Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare non-epithelial, mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract that metastasize or recur in 30% of patients who undergo surgical resection with curative intent. A 59-year-old man visited our hospital for an examination of a palpable mass in the left abdomen. Fourteen months prior to his visit, the patient underwent gastric wedge resection to remove a GIST of the gastric cardia. At the time of surgery, no evidence of metastatic disease was observed and the pathological interpretation was a high-risk GIST. A follow-up computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a partially necrotic solid mass (9.8 x 7.6 cm) and enhancing mass in the spleen (2.3 cm). On exploration, multiple masses were found in the liver, greater omentum, and mesentery. Here, we report a case of recurring GIST of the stomach that metastasized to the spleen. To the best of our knowledge, few reports of metastasis to the spleen exist.
Abdomen ; Cardia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Liver ; Mesentery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Omentum ; Spleen ; Stomach

OBJECTIVE: Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are two minimally invasive procedures for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the radiological findings and clinical outcomes between two procedures. METHODS: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures were treated in 76 vertebrae, using kyphoplasty (n=35 vertebrae) and using vertebroplasty (n=41 vertebrae). Fractured vertebral bodies were diagnosed by correlating the clinical symptoms with radiologic study. The responses of pain symptoms were measured by a self-reported Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score. Plain X-rays were checked preoperatively and postoperatively at admission and 6 months. The vertebral body height and kyphotic angle were measured to assess the reduction of the sagittal alignment. RESULTS: The mean pain scores were decreased significantly for both procedures postoperatively, but there were no significant differences between two groups. Kyphoplasty led to a significant reduction of the vertebral body height and improvement of kyphotic angle. There were no neurological deficits after kyphoplasty, but one patient experienced paraparesis after vertebroplasty. During the 6 months follow-up both procedures provided stabilization of the sagittal alignment. CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are considered effective minimally invasive techniques for the stabilization of osteoporotic vertebral body fractures, leading to a statistically significant reduction in pain. Kyphoplasty significantly restore sagittal alignment. Also, complications and the incidence of bone cement leakage are significantly lesser than vertebroplasty. Therefore, kyphoplasty seems to be reasonable procedure for osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures when medical treatment fail.
Body Height ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphoplasty* ; Kyphosis ; Osteoporosis ; Paraparesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty* ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: Little is known about the clinicopathological features of early mucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC). The purpose of this study was to compare the clinicopathological features and prognosis between patients with early MGC and those with early nonmucinous gastric carcinoma (NMGC). METHODS: We reviewed the records of 2,732 patients diagnosed with gastric carcinoma who were treated surgically. There were 14 patients (0.5%) with early MGC and 958 with early NMGC. RESULTS: Early MGC patients had a higher prevalence of elevated type (71.4%) compared with early NMGC patients (29.5%). More early MGC patients had submucosal carcinoma, compared with early NMGC patients (78.6% vs. 64.1%). The overall 5-year survival of the patients with early MGC was 97.2% as compared with 92.7% for the patients with early NMGC (P < 0.01). The statistically significant prognostic parameters influencing the 5-year survival rate according to Cox's proportional hazard regression model were: age (risk ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-3.04; P < 0.01); sex (risk ratio, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.42-2.73; P < 0.01); and lymph node metastases (risk ratio, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.28-2.77; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with early MGC had a better prognosis than those with early NMGC. Mucinous histology itself appears not to be an independent prognostic factor. Therefore, early detection is important for improving the prognosis for patients with gastric carcinoma regardless of tumor histology.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence ; Prognosis* ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Colonoscopy is one of the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools for colorectal diseases. We aim to propose a master-slave robotic colonoscopy that is controllable in remote site using conventional colonoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The master and slave robot were developed to use conventional flexible colonoscopy. The robotic colonoscopic procedure was performed using a colonoscope training model by one expert endoscopist and two unexperienced engineers. To provide the haptic sensation, the insertion force and the rotating torque were measured and sent to the master robot. RESULTS: A slave robot was developed to hold the colonoscopy and its knob, and perform insertion, rotation, and two tilting motions of colonoscope. A master robot was designed to teach motions of the slave robot. These measured force and torque were scaled down by one tenth to provide the operator with some reflection force and torque at the haptic device. The haptic sensation and feedback system was successful and helpful to feel the constrained force or torque in colon. The insertion time using robotic system decreased with repeated procedures. CONCLUSION: This work proposed a robotic approach for colonoscopy using haptic feedback algorithm, and this robotic device would effectively perform colonoscopy with reduced burden and comparable safety for patients in remote site.
*Algorithms ; Colonoscopes ; Colonoscopy/instrumentation/*methods ; Equipment Design ; *Feedback ; Humans ; Robotics/*methods ; Torque

Nasal septal perforation (NSP) is a common complication of nasal surgery and can cause nasal obstruction, crust, and epistaxis. Many surgical methods have been introduced for repair of NSP, among which mucosal flap and artificial dermis have been widely used. However, mucosal graft can shrink and migrate and is difficult to fix at the perforation site. Mucosal advancement flap requires a wide extent of septal mucosa dissection, and artificial dermis can cause nasal obstruction because of its bulkiness and lower biocompatibility than autologous mucosa. To overcome these problems, we reported successful outcomes in 4 cases of small NSP by free mucosal graft with bioscaffold.

The benefits of resection for gastric carcinoma patients with non-curative factors remain controversial. Thus, we evaluated the survival benefits of resection in these gastric carcinoma patients. We reviewed the hospital records of 467 gastric carcinoma patients with non-curative factors who had resection (n=305) and compared their clinicopathological findings with individuals (n=162) who underwent bypass or exploration from 1996 to 2010. The 3-year survival rate of patients who had resection was higher than was that of patients who did not (13.2 vs. 7.2%, respectively p < 0.001). Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that only one factor was an independent, statistically significant prognostic parameter: the presence of peritoneal dissemination (risk ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.79; p < 0.05). The 3-year survival rate of patients with peritoneal dissemination was higher in individuals who underwent resection compared with those who did not (9.5 vs. 4.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). The current results highlight the improved survival rates of gastric carcinoma patients with non-curative factors who underwent surgery compared with those who did not. Although resection is not curative in this group of patients, we still recommend performing the procedure.
Gastrectomy ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The relationship between the prognosis and the age of patients with gastric carcinoma is controversial. This study examined the clinicopathologic features of elderly gastric carcinoma patients with serosal invasion. METHODS: We reviewed the hospital records of 136 elderly gastric carcinoma patients with serosal invasion retrospectively to compare the clinicopathologic findings in the elderly (aged > 70 years) and young (aged < 36 years). RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates of elderly and young patients with curative resection did not differ statistically (33.9% vs. 43.3%; P = 0.318). Multivariate analysis showed that two factors were independent, statistically significant parameters associated with survival: histologic type (risk ratio, 1.805; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.041 to 3.132; P < 0.05) and operative curability (risk ratio, 2.506; 95% CI, 1.371 to 4.581; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that elderly gastric carcinoma patients with serosal invasion do not have a worse prognosis than young patients. The important prognostic factor was whether the patients underwent curative resection.
Aged ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The preoperative prediction of malignant potential in patients with gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) plays an important role in decisions regarding their surgical management. METHODS: We evaluated the predictors of malignant gastric SMTs in 314 patients with gastric SMTs who underwent surgery in Chonnam National University Hospital. RESULTS: The malignant SMTs were significantly associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.067; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.042 to 1.091; P < 0.0001), presence of central ulceration (OR, 2.690; 95% CI, 1.224 to 5.909; P = 0.014), and tumor size (OR, 1.791; 95% CI, 1.483 to 2.164; P < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that tumor size was a good predictor of malignant potential. The most relevant predictor of malignant gastric SMT was tumor size with cut-offs of 4.05 and 6.40 cm. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that age, central ulceration, and tumor size were significant preoperative predictors of malignant SMTs. We suggest that 4 cm be selected as a threshold value for malignant gastric SMTs. In patients with a gastric SMT larger than 4 cm with ulceration, wide resection of the full thickness of the gastric wall or gastrectomy with adequate margins should be performed because of its malignant potential.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Ulcer

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is characterized by severe anemia with reticulocytopenia and absence of erythroblast from the bone marrow. Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML : Rosai-Dorfman disease) is rare systemic disease characterized by painless cervical, axillary, inguinal and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and frequent extranodal invasion. Histologically, lymph node sinuses are expanded by numerous distinctive histiocytes which contains well preserved lymphocytes. We report a case of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy in inguinal lymph node biopsy with polyclonal gammopathy and pure red cell aplasia in bone marrow biopsy who was infected by Epstein-Barr virus.
Anemia ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Erythroblasts ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytosis, Sinus* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Lymphocytes ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure*

Purpose: Remote access thyroid surgery using a bilateral axillary breast approach (BABA) or a transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) are increasingly performed worldwide. In the Caucasus, these methods were first applied in the Republic of Georgia. This study compares these two methods of endoscopic thyroid surgery performed on patients in a tertiary hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia. Methods: Between December 2015 and January 2018, 41 patients underwent endoscopic thyroid surgery at the Aversi Clinic, including 32 who underwent BABA endoscopic thyroidectomy for benign nodules and nine who underwent TOETVA for thyroid cancers. Patients’ medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Tumors were significantly larger (2.38±0.38 cm versus 1.70±0.31 cm, p value <0.001), operation time was significantly longer (177.66±21.02 min versus 116.66±5.59 min, p value <0.001), and blood loss was significantly greater (149.07±28.10 ml versus 102.22±8.33 ml, p value <0.001) in patients who underwent BABA than TOETVA. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusion Remote access thyroid surgery, either BABA or TOETVA, was successfully started, without harmful complications, at the Aversi Clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia. BABA is suitable for large sized benign nodules and TOETVA for thyroid cancers with central lymph node dissection.