Plasmacytoma in patients with multiple myeloma usually develops in the advanced stage of the disease. We report herein an atypical case of extramedullary relapse of multiple myeloma that presented as mechanical obstruction of the small bowel in a patient who had achieved complete remission after chemotherapy. A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 25 months previously and treated with a bortezomib-containing chemotherapy regimen. He presented for evaluation of abdominal pain. A circumferential mass resulting in mechanical ileus was observed by abdominal computed tomography. Biopsy after surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. The patient was subsequently treated with thalidomide-containing chemotherapy, but he died of disease progression after 6 months. We suggest careful observation of unusual relapses of multiple myeloma in patients who have achieved complete remission after antimyeloma therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Ileus ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasmacytoma ; Recurrence*

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma/*complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonoscopy ; Ethanol/therapeutic use ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/*complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/*etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/drug therapy/secondary ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Colocolic fistulas are usually a complication of an inflammatory or neoplastic process. Development of these abnormal bowel communications may lead to bacterial overgrowth. We report on a 71-year-old man with a one-year history of recurrent abdominal distension and irregular bowel habits. Abdominal X-rays and computed tomography showed multiple air-fluid levels and loops of distended bowel without evidence of mechanical obstruction or diverticulitis. Colonoscopy showed a fistulous tract between the sigmoid colon and cecum. Results of a lactulose breath test showed high fasting breath CH4 levels, which were thought to be the result of intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The patient was diagnosed with a colonic pseudo-obstruction associated with bacterial overgrowth due to a sigmoidocecal fistula. We recommended surgical correction of the sigmoidocecal fistula; however, the patient requested medical treatment. After antibiotic therapy, the patient still had mild symptoms but no acute exacerbations.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Breath Tests ; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction/*diagnosis/etiology ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Male ; Methane/chemistry/metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Intestinal obstruction was diagnosed in two fetuses at maternal antenatal care. Both received emergency surgery on the day of their birth, at about 35 weeks gestational age. The disease progressed for a long time in both cases because prompt diagnosis and surgery are difficult to perform in utero. As a result, severe adhesion and distorted anatomy were observed in both cases. Massive third space losses and bleeding were predicted during the surgery. However, the accurate ongoing losses were difficult to anticipate. The assessment of fluid deficits cannot be based on measured losses alone, but hemodynamic status including blood pressure, heart rate, urine output, capillary refill, and/or central venous pressure should be evaluated additionally.
Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Central Venous Pressure ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Fetus ; Fluid Therapy ; Gestational Age ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Parturition ; Pathology* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Water-Electrolyte Balance*

OBJECTIVEThe study aimed to review the treatment and prognosis of acute obstruction of colorectal cancers and to compare different treatment strategies of those cancers, and to evaluate the risk factors affecting perioperative complications.

METHODSClinical data of 184 patients with acute obstruction of colorectal cancer undergone operation were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 184 patients with acute obstruction of colorectal cancer was collected in this study, including 58 patients with proximal and 126 patients of distal colorectal cancers. Perioperative death occurred in 2/58 patients (3.4%) with distal colorectal cancer and 6/126 cases (4.8%) of distal colorectal cancer (P > 0.05). The overall perioperative complications in the two groups were not significantly different (P = 0.794). Among the 58 patients with proximal colorectal cancer, one patient underwent colostomy, but among the 126 patients with distal colorectal cancer, 41 patients underwent colostomy, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.002). ASA scores (grade 3 - 4), elderly age (≥ 70 years) and colon perforation peritonitis were independent prognostic factors associated with perioperative mortality and morbidity. Patients in the self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) group had a significantly shorter hospital stay (25.4 ± 8.3) d than that in the emergency surgery group (32.8 ± 16.4) d, (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONSEndoscopic stent implantation provides an acceptable modality of palliation for acute proximal large bowel obstruction caused by malignancies. In acute colorectal cancer obstruction, SEMS can provide a minimally invasive management compared with surgical intervention.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Colostomy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; etiology ; therapy ; Intestinal Perforation ; etiology ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palliative Care ; methods ; Peritonitis ; etiology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study compared the clinical outcomes between endoscopic and radiologic placement of self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction. METHODS: In total, 111 patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study between January 2003 and June 2011 at Seoul National University Boramae Hospital. Technical and clinical success rates, complication rates, and stent patency were compared between using an endoscopic (n=73) or radiologic (n=38) method during the SEMS placement procedure. RESULTS: The technical success rate was higher in the endoscopic method than in the radiologic method (100% [73/73] vs. 92.1% [35/38], respectively; p=0.038). In addition, in 3 of the remaining 35 patients in the radiologic-method group, adjuvant endoscopic assistance was required. In the six patients (including the three aforementioned patients), the causes of technical failure were the inability to pass the guidewire into an obstructive lesion due to a tortuous, curved angulation of the sigmoid or descending colon (n=4), and a difficult approach to a lesion located at the descending or transverse colon (n=2). The clinical success rate, complication rate, and stent patency did not differ significantly between the two methods (p=0.424, 0.303, and 0.423, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When the colorectal obstruction had a tortuous, curved angulation of the colon or was located at or proximal to the descending colon, the endoscopic method of SEMS placement appears to be more useful than the radiologic method. However, once SEMS placement was technically successful, the clinical success rate, complication rate, and stent patency did not differ with the method of insertion.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/*diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Male ; Metals/chemistry ; Middle Aged ; Palliative Care/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; *Stents ; Treatment Outcome

Self-expandable stents are widely available for the treatment of perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. Because of the risk of migration, there has been no report of the use of self-expandable stents for the treatment of perforation of the colon or rectum. This is a report of successful treatment of iatrogenic colonic perforation during balloon dilatation of anastomotic stricture with a fully covered stent. Fully covered, self-expandable metallic stents can be considered useful tools for management of this condition.
Aged, 80 and over ; Colon/*injuries/pathology/radiography ; Colonic Diseases/diagnosis/*therapy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation/*adverse effects ; Humans ; *Iatrogenic Disease ; Intestinal Obstruction/diagnosis/*therapy ; Intestinal Perforation/diagnosis/etiology/*therapy ; Male ; *Metals ; Prosthesis Design ; Sigmoidoscopy ; *Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

We report herein a case of intestinal amyloidosis with grave prognosis that caused intractable diarrhea and intestinal pseudo-obstruction, alternately in spite of intensive conservative treatment. A 44-year-old woman was admitted for fever, diarrhea, and crampy abdominal pain which had been continuned during 6 months. Abdomen CT scan showed edematous wall thickening of the small bowel and right colon, and colonoscopic biopsy revealed amyloid deposition in the mucosa. Monoclonal light chains in serum and/or urine were not detected and highly elevated serum amyloid A was shown. In spite of intensive treatment including oral prednisolone and colchicine, diarrhea and intestinal pseudo-obstruction developed alternately, general status rapidly got worsened and died after two months.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Amyloidosis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Colchicine/therapeutic use ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction/*diagnosis/etiology ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Serum Amyloid A Protein/metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tubulin Modulators/therapeutic use

Adult ; Ascites ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteritis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Eosinophilia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Gastritis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and nausea. Her abdomen was distended with obstructive bowel sounds on exam. There was diffuse abdominal tenderness but no palpable masses. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large gallstone in the ileum. Surgical intervention was deferred given patient's known significant liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B). Instead colonoscopy was performed and a large gallstone was found to be impacted at the ileocecal valve. The gallstone was fragmented using electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) and then retrieved with snare and forceps. The patient made a full recovery and was eventually discharged home. This is the first reported case of an impacted gallstone at the ileocecal valve with successful colonoscopic treatment using electrohydraulic lithotripsy in Korea. This case highlights the potential therapeutic benefits for colonscopic retrieval of a gallstone impacted at the ileocecal valve in well selected individuals.
Abdominal Pain/radiography ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gallstones/*diagnosis/therapy ; Humans ; Ileus/*diagnosis/therapy ; Intestinal Obstruction/diagnosis/therapy ; Lithotripsy/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed