Toshio Asai

Endoscopic ultrasonography in diagnosis of the extent of gallbladder carcinoma.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was performed preoperatively in 39 patients with gallbladder carcinoma. Diagnosis of the anatomical extent of gallbladder carcinoma was compared with histologic analysis, and staging accuracy was evaluated according to the TNM classification. Carcinoma considered to be at an early stage with no lymph node metastasis was correctly diagnosed in 87.5%. Differential diagnosis between early and advanced staged tumors was possible in 79.5%. Overall accuracy for depth of tumor invasion (T) was 76.9%. Limitations were due to many stones in the gallbladder and microinfiltration of carcinoma. Assessment of regional lymph node metastasis (N) was at a sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 92.9%, for an overall accuracy of 89.7%. We believe endoscopic ultrasonography is useful in the clinical staging of gallbladder carcinoma.

Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori and regression of gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

Abstract: A 57-year-old woman presented to our clinic with low-grade gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (stage IE) and Helicobacter pylori infection. She received a 2-week course of omeprazole and clarithromycin, resulting in eradication of H. pylori and histological disappearance of the lymphoma. However, 9 months later (May 1996), multiple mass lesions were found around the pancreas and hepato-duodenal ligament on abdominal computed tomography. Inguinal lymph node biopsy revealed aggressive nodal type B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma, diffuse large cell type. She received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone, but failed to achieve remission and died in December 1996. There was no evidence of recurrent gastric lymphoma. This case emphasizes the importance of performing follow-up examinations to detect other neoplasms in patients with gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

RNase Levels in golden hamsters with dhpn induced pancreatic cancer

SummaryTwenty Syrian golden hamsters received weekly injections of pancreatic cancer inducing DHPN. Their Poly (U) specific serum RNase levels were significantly elevated when compared to the control levels. Following salt fractionation, Poly (U) specific activity was present in both the 40% and 50% salt saturated fractions. Tissue assays showed that Poly (U) specific RNase was present in both pancreas and liver tissue extract, although the liver tissue RNase had a different pH maximum than that of the serum RNase.

A Clinicopathological Study of IIa +IIc Type Early Colorectal Cancer with Massive Submucosal Invasion

Abstract: The authors investigated clinical data and pathological findings of eight cases of IIa+IIc type early colorectal cancer which showed minimal invasion in the mucosal laver, but massive invasion in the submucosal layer (deep invasion type). The average age of these 8 patients was 57.8 years (6 out of 8 cases were between 55 and 61‐years‐old). 6 patients were males; 2 were females. Five patients were asymptomatic with a positive reaction for fecal occult blood; the other 2 had anal bleeding. All but 1 patient were diagnosed as having the IIa+IIc type of cancerous lesion, by barium enema examination and colonoscopy. Five patients had lesions in the sigmoid colon, 2 had lesions in the rectum, and 1 had a lesion in the ascending colon. The maximum lesion diameters ranged from 5 to 25 mm, averaging 15.9 mm. Six lesions were less than 20 mm in maximum diameter; 3 of these were less than 10 mm. Pathologically, 5 cases were moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 2 were well differentiated adenocarcinoma, and one was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. None of the lesions had a coexisting adenomatous component. The incidence of lymph node metastasis was considerably higher than expected (2 out of 8 cases) for early invasive colorectal cancer.