[Large bowel malignant obstruction treated with SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery procedure].

We treated 5 cases of preoperative decompression using the self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) against obstructive left side colon cancer since October 2013. The obstruction site was the descending colon in one patient, sigmoid colon in 2, rectal-sigmoid colon in 1, and rectum in 1. Colonic stent placements were successful in all cases. Oral intake started an average of 3.7 days after SEMS placement. All patients underwent radical surgery an average of 17.2 days after SEMS placement. Two patients waited for surgery while out of the hospital. All patients underwent colonoscopy. One patient had advanced colon cancer. Our findings show that SEMS placement can treat obstructive left-sided colon cancer.

[A case of carcinoma arising in a diverticulum of the transverse colon].

A 64 year-old woman presented with advanced, transverse colon cancer arising in the diverticulum. Tumor invasion extended beyond the serosa to the anal side of the colon. Anemia and fatigue progressed after 6 months of iron administration. The hemoglobin value was 5.3 g/dL and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was elevated to 44.2 ng/mL. A palpable and tender fist-sized mass was found in the right upper abdomen. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a low-density mass in the transverse colon invading beyond the serosa to the anal side of the colon. Right hemi-colectomy with lymph node dissection was performed. The resected specimen contained multiple diverticula including the one from which the tumor arose. Histological examination revealed a well-differentiated, tubular adenocarcinoma (UICC TNM T4bN0M0) arising in a transverse colon diverticulum. There has been no recurrence for 2 years. Colon cancer arising in a diverticulum may expand to the extra-serosa and easily invade to the adjacent organ. In such cases, malignancy should be considered.

[A case of small intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with peritoneal dissemination, treated effectively with molecular target drug after operation].

A 54-year-old man, presenting with sudden onset of abdominal pain, was admitted to our hospital. Blood examination revealed high white blood cell counts and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Ultrasonography and computed tomography detected a 12 cm mass in the lower abdomen, some ascites, and multiple small nodules spread through the abdomen. The preoperative diagnosis of the tumor was either a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) or a possible lymphoma. The 12 cm tumor and greater omentum with multiple nodules were resected. Upon pathological examination, the tumor was diagnosed as a GIST, and appeared KIT positive by immunostaining. After the operation, imatinib was administered; however, psoriasis vulgaris developed within 5 months. As the next line of therapy, sunitinib treatment was initiated; however, since peripheral nerve disorder developed, sunitinib dose was halved and maintained. Two years after the operation, the patient is still alive. Small intestinal GISTs, which make up only 20-30% of all GISTs, are considered to be more malignant than others. We report a rare case of GIST with peritoneal metastases originating from the small intestine, which was treated effectively with molecular target drugs.

[A case of solitary ectopic medullary carcinoma in the right submandibular region].

A 77-year-old woman consulted our hospital because of an indolent mass in the right submandibular region, which developed approximately 4 months previously. Ultrasonography revealed a 19.5×9.2 mm homogeneous low echoic mass in the submandibular region and a 9.8×3.1 mm low echoic mass in the left thyroid lobe. Blood examinations revealed high levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and calcitonin. Analysis of the cytological specimens obtained from the submandibular tumors indicated class IV disease. First, we resected the mandibular tumor for diagnosis, and the specimen showed medullary carcinoma. Later, the patient underwent left thyroid lobe resection. The pathological diagnosis was adenomatous goiter. We report a rare case of ectopic medullary carcinoma in the right mandibular region.

[A case of hepatectomy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor with multiple liver metastasis after size reduction in a Jehovah's Witness patient].

The patient is a 42-year-old man who is a Jehovah's Witness. For the duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor, duodenal segmental resection and a duodenal jejunum anastomosis were indicated. He took imatinib for 2 years after the operation. After 8 months, recurrent multiple liver metastases were found at S2-3 and S7, which were in contact with the inferior vena cava. Excessive intraoperative bleeding was expected. The patient hoped that a blood transfusion operation would not be required. He took sunitinib to reduce the size of the tumor, and the tumor had become smaller after 8 months. It was possible to resect the tumor without a blood transfusion. The patient has been on imatinib since 1 month after the operation. No recurrence was detected within 1 year of the operation.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with esophageal severe dysplasia resected after neoadjuvant S-1+cisplatin therapy].

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of upper abdominal pain and back pain. Advanced gastric cancer was found at the fundus of the stomach, and severe dysplasia was found at the lower esophagus. We proceeded with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (S-1+CDDP) because the lymph nodes in the lesser curvature of the stomach were metastasized and invasion of the pancreas and some vessels was suspected by computed tomography. The tumor size was reduced remarkably, the esophageal dysplasia disappeared after preoperative chemotherapy, and we were able to perform total gastrectomy.