Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is a rare tumor of the liver, which carries a poor prognosis. It has been reported mostly in the form of case studies. Recently, we experienced a case of primary ASC of the liver that has been preoperatively considered as cholangiocelluar carcinoma of the liver. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, as well as transitional area, including the transformation of adenocarcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma. The patient remained well with no evidence of post-resection complication or recurrence for 15 month.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Ganglioneuroma* ; Intestine, Large

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnosis and prognosis of malignant pheochromocytoma are important. Other than distant metastasis, the pathology is insufficient to diagnose malignant versus benign pheochromocytoma. METHODS: We analyzed 33 pheochromocytoma cases using the histological grade on the Thompson and Kimura scales. We compared the Thompson and Kimura scores with the degree of immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). RESULTS: The most frequent symptom was hypertension (17 cases; 51.5%) and four patients had accompanying tumors: one case each of multiple endocrine neoplasm, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, gastric adenocarcinoma, and neurofibroma. The mean Thompson score was 3.67 in benign pheochromocytoma and 10 in malignant pheochromocytoma, and the Kimura score was 2.17 and 5, respectively. The average immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 was 5.77 and 10.44 in benign and malignant pheochromocytoma, respectively, while Hsp90 immunohistochemical staining was positive only in the cytoplasm of malignant pheochromocytoma. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 and Hsp90 was seen in malignant pheochromocytoma. The Thompson and Kimura scales and immunohistochemical results could help to differentiate benign and malignant pheochromocytoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Cytoplasm ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurofibroma ; Pheochromocytoma ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adenomatous polyps of the colon are believed to be precursor of colon cancer. Total polyp resection is indicated when they are identified. However, resection of the polyp is not always attainable at the initial colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of cold biopsy findings as representative of the whole polypectomy specimen, with regard to the histopathological features. METHODS: We analyzed 221 patients with colon polyps that were biopsied at their initial colonoscopy and had their adenomas subsequently removed by polypectomy within 2 weeks from the initial procedure. We analyzed the histopathological discrepancies between the cold biopsy and the polypectomy specimens. RESULTS: We analyzed 302 cases from 221 patients. There was 71.2% agreement between the forceps biopsy and the polypectomy. When colon polyps were diagnosed as carcinoma and villous adenomas, the diagnosis was the same in the polypectomy. Discrepancy between in forceps biopsy with polypectomy was found in the tubular adenomas obtained by forceps biopsy. Fifty tubular adenoma samples obtained by forceps biopsy had a deferent diagnosis than did the polypectomy. Fourteen of 50 tubular adenomas were underestimated by the forceps biopsy samples and seven of the 50 tubular adenomas were finally diagnosed as carcinoma from the polypectomy specimens. Seven villous adenomas were diagnosed as carcinoma and had severe dysplasia (n=4) or 1>=(n=1) size. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate tissue sampling of colorectal adenomas is crucial for their management. However, forceps biopsy does not accurately reflect the histology of colon polyps. Total resection of colon polyps is needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Villous ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Biopsy ; Cold Temperature ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Polyps ; Surgical Instruments

Peg-interferon is the main therapeutic agent in patients infected with the hepatitis C virus. It is rather safe, but it is known to induce production of autoantibodies and it can lead to the occurrence of autoimmune disease. Interferon induced thyroiditis is considered a major clinical problem for patients who receive interferon therapy. We recently experienced a 36 year-old woman who developed peg-interferon induced thyroiditis. To the best of our knowledge, this is a rare case report in Korea. We report here on this casea long with a review of the literature.
Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Humans ; Interferons ; Korea ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune

Extra-pelvic spread of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix to the stomach is extremely rare. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia two years after diagnosis of SCC of the cervix. At esophagogastroduodenoscopy, there was a 1.5x1.2 cm sized ulcero-fungating mass at the cardia portion just beneath the esophagogastric junction which was biopsied for a suspected neoplastic lesion. Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations showed a SCC with characteristics identical to her original tumor from the cervix confirming gastric metastasis. Therefore, we report a case of endocervical SCC with metastatic lesions in the stomach 2 years after the initial diagnosis.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cardia ; Cervix Uteri ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Extra-pelvic spread of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix to the stomach is extremely rare. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia two years after diagnosis of SCC of the cervix. At esophagogastroduodenoscopy, there was a 1.5x1.2 cm sized ulcero-fungating mass at the cardia portion just beneath the esophagogastric junction which was biopsied for a suspected neoplastic lesion. Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations showed a SCC with characteristics identical to her original tumor from the cervix confirming gastric metastasis. Therefore, we report a case of endocervical SCC with metastatic lesions in the stomach 2 years after the initial diagnosis.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cardia ; Cervix Uteri ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Previous studies reported that oxaliplatin is associated with sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. However few reports on oxaliplatin induced liver fibrosis are found in the literature. Furthermore pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is not well known. We report a case of 45-yr-old Korean man in whom liver fibrosis with splenomegaly developed after 12 cycles of oxaliplatin based adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer (T4N2M0). Thorough history taking and serological examination revealed no evidence of chronic liver disease. Restaging CT scans demonstrated a good response to chemotherapy. Five month after chemotherapy, he underwent right hepatectomy due to isolated metastatic lesion. The liver parenchyma showed diffuse sinusoidal dilatation and centrilobular vein fibrosis with necrosis without steatosis. We could conclude that splenomegaly was due to perisinusoidal liver fibrosis and liver cell necrosis induced portal hypertension by oxaliplatin. In addition, to investigate the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, immunohistochemical stains such as CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were conducted with control group. The immunohistochemical stains for CD31 and alpha-SMA were positive along the sinusoidal space in the patient, while negative in the control group. Chemotherapy with oxaliplatin induces liver fibrosis which should be kept in mind as a serious complication.
Actins/metabolism ; Antigens, CD31/metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Camptothecin/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colonic Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/etiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leucovorin/therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds/*administration & dosage/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Splenomegaly/*diagnosis/etiology ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The current study examines the expression of molecular biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and whether these findings correlate with the clinicopathologic features of the disease and patient survival. METHODS: We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of p53, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), c-Met, and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) with the clinicopathologic features of 83 HCCs. RESULTS: p53 expression was higher in the male patients with undifferentiated histological tumor grades, cirrhosis, and portal vein invasion. High 48 c-Met expression correlated with cirrhosis, and high mTOR expression correlated with the tumor grade and cirrhosis. High IGF-1R expression correlated with the tumor grade and cirrhosis. A multivariate analysis identified a significant relationship between the high expression of p53, tumor grade, and portal vein invasion. In addition, a high expression of mTOR was related to tumor grade and cirrhosis, and a high expression of HSP70 was related to portal vein invasion in a multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve for patients with high versus low Edmondson grades and p53 expression was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: p53, mTOR, and IGF-1R expression correlated with the Edmondson tumor grade in a univariate analysis, while p53 and mTOR correlated with the Edmondson tumor grade in a multivariate analysis. In addition, the tumor grade was found to predict survival. p53 was primarily related to the clinicopathologic features compared to other markers, and it is a poor prognostic factor of survival.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*metabolism/surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*metabolism/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism ; Receptor, IGF Type 1/metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism

The most common cause of esophagorespiratory fistulas (ERFs) is associated with malignancy. The use of self-expandable metal stents is effective for the treatment of malignant ERFs, but benign ERF is rare, which is why its optimal treatment is not defined yet. There have been few reports describing benign esophagopleural fistula and its treatments in South Korea. Here, we report a rare case of spontaneous esophagopleural fistula, which was successfully treated by endoscopic placement of a membrane covered metal stent.
Fistula ; Membranes ; Republic of Korea ; Stents