunohistochemical staining with anti-Keratin 14, the basal cells and the heterotopic sebaceous glands were immunoreactive for keratin 14. The histogenesis of this extremely rare lesion is not completely clear. There have been some reports on ectopic esophagus sebaceous glands combined with esophageal cancer or gastric cancer. However, malignant transformation of the ectopic sebaceous gland itself has not yet been reported on. This case was regularly followed up for 12 months, and no interval change or malignant transformation was found both endoscopically and histologically.
Adult ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Keratin-14 ; Sebaceous Glands ; Stomach Neoplasms

The common bile duct normally enters the posteromedial aspect of the second part of the duodenum. However, anomalous drainage of the common bile duct into the stomach, pyloric channel, duodenal bulb and fourth portion of the duodenum has been reported in the literature. An anomalous pancreatic duct, with ectopic drainage of the common bile duct, is particularly rare. Herein, we report the case of a 69-year-old woman who showed pancreatic ductal variation and anomalous drainage of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb. The patient required a cholecystectomy and choledochoenteric anastomosis to relieve the obstructive jaundice and abdominal pain.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Cholecystectomy ; Common Bile Duct* ; Drainage* ; Duodenum ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Stomach

Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are relatively rare tumors that commonly present with gastrointestinal bleeding. Evaluation with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a useful technique for the differential diagnosis of GISTs from other submucosal tumors. A 58-year-old man presented with melena and anemia. An esophago-gastroduodenoscopy showed the presence of a submucosal tumor in the second portion of the duodenum with central ulceration and a flat spot. EUS showed the presence of a suspicious malignant GIST that originated from the proper muscle layer, which was successfully resected. We report a case of a duodenal GIST with a bleeding ulcer. Positive reactivity for CD117 and S-100 was demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining.
Anemia ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenum ; Endosonography ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Ulcer

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare infection of the stomach wall with high mortality rate. It is caused by gas forming organisms and may arise by local spread through the mucosa or hematogenous dissemination from distant focus. Clinical manifestation includes acute abdomen with systemic toxicity, and diagnosis is based on radiologic demonstration of gas within the gastric wall. Treatment should be aimed to cover gram-negative organisms and anaerobes using wide-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, and sometimes surgical management may be needed in order to enhance survival. Herein, we report a case of emphysematous gastritis in a patient with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Emphysema ; Female ; Gastritis/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications/*diagnosis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Sputum/microbiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A case with carcinoid tumor of the appendix was encountered incidentally during an elective abdominal surgery for borderline mucinous ovarian tumor in a 16-year old female. Carcinoid tumor of appendix is the most common neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract in childhood and adolesence. They are usually regarded as a benign neoplasm and an uncommon source of metastasis and recurrence. We report this case with reference to the value of grosss examination of the appendix and incidental appendectomy during gynecologic abdominal operations.
Adolescent ; Appendectomy ; Appendix* ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Features of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in osteosarcoma and in vitro efficacies of EGFR inhibitors against osteosarcoma cells were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty biopsy samples of osteosarcoma patients were retrospectively analyzed for EGFR protein expression by immunohistochemistry. Relationships between EGFR expression and clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment outcomes were evaluated. Four osteosarcoma cell lines were analyzed for EGFR and p-EGFR expression by western blotting. Efficacies of gefitinib and BIBW2992 on osteosarcoma cells were evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Tyrosine kinase domains in exons 18 to 21 were sequenced and gene expression analyses of EGFR and PTEN were performed in four osteosarcoma cell lines. RESULTS: EGFR protein was expressed in 27 (90%) samples (6 low, 12 intermediate, 9 high) and in three cell lines. Intermediate or high staining for EGFR was related to a tumor volume<150 mL (p<0.001) and histologic subtype other than osteoblastic type (p=0.03). However, EGFR expression was not associated with histologic response to preoperative chemotherapy or survival. Gefitinib and BIBW 2992 did not have any significant inhibitory effect on cell viabilities. DNA sequencing analysis revealed three osteosarcoma cell lines have single base changes at codon 2361 of exon 20 (G to A), without affecting translation results. Furthermore, no mutation was found to be associated with constitutive EGFR activation. CONCLUSION: In the present study, gefitinib and BIBW2992 were not effective against osteosarcoma cells. However, as osteosarcoma cells express EGFR, further studies are necessary to explore the potential of other therapeutic agents targeting EGFR.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Codon ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Exons ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteoblasts ; Osteosarcoma ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Quinazolines ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Retrospective Studies ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles

Choroid plexus cysts (CPCs) are the most commom neuroepithelial cysts, occuring in more than 50% of some autopsy series. They are typically small and asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally in older patients, usually in the trigone of the lateral ventricle. Symptomatic CPCs (usually exceptionally large, 2-8 cm) are rare. The authors report a case of large symptomatic choroid plexus cyst, located in the trigone of the right lateral ventricle in a 26-yr-old man who presented with headache and vomiting. The patient underwent endoscopic removal through a burr hole placed 3 cm from the midline and just behind the hair line. The histological examination of the cyst wall was consistent with choroid epithelium. Despite of postoperative intraventricular hemorrhage and catheter infection, he discharged home without neurologic deficits. The endoscopic fenestration rather than excision should be considered as the first surgical procedure because the goal of treatment is shrinkage of the cyst until normal cerebrospinal fluid flow is restored.
Adult ; Brain Diseases/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; *Choroid Plexus ; Cysts/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Male

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN) is a precancerous lesion with a well-described adenocarcinoma sequence. The rate of progression of IPMN appears to be very slow; however, patients with IPMN may be at increased risk for extrapancreatic malignancies. A 55-year-old female was diagnosed with IPMN of the pancreas and a duodenal polyp in 2004. After an approximate 3 year loss to follow-up, she was readmitted for managing abdominal pain and underwent Whipple's operation. Herein, we report a case of a patient with malignant IPMN accompanied by duodenal adenocarcinoma arising from a duodenal polyp.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Polyps