[Association between mesenteric phlebosclerosis and Chinese herbal medicine intake].

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric phlebosclerosis (MP) is a relatively rare disease of the colon. An association between MP and Chinese herbal medicine intake has recently been recognized. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In the present study, we investigated the association between MP and Chinese herbal medicine intake in 42 patients, including those reported in the literature as well as those treated by us. RESULTS: Approximately 90% patients treated by us reported a history of Chinese herbal medicine intake, particularly kamishoyosan, orengedokuto, and sanshishi (gardeniae fructus), the lattermost being consumed by the majority of patients as a crude herbal medicine. DISCUSSION: Several MP patients report a history of Chinese herbal medicine intake. Furthermore, symptoms are exacerbated in MP patients who continue to consume the medicine after onset. Interestingly, MP was reported to develop in a married couple who had consumed the same Chinese herbal medicine for a prolonged period. These findings suggest that the intake of Chinese herbal medicine, particularly sanshishi, is strongly associated with MP development.

Validity of conventional endoscopy using "non-extension sign" for optical diagnosis of colorectal deep submucosal invasive cancer.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The non-extension sign relates to a localized increase in thickness and rigidity due to deep submucosal invasive (SM-d: depth of 1000 µm or more) cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the non-extension sign in assessing the optical diagnosis of colorectal SM-d cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 309 patients with 315 early colorectal cancers that had been endoscopically or surgically resected. The non-extension sign was judged from chromoendoscopy (CE) using conventional white-light imaging with indigo carmine, and is taken to be positive when any one of the findings of rigidity of a circular arc, trapezoid elevation, or converging mucosal folds are seen. We assessed comparing the accuracy of CE, magnifying chromoendoscopy (M-CE), and magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) for the optical diagnosis of colorectal SM-d cancer. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of SM-d cancer were 66.0 %, 95.8 %, and 86.3 % for CE; 80 %, 90.7 %, and 87.3 % for M-CE; and 65.0 %, 94.4 %, and 85.1 % for M-NBI, respectively. The specificity of CE was significantly higher than that of M-CE ( P  = 0.034). The sensitivity of M-CE was significantly higher than that of CE ( P  = 0.026). In a comparison of positive and negative groups for the non-extension sign in SM-d cancer, SM invasion was significantly deeper in the positive group than in the negative group (3012.5 µm vs 2002.4 µm, respectively; P  < 0.0001) and the rate of lymphovascular invasion was significantly higher in the positive group than in the negative group (63.6 % vs 41.2 %, respectively; P  = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The non-extension sign offers high diagnostic specificity for SM-d cancer, and surgery should be considered in patients with a positive non-extension sign.

Deep infiltrative low-grade MALT (mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue) colonic lymphomas that regressed as a result of antibiotic administration: endoscopic ultrasound evaluation.

Since 1997 we have experienced three cases of low-grade colonic mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. The depth of tumor invasion was evaluated by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and the mass lesions were all diagnosed as having extended beyond the deep region of the submucosal layer. Although all of these patients tested negative for gastric Helicobacter pylori, their tumor lesions regressed after antibiotic treatment in accordance with H. pylori eradication therapy. In general, consensus has been reached regarding antibiotic therapy for gastric MALT lymphomas. However, as a prerequisite for antibiotic therapy, the therapy has been deemed effective against these gastric tumors if the extent of infiltration, as evaluated by EUS, is limited to the mucosal layer or the superficial region of the submucosal layer. Based on the therapeutic outcomes seen in the three patients studied here, it is suggested that antibiotic therapy might be useful in treating MALT lymphomas of the colon, even in patients with advanced invasive tumors, in contrast to the extent of the lesions in the stomach suitable for antibiotic treatment. The success of the antibiotic treatment also suggests that MALT lymphomas may be caused by unknown luminal microorganisms, other than H. pylori.