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An 82-year-old Japanese man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for postprandial epigastric discomfort. The patient was diagnosed with hypozincemia with a serum zinc level of 63μg/dL (normal range:80-130μg/dL), and he had commenced oral intake of zinc acetate 1 month before the esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Endoscopy showed erosions with white-coated mucosa surface adhesions and erythema on the lesser curvature of the gastric body. Moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma was suspected based on the biopsy examination findings;therefore, he was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment. A repeat endoscopy showed two erosions with white-coated mucosa surface adhesion and erythema on the lesser curvature of the gastric body. However, the lesion location was different from that detected in the initial endoscopy. The biopsy showed no neoplastic changes. Therefore, based on the endoscopic findings and history of oral zinc acetate administration, we diagnosed the gastric mucosal injury as zinc acetate-associated gastric lesions. The cessation of zinc acetate intake resulted in the resolution of gastric lesions. Reassessment of the biopsy specimen from the initial endoscopy revealed erosions, epithelial cells showing infarct-like necrosis, degenerative atypical cells, and necrotic substances, which were misdiagnosed as neoplastic changes. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the typical endoscopic features of a zinc acetate-associated gastric lesion to enable its prompt diagnosis during esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

We retrospectively investigated 14 Japanese patients with Peutz-Jeghers (PJ) syndrome who were treated in six hospitals to determine the prevalence of cancer in Japanese patients with PJ syndrome. The study included seven males and seven females. The mean age at the time of diagnosis of PJ syndrome was 28.1 years (range 2-60 years). Hamartomatous polyps were observed in 13 (92.9%) patients, mucocutaneous pigmentation in 11 (78.6%), and positive family history in six patients (42.9%). The mean observation period after the diagnosis of PJ syndrome was 10.1 years (range 0-34 years). Although one patient died of cancer of unknown primary origin, the remaining 13 patients included in the study completed their last follow-up at each hospital. Cancers were detected in six patients (42.9%), including cancer of the uterine cervix (N=3), breast cancer (N=1), duodenal cancer (N=1), transverse colon cancer (N=1), and cancer of unknown primary origin (N=1). One patient presented with both cervical cancer and breast cancer. No patient presented with pancreatic cancer. This study highlights that patients with PJ syndrome are at high risk for intestinal and extra-intestinal cancers, such as uterine and breast cancer. Routine surveillance for intestinal and extra-intestinal malignancies is warranted in patients with PJ syndrome.

A 75-year-old woman visited our hospital for the examination of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) without any major complaint. The patient's medical history included hypertension, but no carcinoma. EGD revealed a 30-mm elevated lesion located in the anterior wall of the upper region of the stomach. The lesion, which was a 0-IIa+I type lesion with fading-like and light flare-like domains, was surgically removed using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and then the patient was diagnosed with gastric type adenoma with submucosal invasive carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a gastric type adenoma with submucosal invasive carcinoma and may therefore provide significant insights into the malignant potential of gastric type adenoma lesions.

A 40-year-old Japanese man with abdominal pain was referred to our hospital. The patient had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 21 years and had since then received treatment with mesalazine and had been advocated an elemental diet. About 30 months before his visit to the hospital, he had swallowed a patency capsule, the retention of which in the ileum was subsequently detected on abdominal ultrasonography. The patient was advised to undergo the evaluation of stenosis, but he refused further investigation at that time. Computed tomography scanning performed at our institution revealed stenosis of the ileum and the presence of a high-density material in the proximal side of the stenosis. Double-balloon enteroscopy and enterography with contrast media revealed multiple stenoses of the ileum. The stenotic ileum was surgically resected, and a foreign body was removed. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that the foreign body was the cellophane wall of the PillCam TM patency capsule. Thus, the retention of the cellophane wall of a patency capsule after consumption was diagnosed for the current case on the basis of the study findings.

An 83-year-old Japanese man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for screening purposes. He had a medical history of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic myeloid leukemia, and he had been taking the following medications:ferrous citrate, furosemide, spironolactone, tolvaptan, bisoprolol, nicorandil, warfarin, nilotinib, febuxostat, esomeprazole, digestive enzyme complex, ambroxol, carbocysteine, and potassium L-aspartate. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a brownish speckled pigmentation in the duodenal bulb. Biopsy specimens from the duodenal villi revealed a brown pigment deposition, which appeared bright on scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental mapping revealed the presence of iron and sulfur in the duodenal villi. Consequently, pseudomelanosis duodeni was diagnosed based on these findings.

A 77-year-old Japanese man underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection twice over a 5-year period for the treatment of two separate early gastric cancers. He had been taking lanthanum carbonate, an orally administered phosphate binder, for 3 years. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed reddish mucosa in the greater curvature and anterior wall of the gastric angle, while granular, white deposits were also observed in some areas of this reddish mucosa. Additionally, biopsy specimens from the gastric mucosa revealed the deposition of fine, amorphous, eosinophilic material, which appeared bright on scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the presence of lanthanum and phosphate in these bright areas, and elemental mapping confirmed that their distribution was identical to that seen in the bright areas. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of lanthanum phosphate deposition in the gastric mucosa was determined.

A 67-year-old woman was diagnosed with ileocolic Crohn's disease at 61 years of age. Remission had been induced by the monoclonal antibody adalimumab, and maintenance therapy had continued since her diagnosis. However, she developed respiratory symptoms, including a dry cough. A chest CT scan revealed interstitial shadows in the lower pulmonary lobes. Although no sicca symptoms were noted, she was serologically positive for both anti-Sjögren's syndrome-related antigen A and B antibodies, and salivary gland biopsy showed lymphocytic infiltration. Consequently, she was diagnosed as having asymptomatic Sjögren's syndrome. Infection or drug-induced pulmonary disease was considered unlikely, and the interstitial pneumonia was considered an extra-glandular presentation of Sjögren's syndrome. Thus, interstitial shadows, which appear during immunotherapy for Crohn's disease, could indicate asymptomatic Sjögren's syndrome; clinicians should consider this rare clinical picture when assessing such a patient.

A 6 2-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer was referred to our hospital. A gastroscopy revealed a type 3 tumor invading the esophagus in the lesser curvature of the stomach cardia. We diagnosed the tumor as cStageIIIB(T4bN1M0) gastric cancer. For the best chance of a pathological complete response, we selected neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with S-1+CDDP (SP therapy). A total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was performed after 2 courses of SP therapy. Pathological evaluation of the resected stomach and lymph nodes indicated an absence of cancerous cells, confirming a pathological complete response (pCR). The patient has been followed up for 4 months without evidence of recurrence.

Purpose: To report a case of optic neuritis associated with cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL)., Case: A 38-year-old woman presented with visual field defects, ocular pain and relative afferent papillary defect (RAPD). Fluorescein angiography demonstrated peripapillary hyperfluorescence of the optic nerve. Optic neuritis was diagnosed soon after. Routine laboratory data were unremarkable. Brain MRI showed a remarkable enhanced region of white matter and abnormal spots in the capsula externa. Multiple sclerosis was outruled by neurological findings and therefore CARASIL was diagnosed according to the criteria. The patient's vision and inflammation of the optic nerve head gradually improved with systemic steroid therapy, but arterial sheathing was observed during the follow-up period., Conclusions: Clinical manifestations such as optic neuritis and retinal vascular change might be caused by the pathological changes of CARASIL. This is the first report of ophthalmic findings of clinicopathological events of CARASIL.

A 64-year-old woman visited our hospital in December 2005 because of general malaise. Her hemoglobin level was 9.0 g/dl. Gastrointestinal fiberscopy detected a hemorrhagic gastric ulcer, which was considered as etiology of anemia. Abdominal ultrasonography showed bilateral hydronephroses and hydroureters. A urine test revealed pyuria and macroscopic hematuria, and urine culture revealed 10(8) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli per ml. Pelvic MRI showed thickening of the posterior wall and trigone of the urinary bladder. Transurethral resection was peformed, and biopsy of the mucous of the bladder gave a diagnosis of primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the urinary bladder. Ann Arbor clinical stage was IEA. It was planned to administer irradiation at a total dose of 36 Gy to the whole bladder and part of the tumor; however, radiotherapy was discontinued at a dose of 26 Gy because of the development of pollakisuria. Pelvic MRI and pathologic examination of the urinary bladder after radiotherapy showed that the lymphoma was in complete remission; however, she received retuximab therapy at a dose of 375 mg/m2/week, 8 times additionally, because of the reduced radiotherapy. The patient has remained in complete remission for 14 months.

Purpose: To assess the physical properties of biliary self-expandable metallic stents., Materials and Methods: Six different types of biliary self-expandable metallic stents (Wallstent, ZA stent, Accuflex, S.M.A.R.T. stent, Spiral Z stent, and NT stent) were evaluated for the flexibility, trackability, and resistance of stent release for the introducer, and for repulsion force, flexibility, radial force, radio-opacity, and kink resistance for the stent., Results: The Wallstent showed the best repulsion force, radio-opacity, and kink- resistance, while the ZA stent showed the best flexibility and trackability of the introducer and better radial force and radio-opacity. Accuflex showed the least resistance during stent release and better flexibility and radial force. The S.M.A.R.T. stent showed the largest radial force, and the Spiral Z stent showed better trackability of the introducer and better radio-opacity. The NT stent seemed to require overall improvement., Conclusion: The Wallstent appears preferable for placement in the extrahepatic bile ducts. The ZA stent can be applied for various approaches, but placement in comparatively straight bile ducts is preferable. With the Accuflex, insertion through routes where an acute angle exists should be avoided. In addition, balloon expansion before or after stent placement is preferable. The S.M.A.R.T. stent is placed in straighter intrahepatic bile ducts, while the Spiral Z stent should be placed through a straight approach. Balloon expansion before or after stent placement is preferable for the NT stent. No stent exhibited all of the ideal properties required. These results may contribute to the selection of biliary metallic stents.