New diagnostic criteria for nutcracker esophagus using conventional water-perfused manometry: a comparison between nutcracker esophagus with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Controversy continues as to whether nutcracker esophagus (NE) is a 'real' manometric disease due to its poor correlation with clinical symptoms such as chest pain or dysphagia. While new NE criteria were proposed in a recent study, that study included NE patients both with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to analyze both general NE (with or without GERD) and pure NE (without GERD) patients in terms of distal esophageal amplitude (DEA) and its correlation with symptoms. METHODS: Using previously known normal DEA values (mean and SD), patients were stratified into three different groups: group A (DEA 180 to 220 mmHg, 2 to 3 SD), B (DEA 220 to 260 mmHg, 3 to 4 SD), and C (DEA > 260 mmHg, > 4 SD). RESULTS: A total of 72 patients who simultaneously underwent esophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring were diagnosed with NE. They were separated into groups A (n = 43), B (n = 18), and C (n = 11). Although the proportion of general NE patients with symptoms appeared to be greater in group A (65.6%) than in group C (90.9%), statistical analysis showed that this was not a significant correlation (P = 0.07). Pure NE patients were defined as those returning negative findings after 24-h pH monitoring. These patients were separated into three groups based on the same DEA criteria as above: group A-1 (n = 33), B-1 (n = 11), C-1 (n = 8). The proportion of patients with symptoms increased from 54.5% in group A-1 to 87.5% in group C-1, and this correlation was found to be significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There exists in the general NE population a subset with pure NE. DEA values correlated with symptoms in this subset.

[The changes in prevalence and the related factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in Korean health check-up subjects during 8 years].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in prevalence and the related factors of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Korean health check-up subjects during the period of 8 years. METHODS: Among 89,231 subjects who visited the Health Promotion Centers of Severance hospital or Chung-Ang University hospital from Jan. 1998 through Dec. 2005, a total of 10,553 subjects who received esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and H. pylori test were enrolled. H. pylori infection was assessed by histologic examination. Changes of the prevalence of H. pylori infection during 8 years, and infection-related factors such as demographic characteristics, body mass index, ABO blood types, endoscopic findings (presence of peptic ulcer diseases), educational level, economic status, smoking habits, and alcohol intake in year 2005 were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of 10,553 subjects (7,329 men, 3,224 women) was 49.7+/-10.4 years (range from 17 to 92 years). The prevalence of H. pylori infection at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth year were 64.7%, 58.1%, 54.2%, 50.4%, 48.9%, 49.5%, 39.6%, and 40.0%, respectively, and these serial decreases in prevalence over 8 years were statistically significant (p<0.001). Regardless of sex, age or EGD findings, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly decreased. In the analysis of the H. pylori infection-related factors in 2005, only age and EGD findings (peptic ulcer diseases) were significant factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly decreased during 8-year period in Korean health check-up subjects. Age and peptic ulcer diseases were the two significant factors related to H. pylori infection in Korea.

Laparoscopic excision of primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma and malignant predicting factors derived from literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystic neoplasm is very rare and its histogenesis is unclear. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This paper presents the case of a 31-year-old female in whom an incidentally detected retroperitoneal cystic mass, 6.5cm in size, was successfully resected through laparoscopic approach. Pathologic examination revealed a mucinous cystadenoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient remained free of recurrence six months after surgery. DISCUSSION: Literature review showed that male sex (p=0.019), and solid nodules in cysts (p<0.001) were both significantly associated with malignancy. CONCLUSION: When confronted with a cystic mass in the retroperitoneum, a primary mucinous cystic neoplasm should be considered and complete surgical removal of the tumor without spillage is recommended.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Barrett's Cancer in Korea.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of Barrett's cancer is increasing in Western countries, but there have been only a few case reports of this condition in Korea. The aim of this study was to elucidate the endoscopic and pathologic characteristics of Barrett's cancer in a single center in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the demographic, endoscopic, and pathologic characteristics of six patients with Barrett's cancer, defined as a tumor centered above the esophagogastric junction and surrounded by Barrett's esophagus. RESULTS: All six patients were male, and three (50%) were symptomatic. Barrett's cancer had developed from short-segment Barrett's esophagus in all patients. All tumors were located on the right side of the lower esophagus and showed hyperemic mucosal changes. Three patients were treated surgically and three by endoscopic resection. All cases had pathologic evidence of Barrett's cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of Barrett's cancer requires meticulous endoscopic observations of subtle mucosal color and morphological changes around the esophagogastric junction.

Endoscopic treatment for suprapancreatic biliary stricture following blunt abdominal trauma.

OBJECTIVES: Suprapancreatic biliary stricture associated with blunt abdominal trauma is extremely rare. Therefore, no definitive treatment modality for this stricture has been fully established. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and long-term follow-up of endoscopic treatment for suprapancreatic biliary stricture following blunt abdominal trauma. METHODS: Data from the institution's prospectively collected endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) database, medical records, radiological findings, and trauma registry with operative records were used to identify patients with suprapancreatic biliary stricture associated with blunt abdominal trauma. RESULTS: Eight patients (six men and two women) with a median age of 36 yr (interquartile range [IQR] 29-53 yr) were included in this study. The median interval between the initial trauma and the onset of symptoms was 23 days (IQR 16-51 days). The median length of biliary stricture was 1 cm (IQR 0.6-1 cm). Endoscopic plastic stent placement was successfully performed in all patients included in the study. The median duration of stent placement was 2 months (IQR 2-2.8 months). Follow-up ERCP showed improved or resolved biliary stricture in all patients. There was no recurrence of symptoms after the removal of the stents; therefore, surgery was unnecessary in these patients. Long-term follow-up (median 33 months) was also excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic plastic stent placement may be a good candidate for first-line management for suprapancreatic biliary strictures following blunt abdominal trauma. Furthermore, the long-term results for this type of biliary stricture with endoscopic stent placement may be excellent.