[A case of benign metastasizing leiomyoma medicating for 14 years].

We report a case of benign metastasizing leiomyoma medicated for 14 years after the diagnosis. A 47-year-old woman, who had undergone hysterectomy for uterine myoma at age 40 in 1989, was readmitted in 1996 because of abnormal shadows found on a chest X-ray film. Computed tomography (CT) and further chest X-ray films showed multiple nodules in bilateral lung fields. Open lung biopsy revealed leiomyomatous nodules histologically similar to those found at age 40. Tests for both estrogen and progesterone receptors in the biopsied specimen were positive. We diagnosed the lung nodules as benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) and gave her progesterone. Apart from 2 occasions when the patient elected to stop receiving medication, we obtained decreases in the size and number of tumors for 10 years from the start of treatment. However, despite continued administration of progesterone, the tumors continued to grow slowly during the next 4 years. We believe that the effectiveness of progesterone may have gradually decreased in this case, and thus are considering a change in treatment. BML is rare, and it must be carefully followed up long-term in post-menopausal patients.

[Successful reintroduction of mesylate imatinib after pneumonitis in two patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)].

We report 2 cases of successful reintroduction of mesylate imatinib for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after drug-induced pneumonitis. Both of them were women in the fifth decade who had been medicated by mesylate imatinib about for 5 months previously, and had been given a diagnosis of imatinib mesylate-induced pneumonitis. After only cessation of that drug, symptoms and shadows on chest X-ray film improved. However, we had to reintroduce the drug because of the growth of primary tumor, so we gave half the previous dose of imatinib mesylate, with low dose prednisone. There has been no recurrence of drug related pneumonitis and effective control of the primary tumor was obtained. The evidence acquired from our cases suggests that it may be possible to reintroduce imatinib mesylate carefully by adjusting the dose with low dose prednisone in a GIST patient, without causing recurrence of drug-induced pneumonitis.

[Case of severe streptococcus pyogenes pneumonia with streptococcus toxic shock syndrome].

A 30-year-old woman who had until recently been healthy, was transferred to our hospital by ambulance with complaints of dyspnea and pain in both lower limbs. She had 1-week history of sore throat, fever and cough. She had been to a neighboring clinic three days previously, and had been prescribed some medication for bronchitis, but her symptoms had not improved. By the time of admission, she was already in shock and had severe respiratory failure. Laboratory data showed renal dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation, CPK elevation and severe metabolic acidosis. Chest x-ray and CT films revealed consolidation of the entire right lung field. The patient was quickly intubated and we began mechanical ventilation. We immediately initiated broad-spectrum antibiotics, immunogloblin, dopamine hydrochloride and gabexate mesilate, but she died 7 hours later. From cultures of blood and sputum taken from the patient, Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated. On the basis of these clinical and bacteriological findings, we confirmed a diagnosis of pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (STSS). Serologically her M protein was serotyped as M1, and with regard to Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin genes were identified as speA and speB. These serological findings were consistent with the most frequent type that causes STSS. In spite of the uncommon cause of community-acquired pneumonia, Streptococcus pyogenes can potentially affect healthy individuals. The pneumonia can be complicated with STSS and so the clinical course may be severe and fulminant. The evidence acquired from this case suggests that in the event of severe pneumonia with shock, we should be aware that this may represent the presence of Streptococcus pyogenes and/or toxic shock syndrome.

[A case of pneumonia due to coinfection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae].

Few cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae coinfection in pneumonia have been reported in adults. We report a case of such a double infection in a young adult. A 16-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with dry cough and fever. Laboratory findings revealed elevated serum GOT and GPT levels. The patient had been administered a beta-lactam antibiotic before admission to our hospital. Antibodies to M. pneumoniae were significantly elevated. Titers of IgM and IgG specific for C. pneumoniae titer were high, as measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The patient was treated with clarithromycin and discharged after a satisfactory recovery. M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae may act as cofactors in community-acquired pneumonia. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationships of these pathogens to community-acquired pneumonia.