[A Case of Early Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed from the Finding of Partial Pancreatic Parenchymal Atrophy].

A man in his 80s was referred to our hospital for further examination of partial pancreatic atrophy that was detected incidentally. Various imaging examinations including CT, MRI, and EUS did not reveal any obvious abnormal findings other than the partial pancreatic atrophy. However, cytological examination of serial pancreatic juice aspiration showed atypical cells. The presence of pancreatic intraepithelial carcinoma in the atrophy site was considered, and the patient underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Pathological examination of the excised specimen confirmed the presence of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia consistent with the atrophy site, and the patient was diagnosed with pTisN0M0, Stage 0 pancreatic cancer. For the detection of early pancreatic cancer, it is important to be aware of partial pancreatic atrophy on imaging studies.

[A Case of Gastric Cancer Performed Curative Operation after Nivolumab].

A 69-year-old man was admitted for the severe anemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed type 3 gastric cancer (por1, HER2 negative)that spread from EG junction to the lesser curvature of lower gastric body. CT revealed LNs metastasis and the direct invasion to the diaphragm. We diagnosed the locally advanced gastric cancer(T4bN[+]M0, Stage ⅣA) and planed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After 3 courses of S-1 plus CDDP therapy, serum CEA level increased. And the invasion to diaphragm was unclear although the tumor shrunk. After 3 courses of nab-PTX plus RAM therapy as the second- line, the tumor was PD. As the third-line chemotherapy, nivolumab therapy was repeated up to a total of 15 courses. As the tumor was PR, the patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. The histopathological examination revealed that the cancer invaded into the muscle layer without lymph nodes metastasis. The cancer was diagnosed as pT2 (MP)N0M0, Stage ⅠB. The cancer cells were EB virus positive and MSI-high. CD 8 positive T lymphocytes infiltrated into the stroma. The patient is alive 26 months without adjuvant chemotherapy. The curative operation was able to perform because the infiltrative CD8 positive T lymphocytes reactivated with nivolumab responded remarkably.

[A Case of Gastric Endocrine Carcinoma with a Huge Liver Metastasis].

A-67-year old man was diagnosed with gastric cancer and a liver tumor. Extended left hemihepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy and distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were performed. Histological examination revealed synaptophysin and CD56positive tumor cells with a solid and rosette structure, which was diagnosed as endocrine carcinoma (EC). Additionally, a tubular adenocarcinoma was present in the stomach. The liver tumor presented as EC with tumor thrombus in the left portal vein. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with gastric EC(pT3[SS], pN0, P0, CY0, M1[HEP], Stage Ⅳ, R0). He received 6courses of the adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin(CDDP)plus irinotecan(CPT-11), and has been alive without recurrence for 21 months post-operation. Gastric EC is a rare subtype of gastric cancer. The resection of liver metastasis of gastric EC may improve patients' prognosis and QOL. CDDP-based chemotherapy is recommended, due to the regimen for small cell lung cancer.

[A Case of Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastasis from Liver Metastasis of Colon Cancer].

A 64-year-old woman underwent partial colectomy with partial resection ofthe retroperitoneum and D3 lymphadenectomy for descending colon cancer(tub2, pSS, ly0, v0, pN1, sH0, sP0, sM0, fStage III b). Three years and 6 months later, she underwent resection ofsegment 4 ofthe liver because ofliver metastasis. One year and 2 months later, her serum carcinoembryonic antigen level increased, and computed tomography showed an inferior mediastinal mass of 18mm in diameter. High FDG uptake by this tumor was seen on positron emission tomography-CT. Metachronous mediastinal lymph node metastasis from liver metastasis ofcolon cancer was diagnosed, and resection ofthe mediastinal lymph nodes was performed. Pathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma similar to the liver metastasis. After resection, the patient received antineoplastic agents(7 courses of modified FOLFOX6 followed by 3 courses of S-1). The patient is alive without recurrent disease 3 years and 4 months after resection of the mediastinal lymph nodes. Mediastinal lymph node metastasis from liver metastasis of colon cancer without lung metastasis is rare. Although the optimal treatment has not been determined, tumor resection may be associated with favorable outcomes.

[Solitary ectopic thymoma at ligamentum arteriosum; report of a case].

We report a case of solitary ectopic thymoma at the ligamentum arteriosum, which was resected with thoracoscopic surgery. A 62-year-old male patient received chemoradiation therapy for laryngeal cancer approximately 1 year before. The present computed tomography scan indicated a mass (diameter, 2 cm) at the ligamentum arteriosum. Furthermore, positron emission tomography showed an abnormal accumulation on the mass. Malignant lymphoma and laryngeal cancer with lymph node metastasis were suspected, and thoracoscopic surgery was performed. The tumor had a clear margin;therefore, it could be extirpated easily. The results of the postoperative pathological examination indicated that the tumor was an ectopic thymoma. The patient was discharged 3 days after the surgery because he showed good clinical course and was kept under careful observation.

[A case of advanced esophageal cancer revealed a pathological complete response and survived more than 8 years, treated by radiation therapy combined with nedaplatin and 5-FU chemotherapy].

We report here the long-term survival case of advanced esophageal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). A 61-year-old woman visited our hospital because of a disturbance in her swallowing in September, 2003. She was diagnosed with a middle esophageal type 3 tumor, which was 9 cm in length by endoscopy. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by pre-operative endoscopic biopsy. CT revealed the tumor with direct invasion to the aorta, and multiple metastases of the lymph nodes(T4, N1, M0: Stage IVa). CRT(combination of 5-FU and nedaplatin with 40 Gy of radiation)was administered. After the completion of CRT, the tumor size was remarkably reduced, but stenosis of the lumen of the esophagus remained partially. Therefore, we performed sub-total esophagectomy in February, 2004. A pathological complete response was diagnosed with no carcinoma cells evident in the resected specimen. Pathological therapeutic evaluation of the esophageal cancer was grade 3. The patient had received no adjuvant chemotherapy, but she is alive and healthy now with no relapse of carcinoma for more than 8 years after operation.

[A case of pathologically by complete response in advanced sigmoid colon cancer with multiple metastases of lung and Liver, left hydronephrosis after chemotherapy including bevacizumab/FOLFOX6].

A 61-year-old complaining of anorexia and general fatigue was admitted to our hospital for further examination. She was diagnosed as advanced sigmoid colon cancer with multiple metastases of lung, liver, and left hydronephrosis. Since curative surgery was not deemed possible, we started chemotherapy with bevacizumab/FOLFOX6 (bi-weekly drip infusion). After the 6th course, colonoscopy revealed a significant tumor reduction and changes to the scar tissues. CT did not reveal a complete disappearance, but found some reductions in metastases of lung and liver. Sigmoidectomy and lymph node resection (D1) were performed. We did not disappeared any dissemination and the histological diagnosis revealed a complete disappearance of cancer cells in the main tumor. She was discharged 13 days after surgery, following chemotherapy which included bevacizumab and XELOX. The chemotherapy using bevacizumab/FOLFOX6 is a candidate for the standard treatment strategy for inoperable advanced colon cancer. Herein we report this rare case with a review of the literature.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer successfully treated with docetaxel and S-1 combined therapy].

A 46-year-old woman with lower abdominal distension was diagnosed as gastric cancer in our hospital. She had multiple metastases of lungs, lymph nodes, bilateral ovaries, and uterus. After she underwent sub-total gastrectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and total hysterectomy, she received adjuvant chemotherapy followed by docetaxel and S-1. After 6 courses of chemotherapy, PET/CT revealed no recurrences (complete response), and she was therefore administered S-1 for only 6 months. She has remained without recurrence 15 months after the operation.

Ectopic ACTH syndrome due to thymic atypical carcinoid treated with combination chemotherapy of cisplatin and etoposide.

A 21-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome presented with a mediastinal tumor. Ectopic ACTH syndrome was diagnosed and the tumor was resected. The histopathological diagnosis was thymic atypical carcinoid. Despite all tumor lesions having been resected, the tumor relapsed and multiple metastatic lesions grew aggressively. Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide (VP16) was administered to control tumor progression, and achieved marked therapeutic effects. Maintenance chemotherapy with carboplatin and VP16 achieved long-term tumor control. This case indicates that some patients with atypical carcinoid tumor are good responders to chemotherapy with platinum agents and VP16.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with multiple myeloma.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a neurological disease that affects immunodeficient patients. We describe here a case of 64-year-old man with IgD type multiple myeloma (MM) who developed progressive neurological symptoms. T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a hyperintense non-enhancing lesion in the left frontal lobe, and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of John Cunningham virus (JCV) DNA. Histopathological analysis of the autopsy brain specimen with in situ hybridization assay revealed the presence of JCV DNA in the nuclei of oligodendroglia. PML in a patient with MM is rare. However, this case report suggests that PML should be suspected and relevant diagnostic examinations should be performed when MM patients present with neurological symptoms.