BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of splenectomy in children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) who do not respond to corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG). METHODS: Fifteen patients(7 boys and 8 girls) who were admitted to St. Mary's Hospital under the diagnosis of ITP from December 1990 to February 1997 were enrolled In this study. All had chronic forms(more than 6 months after diagnosis) and were refractory to corticosteroids(prednisolone 1~2mg/kg) and IVIG(400mg/kg for 5 days or 1 g/kg for 2 days). We you-finely employ pneumococcal vaccine in 13 patients before splenectomy slnce 1992. Antiplatelet antibody was examed in 10 patients. We measured platelet count at preoperative time, postoperative 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months or more. Hematologic results were analyzed according to Berchtold and McMillan's criteria (1) complete response(CR) >120 x 10(9)/l; (2) partial response(PR) >50 x 10(9)/l (3) no response(NR) < 50 x 10(9)/l. RESULTS: The median age at operation was 10 yr(6~16). The median time interval between diagnosis and splenectomy was 2 yr 2 mo(6 mo~5 yr 5 mo). Antiplatelet antibody was positive in 2 cases of 10 cases(20%). Of 15 cases, 12 cases were corticosteroid resistant and 3 cases were corticosteroid dependent. The postsplenectomy platelet count(median 407 x 10(9)/l of 1 day; 254 x 10(9)/l of 1 month; 227 x 10(9)/l of 3 months or more) was significantly higher than presplenectomy platelet count(median 9 x 10(9)/l)(P<0.05). All patients showed complete or parial response throughout the follow up period. Accessory spleen was found in 1 case and removed during operation. There were no serious complications following splenectomy except mild fever in 2 cases(14%). CONCLUSION: Splenectomy appears to be an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with chronic ITP who have had inadequate response to conventional therapies.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Blood Platelets ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic* ; Spleen ; Splenectomy*

Recent investigations have revealed that autocrine growth factors and their receptors are closely related and play an important role in controlling cancer cell growth. We performed an immunohistochemical study on the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), c-erbB-2, and PCNA labelling index in 60 cases of human gastric carcinomas. TGF-alpha was detected in 38 cases (63.3%), EGF in 26 cases (43.3%), EGF-R in 44 cases (73.3%), and c-erbB-2 in 18 cases (30%). These growth factors, EGF-R and c-erbB-2, were found more often in advanced gastric cancers. The PCNA labeling index was significantly higher in tumors with the expression of EGF-R or c-erbB-2. Tumors with simultaneous expression of EGF, TGF-alpha, EGF-R and c-erbB-2 was associated with a high PCNA labeling index. A correlation was observed between the synchronous expression of growth factors and its receptors and histological differentiation. The results suggest that the expression of EGF, TGF-alpha, EGF-R and c-erbB-2 are closely related and plays an important role in the growth and progression of human gastric carcinoma.
Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Peptides* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha

To determine the most effective and tolerable method of preparation with Golytely for colonoscopy, 141 consecutive cases were randomly allocated to drink either 2,000cc(74 cases, Group I) or 4,000cc(67 cases, Group 2), with infusion rate of 1,000cc/h. The reaults were as follows. 1) The rates of effective colonic clearance in group 1 and group 2 was 94.6% and 94.0%, respectively. There is no significance difference between two groups. 2) There was no significant difference in the ingested volume until the first bowel movement and the time required for rectal efflunt to be clear between two groups. 3) Patient acceptance was higher in group 1 than in group 2. 4) Side effects were less noticed in group 1 than group 2, and incraased in body weight (average 0.8 kg) after ingestion of Golytely was observed only in group 2.
Body Weight ; Colon ; Colonoscopy* ; Eating ; Humans ; Therapeutic Irrigation*

Non-operative palliative treatment for malignant colonic obstruction can sometimes be accomplished by the insertion of anorectal tube, endoscopic balloon dilation or endoscopic laser therapy. But these methods have some disadvantages, such as limitaation of activity, need of repetitive treatment and high-risk of perforation. Endoscopic prosthesis is generally accepted as a safe, effective palliative treatment for malignant esophageal stricture, because this method has no above disadvantages. Neverthless, there is only a few experence with endoecopic prosthesis in malignant colorectal stricture over the world. We report two cases which were safely, effectively performed endoscopic prosthesis in palliative treatment for their malignant rectal strictures.
Colon ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Laser Therapy ; Palliative Care ; Prostheses and Implants*

Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare disease both in adults and in children. Most of these tumors are functional, especially in children, producing endocrine syndromes such as virilization, Cushing syndrome, hyperaldosteronism or feminization. We experienced a case of adrenal cortical carcinoma in a 7yr old boy who showed features of virilization such as rapid growth rate, penile enlargement, and pubic hair. This case was diagnosed with typical hormonal findings and abdominal MRI and confirmed by pathologic findings. He was successfully treated by total left adrenalectomy and has been followed up without problem over eight months.
Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Adult ; Child ; Cushing Syndrome ; Feminization ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Virilism

BACKGROUND: For the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of pleural effusion specimens has shown very low sensitivity, which might be due to the small number of bacilli in the samples. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether the sensitivity of PCR testing can be improved when increasing the amount of pleural effusion specimens. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed pleural effusion specimens obtained from 53 patients for whom the exclusion of the possibility of tuberculous pleural effusion was necessary. We performed Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR testing using the Cobas Amplicor MTB test (Roche Diagnostic Systems) with three different amounts (10ml, 25ml, and 50ml) of pleural effusion specimen in each patient. Pleural tuberculosis was defined as having one of the following: culture-positive pleural fluid sample, histopathologic finding consistent with tuberculosis on pleural biopsy, culture-positive sputum specimen, and/or positive response to anti-tuberculous medication without other possible causes of pleural effusion. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients, 26 received the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. The sensitivities of AFB smearing, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture of pleural effusion specimen, pleural biopsy, and measurement of ADA were 3.8%, 15.4%, 84.6%, and 88.5%, respectively. The results of PCR testing were positive for 3 (11.5%), 4 (15.4%), and 3 (11.5%) of the 26 patients when using 10ml, 25ml, and 50ml of pleural effusion specimens, respectively. These results did not show a statistically significant difference in the sensitivity of PCR testing when increasing the amount of pleural effusion samples (p>0.05, symmetry exact test). CONCLUSION: For specimens such as pleural effusion, in which the bacillary load is very low, the clinical utility of PCR testing seems highly limited with the kits designed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. An increased amount of pleural effusion sample does not improve the sensitivity of PCR testing.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pleural Effusion* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Gastric lipomas are rare benign submucosal tumors which can present the diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The preferred treattment is observation or local excision. Since preoperative diagnosis and differentation from malignant tumors can be difficult by use of the conventional diagnostic modalities such as X-ray or endoscopic examination, patients are sometimes subjected to more extensive surgical procedures than warranted. As to the diagnosis of submucosal tumors of the upper digestive tract, a newly developed diagnostic modality of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) allows us to visuialize the structures underlying the gastrointestinal wall in a noninvasive maneuver, and can contribute to make differential diagnosis and decision of management. Strip biopsy is an endascopic tissue resection technique which permits resection of both mucosal and submucosal tissue regardless of the morphological type of the lesion, because the submucosal saline injections during the procedures make the flat or depressed lesions to be elevated. Now, we report a 56-yr-old female which had a Yamada type I polypoid gastric submucosal lipoma in the antrum, which could be performed the different diagnosis and successful endoscopic removal by endoscopic ultrasonography and strip biopsy.
Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endosonography ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Lipoma*

A new method for combining ultrasonography snd endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), was developed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound by direct image of the target lesion via the gastrointestinal lumen. EUS has the unique ability to provide clear sonographic images of the wall structure of the stomach. This capability can be ultilized in assessing the depth of cancer invasion of the stomach by identifying which layer the ultrasonographic change extends to. However, the depressed types of early gastric cancer(EGC) are often accompanied by ulcerative change in the tumor foci. And the ultrasonographic picture is also influenced by the ulcerative change. (continue...)
Endoscopy ; Endosonography* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Pregnancy

Choledochal cyst is a relatively rare disease entity considered to be a congenital cyatic dilatation of the common bile duct. Since occurrence of malignant tumor in choledochal cyet was first reported by Irwin and Morrison in 1944, approximately 100 more cases of malignant tumors arising in congenital choledocal cyst have been reported in the world, and the risk of malignant tumor related to choledochal cyst have been reported 2.4-14%. Recently, we experienced a case of adenocarcinoma arising in choledochal cyst in 39 year-old woman who was diagnosed by ERCP and cholangioscopy with forceps biopsy, and was treated with en bloc resection of the choledochal cyst along with the pancreatic head and duodenum.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Biopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochal Cyst ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Duodenum ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Rare Diseases ; Surgical Instruments