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In massive hemorrhage from acute gastric mucosal lesions, it is occasionally difficult to control the bleeding with nonsurgical therapy. We used the somatostatin analog, octreotide, which suppresses gastric and pancreatic function, to treat severe hemorrhagic erosive gastritis in a patient with acute pancreatitis. A 22-year-old man presented with epigastralgia and melena. Blood levels of pancreatitis markers were elevated. Computed tomography revealed diffuse enlargement of the pancreas, without fluid collection around the organ. An endoscopic examination showed extensive hemorrhagic erosions over almost the whole gastric mucosa. We diagnosed extensive hemorrhagic erosive gastritis with acute pancreatitis. A protease inhibitor (nafamostat mesilate 50 mg/day) and an H(2) receptor antagonist (famotidine 40 mg/day) were administered by injection for 6 days; the patient's serum and urine amylase levels fell, but the gastric erosions with hemorrhage were not attenuated. Octreotide was given subcutaneously, at a daily dose of 100 microg for 5 days, without famotidine administration. His melena disappeared, and the gastric erosions were markedly decreased. Administration of the somatostatin analog, octreotide, proved to be effective treatment in a patient with severe hemorrhagic erosive gastritis associated with acute pancreatitis.

A 56-year-old male consulted us because of a palpable mass and pain of the left flank 8 and a half years after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma of the left lobe about 3 cm in diameter. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen demonstrated a tumor about 10 cm in diameter showing a mosaic of hyperechoic and hypoechoic areas on the upper pole of the left kidney. By angiography, the tumor was found to be supplied mainly by the inferior adrenal artery. PIVKA-II was increased. Adrenal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma was suspected, and adrenalectomy was carried out. No intrahepatic metastasis was noted. The tumor was histopathologically identified as a pseudo-glandular type of moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with a trabecular pattern similar to the primary lesion. In this patient, a resectable giant metastasis was observed only in the left adrenal gland and no intrahepatic metastasis was demonstrated 8 and a half years after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient has survived 10 years after the first operation. This case is considered to be important for evaluation of the treatment for distant metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.