The importance of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) as an oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has emerged as a major concern due to a dramatic clinical effect of targeted therapy. As compared with the research for targeted therapy, the study about clinicopathological characteristics for ALK positive NSCLC hasn't been worked enough. Here, we describe a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with stage IVb NSCLC with ALK rearrangement. During evaluating her disease, a metastatic lesion to uterine cervix was found. Although lung cancer metastasis to female genital tract is rare, we also present case series that show a metastasis to the female genital tract in NSCLC with ALK rearrangement. These case series could suggest that ALK positive NSCLC has distinct metastatic pattern.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Lymphoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Oncogenes ; Phosphotransferases*

This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided computed tomography (CT) cholecystography and to establish an optimal protocol. In 8 healthy beagles, CT cholecystography was conducted using four contrast formulas; two dilution ratios (1:1 vs. 1:3) and two total volumes (8 mL vs. 16 mL) of 300 mgI/kg iohexol after ultrasound-guided percutaneous contrast injection into the gallbladder. CT images were obtained at 3, 10, and 30 min after injection and assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. For all contrast formulas, CT cholecystography showed the gallbladder and the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. The volume of the gallbladder and size of bile duct were significantly larger when using a volume of 16 mL iohexol than an 8 mL volume regardless of the dilution ratio. The distinction between the common bile duct and duodenum, the filling of the gallbladder, and the patency of bile duct were effectively assessed using a 16 mL volume of contrast agent with either dilution ratio. Beam-hardening artifacts deteriorated CT image quality for visualizing the biliary system when using the dilution ratio of 1:1. Patency of the bile tract could be easily evaluated using a curvilinear planar reconstruction. There was no significant difference in CT scan time among the different conditions. Minor leakage of contrast agent temporarily occurred after contrast injection in 30% of 32 sets of CT cholecystography. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystography can visualize both gallbladder and biliary tract with minimal artifacts using a contrast agent volume of 16 mL with a 1:3 dilution ratio.
Animals ; Artifacts ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Cholecystography ; Common Bile Duct ; Contrast Media ; Dogs ; Duodenum ; Gallbladder ; Iohexol ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Globus is a persistent or intermittent non-painful sensation of a lump or foreign body in the throat and a commonly encountered clinical condition. We aim to evaluate the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to determine the parameters for predicting the response to treatment with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) using wireless pH monitoring in patients with globus sense. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 37 patients with atypical GERD symptoms. A total of 27 patients with dominant globus sense were enrolled. Endoscopic examination and 48-hour wireless esophageal pH monitoring were performed, and the patients underwent a therapeutic trial of full dose PPIs daily over a period of 4 weeks. RESULTS: Both typical and atypical GERD symptoms co-existed in 14 patients (51.9%, 14/27). According to ROME III criteria, 19 patients (70.4%, 19/27) were diagnosed as GERD. Twelve patients (44.4%, 12/27) were PPI responders. A significant difference in the frequency of symptom index (+) or symptom associated probability (+) was observed between the PPI responder group and the non-responder group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with globus sense, 70.4% were diagnosed with GERD. Symptom index/symptom associated probability in wireless ambulatory pH monitoring was a good objective parameter for PPI responder.
Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Middle Aged ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Wireless Technology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peritoneal micrometastasis is known to play an important role in the recurrence of gastric cancer. However, its effects remain equivocal. Herein, we examine the messenger RNA (mRNA) as tumor markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cytokeratin 20 (CK20), in peritoneal washing fluid. Moreover, we evaluate whether these results could predict the recurrence of gastric cancer following curative resection. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 132 patients with gastric cancers, who had received an operation, between January 2010 and January 2013. The peritoneal lavage fluid was collected at the operation field and semi-quantitative PCR was performed using the primers for CEA and CK20. We excluded patients with stage IA (n=28) early gastric cancer, positive cytologic examination of peritoneal washings (n=7), and those who were lost during follow up (n=18). RESULTS: A total of 79 patients with gastric cancers were enrolled, and the mean follow-up period was 39.95±19.25 months (range, 5-72 months). According to the multivariate analysis, T4 stage at the initial diagnosis was significantly associated with recurrence. All cases of recurrence were CEA positive and 6 cases were CK20 positive. The positive and negative predictive values of CEA were 32.0% and 100%, respectively, whereas those of CK20 were 37.5% and 71.4%, respectively. Disease free survival of CK20-negative cases was 36.17±20.28 months and that of CK20-positive cases was 32.06±22.95 months (p=0.39). CONCLUSIONS: It is unlikely that the real time polymerase chain reaction results of mRNA for CEA and CK20 in peritoneal washing fluid can predict recurrence. However, negative results can convince surgeons to perform curative R0 resection.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-20* ; Keratins* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prospective Studies ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; RNA, Messenger* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Surgeons

PURPOSE: The association between the red cell distribution width (RDW) and vasospastic angina (VSA) has not been elucidated. We investigated the association of the RDW with the incidence and angiographic subtypes of VSA in Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 460 patients who underwent intracoronary ergonovine provocation tests were consecutively enrolled and classified into two groups: the VSA group (n=147, 32.0%) and non-VSA group (n=313, 68.0%). The subjects were classified into 3 subgroups (tertiles) according to the baseline level of RDW assessed before the angiographic provocation test. RESULTS: The VSA group had a higher RDW than the non-VSA group (12.9±0.8% vs. 12.5±0.7%, p=0.013). The high RDW level demonstrated an independent association with the high incidence of VSA [second tertile: hazard ratio (HR) 1.96 (1.13-2.83), third tertile: HR 2.33 (1.22-3.47), all p<0.001]. Moreover, the highest RDW tertile level had a significant association with the prevalence of the mixed-type coronary spasm [HR 1.29 (1.03-1.59), p=0.037]. CONCLUSION: The high level of RDW was significantly associated with the prevalence of VSA and the high-risk angiographic subtype of coronary spasm, suggesting that a proactive clinical investigation for VSA could be valuable in Korean patients with an elevated RDW.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina Pectoris/*blood/ethnology ; Coronary Angiography/methods ; Coronary Vasospasm/*blood/ethnology ; Erythrocyte Indices/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology