Yumiko Oyamada

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease presenting as a pulmonary nodule with an irregular margin

We report a case of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)‐related lung disease presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule with an irregular margin on computed tomography. The nodule showed a high standardized uptake value on positron emission tomography. A malignant pulmonary tumour could not be excluded. Middle lobectomy was performed. Histological analysis revealed marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and storiform fibrosis. Immunostaining indicated the presence of IgG4‐positive plasma cells. A definitive diagnosis of IgG4‐related disease was confirmed.

Conversion therapy for pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastases using intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1

Combination chemotherapy consisting of systemic and intraperitoneal agents against peritoneal metastases from several types of cancer has shown promising results. We herein report a case in which combination therapy with intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 converted an unresectable pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastases into a resectable one. The patient was a 65-year old woman with recurrent pancreatitis for 5 months. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration revealed minute epithelial masses composed of cells with irregular nuclei in the pancreatic body. The patient underwent abdominal surgery, but no excision was performed, as two peritoneal metastases in the bursa omentalis were detected. Combination therapy was initiated, consisting of intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 as a single-center clinical trial. The regimen consisted with 2-week administration of S-1 (80 mg per day) followed by 1 week of rest, intravenous paclitaxel 50 mg/m2, and intraperitoneal paclitaxel 20 mg/m2 by a peritoneal access device on days 1 and 8. Over the seven cycles of the chemotherapy, the primary lesion did not change in size, and peritoneal lavage cytology remained negative. After confirming the disappearance of the peritoneal lesions by exploratory laparoscopy, the patient underwent distal pancreatectomy combined with resection of the transverse mesocolon and stomach wall. Thus, the 2-way chemotherapy of intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 was well-tolerated and was able to convert pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastases to resectable disease.

Unusual Development of Pulmonary Tumor Embolism from Controlled Liver Metastases of Transitional Cell Carcinoma: An Autopsy Case

Clinicians generally suspect pulmonary tumor embolism (PTE) with uncontrolled carcinomas which often spread to lungs. We, however, experienced an autopsy case of diffuse microscopic PTE despite controlled liver metastases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). A 66-year-old man with progressing respiratory symptoms showed almost normal chest findings on computed tomography. Although liver metastases were successfully shrunk by chemotherapy, the patient died from aggressive respiratory failure. An autopsy revealed small pulmonary vessels showing diffuse tumor emboli. TCC can cause PTE even if liver metastases are controlled. We must therefore be aware that PTE can manifest as respiratory symptoms without any computed tomography findings.

Atypical presentation of a cushion sign-positive stomach gastrointestinal stromal tumor with cystic formation: A case report

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) typically appear as solid masses, and cystic formation is uncommon. Most stomach GISTs with cystic formation progress outside the gastric wall and are frequently misdiagnosed as epigastric cystic tumors derived from pancreas or liver. An asymptomatic 72-year-old male underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a submucosal tumor (SMT), approximately 50 mm in diameter, at the anterior wall of the gastric angle. The SMT was very soft with positive cushion sign. Endoscopic ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed that the SMT was a cystic tumor with solid component. Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery were performed to remove the tumor. Histopathological analysis revealed that the tumor was a GIST with cystic formation. To the best of our knowledge, this the first documented case of a cushion sign-positive stomach GIST with cystic formation, which had mainly developed inside the stomach. This case suggests that we should keep in mind the possibility of cystic formation of GIST when the tumor has a solid component, even if it appears as a cushion sign-positive SMT.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early squamous cell carcinoma in the anal canal and Lugol chromoendoscopy for assessment of the lateral margin

A 66-year-old man underwent follow-up colonoscopy after colon polypectomy. The retroflexed view of the anal canal with white-light imaging revealed a whitish, slightly elevated lesion on the dentate line and an ill-defined flat lesion. A biopsy of the whitish elevation revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was planned. The lateral margin of the SCC was identified by spraying with Lugol’s iodine, and the tumor was resected en bloc with no complications. The pathological findings were SCC in situ with parakeratosis in the whitish elevation and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in the ill-defined flat lesion, which exhibited a wide iodine-unstained area by chromoendoscopy. Early SCC in the anal canal is a rare gastrointestinal cancer, and Lugol chromoendoscopy helped visualize the tumor margin for ESD.

Risk factors and management for gastric stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric epithelial neoplasm

BackgroundOnly a few studies have reported treatment options for stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric neoplasms. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for and evaluate the management of stenosis after ESD for gastric epithelial neoplasms in the cardia and antrum.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 1218 patients (1447 gastric epithelial neoplasms) who underwent ESD at Tonan Hospital from June 2004 to November 2015. Post-ESD stenosis was defined when a standard endoscope could not be passed through the site.ResultsPost-ESD stenosis occurred in 10 (21.3%) of the 47 cardia cases and 14 (3.2%) of the 432 antrum cases. A wide resection of more than three fourths of the circumferential extent was the sole significant risk factor related to post-ESD stenosis in both cardia and antrum. Prophylactic endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) was performed in 3 of 10 patients with cardiac stenosis and 4 of 14 with antral stenosis. Post-EBD bleeding occurred in one cardia (10%) and one antrum (7.1%) case each and was endoscopically treated. Perforation during EBD occurred in two (14.3%) antrum cases, both of which required emergency open surgery. All complications were observed in patients with conventional EBD, and no complications were associated with prophylactic EBD.ConclusionsA wide resection of more than three fourths of the circumferential extent was the significant risk factor for post-ESD stenosis in both cardia and antrum, and prophylactic EBD could be a promising procedure for the management of post-ESD stenosis.

Conversion therapy of gastric cancer with massive malignant ascites and ovarian metastases by systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 is showing promising results in gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases. We herein report a successful conversion of unresectable to resectable disease using combination chemotherapy with trastuzumab. The patient was a 39-year-old woman with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive gastric cancer with peritoneal, pulmonary and bilateral ovarian metastases. After 6 cycles of S-1 plus cisplatin with trastuzumab, followed by 15 cycles of intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1 and trastuzumab, the pulmonary and peritoneal metastases exhibited complete response and no evidence of malignancy was found on diagnostic laparoscopy. We performed metastasectomy of the bilateral sizeable ovaries, followed by total gastrectomy. The patient had no recurrence for 16 months after the gastrectomy. Therefore, satisfactory response to systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy may convert unresectable to resectable disease, and primary tumor resection with ovarian metastasectomy may prolong survival. This combination chemotherapy has the potential of becoming a conversion therapy for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases, even if ascites and ovarian metastases are extensive.

Paraneoplastic Erythrocytosis of Colon Cancer, with Serum Erythropoietin within the Normal Reference Range.

Patient: Female, 75 Final Diagnosis: Erythropoietin-secreting colon cancer Symptoms: None Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Immunohistochemistry Specialty: Hematology Objective: Rare disease Background: Paraneoplastic erythrocytosis can be brought on by ectopic erythropoietin production usually in kidney, brain, and liver tumor with increase of serum erythropoietin level. We report here a paraneoplastic erythrocytosis of colon cancer with serum erythropoietin within the normal reference, which required an immunohistologic test for erythropoietin-antibody to be diagnosed. Case Report: Our case report was of a 75-year-old woman with erythrocytosis. Her hemoglobin and serum erythropoietin levels were 191 g/dL and 12.6 IU/L (reference range, 9.1–32.8), respectively. Colonoscopy revealed an advanced sigmoid colon tumor 20 mm in diameter. She underwent colectomy, and immunohistochemical examination showed the colon adenocarcinoma was focally positive for erythropoietin-antibody. One month after the surgery, her hemoglobin level decreased to 117 g/L. Conclusions: Colon cancer can cause paraneoplastic erythrocytosis, and it is important to consider not simply the absolute serum erythropoietin level but also the serum erythropoietin level relative to simultaneously measured hemoglobin level. We should include paraneoplastic erythrocytosis as a differential diagnosis in cases of high hemoglobin level unexplained by other diseases.