What is the analgesic range of acupuncture stimulus for treating acute pain?

Introduction: Since the analgesic effect of acupuncture stimulation is derived from different mechanisms depending on the type of pain, it is important to know which acupuncture points to stimulate. In this study, to confirm the effect of acupuncture stimulation on acute pain from a neurological point of view, somatosensory evoked potential and sensory threshold changes were evaluated to identify the nerve range that is affected by acupuncture stimulation on LI4 (Hapgok acupuncture point, of the radial nerve) during acute pain. Methods: The subjects were 40 healthy men and women aged 19-35 years. The study was designed as a randomly controlled, crossover trial with acupuncture stimulation at LI4 as the intervention. The washout period for acupuncture stimulation was 2 weeks, and the subjects were divided into two groups, i.e., an acupuncture stimulation group and a nonstimulation group, with 10 men and 10 women in each group. Somatosensory evoked potential measurement was carried out for 5 min by alternately applying 2 HZ-pulse electrical stimulation to the thumb and the little finger of the hand acupunctured with a 64-channel electroencephalogram. The verbal rating scale was used before and after each acupuncture stimulation session. Result and discussion: The results of the study confirmed that the somatosensory evoked potential amplitude value of the thumb was significantly decreased and that the intensity of sensory stimulation corresponding to a verbal rating scale score of 6 was significantly increased only in the thumb after acupuncture stimulation. Therefore, the results show that acupuncture treatment for acute pain is more effective when direct acupuncture stimulation is applied to the painful area.

Attenuation of immobilization stress-induced hypertension by temperature-controllable warm needle acupuncture in rats and the peripheral neural mechanisms.

Introduction: We and others have shown that electrical stimulation of the PC-6 acupoint over the wrist relieves hypertension by stimulating afferent sensory nerve fibers and activating the central endogenous opioid system. Warm needle acupuncture has long been utilized to treat various diseases in clinics. Methods: Here, we developed a temperature-controllable warm needle acupuncture instrument (WAI) and investigated the peripheral mechanism underlying the effect of warm needle acupuncture at PC-6 on hypertension in a rat model of immobilization stress-induced hypertension. Results: Stimulation with our newly developed WAI and traditional warm needle acupuncture attenuated hypertension development. Such effects were reproduced by capsaicin (a TRPV1 agonist) injection into PC-6 or WAI stimulation at 48°C. In contrast, PC-6 pretreatment with the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine blocked the antihypertensive effect of WAI stimulation at PC-6. WAI stimulation at PC-6 increased the number of dorsal root ganglia double-stained with TRPV1 and CGRP. QX-314 and capsaicin perineural injection into the median nerve for chemical ablation of small afferent nerve fibers (C-fibers) prevented the antihypertensive effect of WAI stimulation at PC-6. Additionally, PC-6 pretreatment with RTX ablated the antihypertensive effect of WAI stimulation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that warm needle acupuncture at PC-6 activates C-fiber of median nerve and the peripheral TRPV1 receptors to attenuate the development of immobilization stress-induced hypertension in rats.

Biopotential changes of acupuncture points by acupuncture stimulation.

Background: The energy flow at acupuncture point is important for understanding the mechanism of acupuncture treatment. However, there are few studies on energy at acupuncture point, and related studies have limitation in explaining the energy flow in all meridians. Thus, we aimed to understand the properties of electrical energy at acupuncture point in twelve meridians by measuring the biopotential at acupuncture and non-acupuncture points. Methods: For each meridian, twenty subjects were participated, and biopotential was measured at five transport points and their adjacent non-acupuncture points. In each subject, both 'non-stimulation' and 'stimulation' experiments were conducted in random order. The data were analyzed in two parts: biopotential variability and biopotential difference between acupuncture and non-acupuncture points. Results: The biopotential variability at acupuncture point was increased by acupuncture stimulation, and it was related to the activation of Qi flow by acupuncture stimulation. The biopotential difference between acupuncture and non-acupuncture points was formed in the direction related to the Qi flow theory, and this biopotential difference tended to decrease by acupuncture stimulation. Conclusion: The study on biopotential can provide a foundation for research on energy flow mechanism of acupuncture stimulation, and it is expected to overcome limitation of qualitative explanation in traditional medicine.

Acupuncture Regulates Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease via Brain Neural Activity and Functional Connectivity in Mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multilayered progressive brain disease characterized by motor dysfunction and a variety of other symptoms. Although acupuncture has been used to ameliorate various symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders, including PD, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanism of acupuncture by revealing the effects of acupuncture treatment on brain neural responses and its functional connectivity in an animal model of PD. We observed that destruction of neuronal network between many brain regions in PD mice were reversed by acupuncture. Using machine learning analysis, we found that the key region associated with the improvement of abnormal behaviors might be related to the neural activity of M1, suggesting that the changes of c-Fos in M1 could predict the improvement of motor function induced by acupuncture treatment. In addition, acupuncture treatment was shown to significantly normalize the brain neural activity not only in M1 but also in other brain regions related to motor behavior (striatum, substantia nigra pars compacta, and globus pallidus) and non-motor symptoms (hippocampus, lateral hypothalamus, and solitary tract) of PD. Taken together, our results demonstrate that acupuncture treatment might improve the PD symptoms by normalizing the brain functional connectivity in PD mice model and provide new insights that enhance our current understanding of acupuncture mechanisms for non-motor symptoms.

Acupuncture Alleviates Anxiety and 22-kHz Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats Subjected to Repeated Alcohol Administration by Modulating the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling Pathway.

The Shenmen point (acupuncture point heart 7: HT7), located in the heart meridian, is frequently used to treat mental disorders, including drug addiction, anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to determine how HT7 regulates anxiety and negative emotions caused by repeated alcohol administration, focusing on the amygdala and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Repeated administration of alcohol (ETOH; 2 g/kg, i.p. injection, 16% v/v) for 14 days increased the corticosterone (CORT) levels, and HT7 stimulation reduced the plasma CORT levels. HT7 stimulation mitigated anxiety-like behaviors and reduced 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats receiving repeated ETOH injections. HT7 stimulation increased the amygdala expression of mature brain-derived neurotropic factor (mBDNF) and phosphorylated tropomyosin receptor kinase B (pTrkB) and decreased the PVN corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression. Amygdala microinjections of the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 (0.1 pmol/1 µL) reversed the increase in PVN CRH levels. The reduced PVN CRH levels were regulated by CRH-expressing neurons in the amygdala, and the increased amygdala CRH levels were affected by the HT7-stimulation induced increases in mBDNF. HT7 stimulation alleviates increased stress hormone levels and mitigates anxiety and negative emotions caused by repeated ETOH administration. These results provide scientific support for the clinical use of acupuncture to treat various alcoholism-induced diseases.

Peripheral ERK modulates acupuncture-induced brain neural activity and its functional connectivity.

Acupuncture has been widely used as a therapeutic intervention, and the brain network plays a crucial role in its neural mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the acupuncture mechanism from peripheral to central by identifying how the peripheral molecular signals induced by acupuncture affect the brain neural responses and its functional connectivity. We confirmed that peripheral ERK activation by acupuncture plays a role in initiating acupuncture-induced peripheral proteomic changes in mice. The brain neural activities in the neocortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, periaqueductal grey, and nucleus of the solitary tract (Sol) were significantly changed after acupuncture, and these were altered by peripheral MEK/MAPK inhibition. The arcuate nucleus and lateral hypothalamus were the most affected by acupuncture and peripheral MEK/MAPK inhibition. The hypothalamic area was the most contributing brain region in contrast task PLS analysis. Acupuncture provoked extensive changes in brain functional connectivity, and the posterior hypothalamus showed the highest betweenness centrality after acupuncture. After brain hub identification, the Sol and cingulate cortex were selected as hub regions that reflect both degree and betweenness centrality after acupuncture. These results suggest that acupuncture activates brain functional connectivity and that peripheral ERK induced by acupuncture plays a role in initiating brain neural activation and its functional connectivity.

The effect of acupuncture stimulation on alleviating emotional changes due to acute alcohol administration and the possibility of sigma1 receptor involvement.

BACKGROUND: Most ETOH addiction preclinical studies have focused on the rewards of chronic ETOH self-administration or the ETOH reinstatement model. Acute ETOH administration studies are scarce despite the potential of ETOH to cause sedation, intoxication and reduced acute functional tolerance. Here, we established a rat model of acute ETOH administration induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 1 g/kg ethanol and assessed the similarities in physiological and behavioral effects between acupuncture and Sigma1 R antagonists. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (300-330 g) received pretreatment with (1) saline injection, (2) saline + mechanical stimulation using a mechanical acupuncture instrument (MAI) for acupuncture at the Shenmen (HT7), (3) ETOH (1 g/kg) injection, (4) ETOH + HT7, or (5) the selective σ1 R antagonist BD 1047 (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (IP) injection). ETOH (1 g/kg) or saline was IP injected after 10 min. Then, ETOH-induced immobility was evaluated in an open field arena, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) indicating ethanol-induced emotional changes were recorded in a recording chamber, and the rats were sacrificed for the analysis of protein levels of σ1 R in several regions of the brain. RESULTS: Acute ethanol exposure increased the immobile time, 22-kHz USVs, and protein levels of σ1 R in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, pretreatment with acupuncture at HT7 induced recovery of immobile time, reduced 22-kHz USVs, and regulated the protein levels of σ1 R in the VTA. These effects have similarities with IP injection of BD 1047 (10 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: This study showed that acupuncture at HT7 regulates immobility and 22-kHz USVs via Sigma1 R in the VTA upon acute ETOH exposure.

Quality of moxa wool contained in commercial moxibustion devices: test method and examples of waste particle concentration.

BACKGROUND: Moxibustion treatment involves a combination of thermal and chemical stimulation applied by the combustion of moxa wool. The quality of moxa wool is considered to be an important factor in moxibustion treatment traditionally and clinically. However, despite its importance, quantitative and objective methods for determining moxa wool quality are lacking. METHODS: Moxa wool and commercial indirect moxibustion (CIM) device specimens were randomly collected, dried and strained through sieves of various sizes for 10 h. After sieving, the residues remaining on each sieve were collected. The collected samples were weighed and microscopically observed. RESULTS: In this study, we observed that fibres mainly remained on sieves sized 425 µm, and particles were smaller than 300 µm. The residues between 425 and 300 µm varied between the products. In addition, moxa wool for direct moxibustion (DMW) exhibited significantly more fibres than moxa wool for indirect moxibustion (IMW). Most of the CIM devices using moxa wool had a quality similar to IMW, except for one CIM brand using moxa wool that contained three times more waste particles than IMW. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the sieving method is useful for testing the quality of moxa wool even after the CIM manufacturing process. The sieve sizes of 425 and 300 µm could be used as a yardstick to determine the quality of moxa wool. Although this approach requires larger scale validation against existing standard methodologies, we believe it has great potential to be used to improve and safeguard the quality of moxa wool contained in commercial moxibustion devices.

Treatment of electrical wrist stimulation reduces chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and ultrasound vocalization via modulation of spinal NR2B phosphorylation.

Docetaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast cancer, produces a robust painful neuropathy that is aggravated by mechanical and thermal stimuli. This study was undertaken to investigate the analgesic effects of electrical stimulation on docetaxel-induced neuropathic pain in mice and to identify associated changes in ultrasound vocalizations. Peripheral neuropathy was induced with intraperitoneally injected docetaxel (5 mg/kg) on 3 times every 2 days in male ICR mice. Electrical wrist stimulation was administered and pain behavior signs were evaluated by von Frey filaments and thermal stimulation on the hind paw. Ultrasound vocalizations were measured using ultrasound microphones, after electrical stimulation. After mice developed docetaxel-induced neuropathic pain behavior, an electrical stimulation temporarily attenuated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. In formalin and NMDA test, pain-induced mice showed increases in 10-30 kHz ultrasound vocalizations, but not in 30-50 and 50-80 kHz vocalizations. Treatment with docetaxel selectively increased 10-30 kHz ultrasound vocalizations, whereas electrical stimulation caused a meaningful decrease. Moreover, electrical stimulation suppressed the docetaxel-enhanced phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor NR2B subunit in the spinal dorsal horn. These results of the analgesic effect of electrical stimulation in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy could potentially provide a new method to treat and manage peripheral neuropathy in patients with cancer.

Biological safety of Electroacupuncture with STS316 needles.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) is often used in clinical settings due to its analgesic effect, but its safety has not been verified due to the lack of clear criteria. This study examined the critical range of the corrosion of stainless steel types STS304 and STS316, which have been used clinically, and the relationship between needle corrosion and cell necrosis. METHOD: The critical point of corrosion for STS304 and STS316 was identified by varying the time, frequency, and stimulation intensity. In a tissue necrosis experiment, EA stimulation was applied to rats using STS316 needles with different thicknesses at maximum intensity for 60 min, and the presence of corrosion and tissue necrosis was determined. A cytotoxicity experiment was also conducted and assessed the needles and tissue necrosis. RESULTS: The results showed that STS316 was more stable than STS304 and that only coated needles corroded. Furthermore, tissue necrosis was observed regardless of corrosion, and slight cell necrosis was associated with needles with corrosion. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that non-coated STS316 was the most stable for EA stimulation and that corrosion byproducts and cell necrosis were not directly related.

Mechanical Stimulation of the HT7 Acupuncture Point to Reduce Ethanol Self-Administration in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholism, which is a disabling addiction disorder, is a major public health problem worldwide. The present study was designed to determine whether the application of acupuncture at the Shenmen (HT7) point suppresses voluntary alcohol consumption in addicted rats and whether this suppressive effect is potentiated by the administration of naltrexone. METHODS: Rats were initially trained to self-administer a sucrose solution by operating a lever. A mechanical acupuncture instrument (MAI) for objective mechanical stimulation was used on rats whose baseline response had been determined. In addition, the effect of HT7 acupuncture on beta-endorphin concentration and ethanol intake via naltrexone were investigated in different groups. RESULTS: We found that ethanol intake and beta-endorphin level in rats being treated with the MAI at the HT7 point reduced significantly. The treatment of naltrexone at high doses reduced the ethanol intake and low-dose injection of naltrexone in conjunction with the MAI also suppressed ethanol intake. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study indicate that using the MAI at the HT7 point effectively reduces ethanol consumption in rats. Furthermore, the coadministration of the MAI and a low dose of naltrexone can produce some more potent reducing effect of ethanol intake than can acupuncture alone.

Change in the P300 index - a pilot randomized controlled trial of low-frequency electrical stimulation of acupuncture points in middle-aged men and women.

BACKGROUND: The P300 is a major index used to evaluate improvements in brain function. Although a few studies have reported evaluating the effectiveness of manual acupuncture or electro-acupuncture by monitoring the P300, research in this field is not yet very active. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of periodic low-frequency electrical stimulation applied to BL62 and KI6 on brain activity by analyzing the P300. METHOD: The study was conducted as a randomized double-blind test of 55 subjects in their 50s, including 26 males and 29 females. Each subject received 12 sessions of stimulation over a one-month period. In each session, low-frequency electrical stimulation at an average of 24 µA and 2 Hz was applied to the acupuncture points BL62 and KI6, and event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured before the first session and after the last session of the electrical stimulation. RESULTS: The results of a chi-square test indicated that the double-blind test was conducted correctly. Compared to the Sham group, all the subjects in the Real stimulation group showed a tendency toward a decreasing P300 latency and increasing P300 amplitude after all 12 sessions of stimulation. In the women, the amplitude significantly increased at Fz, Fcz, Cz, Cpz, and Pz. CONCLUSIONS: With this experiment, the low-frequency electrical stimulation of two acupuncture points (BL62 and K16) was confirmed to have a positive influence on the prevention of natural cerebral aging. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of the National Research Institute of Health ( https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_en.jsp? , Registration Number: KCT0001940). The date of registration was June 9, 2016.

Case report: fainting during acupuncture stimulation at acupuncture point LI4.

BACKGROUND: Fainting is one of the major adverse events that can occur as a result of acupuncture treatment. However, the observation of changes in biological parameters is rarely available when fainting occurs. In this case report, we could observe changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) in a participant who fainted while participating in a clinical trial aiming to observe a relationship between acupuncture stimulation at LI4 acupuncture point and EEG in healthy adults. CASE PRESENTATION: The EEG pattern of participant changed twice. The first change was in response to the acupuncture needle insertion, and the second change occurred during fainting. Both changes consisted of a burst in EEG amplitude, but the pattern of details was different. Multiple areas of the cortex were activated, and the increased ratio of the γ wave was not observed during fainting. While acupuncture needle insertion, only the sensory cortex were activated and increased the ratio of the γ wave. CONCLUSIONS: This single case is presented to improve the understanding of fainting during acupuncture as an adverse event and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture treatment, despite the absence of statistics and repeatability. This information can provide a new viewpoint about the mechanism of acupuncture treatment and the possibility of new techniques based on acupuncture.

Safety recommendations for moxa use based on the concentration of noxious substances produced during commercial indirect moxibustion.

BACKGROUND: Moxibustion therapy has been used historically for thousands of years and there are many clinical trials supporting its efficacy and effectiveness for various conditions. Moxa smoke has been a major reason for avoiding moxibustion due to its smell and potential risks to the human body. METHODS: 10 units of commercial indirect moxa (CIM) from six manufacturers (A-F) were burnt in a 2.5×2.5×2.5 m chamber without ventilation, and concentrations of carbon oxides (CO and CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the indoor air samples were measured. RESULTS: For brands A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively, relative to baseline values, we observed an increase in CO (from 0.002 to 0.007, 0.006, 0.005, 0.006, 0.005, and 0.006 parts per billion (ppb)), NOx (from 0.009 to 0.051, 0.025, 0.015, 0.050, 0.019, and 0.020 ppb), and total VOCs (TVOC; from 48.06 to 288.83, 227.93, 140.82, 223.22, 260.15, and 161.35 µg/m3), while the concentration of CO2 was not elevated. Each CIM brand demonstrated different VOC emission characteristics, which could be divided into three groups. On average, we estimated that 20 units of CIM or 2.41 g moxa floss would need to be combusted in order to exceed the safe levels set by Korean environmental law. This limit is likely to be greater in the case of a larger room or use of ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increased CO/NOx/VOC concentrations, overall levels remained within safe limits. These findings may help clinicians to maintain safe moxibustion treatment conditions to help keep both patients and clinicians safe from the pollutants generated by moxa combustion.

Evaluating Acupuncture Point and Nonacupuncture Point Stimulation with EEG: A High-Frequency Power Spectrum Analysis.

To identify physical and sensory responses to acupuncture point stimulation (APS), nonacupuncture point stimulation (NAPS) and no stimulation (NS), changes in the high-frequency power spectrum before and after stimulation were evaluated with electroencephalography (EEG). A total of 37 healthy subjects received APS at the LI4 point, NAPS, or NS with their eyes closed. Background brain waves were measured before, during, and after stimulation using 8 channels. Changes in the power spectra of gamma waves and high beta waves before, during, and after stimulation were comparatively analyzed. After NAPS, absolute high beta power (AHBP), relative high beta power (RHBP), absolute gamma power (AGP), and relative gamma power (RGP) tended to increase in all channels. But no consistent notable changes were found for APS and NS. NAPS is believed to cause temporary reactions to stress, tension, and sensory responses of the human body, while APS responds stably compared to stimulation of other parts of the body.

Mental-Physical Comorbidity in Korean Adults: Results from a Nationwide General Population Survey in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of mental-physical comorbidity and health-threatening risk factors in subjects with mental disorders, and the risks of mental disorders in those with physical diseases for the last 12 months in the general Korean population. METHODS: Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area study replication (KECA-R) was conducted for 6,510 adults between August 2006 and April 2007. The Korean version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1 (K-CIDI) was used in the survey. Prevalence of mental and physical disorders, and risk factors for physical health were calculated, and their associations were evaluated with adjustment for age and sex. RESULTS: Subjects with any mental disorder showed significantly higher prevalence of chronic physical conditions (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=1.5 to 2.8, p<0.001) and medical risk factors including smoking, heavy drinking, overweight, and hypertension (AOR=1.5 to 4.0, p<0.001). Of those with chronic physical conditions, 21.6% had one or more comorbid mental disorder compared with 10.5% of the subjects without chronic physical disorders (AOR=2.6, p<0.001). Contrary to expectations, depressive disorders did not show significant association with hypertension and prevalence of obesity was not influenced by presence of mental disorders. Further studies should assess these findings. CONCLUSION: This is the first identification of significant mental-physical comorbidity in the general Korean population. Clinicians and health care officials should keep in mind of its potential adverse effects on treatment outcome and aggravated disease-related socioeconomic burden.

History of bioelectrical study and the electrophysiology of the primo vascular system.

Background. Primo vascular system is a new anatomical structure whose research results have reported the possibility of a new circulatory system similar to the blood vascular system and cells. Electrophysiology, which measures and analyzes bioelectrical signals tissues and cells, is an important research area for investigating the function of tissues and cells. The bioelectrical study of the primo vascular system has been reported by using modern techniques since the early 1960s by Bonghan Kim. This paper reviews the research result of the electrophysiological study of the primo vascular system for the discussion of the circulatory function. We hope it would help to study the electrophysiology of the primo vascular system for researchers. This paper will use the following exchangeable expressions: Kyungrak system = Bonghan system = Bonghan circulatory system = primo vascular system = primo system; Bonghan corpuscle = primo node; Bonghan duct = primo vessel. We think that objective descriptions of reviewed papers are more important than unified expressions when citing the papers. That said, this paper will unify the expressions of the primo vascular system.

The characteristics of action potentials in primo vessels and the effects of acetylcholine injection to the action potentials.

In a previous study, we found that Primo vessels generate different action potentials in smooth muscles, but this study compared the pulse shape to distinguish the two tissues. Thus, a more sophisticated extracellular experiment was performed in this study using an acetylcholine injection; we then observed changes in the amplitude, FWHM (full width at half maximum), and period to explore Primo vessel function. A third type of pulse was recorded for Primo vessels. We observed fast depolarizing and repolarizing phases for this pulse. Further, its FWHM was 30 ms between smooth muscles and neurons. Acetylcholine affected only the period. The amplitude and FWHM were consistent after injection. Primo-vessels generated action potentials at twice the frequency after injection. From the results, we speculate that Primo-vessels perform a role in transferring signals in a different manner, which may be relevant for acupuncture treatment.

Mathematical Distinction in Action Potential between Primo-Vessels and Smooth Muscle.

We studied the action potential of Primo-vessels in rats to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of these structures. We introduced a mathematical analysis method, a normalized Fourier transform that displays the sine and cosine components separately, to compare the action potentials of Primo-vessels with those for the smooth muscle. We found that Primo-vessels generated two types of action potential pulses that differed from those of smooth muscle: (1) Type I pulse had rapid depolarizing and repolarizing phases, and (2) Type II pulse had a rapid depolarizing phase and a gradually slowing repolarizing phase.

Imaging findings of mantle cell lymphoma involving gastrointestinal tract.

Clinical manifestations and imaging findings of mantle cell lymphoma involving gastrointestinal tract were evaluated. The subjects were 7 cases of mantle cell lymphoma involving the gastrointestinal tract. All cases were pathologically confirmed in our hospital during the period from April 1994 to July 2000. Five patients were male and 2 were female, and their age ranged from 49 to 63 years (average 57.4). The objectives were: 1) characteristics and distribution of multiple polyposis, 2) presence, location and enhancement pattern of bowel wall thickening or mass formation, 3) presence of splenomegaly, 4) presence and location of abdominal lymph node enlargement, 5) involved extra-abdominal organs, 6) combined cancer and location, and 7) other findings. All mantle cell lymphomas occurred in elderly persons, over 40 years, and most showed multiple polyposis (6/7), bowel wall thickening or mass formation (6/7), lymph node enlargements (6/7) and extra- abdominal involvement (5/7). All cases of polyposis involved the small bowel and colon, and the size of the polyps ranged from 0.1-4.0cm. Four of 6 patients showed combined sessile and polypoid polyps, while the other 2 showed only sessile polyps. Most of or some of the polyps in 3 patients showed small central ulcerations. Most of the patients (5/6) showed an uncountable number of polyps. Polyposis was predominant in the rectum, ascending colon, rather than other sections in the colon, and the ileum were almost always involved by polyposis. Bowel wall thickening or mass formation developed exclusively in the ascending colon, rectum or ileum. Extra- abdominal involvement developed either simultaneously or nonconcurrently with gastrointestinal involvement. Some of patients showed splenomegaly (3/7), appendiceal enlargement (2/7), and intussusception (1/7), and some had associated adenocarcinomas (3/7).