The prevalence and clinical characteristics of cancer among anemia patients treated at an outpatient clinic

BACKGROUND: Anemia is the most common hematologic condition encountered in outpatient clinics. It is often overlooked because it is common among patients; however, anemia is one of the leading indicators of cancer. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of cancer among anemia patients who visited an outpatient clinic. METHODS: The data were collected by reviewing the records of an outpatient clinic from January 2007 to December 2011. RESULTS: In total, 502 patients (52 males, 450 females) were diagnosed with anemia. Cancer prevalence among anemia patients was 5.57% (25.0%, men; 3.3%, women); further, the most frequently diagnosed cancer was colorectal cancer (22.5%), followed by advanced gastric cancer (16.1%), breast cancer (9.6%), myelodysplastic syndrome (9.6%), cervical cancer (6.4%), renal-cell carcinoma (6.4%), and thyroid cancer (6.4%). The prevalence of cancer was 4.1% in those aged 40-49 years, 4.2% in the subjects in their fifties, 8.0% in those in their sixties, 21.6% in those in their seventies, and 55.6% in those aged over 80 years. The cancer prevalence among iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients was 6.18% (28.8%, men; 3.5%, women). The cancer prevalence in postmenopausal and premenopausal female IDA patients was 16.0% and 1.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among anemia patients, male patients aged over 40 years and female patients aged over 60 years, along with postmenopausal female patients, were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Consequently, male IDA patients, and female patients aged over 60 years must be carefully evaluated for the possibility of malignancy.

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of cancer among anemia patients treated at an outpatient clinic

BACKGROUND: Anemia is the most common hematologic condition encountered in outpatient clinics. It is often overlooked because it is common among patients; however, anemia is one of the leading indicators of cancer. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of cancer among anemia patients who visited an outpatient clinic. METHODS: The data were collected by reviewing the records of an outpatient clinic from January 2007 to December 2011. RESULTS: In total, 502 patients (52 males, 450 females) were diagnosed with anemia. Cancer prevalence among anemia patients was 5.57% (25.0%, men; 3.3%, women); further, the most frequently diagnosed cancer was colorectal cancer (22.5%), followed by advanced gastric cancer (16.1%), breast cancer (9.6%), myelodysplastic syndrome (9.6%), cervical cancer (6.4%), renal-cell carcinoma (6.4%), and thyroid cancer (6.4%). The prevalence of cancer was 4.1% in those aged 40-49 years, 4.2% in the subjects in their fifties, 8.0% in those in their sixties, 21.6% in those in their seventies, and 55.6% in those aged over 80 years. The cancer prevalence among iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients was 6.18% (28.8%, men; 3.5%, women). The cancer prevalence in postmenopausal and premenopausal female IDA patients was 16.0% and 1.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among anemia patients, male patients aged over 40 years and female patients aged over 60 years, along with postmenopausal female patients, were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Consequently, male IDA patients, and female patients aged over 60 years must be carefully evaluated for the possibility of malignancy.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: A case report / 대한내과학회지

Leimyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare disorder and may present with symptoms of obstruction of the normal flow of blood. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava in 55-year-old female patient. The tumor was discovered incidentally by ultrasonography of the abdomen which was performed to evaluate epigastric pain and indigestion. Further radiological studies including CT and inferior vena cavography confirmed the presence of a 5cm sized mass in the inferior vena cava . The microscopic examination of a specimen obtained by a catheter from inferior vena cava mass revealed malignant mesenchymal tumor. The tumor was completely resected with reconstruction of the inferior vena cava and left renal vein. The diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma was made by micoscopic and immunohistochemical findings of the resected tumor.

Evaluation of Peripheral White Blood Cell Count or Monocyte Count to Guide Timing of Mobilized Stem Cell Collection in Patients with Breast Cancer / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection is essential to successful procurement of sufficient PBSC for engraftment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the peripheral blood parameters that may predict the apheretic yield of circulating stem cells in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: We did a retrospective review of 29 patients with breast cancer (14 : high risk, 15 : metastatic disease) who underwent mobilizing therapy from Dec. 1992 to Jan. 1999. Immediately prior to 119 consecutive PBSC collection procedures, the PB white blood cell (WBC) and monocyte were determined and correlated with stem cell parameters namely, CD34+ cell and mononuclear cell content. RESULTS: The median of 0.57x106CD34+cells/kg patient body weight (range, 0-9.39) were collected per harvest. The WBC on the day of apheresis showed only weak correlation with the mononuclear cells collected (r=0.26). In contrast, the WBC count and monocyte count in PB did not correlated with CD34+ cells harvested CONCLUSION: WBC and monocyte count are not appropriate parameters to identify the exact timing for apheresis and predict the amount of peripheral blood stem cells collected in patients with breast cancer.

The Cprrelation between LVH, LV Function and 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Hypertension

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors. So it is generally thought to be a predictor of complication and prognosis of hypertension. The 24-hour noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABP) has been shown to be superior to office BP inpredicting target organ involvement in patients with hypertension and assessing antihypertensivve therapy. To determine the correlation between blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with newly diaggnosed systemic hypertension, we evaluate blood pressure by 24-hour ABP, office BP and echocardiiographic parameters of left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: From january 1995 to September 1995, in 22 patients with untreated essential hypertension who were diagnosed recently (within 1 month). They were studied by 24-hour noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and cross sectional, M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography for examining the relation between ABP and echocardiographic parameters. In the present study, we divided the oatuebts by two groups; white-coat hypertensive group and sustained hypertensive group. RESULTS: 1) Among the 22 patients who were diagnosed by office blood pressure, the white-coat hypertension was in 7 cases (31.8%) and sustained hypertension was 15 cases (68.2%). 2) In sustained hypertensive group, LV mass, LV mass index and relative posterior septal wall thickness were significantly increased compared with white-cost hypertensive group. 3) 24-hour ABP and systolic BP and loading % were significantly correlated with relative posterior septal wall thickness (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with newly diagnosed hypertension (especially with sustained hypertension), there was left ventricular hypertrophy expressed by increasing of LV mass, LV mass index, and relative posterior septal wall thickness. And, there were close correlation between 24-hour ABP monitoring-especially systolic BP and loading % of systolic BP and LVH.