Proper muscle layer damage affects ulcer healing after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the established therapy for superficial gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, management of the artificial ulcers associated with ESD has become important and the relationship between ulcer healing factors and treatment is still unclear. We aimed to evaluate ESD-related artificial ulcer reduction ratio at 4 weeks to assess factors associating with ulcer healing after ESD that may lead to optimal treatment. METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2013, a total of 375 lesions fulfilled the expanded criteria for ESD. We defined ulcer reduction rate <90% as (A) poor-healing group; and rate ≥90% as (B) well-healing group. After exclusion, 328 lesions were divided into two groups and analyzed. These two groups were compared based on clinicopathological/endoscopic features, concomitant drugs, and treatment. RESULTS: Ulcer reduction rate was significantly correlated with factors related to the ESD procedure (i.e. procedure time, submucosal fibrosis, and injury of the proper muscle layer, in univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that submucosal fibrosis (F2) (P = 0.03; OR, 16.46; 95% CI, 1.31-206.73) and injury of the proper muscle layer (P = 0.01; OR, 4.27; 95% CI, 2.04-8.92) were statistically significant predictors of delayed healing. CONCLUSION: This single-center retrospective study indicated that ESD-induced artificial ulcer healing was affected by submucosal fibrosis and injury of the proper muscle layer, which induced damage to the muscle layer. Therefore, the preferable pharmacotherapy can be determined on completion of the ESD procedure.

Mesenteric lymph node abscess due to Yersinia enterocolitica: case report and review of the literature.

We describe the case of a 74-year-old female with a mesenteric lymph node abscess caused by a Yersinia enterocolitica infection. She had been administered an immunosuppressive drug and was admitted to the hospital due to a high fever, right lower abdominal pain and advanced leukocytosis. We initially diagnosed her with lymphadenitis based on the symptoms and the imaging studies. However, conservative treatment with antibiotics did not yield any improvement, and abscess formation was suspected. Surgical treatment was performed, and the culture from the drainage fluid grew Y. enterocolitica. The histological findings suggested that an ulcerative lesion of the terminal ileum was the entry port of Y. enterocolitica. The pathogen infected the mesenteric lymph nodes and spread along the ileocecal lymphatic vessels, resulting in the formation of an abscess. We also provide a review of the previously published literature on lymph node abscesses due to Y. enterocolitica infections.

Duodenocolic fistula caused by a peptic stomal ulcer following distal gastrectomy.

We herein describe the case of a 51-year-old man with a duodenocolic fistula (DCF) caused by a stomal ulcer. The patient complained of watery diarrhea, dysgeusia and malnutrition. His medical history included distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction for duodenal ulcer perforation. A combination study using endoscopy and contrast imaging confirmed the presence of DCF. Laparotomic fistulectomy was performed, which resulted in the patient's recovery from diarrhea and malnutrition. The histological findings suggested that the fistula had originated from a stomal ulcer. In patients with chronic watery diarrhea of obscure origin following gastrectomy, DCF is a possible cause of the diarrhea.