Subarachnoid and Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients with Churg-Strauss Syndrome: Two Case Reports

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis of the small and medium vessels, associated with extravascular eosinophilic granulomas, peripheral eosinophilia, and asthma. The exact etiology of CSS is unknown. This syndrome commonly affects the lungs, peripheral nerves, skin, heart, and gastrointestinal tract, but rarely the central nervous system. Subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage in CSS patients is extremely rare; however, clinicians should consider that CSS may be a cause of intracranial hemorrhage and its high rate of mortality and morbidity. The authors report on two cases of subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage with CSS and discuss a brief review of CSS.

Brachial Plexus Tumors in a Consecutive Series of Twenty One Patients

OBJECTIVE: This is a retrospective review of 22 surgically treated benign and malignant tumors of brachial plexus region to describe clinical presentation, the characteristics of brachial plexus tumor and clinical outcomes with a literature review. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with consecutive 22 surgeries for primary brachial plexus tumors were enrolled between February 2002 and November 2011 were included in this study. The medical records of all patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Eleven male and 10 female patients were enrolled. Mean age was 39 years. Three patients had brachial plexus tumor associated with neurofibromatosis (13.6%). Presenting signs and symptoms included parenthesis and numbness (54.5%), radiating pain (22.7%), direct tenderness and pain (27.2%), palpable mass (77.3%). Twelve patients presented preoperative sensory deficit (54.5%) and 9 patients presented preoperative motor deficit (40.9%). Twenty tumors (90.9%) were benign and 2 tumors (9.1%) were malignant. Benign tumors included 15 schwannomas (68.2%), 4 neurofibromas (18.2%) and 1 granular cell tumor (4.5%). There were 1 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) and 1 malignant granular cell tumor. Gross total resection was achieved in 16 patients (72.7%), including all schwannomas, 1 neurofibroma. Subtotal resection was performed in 6 tumors (27.3%), including 3 neurofibromatosis associated with brachial plexus neurofibromas, 1 MPNST and 2 granular cell tumor in one patient. CONCLUSION: Resection of tumor is the choice of tumor in the most of benign and malignant brachial plexus tumors. Postoperative outcomes are related to grade of resection at surgery and pathological features of tumor.

A Case of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Involvement of the Terminal Ileum and Colon That Was Seen on Colonscopy as a Form of Lymphoid Hyperplasia / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia is commonly seen when performing pediatric endoscopy. But in adults, these findings can imply an underlying gastrointestinal or systemic illness, besides the normal variant. On the other hand, colonic involvement of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is seen in about 5% to 20% of autopsy cases. However, there have been few reports on the colonoscopic appearance that corresponds to colonic involvement by CLL, and the reported colonoscopic appearances have included polyps, ulcers, granularity, submucosal nodules, erythema, the red ring sign etc. We report here on a case of CLL neoplastic lymphocyte involvement of the terminal ileum and colon as a form of lymphoid hyperplasia, and this was seen when performing colonoscopy.

Brunnera's Gland Hyperplasia: Treatment of Severe Diffuse Nodular Hyperplasia Mimicking a Malignancy on Pancreatic-Duodenal Area

Brunnera's gland hyperplasia is a benign tumor of the duodenum and it is rarely associated with clinical symptoms. We report on a 64-yr-old man with Brunnera's gland hyperplasia who had undergone a duodenocephalo-pancreatectomy. The reason is that he presented upper gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms and the esophagogastroduodenoscopic finding revealed the lesion to be an infiltrating type mass on the second portion of the duodenum with luminal narrowing. An abdominal computed tomography showed a 2.5 cm-sized mass in the duodenal second portion with a suspicious pancreatic invasion and 7 mm-sized lymph node around the duodenum. Duodenocephalopancreatectomy was successfully performed. Histological examination revealed a Brunnera's gland hyperplasia. The final diagnosis was the coexistence of Brunnera's gland hyperplasia and pancreatic heterotopia with a pancreatic head invasion. The literature on Brunnera's gland hyperplasia is reviewed.

Acute Drug-Induced Hepatitis Caused by Albendazole

Albendazole binds to parasite's tubulin inhibiting its glucose absorption. Its common adverse effects are nausea, vomiting, constipation, thirst, dizziness, headache, hair loss and pruritus. Although mainly metabolized in the liver, abnormal liver function tests were a rare adverse effect during clinical trials and we found no literature about albendazole-induced hepatitis requiring admission. This patient had a previous history of albendazole ingestion in 2002 resulting in increase of liver function tests. And in 2005, the episode repeated. We evaluated the patient for viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and autoimmune hepatitis, but no other cause of hepatic injury could be found. Liver biopsy showed periportal steatosis and periportal necrosis. The initial abnormal liver function test improved only with supportive care. These findings and the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (RUCAM/CIOMS) score of 9 are compatible with drug-induced hepatitis so we report the case of this patient with a review of the literature.

A Case of Gastroesophageal Amyloidosis with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Amyloidoses are disorders for which homogeneous amorphous fibrillar proteins accumulate in multiple organs. These diseases are classified into systemic and localized disease by their extent, the primary disease and their association with multiple myeloma, and the secondary and familial disease are classified by their association with the underlying diseases. Amyloidoses can develop in association with multiple myeloma, but only rare cases have been reported on that involve the gastroesophageal tract. Amyloidosis can involve the kidney, heart, liver, skin, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, and they can involve the small intestine, duodenum, stomach, colon, rectum and esophagus when there is disease of the gastrointestinal tract. We may overlook gastrointestinal involvement of amyloidoses if there are few symptoms and laboratory abnormalities because of the diverse clinical courses and features. Amyloidoses can manifest abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and perforation, but gastrointestinal hemorrhages are rare. We report here on a case of gastroesophageal amyloidosis with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and paralytic ileus due to multiple myeloma.

Esophageal Thermal Injury by Hot Adlay Tea

Reversible thermal injury to the esophagus as the result of drinking hot liquids has been reported to generate alternating white and red linear mucosal bands, somewhat reminiscent of a candy cane. This phenomenon is associated with chest pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, and epigastric pain. Here, we report a case of thermal injury to the esophageal and oral cavity due to the drinking of hot tea, including odynophagia and dysphagia. A 69-year-old man was referred due to a difficulty in swallowing which had begun a week prior to referral. The patient, at the time of admission, was unable to swallow even liquids. He had recently suffered from hiccups, and had consumed five cups of hot adlay tea one week prior to admission, as a folk remedy for the hiccups. Upon physical examination, the patient's oral cavity evidenced mucosal erosion, hyperemia, and mucosa covered by a whitish pseudomembrane. Nonspecific findings were detected on the laboratory and radiological exams. Upper endoscopy revealed diffuse hyperemia, and erosions with thick and whitish pseudomembraneous mucosa on the entire esophagus. The stomach and duodenum appeared normal. We diagnosed the patient with thermal esophageal injury inflicted by the hot tea. He was treated with pantoprazole, 40 mg/day, for 14 days, and evidenced significant clinical and endoscopic improvement.

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of Extrahepatic Bile Duct: A Case Report

Most malignant tumors originating from the biliary tract are adenocarcinomas, and adenosqamous carcinoma of Klatskin's tumor is a very rare finding. An 83-yr-old man was admitted to our hospital because of jaundice. The abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed wall thickening and luminal stenosis of both the intrahepatic duct confluent portion and the common hepatic duct. These findings were compatible with Klatskin's tumor, Bismuth type III. Considering the patient's old age, palliative combined modality therapy was performed. After percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, biopsy was performed via percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. The histopathologic findings showed adenosquamous carcinoma. External radiotherapy and intraluminal brachytherapy through the endobiliary Y-type stent were then done. Nine months after the radiotherapy, the laboratory findings and the abdominal computed tomography revealed biliary obstruction and progressive hepatic metastasis. The combined modality therapy of external radiotherapy, intraluminal brachytherapy and stenting assisted him to live a normal life until he finally experienced biliary obstruction.

A Case of Subphrenic Abscess with Ileal Fistula Caused by Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of Unknown Origin / 대한소화기학회지

Usual sources of subphrenic abscess with intestinal fistula are previous abdominal operation, inflammatory bowel disease and malignancy. Reported cases of intestinal fistula caused by adenocarcinoma were complicated by direct invasion. In this report, a 70-year-old male had a subphrenic abscess with intestinal fistula and the cause was a metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. As far as we know, this has not been reported previously in the literatures. The abscess went on chronic course for six months because intermittent administration of antibiotics modified its clinical presentation. The fistulous tract between the abscess and ileum was demonstrated by tubogram via the drainage catheter in abscess. The patient underwent surgical treatment because the cause of fistula was obscure. Invasion of the ileum by metastatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by the histologic examination of surgical specimen. Therefore, when a fistula develops without any apparent cause, there is a possibility of malignancy, and surgical approach must be considered. An early surgical approach will prevent the delay in treatment and reduce the mortality.

Choledocho-duodenal Fistula Caused by Tuberculosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Choledocho-duodenal fistula is a rare condition. It is usually developed as a complication of the gallstone disease, and rarely developed by penetrating peptic ulcer, trauma and neoplasm. Tuberculosis as a etiology of choledocho-duodenal fistula is very rare, and only a few cases were reported. We experienced a case of choledocho-duodenal fistula due to tuberculous lymphadenitis in a 26 year-old man presented with epigastric pain. After 6 months of anti-tuberculous medication, He was free of symptom and the fistula was closed spontaneously. We report the case with a review of literatures.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Surgical Treatment for Lumbar Disc Herniation / 대한정형외과학회잡지

It is important to follow strict indications for surgery and recognize prognostic factors in order to get good results in the surgical treatment of herniated nucleus pulposus. 55 patients with herniated nucleus pulposus were studied who had had laminectomy and discectomy and were followed up for more than 1 year in order to analyze the correlation between various factors including history, physical examination and radiologic finding and surgical results. Age, sex, symptom duration, location of the herniation, smoking, occupation, physical examination, disc height change, MRI findings, operation time and bleeding volume were evaluated as prognostic factors that seemed to influence surgical result. The results are as follow 1. Female had significantly better surgical results than male (P<0.05). 2. Non-smokers had significantly better surgical result than smokers (P<0.01). 3. In MRI finding, protruded disc had significantly better surgical result when it had involved spinal canal posterolaterally than centrally (P<0.01). 4. The less bleeding volume, the better surgical result (P<0.05).

Surgical Fepair of Achilles Tendon Ruptures: modified lindholm method / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Treatment of Rupture of Achilles tendon was first reported by Pare, 1575 and thereafter the various causes, diagnostic & therapeutic method of the ruptured tendon have been described by many authors. The two options of treatment are conservative management and surgical treatment and currently surgical intervention has been more popular. There are various surgical techniques which have been reported by many surgeons to treat the acute rupture of the Achilles tendon. In this report, 18 cases ( 11 male & 7 female ) of injuried Achilles tendon had been treated by the modified Lindholm method and follow-up study of 18 cases had been made during 28 months from august. 1993 to december, 1995. The results as follows; 1. After repair by the modified Lindholm method, a long leg cast was applied, and then aweight bearing was started average 8 weeks postoperatively. It can be demonstrated to shorten hospitalization and early ambulation compared to other surgical techniques 2. Postoperative power of triceps surae muscle was improved to normal in 15 patients ofthe 18 patients, and muscle power was good in 3 patients, but, all cases was improved to nearly normal whithin the last follow up. 3. Heel to floor distance was 0.6cm less on the operated side than on the normal side, and the difference decreased to 0.2cm at the last follow up. 4. The calf atrophy was minimal, and active range of motion of ankle was within normal limit. 5. We suggest that the procedure is recommended for one of the methods of the treatment of acute rupture of the Achilles tendon, because it is easy to do and permits early weight bearing and the complication is less.

Remodelling of Angular Deformity in Split Russel Traction for Femoral Shaft Fractures in Children / 대한정형외과학회잡지

We reviewed 40 cases of femoral shaft fractures in children treated with split Russel traction and initial fracture angulation above 10 degree. The treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children is various according to age. Satisfactory results have been reported with split-Russel traction. At an average follow-up of 33 months, we obtained following results about remodelling of fracture site & physeal site, possible acceptable angulation of fracture. 1. The average time of traction was 18 days, and hip spica cast was applied for 28 days. 2. Malunion within 25degrees in flexion & 23degrees in valgus & 24degrees in varus was well corrected spontaneously. 3. Average correction of initial angular deformity was 86% at last follow up. 4. Anterior angulation was corrected at 83%, varus 87%, valgus 88%. 5. Remodelling according to direction of deformity was no statistical correlation (P>0.05), and then spontaneous correction of angular deformity was same without relation to direction of deformity. 6. Remodelling according to site was statistical correlation (P<0.05), fracture site 26%, physes 74%. And proximal physes 36%, distal physes 38%.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in Pubic Bone: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Aneurysmal bone cyst uncommonly involves the pubic bone and tends to grow eccentrically and thin out overlying cortex. In the following case report, a 19-year-old male patient visited out hospital, because of dull pain in his left groin. He was diagnosed as aneurysmal bone cyst originated from the superior pubic ramus by CT guided needle biopsy. Transcatheter arterial embolization was effective in the treatment of this lesion such as complete consolidation after the procedure. At present, 2 years follow-up, no problem was noted at weight bearing as well as hip function or recurrence.