Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, often exhibits extra-intestinal manifestations including various dermatological problems. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a painful ulcerative cutaneous disorder characterized by the development of rapidly enlarging nodules. The lesion may become aggravated when ulcerative colitis is active, and it commonly affects the extensor surfaces of the lower extremities but rarely the upper extremities, face, periauricular area, anterior chest, back, or buttocks. We encountered a rare case of PG of the chest wall near the left breast, on the face and pretibial area of a male patient with ulcerative colitis. He had not undergone breast surgery and had no history of trauma. The lesion and symptoms were successfully treated by steroid and mesalazine; there was no need for surgery or more potent drugs.

Small bowel obstructions (SBOs) that develop for various reasons often require prompt medical treatment. Migration of a gastric bezoar (indigestible foreign material that has accumulated in the stomach) is a rare cause of SBO. Treatment of a symptomatic SBO caused by a bezoar requires a multidisciplinary approach that considers the patient’s physical status and comorbidities and the bezoar volume, location, and pathology. Although surgery is the treatment of choice, endoscopic treatments such as fragmentation and retrieval may serve as alternatives. We present the first case of resolution of a large phytobezoar via mechanical compression after covered metal stent insertion, followed by stent retrieval, in a patient with a symptomatic SBO that persisted even after two sessions of push-endoscopic fragmentation.

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, often exhibits extra-intestinal manifestations including various dermatological problems. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a painful ulcerative cutaneous disorder characterized by the development of rapidly enlarging nodules. The lesion may become aggravated when ulcerative colitis is active, and it commonly affects the extensor surfaces of the lower extremities but rarely the upper extremities, face, periauricular area, anterior chest, back, or buttocks. We encountered a rare case of PG of the chest wall near the left breast, on the face and pretibial area of a male patient with ulcerative colitis. He had not undergone breast surgery and had no history of trauma. The lesion and symptoms were successfully treated by steroid and mesalazine; there was no need for surgery or more potent drugs.

Small bowel obstructions (SBOs) that develop for various reasons often require prompt medical treatment. Migration of a gastric bezoar (indigestible foreign material that has accumulated in the stomach) is a rare cause of SBO. Treatment of a symptomatic SBO caused by a bezoar requires a multidisciplinary approach that considers the patient’s physical status and comorbidities and the bezoar volume, location, and pathology. Although surgery is the treatment of choice, endoscopic treatments such as fragmentation and retrieval may serve as alternatives. We present the first case of resolution of a large phytobezoar via mechanical compression after covered metal stent insertion, followed by stent retrieval, in a patient with a symptomatic SBO that persisted even after two sessions of push-endoscopic fragmentation.

After failed removal of common bile duct or intrahepatic bile duct (IHD) stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous lithotripsy is well-known as an effective procedure. However, it is time-consuming because multiple sessions of transhepatic tract dilatation are required. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) has been recently used to approach IHD to remove difficult bile duct stones. We recently experienced EUS-guided CDS performed with metal stent. Common bile duct or IHD stones were removed by retrieval accessories after initial failed or inadequate ERCP in three patients. Serious complications including bleeding, infection, and perforation were not noted. The duration of hospital stay from EUS-guided procedure to discharge ranged from 10 to 14 days. Although this result is interim and ongoing, it suggests that EUS-guided CDS might be an effective and safe procedure after failed ERCP to remove difficult bile duct stones through the tract.

Missed lung cancers on chest radiograph (CXR) may delay the diagnosis and affect the prognosis. CXR is the primary imaging modality to evaluate the lungs and mediastinum in daily practice. The purpose of this article is to review chest radiographs for common blind spots and highlight the importance of various radiologic presentations in primary lung cancer to avoid significant diagnostic errors on CXR.

Missed lung cancers on chest radiograph (CXR) may delay the diagnosis and affect the prognosis. CXR is the primary imaging modality to evaluate the lungs and mediastinum in daily practice. The purpose of this article is to review chest radiographs for common blind spots and highlight the importance of various radiologic presentations in primary lung cancer to avoid significant diagnostic errors on CXR.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The etiology of colon diverticulosis is related to a range of genetic, biological, and environmental factors, but the risk factors for asymptomatic diverticulosis of the colon are unclear. This study examined the risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. METHODS: This retrospective study included examinees who underwent a colonoscopy for screening at the health check-up center of SAM Hospital between January 2016 and December 2016. The examinees with colon diverticulosis found by colonoscopy were compared with those without diverticulosis. The comparison factors were age, gender, alcohol consumption, smoking status, medical history, lipid profile, body mass index, visceral fat area, waist-hip ratio, and severity of a fatty liver. RESULTS: This study included 937 examinees and the overall prevalence of diverticulosis was 8.1% (76/937). Fatty liver was found in 69.7% (53/76) in cases of colon diverticulosis and 50.3% (433/861) in the control group (p=0.001). The average waist-hip ratio was 0.92±0.051 in colon diverticulosis and 0.90±0.052 in the control group (p=0.052). Multivariate analysis revealed the waist-hip ratio (OR=1.035, 95% CI 1.000–1.070, p=0.043), moderate fatty liver (OR=2.238, 95% CI 1.026–4.882, p=0.043), and severe fatty liver (OR=5.519, 95% CI 1.236–21.803, p=0.025) to be associated with an increased risk of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. CONCLUSIONS: The waist-hip ratio, moderate fatty liver, and severe fatty liver are risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. Central obesity, which can be estimated by the waist-hip ratio, and fatty liver might affect the pathogenesis of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulum ; Fatty Liver ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The etiology of colon diverticulosis is related to a range of genetic, biological, and environmental factors, but the risk factors for asymptomatic diverticulosis of the colon are unclear. This study examined the risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.METHODS: This retrospective study included examinees who underwent a colonoscopy for screening at the health check-up center of SAM Hospital between January 2016 and December 2016. The examinees with colon diverticulosis found by colonoscopy were compared with those without diverticulosis. The comparison factors were age, gender, alcohol consumption, smoking status, medical history, lipid profile, body mass index, visceral fat area, waist-hip ratio, and severity of a fatty liver.RESULTS: This study included 937 examinees and the overall prevalence of diverticulosis was 8.1% (76/937). Fatty liver was found in 69.7% (53/76) in cases of colon diverticulosis and 50.3% (433/861) in the control group (p=0.001). The average waist-hip ratio was 0.92±0.051 in colon diverticulosis and 0.90±0.052 in the control group (p=0.052). Multivariate analysis revealed the waist-hip ratio (OR=1.035, 95% CI 1.000–1.070, p=0.043), moderate fatty liver (OR=2.238, 95% CI 1.026–4.882, p=0.043), and severe fatty liver (OR=5.519, 95% CI 1.236–21.803, p=0.025) to be associated with an increased risk of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.CONCLUSIONS: The waist-hip ratio, moderate fatty liver, and severe fatty liver are risk factors for asymptomatic colon diverticulosis. Central obesity, which can be estimated by the waist-hip ratio, and fatty liver might affect the pathogenesis of asymptomatic colon diverticulosis.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diverticulum ; Fatty Liver ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Mass Screening ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Colon cancer arising in a colonic diverticulum is very rare. There are only a few reported cases of colon cancer associated with a diverticulum. Of these reported cases, only a few are those of a mucinous adenocarcinoma. Here, we report a case of an 82-year-old female with a mucinous adenocarcinoma arising in the ascending colonic diverticulum, which clinically and radiologically mimicked perforated diverticulitis with abscess formation. Although such cases are rare, our findings suggest that malignant tumors may be misdiagnosed as diverticular diseases and should be considered during work-up.