A case of anti-LKM 1 positive autoimmune hepatitis accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus]

Overlap of autoimmune hepatitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a comparatively rare condition. Although both autoimmune hepatitis and SLE can share common autoimmune features such as polyarthralgia, hypergammaglobulinemia and positive ANA, it has been considered as two different entities. We report a case of anti-LKM1 positive autoimmune hepatitis who developed SLE two years later. The presence of interface hepatitis with lymphoplasma cell infiltrates and rosette formation points to the autoimmune hepatitis rather than SLE hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis is infrequently accompanied by SLE, therefore, it could be recommended to investigate for SLE in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.     

A case of gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp (submucosal tumor type) accompanied by gastric cancer]

Endoscopic examination of a 39-year-old woman revealed a flat-elevated submucosal tumor (SMT) in the upper third area of the stomach and a IIc lesion in the anterior wall of the lower third of the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasonography findings suggested an aberrant pancreas. Both lesions were resected by distal gastrectomy. Histological examination of the SMT revealed the dilated glands with cyst formation and proliferation of smooth muscle bundles in the submucosal layer, and it was diagnosed as a gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp. The IIc lesion was a signet ring cell carcinoma. Cases of gastric hamartomatous inverted polyps coexistent with gastric cancer have been rarely reported in Japan.     

A case of double common bile duct with gastric ulcer]

A 51-year-old man visited the Sasebo General Hospital because of a niche and a ductal lesion with reflux of barium in the lesser curvature of the gastric body in the upper gastrointestinal series of an annual medical checkup. Endoscopic examination showed an ulcer and a depressed lesion draining yellowish serous liquid in the stomach. Abdominal CT scan and MRCP revealed the ductal structure reached from the lesser curvature of the gastric body to the left lobe of the liver besides the ordinary pancreatobiliary system. ERCP showed normal common bile duct, gall bladder, and right intrahepatic bile duct, while the fistulography using cannula through the gastric depressed lesion revealed an accessory bile duct communicating to the left intrahepatic bile duct. The both biliary systems were completely separated, resulting in the diagnosis of double common bile duct of type IIIa.     

A case of gastric metastasis of breast carcinoma resembling early gastric cancer]

Many patients suffering from breast carcinoma have metastases at initial diagnosis. The common metastatic sites are skeleton, liver and lung. Metastases to stomach are rare and only three cases have been reported in Korea. The endoscopic features of gastric metastases from breast carcinoma can be divided into three main categories: diffuse infiltration, external compression, and localized tumor deposition with ulceration or with a polypoid mass. However, metastatic gastric lesions which resemble early gastric carcinoma are rare. Typically, gastric metastases are confined to submucosa and muscularis, so that mucosal biopsy specimens might be false-negative. We report a case of gastric metastasis from infiltrative lobular carcinoma of the breast in a 66-year-old woman who had undergone left mastectomy with postoperative radiotherapy 17 years earlier. Initial diagnosis was early gastric carcinoma, signet ring cell type on gastric biopsy findings. However, definitive diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer was confirmed after endoscopic mucosal resection of a presumed primary early gastric carcinoma.     

A case of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia accompanied by large bullae]

A 66-year-old man complaining of fever was given intravenous antibiotic therapy, but he did not improve. After subsequent admission, chest X-ray film and computed tomography scans showed large bullae and consolidation in the right lung field. A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed infiltration of mononuclear cells in alveolar septa and organizing lesions in alveolar ducts. We considered this case to be cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) from its clinical course and pathological findings. Treatment with corticosteroid resulted in disappearance of the large bullae and consolidations. COP accompanied by large bullae is very rare. The large bullae may have been caused by check-valve mechanism.     

A case of hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with intractable gastric ulcers

We report a rare case of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) presenting with intractable gastric ulcers. A 71-year-old man was admitted with epigastric pain. Initial endoscopic findings revealed multiple, active gastric ulcers in the gastric antrum. He underwent Helicobacter pylori (H pylori ) eradication therapy followed by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. However, followup endoscopy at 4, 6, 10 and 14 mo revealed persistent multiple gastric ulcers without significant improvement. The proportion of his eosinophil count increased to 43% (total count: 7903/mm3). Abdominal-pelvic and chest computed tomography scans showed multiple small nodules in the liver and both lungs. The endoscopic biopsy specimen taken from the gastric antrum revealed prominent eosinophilic infiltration, and the liver biopsy specimen also showed eosinophilic infiltration in the portal tract and sinusoid. A bone marrow biopsy disclosed eosinophilic hyperplasia as well as increased cellularity of 70%. The patient was finally diagnosed with HES involving the stomach, liver, lung, and bone marrow. When gastric ulcers do not improve despite H pylori eradication and prolonged PPI therapy, infiltrative gastric disorders such as HES should be considered.     

A case report of early gastric cancer with Paneth-like tumor cells]

A 55-year-old man was given a diagnosis of grade 0IIc type gastric cancer of the midgastric posterior wall following endoscopy of the upper digestive tract, and subsequently underwent distal gastrectomy. Tumor cells resembling Paneth cells were occasionally observed in differentiated adenocarcinoma that had invaded the submucosal layer, the tumor was CD10-positive, and showed differentiation to complete intestinal metaplasia. In addition, p53-positive cells were also occasionally observed. Although complete intestinal metaplasia is associated with a low incidence of malignant transformation, this case was considered to be different from complete intestinal metaplasia, on which a mutation of the gene of p53 is involved in the early period of carcinogenesis.     

A case of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst accompanied by pancreatic pleural effusion]

A 52-year-old man was admitted with epigastric and back pain. Chest X-ray and whole body CT scan revealed left massive pleural effusion and cystic lesion in the posterior mediastinal compartment extending to the pancreatic body via the esophageal hiatus. MRCP showed the communication between the cystic lesion and main pancreatic duct which was irregularly dilated. Thoracentesis revealed sterile bloody fluid with markedly elevated amylase activity of 5,770 IU/l (pancreatic isozyme, 100%) and no malignant cells. From these examinations, a diagnosis of chronic alcohol-related pancreatitis accompanied by mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst and pancreatic pleural effusion was made. We employed conservative therapy including chest tube drainage followed by operation (main pancreatic duct jejunal side-to-side anastomosis). The clinical course has been uneventful for more than 1 year after discharge.