Acute benzyl alcohol intoxication: An autopsy case report.

INTRODUCTION: The main mechanism of death and the pathological appearance of cases of benzyl alcohol intoxication has not been fully investigated. Autopsy reports of cases of benzyl alcohol intoxication have not been published. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old man was found in the state of cardiopulmonary arrest at a construction site. He had been performing paint stripping. He was immediately transferred to the hospital, but he did not recover. An autopsy showed focal coloring of the skin without any major caustic injury. A histopathological investigation showed vacuolar degeneration in the epidermis and dermo-epidermal junction, and severe erosion of the tracheal and bronchial mucosa. No pathological changes in the kidney were evident. A neuropathological investigation showed central chromatolysis of neuronal cells in pontine nuclei and grumose degeneration in the cerebellar dentate nucleus. The blood content of benzyl alcohol was 780.0 µg/mL. LESSONS: Present case suggest that multiple pathways of exposure may be associated with more rapid progression in acute benzyl alcohol intoxication, and that early and/or severe involvement of the central nervous system rather than renal dysfunction may be associated with an early death.

[Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma Originated from Small Bowel Mesentery Resected under Laparoscopic Surgery-A Case Report].

A 74-year-old woman with severe anemia was presented to our hospital to investigate the cause of the disease. Under investigation, submucosal tumor in the small intestine was suspected. We performed the laparoscopic surgery for resection. The pathological diagnosis was dedifferentiated liposarcoma originated from the small bowel mesentery.

[A Case of Intra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumor after Laparoscopic Resection of Colon Cancer].

An 84-year-old man underwent laparoscopic descending colon resection for colon cancer with stage Ⅰ. Follow-up computed tomography(CT), 18 months after surgery showed a soft tissue density nodular mass, 30 mm in size, in the small intestinal mesentery. The surgical resection of the tumor was performed after a thorough examination. Histopathological examination showed spindle-shaped fibroblasts and abundant collagen fibers. Immunohistochemical staining was negative for c-kit and CD34 and positive for α-SMA and ß-catenin. From the above, this tumor was diagnosed as intra-abdominal desmoid tumor.

[A Case of Cecal Burkitt's Lymphoma with Intussusception].

We report a case of ileocecal intussusception due to Burkitt's lymphoma(BL). A 14-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain and diarrhea. He was diagnosed an intussusception by the ultrasonography and the CT scan. Laparoscopic ileocecal resection was performed. A diagnosis of BL was made on basis of pathological examination. He was transferred for the chemotherapy on postoperative day 8. We conclude that, if the intussusception associated with malignant lymphoma is assumed from the preoperative findings, we have to keep minimal surgical invasion and start postoperative chemotherapy immediately.

[Examination of Breast Cancer in the Super-Elderly Individuals(85 Years Old and Above)at Our Hospital].

The rate of aging in Japan has currently exceeded 28.1%. Moreover, it is expected that the rate of aging will continue to increase in the future. Under these circumstances, the opportunities to treat breast cancer in the super-elderly individuals are elevating. Here, we summarized and examined the cases who were 85 years or above in age and diagnosed with breast cancer at our hospital during the last 10 years. There were 29 cases(30 breasts), who were all female, with an average age of 89.6 years. Dementia coexisted in 17 cases, and an enlarged mass was the trigger for the discovery in most cases. For breast cancer in super-elderly females, it is necessary to treat it in the right proportion. Moreover, it is considered that the treatment policy should be decided considering the presence or absence of dementia and comorbidities. Also, the treatment regime should be decided upon full consultation with the surroundings, such as family members and long-term care facilities.

[A Case of Radiation Recall Dermatitis That Was Difficult to Distinguish from Inflammatory Breast Recurrence].

The case involved a 51-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Stage Ⅰ right breast cancer(cT1, N0, M0). Partial resection of the right breast and sentinel lymph node biopsy were performed. The histological type was found to be Stage Ⅰ triple-negative medullary carcinoma with pT1c, pN0(sn), and M0. A pituitary tumor was diagnosed after discharge. After removal of the pituitary tumor, whole-breast irradiation was performed. Subsequently, chemotherapy was started. Approximately 5 months after surgery, redness and swelling of the right breast were observed. Inflammatory breast cancer recurrence could not be ruled out by imaging, and skin biopsy was performed. No malignant findings were observed, and the symptoms were considered to indicate radiation recall dermatitis caused by chemotherapy. When chemotherapy was discontinued, the redness of the right breast improved.

[A Case of Local Recurrence 20 Years after Surgery of Ascending Colon Cancer].

The case was a 67-year-old male, who underwent right hemicolectomy+D3 LN resection for ascending colon cancer at the age of 47, and pathological diagnosis was tub1>tub2, T3, N0, M0, ly1, v1, Stage Ⅱa. 20 years after the first surgery, he visited our hospital for intermittent abdominal pain and abdominal fullness. CT scan showed stenosis and wall thickening at the anastomosis of the ileum and colon. When combining the detail examination by upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy and PET-CT scan, the tumor was clinically diagnosed asynchronous colon cancer, duodenal invasion. Partial resection of transverse colon and duodenal combined resection was performed. The pathological diagnosis was local recurrence of previous ascending colon cancer. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was performed, but it was discontinued due to poor appetite. Currently, it has not recurred 7 months after the surgery. Recurrences more than 5 years after resection of colorectal cancer are rare, and reports of local recurrence are even rare. A long-term prognosis may be expected for early detection and treatment. Even if more than 5 years passed since the surgery, examination and treatment should be performed with recurrence in mind.

[Stage â £ HER2-Positive Breast Cancer That Showed Complete Response for Over One Year after Discontinuation of Anti-HER2 Therapy-A Case Report].

A 75-year-old woman with a left breast mass on breast cancer screening was referred to our hospital for detailed evaluation. Further examination revealed left breast cancer with metastases to the left axilla, left parasternal region, left supraclavicular fossa, mediastinum, and left hilar lymph nodes, as well as multiple lung metastases. Histopathological evaluation of a needle biopsy specimen revealed invasive ductal carcinoma(scirrhous type), and she was diagnosed with Stage Ⅳ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-positive breast cancer. Following diagnosis, treatment was initiated with trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and docetaxel; however, she developed hypersensitivity to docetaxel and received only trastuzumab and pertuzumab after the second course. We observed a complete response after 3 courses, and treatment was discontinued after 13 courses. She underwent regular evaluation after treatment discontinuation, and a complete response was maintained for 1 year and 6 months. We conclude that combination therapy comprising trastuzumab and pertuzumab was effective for Stage Ⅳ HER2-positive breast cancer and that a complete response could be maintained even after treatment discontinuation.

Pedicled jejunal flap reconstruction for partial duodenectomy: a report of two cases.

Conventional jejunal reconstruction procedures for large duodenal defects include jejunal serosal patch repair and duodenojejunostomy and have some risks of postoperative complications. The pedicled jejunal flap is used for reconstruction following laryngopharyngectomy, esophagectomy and other gastrointestinal surgeries. We report two cases of successful closure of duodenal defects after partial duodenectomies by pedicled jejunal flap reconstruction. Case 1: A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy and computed tomography (CT). Case 2: A 63-year-old woman was diagnosed with early duodenal cancer using EGD and CT. Partial duodenectomy and pedicled jejunal flap reconstruction were performed in both patients. A part of the jejunum was formed into a pedicled flap to fit the duodenal defect and duodenojejunal anastomosis was performed. The patients did not report any postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms or abnormal findings during follow-up EGD or upper gastrointestinal radiography.

A Case of Strangulation Ileus Due to a Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm.

BACKGROUND Strangulation ileus is caused by external obstruction to the small bowel, which results in ischemia and loss of bowel peristalsis. Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a low-grade adenocarcinoma that arises in the appendix. LAMN is usually asymptomatic but can present with appendiceal rupture and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). This report is of a rare presentation of LAMN with strangulation ileus in a 92-year-old man. CASE REPORT A 92-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room with sudden onset of lower abdominal pain and abdominal distension. Laboratory investigations showed a leukocytosis with a white blood cell (WBC) count of 14.6×10³/µL with 85.5% neutrophils, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of 26.6 mg/dL, and serum creatinine of 2.6 mg/dL, consistent with acute renal failure. Arterial blood gas analysis showed lactic acidosis (pH of 7.11) with a base excess of -20.8 mmol/L and lactate of 13.7 mmol/L. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed ascites and a dilated obstructed closed loop of the distal ileum associated with an external mass (3.9×2.8 cm). An initial diagnosis was of strangulation ileus due to Meckel's diverticulum. Emergency ileocecal resection was performed. Histopathology showed a low-grade mucinous tumor arising from the mucosa of the appendix, consistent with LAMN. At a 13-month follow-up, the patient was well with no tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS This report is of a rare case of LAMN that presented as a surgical emergency with strangulation ileus.

Monitoring of Heat Shock Response and Phenotypic Changes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Heat Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after thermal coagulation therapy may be associated with an aggressive phenotypic change. This study focused on the thermal effects on HCC cells and evaluated the heat shock response and phenotypic changes after heat treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HepG2 and HuH7 cells were used. After heat treatment at 37-50°C for 5-30 min, we assessed their survival rate, induction of heat shock protein (HSP)70 promoter, proliferation rate, induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC)-related markers. RESULTS: Induction of HSP70 promoter per surviving cell was maximized after 10 min of heat treatment at 48°C. Induction of EMT and CSC-related markers was also observed. CONCLUSION: Sub-lethal heat treatment causes large heat shock response to surviving HCC cells and induce EMT-like and CSC-like phenotypic changes that might contribute to increased aggressiveness.

Adenocarcinoma in a Blind Loop of the Ileum 53 Years After an Ileotransversostomy Procedure.

BACKGROUND Primary small bowel cancer is a rare malignancy; the common histopathological types are carcinoid and adenocarcinoma. Inflammatory bowel diseases and familial adenomatous polyposis are known risk factors for small bowel cancer. Additionally, cases of surgery-induced small bowel adenocarcinoma are sometimes reported after ileostomy. CASE REPORT A 84-year-old woman, who had undergone ileotransversostomy for intestinal obstruction due to postoperative adhesion following appendectomy at the age of 31 years, was referred to our hospital for further examination after experiencing abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant for 2 weeks. Laboratory data showed elevated serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, 102.9 ng/ml) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9, 104 U/ml). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a 10-cm mass in the terminal ileum and a distention of the ileum and colon in the blind loop, with retention of feces. The patient was suspected of having ileal cancer by preoperative examination; therefore, right hemicolectomy with en bloc resection was performed. The tumor was histopathologically diagnosed as a well-differentiated and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ileum. At over 12 months after surgery, tumor recurrence had not been observed. CONCLUSIONS Difficulties in diagnosis can cause delays in treatment and lead to poor prognosis, mainly because tumors in the small bowel rarely cause clinical symptoms. Adenocarcinoma of the ileum should be considered in postoperative patients with ileotransversostomy.