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The increasing use of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) calls for greater consideration of radiation exposure risk to endoscopists and assistants, and emphasizes the proper system of radiation protection. This study was designed to assess the effect of a newly developed, self-designed, protective lead shield.A curtain-shaped protective shield composed of seven movable lead plates was developed, each with the following dimensions: depth, 0.1 cm; width, 15 cm; length, 70 cm. The curtain-shaped protective shield was designed to be located between the patient and the endoscopist. Twenty-nine patients (11 men and 18 women) undergoing ERCP between January 2010 and March 2010 were selected for this study. The dose of radiation exposure was recorded with or without the protective lead shield at the level of the head, chest, and pelvis. The measurement was made at 50 cm and 150 cm from the radiation source.The mean patient age was 64 years. The mean patient height and weight was 161.7+/-6.9 cm and 58.9+/-9.9 kg, respectively. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.5+/-3.0 kg/m2. Endoscopists received 1522.2+/-537.0 mR/hr without the protective lead shield. At the same distance, radiation exposure was significantly reduced to 68.8+/-88.0 mR/hr with the protective lead shield (p-value0.0001). The radiation exposure to endoscopists and assistants was significantly reduced by the use of a protective lead shield (p value0.0001). The amount of radiation exposure during ERCP was related to the patient's BMI (r=0.749, p=0.001).This self-designed, protective lead shield is effective in protecting endoscopists and assistants from radiation exposure.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an useful therapeutic technique for large gastrointestinal epithelial tumors that it provides an en bloc resection. Although there is some controversy about the role of ESD for colorectal lesions, for large lesions in the distal rectum, ESD has the advantage of preserving anal function. However, the large amount of insufflating gas used during the procedure can cause severe abdominal pain and discomfort. Moreover, high intra-luminal pressure caused by a by large amount of gas can cause a micro-perforation. There is no consensus as to whether ESD is the optimal treatment for synchronous large colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) that cannot be removed en-bloc by conventional endoscopic mucosal resection. Here, a case with two neighboring synchronous large LSTs, one located in the rectum and the other in the distal sigmoid colon, were sequentially removed by separate ESD procedures performed on two consecutive days in a patient who could not tolerate a long procedure.

Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a major treatment modality for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), acute hepatic failure after TACE is not rare. However, reports dealing with this important complication are not good enough and results are often variable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and associated risk factors of acute hepatic failure after TACE.From January 2001 to November 2004, six hundred and thirty-two TACE sessions were performed in 377 patients (294 men and 83 women). Adriamycin mixed lipiodol solution and gelfoam were used for TACE. Various clinical and radiological factors before and after the procedure were reviewed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with the development of acute hepatic failure after TACE.Acute hepatic failure occurred in 76 (12.0%) of the 632 TACE sessions within 14 days. Univariate analysis revealed that Child-Pugh class, 1st TACE, total bilirubin level, number of involved segments, total size of tumor, presence of right portal vein thrombosis (PVT) or main PVT, involvement of segment 1, 5, 6, 7, modified UICC stage, and doses of chemotherapeutic agent were significantly different between the patients with or without hepatic failure after TACE. Among them, elevated total bilirubin (p=0.001, E (beta)=1.449), presence of right (p=0.035, E (beta)=2.109) or main (p=0.011, E (beta)=4.067) PVT were independently associated factors in multivariate analysis.The incidence of acute hepatic failure after TACE was 12.0%. Elevated bilirubin level and portal vein thrombosis could be considered as the predictive factors for acute hepatic failure after TACE in HCC patients.

Although there are various reports on the prevalence of gallbladder (GB) polyp according to the race or area, there is no report on Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and related risk factors of GB polyp in health screening population of Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces.Of 28,911 adult health screening examinees from January 1997 to May 2003, age and gender-matched 8,008 (3,896 men, 4,112 women) were randomly selected to evaluate the prevalence. Independent risk factors were analyzed by comparing various variables between the GB polyp positive and negative groups.The prevalence of GB polyp was 2.2% (175/8,008). Those were 2.7% (104/3,896) among men and 1.7% (71/4,112) among women. Independent risk factors related with GB polyp were male gender (OR 1.434, p0.001), obesity (OR 1.237, p=0.024), and hepatitis B carrier (OR 1.888, p0.001)Prevalence of GB polyp in Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces is 2.2%. Male, obesity, and hepatitis B carrier may be the risk factors related with GB polyp in this region.

Inflammatory pseudotumor is an uncommon mass which develops most frequently in the lung of young adults. It is characterized by localized fibrous proliferations with chronic inflammatory cell infiltration. Due to its rarity and similarity in radiologic appearance with malignant hepatic tumors, hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor (HIPT) is often misdiagnosed and resected accidentally. We report a case of HIPT which was unnecessarily resected due to synchronous small peripheral cholangiocarcinoma located on the other segment of liver.

Although balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) has been used as a new procedure for gastric variceal bleeding due to its feasibility and minimal invasiveness, reports regarding the results of BRTO are not well presented in Korea. Therefore, we analyzed the results of our experience in recent 39 months.Twenty eight patients who received BRTO for primary hemostasis or secondary prevention of gastric variceal bleeding from December 2001 to March 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.Twenty three men and five women were involved, and the mean age was 53.7+/-9.6 years. Technical and clinical success rates were 89.3% and 85.7%, respectively. Follow-up duration was 17.5+/-12.5 months in 23 patients. Gastric varices disappeared in 78.3% and decreased in 21.7%. Relapses occurred in 4.3% of the patients. Preexisting hepatic encephalopathy improved in all 11 patients. Aggravation of ascites, esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy were observed in 45.8%, 30.4%, 56.5%, respectively. Increased Child-Pugh score (p0.001) and decreased albumin concentration (p = 0.002) were observed 3 days after BRTO, but resolved 7 days later. Increased albumin concentration and decreased Child-Pugh score maintained thereafter. Rebleeding occurred in 3 patients which were caused by esophageal varices. Two-year survival rate was 54.6%. Presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (p = 0.001) and Child-Pugh grade (p = 0.033) affected the survival, but HCC was the only independent risk factor (p = 0.010, OR = 15.837) in multivariate analysis.BRTO is an effective therapeutic procedure for primary hemostasis, secondary prevention, and for improving survival in gastric variceal bleeding patients.

In spite of increasing interests about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), there are few reports about the ultrastructure of hepatocyte in this disease. The aim of this study was to clarify abnormal electron microscopic (EM) findings and related factors in NASH.Total of fourteen patients who underwent liver biopsy due to steatohepatitis were included. Precise personal history was taken and variable blood tests such as liver function test, lipid profile, and serum iron study were done. Pathologic examination with light and electron microscopy was done by single pathologist.Eleven men and three women were included and mean age was 33.7+/-12.8 years. Nine patients drinking less than 40 g/week was grouped as "NASH group" and other 5 patients drinking more than 40 g/week and body mass index less than 25 was grouped as "ASH (Alcoholic Steatohepatitis) group". Polymorphism of mitochondria such as megamitochondria or loss of cristae was major abnormal EM findings and was more common in "NASH group" than "ASH group" (p=0.027). There was no significant clinical or pathological factors related with the presence of these abnormal EM findings.Polymorphism of mitochondria is major abnormal EM finding of steatohepatitis and is more common in NASH than ASH. And there is no significant clinical or pathological factors which could predict the presence of these abnormal EM findings.

Prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by conventional therapies has been considered to be poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion therapy (HAIT) using FEM (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, mitomycin-C) regimen for advanced HCC.Eighteen patients received repeated HAIT using an implanted drug delivery system. Of the 18 patients, 8 patients had HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis, 9 patients had recurrent HCC after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and 1 patient after surgical resection. The patients received 5-fluorouracil (330 mg/m(2), every week), epirubicin (30 mg/m(2), every 4 weeks) and mitomycin-C (2.7 mg/m(2), every 2 weeks).Mean age was 51 years. The response rate (complete response+partial response) by tumor size on abdominal CT was 38.9%. Survival ranged from 2 to 24 months and the median survival time was 8 months. The cumulative survival rate of responders group was significantly higher than non-responders group (p=0.0385). The mean levels of serum alpha-FP and PIVKA-II in responders group decreased after HAIT (3,179 ng/mL and 2,850 ng/mL) than before (11,218 ng/mL and 4,396 ng/mL), but not significantly. Chemotherapy-related side effects were nausea, vomiting and alopecia. Three patients had catheter-related complications. One patient developed gastric ulcer.HAIT using FEM regimen is a useful therapeutic option for patients with advanced HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis or ineffective response to other therapies.

Bullous pemphigoid is a subepidermal blistering skin disease, usually occurred in the elderly. It is an autoimmune disease associated with circulating autoantibodies directed against structural components of hemodesmosome. Rarely, it can involve the esophagus, which can be complicated by upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We report a case of bullous pemphigoid with esophageal mucosal desquamation and hemorrhage in patient with chronic renal failure.

Extrapulmonary primary small cell carcinoma comprises approximately 4% of all small cell carcinoma. In the common bile duct, small cell carcinomas are extremely rare. We experienced a 60-year-old woman with small cell carcinoma arising in the common bile duct. Abdominal CT scan revealed an intraluminal mass in the proximal common bile duct and multiple lymphadenopathies. Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed proliferation of small monotonous anaplastic cells, which were characterized with hyperchromatic nuclei, high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and frequent mitosis. By immunohistochemical stain, the tumor cells were strongly positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin, and CD56. We report this case with a review of literatures.