Background/Aims: There have been few multicenter studies on colonic polyps conducted by primary medical institutions. This study examined the detection rate of colonic polyps in primary health care institutions and the related factors while following the guidelines. Methods: The medical records of 14,029 patients who underwent colonoscopy between January-June 2020 at 40 primary medical institutions in Korea were analyzed. High-risk adenoma was defined as advanced adenoma, carcinoma, or ≥3 adenomas. Results: Most patients (71.2%) aged ≥50 years underwent re-colonoscopy within 5 years (51.3%) for diagnostic purposes (61.3%) in Korean primary medical institutions. The detection rates of colon polyps, adenoma, advanced adenoma, high-risk adenoma, and carcinoma was 59.9%, 38.9%, 5.9%, 11.4%, and 0.3% in all subjects and 59.8%, 37.5%, 8.5%, 12.9%, and 0.3% in average-risk patients, respectively. The incidences of adenoma in average-risk patients increased significantly with age (30s/40s/50s: 20.1%/29.4%/43% for adenoma, 4.4%/6.7%/10.3% for advanced adenoma, and 5.6%/9.5%/14.6% for high-risk adenoma; p<0.05). Before 50 years of age, high-risk adenoma was detected in 9.1% of patients in the first-time screening group, and the significant risk factors were being male and ≥40 years of age. The detection rate of high-risk adenoma in the normal index colonoscopy group within 5 years was 9.0%. The significant risk factors included older age, male sex, positive fecal occult blood test, stool form changes, and nonspecific symptoms (gas and indigestion). Conclusions More colonic adenoma studies targeting real-world clinical practice will be needed to revise the Korean guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.

Stenting in the gastrointestinal tract is a common procedure used for palliation of obstruction in the enteral and biliary tract. Today, stenting of malignant and benign strictures is performed at almost every major tertiary hospital in Korea. Moreover, Korea has become a major global supplier of cutting edge technology in the field of self-expanding metal stents. However, the history of stenting in Korea is relatively short and was far behind that of other nations such as Japan and Germany. The authors are humbled and gratified to have been able to observe the development and application of these stents in Korea, first hand. In this article, the authors review the overall history of stenting with a specific focus on the development of stenting in Korea. The development of esophageal, gastroduodenal, biliary, and colonic stents in Korea are reviewed in this article from a chronological and historical point of view, and a personal account of some of the significant moments of stent development in Korea are described.
Biliary Tract ; Colon ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Germany ; Hand ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Stents* ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We used high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) to determine the length of breaks on the isobaric contour which would predict incomplete bolus clearance in patients in the sitting position. METHODS: In total, 651 swallows in 71 patients with esophageal symptoms were studied using a solid-state HRIM system in the sitting position. Each swallow was classified as complete or incomplete bolus clearance by impedance criteria and peristaltic integrity was evaluated using 20- and 30-mmHg pressure topography isobaric contours. Correlations between the lengths of the breaks for 20- and 30-mmHg were analyzed. RESULTS: Complete bolus clearance was observed in 83.3% (542/651) of swallows. Breaks of 3 and 7 cm or less were associated with a bolus clearance of 96.8% on the 20-mmHg and 94.7% on the 30-mmHg isobaric contour, respectively (P < 0.001). The areas under the ROC curves for the 20 and 30 mmHg isobaric contours were 0.900 and 0.950, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for complete bolus clearance were 75.6% and 89.3% for breaks 3 cm or less on the 20-mmHg isobaric contour and 87.9% and 78.7% for breaks 7 cm or less on the 30-mmHg contour (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Breaks of < 3 cm in the 20-mmHg isobaric contour or < 7 cm in the 30-mmHg isobaric contour were associated with com -plete bolus clearance. The threshold for breaks in the sitting position was greater than previous reports using the supine position and longer breaks predicted incomplete bolus clearance.
Electric Impedance* ; Humans ; Manometry* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Supine Position ; Swallows

A 27-year-old male with nonobstructive hydronephrosis was referred from the urology department for polyuria evaluation and management. The patient was hospitalized for urinary tract infection and cystostomy was performed due to neurogenic bladder of unknown origin. The patient was of short stature and had visual impairment. From the interview, we discovered he had been suffering from polyuria and polydipsia for more than 20 years. Urine output was 13 L/day and urine osmolarity was 85 mOsm/kg. The results of a water deprivation test were consistent with central diabetes insipidus. Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) was observed on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SOD is a very rare condition characterized by agenesis of the septum pellucidum or corpus callosum, which may cause optic nerve aplasia or hypoplasia, midbrain abnormalities and/or hypopituitarism. After desmopressin treatment, polyuria and hydronephrosis were improved. We report a case of a 27-year-old male diagnosed with SOD including diabetes insipidus, resulting in nonobstructive hydronephrosis.
Adult ; Brain ; Corpus Callosum ; Cystostomy ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic* ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Hypopituitarism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesencephalon ; Optic Nerve ; Osmolar Concentration ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Septo-Optic Dysplasia* ; Septum Pellucidum ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urology ; Vision Disorders ; Water Deprivation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast (SonoVue(R)) enhancement ultrasonography (CEUS) and to compare this method with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating liver masses. METHODS: CEUS (n=50), CT (n=47), and MRI (n=43) were performed on 50 liver masses in 48 patients for baseline mass characterization. The most likely impression for each modality and the final diagnosis, based on the combined biopsy results (n=14), angiography findings (n=36), and clinical course, were determined. The diagnostic value of CEUS was compared to those of CT and MRI. RESULTS: The final diagnosis of the masses was hepatocellular carcinoma (n=43), hemangioma (n=3), benign adenoma (n=2), eosinophilic abscess (n=1), and liver metastasis (n=1). The overall diagnostic agreement with the final diagnosis was substantial for CEUS, CT, and MRI, with kappa values of 0.621, 0.763, and 0.784, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.3%, 87.5%, and 84.0%, respectively, for CEUS; 95.0%, 87.5%, and 93.8%, respectively, for CT; and 94.6%, 83.3%, and 93.0%, respectively for MRI. After excluding the lesions with poor acoustic sonographic windows, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for CEUS were 94.6%, 87.5%, and 93.3%, respectively, with a kappa value of 0.765. CONCLUSIONS: If an appropriate acoustic window is available, CEUS is comparable to CT and MRI for the diagnosis of liver masses.
Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/pathology/radiography/*ultrasonography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Hypopharyngeal cancers are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a poor prognosis. Even when they are diagnosed at an operable stage, surgery often results in substantial morbidity and decreased patients' quality of life. Although the endoscopic diagnosis of early hypopharyngeal cancer is difficult, recent developments in advanced imaging endoscopy have enabled easier diagnosis of these lesions. Endoscopic resection of early hypopharyngeal cancer is a potential minimally invasive treatment that can preserve the function and quality of life of patients. Reports of this procedure are limited, however. We report a case of hypopharygeal cancer treated with endoscopic resection.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life

Intra-abdominal tuberculous lymphadenitis can mimic a variety of other abdominal disorders such as pancreatic cancer, metastatic lymph nodes, or lymphoma, which can make a proper diagnosis difficult. A correct diagnosis of intra-abdominal tuberculous lymphadenitis can lead to appropriate management. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided needle biopsy may be the procedure of choice for tissue acquisition when onsite cytopathology examination is unavailable because it is essential to obtain sufficient material suitable for the examination using an ancillary method, such as flow cytometry, molecular diagnosis, cytogenetics, or microbiological culture. We report a case of intra-abdominal tuberculous lymphadenitis diagnosed using an EUS-guided, 22-gauge histology new needle biopsy without an onsite cytopathology examination.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cytogenetics ; Endosonography ; Flow Cytometry ; Hydrazines ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Needles ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder. Recently, a novel endoscopic technique, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), was introduced as an alternative treatment for achalasia. We report the results and short term outcomes of POEM for patients with achalasia. METHODS: POEM was performed in 13 patients with achalasia. The procedure consisted of creating a submucosal tunnel followed by endoscopic myotomy of circular muscle bundles. The mucosal entry was closed by conventional hemostatic clips. A validated clinical symptom score (Eckardt score) and high resolution manometry were used to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS: Both the clinical score of achalasia, as well as the resting lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, were significantly reduced after POEM. Mean posttreatment Eckardt score was 0.4+/-0.7, compared to 6.4+/-1.9 prior to the treatment (p=0.001). The mean pretreatment and posttreatment LES pressure was 30.3 and 15.3 mm Hg, respectively (p=0.007). Following POEM, symptomatic relief from dysphagia without reflux symptoms was observed in all patients (13/13). No serious complications related to POEM were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon our initial experience, the authors believe that POEM is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment and may possibly substitute established treatments of refractory achalasia.
Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Humans ; Manometry ; Muscles

Schwannomas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are rare subepithelial tumors comprising approximately 3.3% to 12.8% of all mesenchymal tumors of the GI tract. On endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) they are seen as hypoechoic tumors arising most commonly from the 4th proper muscle layer. Although EUS helps to distinguish tumor characteristics, tissue sampling is required for differentiation with other more common tumors such as GI stromal tumors. Both EUS-guided fine needle aspiration and EUS-guided trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB) can be used for tissue sampling. However, only EUS-TCB allows core biopsy and a high yield of immunohistochemical staining. We report a case of a gastric schwannoma diagnosed by EUS-TCB.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Muscles ; Neurilemmoma

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an established treatment for gastric neoplasias especially in regions with a high volume of gastric cancer. Although ESD has many advantages over endoscopic mucosal resection, ESD is technically more difficult and can result in severe complications. Therefore establishment of an effective training system is required to help endoscopists climb the ESD learning curve. Although a standard training system for ESD remains to be established, some centers are incorporating ex vivo and/or in vivo animal models to provide a safe and effective means of ESD training. However, it is unknown if these animal models are more effective than other programs. Moreover the efficacy of the animal model may vary according to socio-economic status and the volume of gastric cancer. In this article we introduce the basic and advanced ESD training model using the ex vivo and in vivo animal model from South Korea and review the associated literature from other regions.
Learning Curve ; Models, Animal ; Republic of Korea ; Stomach Neoplasms