There is a widespread belief that nasogastric decompression in gastric cancer surgery allows better surgical field and leads to the reduction of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether gastric cancer surgery can be safely performed without nasogastric decompression. From March to June 2000, 119 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were randomized into either a tubeless group (n=56) or an intubated group (n=63). Exclusion criteria included a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and pyloric obstruction. No remarkable difference was found in the incidence of complications in the tubeless and intubated groups (mean 10.9%, p=0.945). The incidence of nasogastric tube insertion in the tubeless group was similar to the incidence of nasogastric tube reinsertion in the intubated group (p=0.747). Time to pass flatus was not different in the two groups (p=0.054), nor was the length of hospital stay (p=0.148). These results suggest that gastric cancer surgery can be performed safely without nasogastric decompression.
Adult ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; *Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Middle Age ; Postoperative Complications/etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/*surgery

PURPOSE: Drainage of the peritoneal cavity after abdominal surgery has been routinely practiced, although few data exist to scientifically support the efficacy of such an approach. In gastric cancer surgery, drainage is regarded as an essential procedure to keep the peritoneal cavity clear after extended lymphadenectomy and, also, to facilitate early detection of hemorrhage, and anastomotic or duodenal stump leakage. In this context, we planned a randomized prospective trial of drainage use after gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Between February and July 2001, 170 patients who underwent gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy were randomly allocated to either a non-drainage (n=84) or drainage group (n=86). The primary outcome measure was the complication rate. Additional outcome measures were operation time, requirements of rescue analgesics, changes in the level of serum albumin and hemoglobin, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Demographic details, preoperative physical status, and pathologic features were not different between the two groups. Incidences of total gastrectomy and splenectomy among total gastrectomies were similar in both groups. However, operation time was shorter in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group (P=0.022). There were no differences in surgical outcome, including changes in hemoglobin and albumin levels, requirement for rescue analgesics, time to flatus or soft diet, and length of hospital stay. Complication rates were not different between the two groups(P=0.691), nor in the patterns of complication in either group. There was no operative mortality or reoperation. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, routine abdominal drainage should not be mandatory or even standard after gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.
Analgesics ; Diet ; Drainage ; Flatulence ; Gastrectomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mortality ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Prospective Studies ; Reoperation ; Serum Albumin ; Splenectomy ; Stomach Neoplasms*

The endemic status of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis along the Geum-gang (River) in Okcheon-gun (County) in Korea was examined. From February to December 2000, stools of total 1,081 inhabitants living in 5 villages were examined. Each stool specimen was examined by both the cellophane thick smear method and the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Egg-positive cases were further analyzed by Stoll's egg-counting technique, and praziquantel was administered to positive cases. The egg-positive rates for Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus species were 9.3% and 5.5%, respectively, and the double infection rate was 3.5%. The numbers of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces of C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. were 918 +/-1.463 and 711+/-947, respectively. The egg-positive rates for C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in the riverside area were 14.2% and 8.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the inland area (3.2% and 1.7%, respectively). The egg-positive rates of C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in males (16.7% and 10.0%) were significantly higher than those of females (3.5% and 1.8%). However, there were no significant differences of EPG values between localities and sexes. The prevalence of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis in this survey was significantly lower than that in the previous reports. However, there is still a high prevalence of infection with C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in this region, especially in the riverside area.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Child ; Clonorchiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Clonorchis sinensis/isolation & purification ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Heterophyidae/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parasite Egg Count ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors ; Trematode Infections/*epidemiology/parasitology

Although pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare vascular anomaly, they are seen in a wide variety of conditions, such as congenital heart disease, infection, trauma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic medial necrosis and generalized vasculitis. To our knowledge, mycotic aneurysms caused by pulmonary actinomycosis have not been reported in the radiologic literature. Herein, a case of pulmonary actinomycosis complicated by mycotic aneurysm is presented. On CT scans, this case showed focal aneurysmal dilatation of a peripheral pulmonary artery within necrotizing pneumonia of the right lower lobe, which was successfully treated with transcatheter embolization using wire coils.
Actinomycosis/*complications ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Infected/*etiology/*radiography/therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Human ; Male ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/*complications ; *Pulmonary Artery ; Treatment Outcome

Although some reports have been published on the protective effect of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii surface membrane proteins, few address the inhibitory activity of antibodies to dense granular proteins (GRA proteins). Therefore, we performed a series of experiments to evaluate the inhibitory effects of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to GRA proteins (GRA2, 28 kDa; GRA6, 32 kDa) and surface membrane protein (SAG1, 30 kDa) on the invasion of T. gondii tachyzoites. Passive immunization of mice with one of three mAbs following challenge with a lethal dose of tachyzoites significantly increased survival compared with results for mice treated with control ascites. The survival times of mice challenged with tachyzoites pretreated with anti-GRA6 or anti-SAG1 mAb were significantly increased. Mice that received tachyzoites pretreated with both mAb and complement had longer survival times than those that received tachyzoites pretreated with mAb alone. Invasion of tachyzoites into fibroblasts and macrophages was significantly inhibited in the anti-GRA2, anti-GRA6 or anti-SAG1 mAb pretreated group. Pretreatment with mAb and complement inhibited invasion of tachyzoites in both fibroblasts and macrophages. These results suggest that specific antibodies to dense-granule molecules may be useful for controlling infection with T. gondii.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Antigens, Protozoan ; Female ; Fibroblasts/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Relations ; Immunization, Passive ; Macrophages/parasitology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protozoan Proteins/*immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxoplasma/*pathogenicity ; Toxoplasmosis/parasitology/*therapy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathologic characteristics and the clinical outcome of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach. METHODS: The medical records of 16 patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma between 1990 and 2001 at the Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine were reviewed. RESULTS: There were 13 male and 3 female patients. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 62.8 years. The presenting symptoms were epigastric pain or postprandial abdominal discomfort in ten patients, melena in two, and weight loss in one, the remaining three were diagnosed incidentally. Ten patients had a tumor in the upper or middle one third of the stomach and the remaining six patients had a tumor in the distal one third. The mean size of the tumor was 5.3 cm, ranging from 2 cm to 9 cm. The tumor extended beyond the serosa in ten patients (invading the pancreas in one patient), and was limited to the muscle layer proper in five patients, and to the submucosal layer in only one patient. Regional lymph node metastasis was noted in 11 patients. Tumor cells extended to the perigastric lymph nodes in 5 patients and the extra-perigastric lymph nodes in 6 patients, including paraaortic lymph nodes metastasis in 2 patients. Liver metastasis was present in one patient. Seven patients were alive without any evidence of recurrence at a mean follow-up of 75.7 months (range 9~125), and one other was alive with a recurrent disease in the peritoneal cavity. The remaining eight patients died of disease recurrence or progression at an average of 10.6 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach is more likely to develop in the male and is usually found at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. It also has a tendency to infiltrate deeply into the gastric wall with frequent regional lymph node metastasis. Neuroendocrine carcinoma is a peculiar histologic subtype of gastric cancer which takes an aggressive clinical course.
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine* ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Melena ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Serous Membrane ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: There has been considerable controversy over the prognosis of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC). To clarify the biologic behavior of SRC, we evaluated the clinicopathologic features and the prognosis of SRC. METHODS: A total of 3,104 patients with a gastric carcinoma who had undergone a gastrectomy from 1987 to 1995 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 556 patients with SRC were compared to 2,548 patients with non-SRC. RESULTS: Patients with SRC were younger than those with non-SRC, and female were prevalent. Incidence of EGC were higher in patients with SRC. EGC with SRC had a larger proportion of mucosa-confined lesions and a lower rate of lymph node metastasis than EGC with non-SRC. Multivariate analysis showed that SRC was a negative inde pendent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. Among advanced gastric cancers SRCs showed a higher prevalence of large-sized lesions, Borrmann type IV lesions, and advanced nodal stage, as well as a higher rate of peritoneal metastasis. The 5-year survival rate of EGC with SRC (93.8%) was higher than that of non-SRC (91.2%). However, the prognosis of advanced SRC (49.0%) was poorer than that of non-SRC (53.5%). CONCLUSION: A female preponderance, a younger age, and a higher proportion of early gastric cancer characterized the peculiar biologic behavior of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. In addi tion, the prognosis of SRC was poor once invasion had gone beyond the submucosa. These findings suggest that signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach should be regarded as a distinct type of gastric cancer.
Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell* ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is characterized by a triad of poly/monostotic fibrous dysplasia, cafe-au-lait macules and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies including human growth hormone excess. Acromegaly as a manifestation of endocrine hyperfunction with MAS is uncommon. Surgical excision may be challenging due to the associated severe fibrous dysplasia of the skull base. Through the endoscopic procedures, we treated a case of MAS presenting with compressive optic neuropathy due to fibrous dysplasia and acromegaly caused by growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma. We reviewed the literature on GH excess in MAS to highlight its surgical and medical challenges.
Acromegaly ; Decompression* ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic* ; Growth Hormone ; Human Growth Hormone ; Optic Nerve Diseases* ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Skull Base

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is characterized by a triad of poly/monostotic fibrous dysplasia, cafe-au-lait macules and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies including human growth hormone excess. Acromegaly as a manifestation of endocrine hyperfunction with MAS is uncommon. Surgical excision may be challenging due to the associated severe fibrous dysplasia of the skull base. Through the endoscopic procedures, we treated a case of MAS presenting with compressive optic neuropathy due to fibrous dysplasia and acromegaly caused by growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma. We reviewed the literature on GH excess in MAS to highlight its surgical and medical challenges.
Acromegaly ; Decompression* ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic* ; Growth Hormone ; Human Growth Hormone ; Optic Nerve Diseases* ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Skull Base

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric cavernous malformation (CM) in the central nervous system. METHODS: Twenty-nine pediatric patients with supratentorial CM underwent microsurgical excision. In selected cases, transparent tubular retractor system (TTRS) was used to reduce retraction injury and intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) was held to preserve functioning cortex. Patients' demographics and symptoms were reviewed and surgical outcomes were discussed. RESULTS: The main initial clinical manifestations included the following : seizures (n=13, 45%), headache (n=7, 24%), focal neurological deficits (n=3, 10%), and an incidental finding (n=6, 21%). Overt hemorrhage was detected in 7 patients (24%). There were 19 children (66%) with a single CM and 10 (34%) children with multiple CMs. In 7 cases with deep-seated CM, we used a TTRS to minimize retraction. In 9 cases which location of CM was at eloquent area, IONM was taken during surgery. There was no major morbidity or mortality after surgery. In the 29 operated children, the overall long-term results were satisfactory : 25 (86%) patients had no signs or symptoms associated with CMs, 3 had controllable seizures, and 1 had mild weakness. CONCLUSION: With the assistance of neuronavigation systems, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and TTRS, CMs could be targeted more accurately and excised more safely. Based on the satisfactory seizure outcome achieved, complete microsurgical excision in children is recommended for CMs presenting with seizures but removal of hemosiderin-stained areas seems to be unnecessary.
Central Nervous System ; Child ; Demography ; Headache ; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Mortality ; Neuronavigation ; Seizures