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INTRODUCTION: Some children with fecal incontinence respond to biofeedback therapy. However, whether they can achieve fecal continence posttherapeutically has not been clarified. We studied the serial results of biofeedback therapy and discuss the necessity' of providing repeated biofeedback therapy at home. METHODS: Nineteen children with encopresis underwent one session of biofeedback therapy. Seven of 15 children with fecal incontinence that developed after surgery for anorectal malformations underwent three to eight sessions of biofeedback therapy; the remaining 8 underwent one (mean, 2.9) session only. The patients were hospitalized for one session of biofeedback therapy. To monitor the clinical outcome of intervention, we used serial score assessments from three months to two years posttherapeutically. RESULTS: Seventeen of 19 (90 percent) patients with encopresis showed clinical improvement after one session of therapy (P < 0.0001). Six months after treatment, however, six of ten (60 percent) patients with encopresis reported recurrent fecal incontinence after one therapeutic session. Clinical improvement was noted in 5 of 15 (35 percent) patients who had fecal incontinence after surgery for anorectal malformations. All five patients showed clinical improvement from six months to two years after several sessions of biofeedback therapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback therapy is effective in most children with encopresis and in some children with anorectal malformations. However, some patients need repeated sessions of biofeedback therapy to achieve fecal continence. Therefore, a new portable biofeedback apparatus for the treatment of fecal incontinence at home may be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors describe a newborn patient with mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall associated with pulmonary hypoplasia. A massive thoracic tumor was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging at the 28th week of gestation. She was delivered through cesarean delivery at the 36th gestational week. Respiratory distress because of pulmonary hypoplasia necessitated neonatal intensive care. The tumor extensively involved the left hemithorax including all 12 ribs and the first 10 thoracic vertebrae, resulting in marked deformity of the thorax. At 5 days of age, she underwent the incisional biopsy through a left thoracotomy. Histopathology of biopsy specimens showed multiple components of mesenchymal origin including premature cartilage, bone, and cystic lesions resembling aneurysmal bone cyst. The tumor then showed a rapid overgrowth, but subsequently exhibited a self-limited growth for months, in which her respiratory condition gradually improved to spontaneous breathing without oxygenation support. The present case advocates perinatal preparations for associated pulmonary hypoplasia and conservative management for the neoplasm in fetuses prenatally diagnosed as having this unique pathological entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have experienced a case of colon carcinoma with unresectable multiple liver metastases responding to various combined chemotherapies centering on hepatic arterial infusion therapy. A 42-year-old female with descending colon carcinoma and synchronous unresectable multiple liver metastases underwent left hemicolectomy in September 2001. She was treated with chemotherapy centering on hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) following implantation of a reservoir in the outpatient setting. Pharmacokinetic modulating therapy (PMC), and HAI with Leucovorin/CDDP/5-FU and Levoforinate/CDDP/5-FU were conducted sequentially. Alternative HAI of 5-FU with intravenous infusion of Levoforinate and systemic irinotecan/CDDP were continued biweekly after release of the hepatic artery occlusion. Liver metastases shrunk after 6 months of treatment and were remarkably decreased in size in May 2003. Although 3 metastatic lesions existed in both lungs, good quality of life has been maintained in the 2 years following surgery.

A standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastasis is not established and chemotherapy is ineffective. We experienced a case of hepatocellular carcinoma with bone metastasis that responded to concurrent TS-1/low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) therapy and radiotherapy. A 58-year-old male patient with left iliac bone metastasis after 2 hepatectomies was admitted to our hospital. The titer of serum AFP and PIVKA-II showed an extremely high levels, 12,350.5 ng/ml and 993 mAU/ml, respectively. The uptake area was found at the left iliac bone by scintigraphy with 99mTc-HMDP. Treatment with TS-1/low-dose CDDP therapy and radiotherapy (36 Gy) was started concurrently. The chemotherapy regimen comprised daily oral administration of 100 mg of TS-1 for 21 days and CDDP 10 mg/body infusion (day 1-5, 8-12). An additional 2 courses of TS-1/low-dose CDDP therapy were repeated. After that, severe pain diminished and the titer of serum showed AFP and PIVKA-II had improved to within normal ranges. The uptake at the left iliac bone was found to have decreased by scintigraphy. Adverse events were grade 1 nausea and leucopenia. TS-1/low-dose CDDP therapy seems to be applicable for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with bone metastasis.