Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by onset at a relatively early age, an excess of synchronous and metachronous tumors, and a variety of extracolorectal malignancies. Small bowel carcinoma reported, is included in the tumor spectrum of HNPCC, but the frequency of occurrence of this tumor in HNPCC patients is comparatively rare. In Korea, several cases of multiple primary cancers in patients with HNPCC have been reported, however, primary jejunal adenocarcinoma in conjunction with multiple primary cancers in the digestive tract has rarely been reported. Recently, we evaluated a 61-year-old male diagnosed with metachronous triple primary cancers of the jejunum, stomach, and colon. We report this rare case of primary jejunal adenocarcinoma as a part of metachronous triple cancers along with a review of the relevant literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Jejunal Neoplasms ; Jejunum ; Korea ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; Stomach

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG), a rare radiologic finding, is associated in some cases with severe or lethal conditions requiring urgent surgical intervention. Computed tomography has recently demonstrated a wider range of clinical conditions associated with HPVG, some of which are benign and do not necessarily require surgery. However, HPVG remains an ominous sign in cases of bowel ischemia or necrosis. We report on a case of massive HPVG caused by a fatal intestinal infarction, which showed rapid disease progression, eventually resulting in death due to septic shock. The HPVG in this case was huge and could therefore be confused with an air-biliarygram.
Colitis, Ischemic ; Disease Progression ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Mesenteric Veins ; Necrosis ; Portal Vein ; Shock, Septic

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a vasculitis of the small vessels of the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys characterized by immunoglobulin A deposits in the involved organs. HSP is typified by the classic tetrad of purpura, arthralgia, abdominal pain, and renal involvement. It is common in childhood, but may also occur in adults and can be accompanied by severe complications. Gastrointestinal symptoms occur in up to 85% of patients, and gastrointestinal involvement can manifest as severe problems including intussusception, obstruction, and perforation. The disease course is often self-limited, but severe manifestations occasionally require surgical intervention. We report the case of a 24-year-old man with HSP who presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. Computerized tomography revealed thickening of the ileal wall and multifocal disrupted prominent mucosal enhancement. These findings suggested hemorrhagic enteritis and mucosal necrosis. After treatment with high dose corticosteroids, the lesion improved and surgical intervention was avoided. Our experience suggests that corticosteroid therapy may help in controlling HSP with suspicious small bowel necrosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Arthralgia ; Enteritis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Intussusception ; Joints ; Kidney ; Necrosis ; Purpura ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Skin ; Steroids ; Vasculitis ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a cytotoxin-producing anaerobic gram-positive rod that is responsible for pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). The incidence of C. difficile is increasing in ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflammatory bowel disease patients and is associated with a more severe course, a longer hospital stay, higher financial costs, a greater likelihood of colectomy, and high mortality. PMC may occur anywhere along the intestinal tract, but it is often found in the distal colon. PMC involving the proximal colon with rectosigmoid sparing is rarely reported in patients with UC. We describe the case of a 35-year-old woman in remission from UC who presented with frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain. She was treated with ciprofloxacin for infectious enterocolitis at a local hospital; however, her symptoms did not improve. A colonoscopy revealed yellow-white plaques with edematous, erythematous from the proximal ascending colon to the cecum, and feces positive for C. difficile toxin. She was treated with metronidazole (500 mg, three times a day) for two weeks, and improved rapidly. Physicians should carefully examine the entire colon via colonoscopy, and perform stool exams for C. difficile in patients with UC who have been treated with antibiotics and in those who develop prolonged diarrhea despite medical treatment.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cecum ; Ciprofloxacin ; Clostridium difficile ; Colectomy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Enterocolitis ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Feces ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Length of Stay ; Metronidazole ; Ulcer

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is occasionally a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract, and rarely considered a cause of enterocolitis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal enterocolitis may cause persistent diarrhea leading to severe complications and even death, without appropriate treatment. Lymphocytic colitis (LC), a subtype of microscopic colitis, is a relatively common cause of chronic watery diarrhea. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman with profuse watery diarrhea caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Soon after treatment of her enterocolitis with vancomycin the patient's general condition and symptoms improved, although the diarrhea persisted. Through colonoscopic biopsy and immunohistochemical staining, overt LC was diagnosed, and prompt therapy with budesonide was initiated.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Budesonide ; Colitis, Lymphocytic ; Colitis, Microscopic ; Diarrhea ; Enterocolitis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Methicillin Resistance ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Korea, limited data are available on small bowel bleeding in patients with portal hypertension. This study reports on the use of capsule endoscopy in cases of suspected small bowel bleeding in patients with portal hypertension. METHODS: Capsule endoscopy was used at our hospital to evaluate small bowel disease in 501 cases from July 2003 to June 2010. Of those cases, nine patients with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis with suspected small bowel bleeding were selected for the study. A retrospective analysis was performed using data from medical records. RESULTS: Six of the nine (66.7%) patients were males with an average age of 53.4 years. The average hemoglobin level was 8.1 g/dL. Abnormalities noted during capsule endoscopy included portal hypertensive enteropathy in all nine cases (100%), jejunal varices in four (44.4%), jejunal and ileal angiodysplasia in five (55.5%), multiple small bowel erosions in one (11.1%), granularity of the jejunal mucosa in one (11.1%), and small bowel erythema in three (33.3%). Active bleeding from jejunal varices was detected in two patients (22.2%). Despite having no obvious active bleeding during the capsule endoscopy, four patients (44.4%) were diagnosed with portal hypertensive enteropathy with obscure small bowel bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Capsule endoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of small bowel bleeding in patients with portal hypertensive enteropathy. Additional prospective and multicenter studies on the use of capsule endoscopy are needed to evaluate the incidence and clinical importance of portal hypertensive enteropathy.
Angiodysplasia ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Erythema ; Hemoglobins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Incidence ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Retrospective Studies ; Varicose Veins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is a paucity of information on postpolypectomy surveillance currently practiced in Korea. Thus, we investigated the present state of postpolypectomy surveillance in Korea using a web-based survey. METHODS: A multiple choice questionnaire was used to determine the preferred surveillance modality, the colonoscopic surveillance interval used in 11 case scenarios, and clinical factors influencing surveillance intervals. The form was sent via e-mail to members of the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases and primary care physicians involved in a colonoscopy surveillance program. Of 425 colonoscopists contacted, 263 replied (response rate, 62%). Of the respondents, 94% were internists and 54% practiced in tertiary referral hospitals. RESULTS: All respondents chose colonoscopy as a preferred surveillance modality following polyp removal. Colonoscopy at 3 years was the most frequent answer after removal of 1 or 2 tubular adenoma(s) <1 cm in size, while 1 year was the most frequent answer after removal of an advanced adenoma or > or =3 adenomas, and 6 months was the most frequent choice after removal of adenoma with high-grade dysplasia or a sessile polyp > or =2 cm. The agreement rate for the time of first surveillance between preferred guideline recommendations and respondent answers was in the low range at 14-43%. CONCLUSIONS: A significant disagreement exists between current postpolypectomy surveillance practices of Korean colonoscopists and preferred guideline recommendations. This discrepancy may be due to the fact that the guidelines do not reflect recent studies and the specific medical environment in Korea. Thus, there is a need to develop new evidence-based Korean guidelines for postpolypectomy surveillance.
Adenoma ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; Korea ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Polyps ; Referral and Consultation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Both colorectal neoplasm (CN) and coronary artery obstructive disease (CAOD) are prevalent and major leading causes of death in Korea. Although CN and CAOD share similar risk factors such as male gender, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, few studies of both CN and CAOD have been reported. In this study, we evaluated clinical correlations between CN and CAOD. METHODS: Between June 2003 and December 2007, 176 patients (Male: 101, average age: 62.1+/-9.7 yr) who underwent colonoscopy after or before coronary angiography were retrospectively enrolled. The colonoscopic findings (normal, adenoma, or cancer) of patients as well as clinical and laboratory data according to the extent of CAOD (normal, minimal CAOD, or CAOD) were compared. RESULTS: CAOD negative, minimal CAOD, and CAOD patients totaled 36, 40, and 100, respectively. The presence of CN (adenoma and adenocarcinoma) in CAOD negative, minimal CAOD, and CAOD cases was 42%, 48%, and 63%, respectively, which was significantly different (P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, old age (> or =60 yr; P=0.03, odds ratio 2.47) and the presence of CAOD (P=0.02, odds ratio 4.11) were associated with the presence of CN. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CN increased in proportion to the severity of CAOD. Colorectal cancer screening by fecal occult blood tests or colonoscopy should be a priority in patients with CAOD, particularly the elderly.
Adenoma ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Occult Blood ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The adenoma detection rate (ADR) has been proposed as a quality indicator of colonoscopy; however, ADR cannot be measured easily with commonly used endoscopy reporting systems because substantial time and effort is required to acquire data from histologic assessments. The purpose of this study was to determine if polyp detection rate (PDR) could be used as a valid proxy for ADR. METHODS: A total of 1,156 consecutive, asymptomatic, individuals of average risk between 50 and 75 years-of-age who underwent screening colonoscopies at four tertiary medical centers by 27 gastroenterologists were included in this study. Each individual endoscopist performed at least 10 colonoscopies during the study period. The ADR and PDR were calculated as the proportion of an endoscopist's cases with an adenoma or polyp divided by the total number of colonoscopies. Pearson's correlation coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient were used to determine the level of agreement between ADR and PDR. RESULTS: The mean PDR and ADR for endoscopists was 47.4% (range, 21.7-75.0) and 36.5% (range, 13.0-66.7), respectively. There was a strong correlation between PDR and ADR (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.94, P<0.001) and there was also good agreement between performance quintiles defined by ADR and PDR (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PDR is a valid proxy for ADR and may be useful for quality assurance at centers where ADR cannot be easily measured.
Adenoma ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Polyps ; Proxy ; Quality Indicators, Health Care

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is a nuclear imaging technique that provides noninvasive, three dimensional, quantitative images. Recently, PET-CT has been shown to be valuable in assessing patients with inflammatory diseases; however, the clinical utility of PET-CT in the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been defined. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the clinical utility of PET-CT in the evaluation of IBD. METHODS: Between November 2006 and September 2010, clinical, endoscopic, and radiological data on 14 patients (6 males and 8 females: age range, 33-79 years) with suspected IBD were collected. The standard work-up method for a definite diagnosis of IBD included ileocolonoscopy. RESULTS: The 14 patients were divided into the following five groups: ulcerative colitis (n=4, 29%), intestinal Behcet's disease (n=3, 21%), intestinal tuberculosis (n=2, 14%), malignancy (n=2, 14%), and no abnormal findings with colonoscopy (n=3, 21%). A PET-CT based-diagnosis of IBD correlated with a colonoscopic diagnosis in nine cases (64.3%), but the matching ratio of the distribution of lesions between PET-CT findings and colonoscopic findings was only 18.1% (2/11). CONCLUSIONS: The utility of PET-CT in the diagnosis of IBD requires further evaluation.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colonoscopy ; Electrons ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Male ; Tuberculosis