OBJECTIVE: To assess the association with autoimmune endocrine diseases and detection rate of autoimmune antibodies and its clinical significance in patients with premature ovarian failure. METHODS: Twenty eight patients with primary or secondary amenorrhea manifesting hormonal and clinical features of premature ovarian failure (primary POF: 7, secondary POF: 21) were investigated. We tested them TFT, 75 g OGTT, ACTH and S-cortisol for thyroiditis, IDDM, Addison's disease, and antithyoglobulin antibody, antimicrosomal antibody, antinuclear antibody, rheumatic factor, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody for non-organ specific autoimmune disorders. RESULTS: Only one patient was diagnosed as IDDM and no patients had abnormal TFT or adrenal function test. More than one kind of autoantibody was detected in 11 patients of all (39.2%): 5 patients (71.4%) of primary POF group and 6 patients (21.4%) of secondary POF group. Eleven patients (39.3%) had antithyroglobulin antibody, 4 (14.3%) had antimicrosomal antibody, 2 (7.1%) had antinuclear antibody, 2 (7.1%) had rheumatic factor, 1 (3.6%) had anti-smooth muscle antibody, 1 (3.6%) had anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody. CONCLUSIONS: Premature ovarian failure may occur as a component of an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, so patients should be measured with free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, fasting glucose and electrolytes. Measurement of thyroid autoantibodies in POF patients may be important in identifying patients at risk of developing overt hypothyoidism, but other autoantibodies may not be suitable for screening test.
Addison Disease ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Amenorrhea ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Electrolytes ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine

Although there have been several reported cases of enterocolitis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, its colonoscopic findings have not been reported in Korea. We recently experienced two cases of Y. enterocolitica enterocolitis, where the colonoscopic examinations were performed. Two patients visited our hospital due to right lower quadrant pain. The thickened terminal ileum and right side colon with enlarged mesenteric nodes were observed on ultrasonography using graded compression method. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from stool in both cases, The colonascopy revealed nodular elevations, erosion., hyperemia, and edema on the terminal ileum and small hyperemic erosions or aphthoid ulcers on the colon, especially on the right side of the colon. In one of the cases, the aphthoid ulcers could be also seen on the sigmoid colon. Their clinical symptoms and signs improved 3-5 days after their visit without using antibiotics. We report these cases with a review of the relevant literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Edema ; Enterocolitis* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Ileum ; Intestines* ; Korea ; Lymphadenitis* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography ; Yemen* ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Computed tomography during arterial portography and computed tomography during hepatic arteriography (CTAP and CTHA), one of the most sensitive method in detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules , is reported to reduce unnecessary operation of HCC. However, it is not clear whet her CT AP and CT HA can reduce early post operative recurrence rate of HCC. We performed this study to find any differences in early postoperative recurrence rate of HCC according to the imaging modalities used for preoperativest aging. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with HCC who had underg one curative hepat icres ection from Dec.1994 to Mar. 1998 were included (median age = 52 years (26-78), M:F = 85:12). They were classified into 3 groups according to the imaging methods used for preoper ative staging: CTAP & CTHA group (n=56), Lipiodol CT group (n=24), and three phase helical CT group (n=16). No significant inter-group difference was found in preoperative status of the patients or characteristics of HCC. One-year recurrence rates were compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: HCC recurred in 17 of 97 patients (18.7%) within 12 months. A significant difference in 1- year recurrence rate was observed between the groups: helical CT , may be a superior imaging modality for preoperative staging of HCC that can reduce early postoperative recurrence rate.
Aging ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Ethiodized Oil* ; Humans ; Portography ; Recurrence* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

A case of resected primary duodenal cancer associated with early gastric cancer is reported. A 67-year-old male complaining of nausea and vomiting was admitted. Endo-scopic examination showed an ulcerative lesion withblood clot in the angle of the stomach and stricture in the duodenum. The stomach lesion was proven to be signet ring cell carcinoma by biopsy. Exploratory laparotomy was done and frozen specimen of duodenum was revealed to be malignant. Subtotal gastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy with lymph node dissection were done and the specimen from stricture of duodenum was proven to be adenocarcinoma. The gastric cancer was limited to the mucosa and metastasis was not recognized in regional lymph node, Furthermore, there was normal mucosa between gastric cancer and duodenal cancer. Therefore, cancers in the stomach and duodenum were considered to be a case of double prim~iary cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Duodenal Neoplasms* ; Duodenum ; Esophagus* ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intestines* ; Laparotomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Vomiting

Malakoplakia is an uncommon granulomatous disease most frequently found in the bladder or ureter. Howevcr, it has been reyorted in almost every ather organ and structure, the colon is the most common site of malakoplakia outside the urogenital tract and colonic carcinoma is the most commonly associated disease. A case of malakoplakia of the colon in a 54-year-old female is reported. Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple whiteyellowish nodules simulating polypoid lesion at 10cm from the anal verge. The biopsy showed characteristically comprised submucosal proliferations of histiocyte and chronic inflammatory cells with typical cytoplasmic inclusions known as Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Intravenous pyelogram showed no evidence of involvement of the urinary system. These nodules were removed by endoscopic polypectomy, So far, this is the first case of isolated colonic malakoplakia in Korea.
Biopsy ; Colon ; Female ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; Korea ; Malacoplakia* ; Middle Aged ; Rectum ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder

The intestine is the third most commonly injured abdominal organ in blunt trauma. But we had a paucity of experience with these injuries. We experienced bowel ischemia in 55 year-old woman after motor-vehicle accident. She complained nausea, vomiting and weight, loss after traffic accident. We found mucosal hyperemia and intraluminal stenosis of duodenal second portion by the gastroscopy. So, we performed hypotonic duodenography and SMA and celiac angiograpby. Hypotonie duodenography showed a luminal narrowing from duodenojejunal junction to proximal jejunum and proximal dilatation, and SMA angiography showed 10 cm segment hypervascular staining of contrast medium in proximal portion. Therefore we performed jejunal loop segmentectomy. After operation she was discharged without complication.
Accidents, Traffic ; Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Intestines ; Ischemia* ; Jejunum ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Phenobarbital ; Vomiting

Implantation of a gestational sac within a previous cesarean scar is the rarest form of ectopic pregnancy. A delay in either diagnosis or treatment can lead to uterine rupture, hysterectomy, and significant maternal morbidity due to severe hemorrhage. As developing of transvaginal ultrasound and MRI, early diagnosis could be made and conservative treatment could be possible. We have recently experienced a case of intramural pregnancy implanting in the scar of cesarean section, and enabled the successful treatment to preserve the patient's reproductive capability.
Cesarean Section ; Cicatrix* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Hemorrhage ; Hysterectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Rupture

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to expect the possibility of developing fetal thrombocytopenia by observation of the clinical features of pregnant women with ITP and their neonates, and to know the effect of steroid and IVIG therapy. METHODS: The patient group was 21 cases of pregnancies with ITP diagnosed by Bone marrow biopsy or suspective to have ITP due to thrombocytopenia (150 K/micro L) not complicated by sepsis, preeclampsia or massive bleeding resulting DIC, who were admitted and delivered at Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University from Jul. 1998 to Jun. 2002. The study was performed retrospectively. We defined severe thrombocytopenia as less than 70 K/micro L and treated them with Prednisolone or IVIG during pregnancy and Platelet concentrate in some perinatal condition. On admission, we performed a history taking about splenectomy etc., antiplatelet antibody test and serial follow up of CBC, coagulation test during perinatal period. We used Fisher's exact test to detect statistical significance between clinical features of pregnancy women with ITP and severe neonatal thrombocytopenia and concluded to be significant if p-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The delivery mode of pregnancies with ITP was Cesarean section for 9 cases and vaginal delivery for 12 cases. The decision was purely dependant on obstetric indication. Because there was no significant bleeding during prenatal period even among the women with severe thrombocytopenia, they were treated with steroid in 8 cases followed by IVIG in 1 case, only IVIG in 1 case under no transfusion of Platelet concentrate. Platelet count was not normalized completely but increased over 100% in 7 cases and there was no response in only 1 case. Soon after delivery, neonatal thrombocytopenia was seen in 2 cases (9.5%). There was no ecchimosis or intracranial hemorrhage in spite of vaginal delivery in both cases. CONCLUSION: There were no prospective factors to predict the relationship between the clinical features of pregnant women with ITP and fetal thrombocytopenia. Most of the cases in which steroid therapy was done did not show neonatal thrombocytopenia but there was no statistical significance. There needs to be further study with much more cases.
Biopsy ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Cesarean Section ; Dacarbazine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Prednisolone ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Splenectomy ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune*

Multifocal fibrosclerosis, a rare disorder, has no known etiology and is considered to be a systemic illness manifested by combinations of fibrosing process of multiple areas such as mediastinal fibrosis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, orbital pseudotumor, sclerosing cholangitis, and Reidel's thyroiditis. We have experienced a 49-year-old man with pseudotumor of the orbit, sclerosing cholangitis, and CNS involvements included unrecognized meningitis and suspicious CNS vasculitis. The patient showed clinical improvement with corticosteroid therapy.
Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Orbital Pseudotumor ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System

Patent urachus results when there is a persistence of an allantosis remnant which normally undergoes atresia during embryological development. Failure of urachal obliteration may result in 4 different types of urachal remnants: complete patency or vesicoumbilical fistula, vesicourachal diverticulum, urachal sinus and urachal cyst. In prenatal ultrasound, we found a large cyst in the umbilical cord. At term, the patient underwent primary cesarean section with delivery of a 3100 g female infant. After delivery, we found the communication of urinary bladder by fistulogarm. The infant underwent repair and closure of the patent urachus.
Cesarean Section ; Diverticulum ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilical Cord ; Urachal Cyst ; Urachus* ; Urinary Bladder