Myelodysplastic syndrome in a child which developed into megakaryocytic leukemia with late appearing Ph1 chromosome and rearrangement of breakpoint cluster region

A 3-year-old boy was referred to our hospital in September 1985, because of pancytopenia. His bone marrow was normocellular with 18% blasts, which had Auer rod and were positive for peroxidase staining. A diagnosis of refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation was made according to FAB criteria. Chromosome analysis of bone marrow cells showed normal male karyotype. He attained complete remission with aclarubicin and BH-AC and continued it until August 1987 when pancytopenia and hypoplastic bone marrow developed. Chromosome analysis of bone marrow cells showed normal male karyotype and gene analysis revealed germ-line configuration of breakpoint cluster region (bcr). Overt leukemia developed in May 1988 when his WBC count increased to 60, 600/microliters with 91% blasts, which were negative for peroxidase staining, positive for anti-Ia and CDw 41 by cell surface analysis, and positive for ultrastructurally demonstrable platelet peroxidase. A diagnosis of megakaryocytic leukemia was made. Chromosome analysis of bone marrow cells showed 46, XY, t(9;22) (q34;q11) and gene analysis revealed rearrangement of bcr. He died in November 1988. Our results and review of literature suggest that late appearing ph1 chromosome and rearrangement of bcr may occur in a variety of hematologic malignancies and influence the course of disease.     

HYPERPLASTIC FUNDIC GLAND POLYP OF THE STOMACH

A case of a solitary pedunculated gastric polyp occurring In the fundic mucosa of a 47-year-old woman is reported because of its unique morphology. The polyp showed a peculiar lobulated configuration supported by smooth muscle bundles, and its epithelial component was composed mainly of a proliferation of relatively normal but disorganized fundic glands containing variable numbers of mucous, parietal, argyrophile, and chief cells. Although these histologic features may suggest a hamartoma-like quality, the lesion probably represents a peculiar form of localized hyperplastic process of the gastric mucosa exhibiting fundic glandular cell differentiation.     

Impact of arterial occlusion during partial nephrectomy on residual renal function: An evaluation with 99m technetium-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy

BACKGROUND: Partial nephrectomy (PNx) has been performed with temporary renal arterial occlusion and in situ renal hypothermia (conventional PNx). However, the impact of temporary renal arterial occlusion on residual renal function has not been well assessed. To address this question, we performed renal scintigraphy with (99m)technetium-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) for the quantitative measurement of postoperative residual renal function after conventional PNx and partial nephrectomy without arterial occlusion (non-clamping PNx). METHODS: Thirty-four patients underwent postoperative DMSA scintigraphy after PNx for renal cell carcinoma. No obvious difference in preoperative renal function between the diseased kidney and the contralateral kidney was found in any of the patients. Of these patients, 24 underwent conventional PNx, and 10 underwent non-clamping PNx. Residual renal function was evaluated using the relative DMSA uptake of the operated kidney. RESULTS: The relative DMSA uptake of the operated kidney was 39.9 +/- 7.3% (25.1-58.8) after conventional PNx compared to 34.8 +/- 8.9% (13.5-45.5) after non-clamping PNx. This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.15). Total ischemic time during conventional PNx had no adverse influence on the residual renal function. In the analysis of the other determinant factors influencing residual renal function, tumor size was the only significant factor that inversely correlated with the relative DMSA uptake. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that arterial clamping during PNx has no negative impact on the functional residual capacity as long as insitu renal hypothermia is adequately performed.     

Follow-up studies of long-term survivors after hepatic portoenterostomy for “noncorrectable” biliary atresia

Fourteen patients with “noncorrectable” biliary atresia are living without jaundice for more than 2 yr after hepatic portoenterostomy or its modification. Retardation of physical growth was observed in one of them, and mental retardation in another, both of which seemed irrelevant to biliary atresia. Serial tests for liver function after operation revealed early recovery of serum bilirubin, transaminase, and turbidity, and delayed improvement of alkaline phosphatase. Postoperative needle biopsy of the liver disclosed that changes in hepatic parenchyma and ductular proliferation were rapidly improved after successful operation. Improvement of fibrosis of the liver was delayed, and it was not satis-factory in patients whose preoperative changes in the liver were severe or in whom ascending cholangitis had been a frequent complication. Histologic features of hepatic cirrhosis were observed in the liver in three cases, in two of which there had been frequent episodes of cholangitis. Only one of these showed clinical signs of portal hypertension.Functional and morphologic cure can be achieved in “noncorrectable” biliary atresia by hepatic portoenterostomy or its modifications, although varying degree of hepatic fibrosis may remain according to severity of preoperative changes of the liver and postoperative complication of ascending cholangitis.     

Dubin-Johnson syndrome in a neonate

We described the clinical and biochemical findings in a 32 day-old boy with the Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Only two other patients diagnosed as having the Dubin-Johnson syndrome during neonatal period have been reported in the literature.The ratio of urinary coproporphyrin isomer I of our patient was 97% and that of his parents were carrier level, confirming that increased urinary excretion of coproporphyrin isomer I is of diagnostic value in neonates with the Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Address for offprint request: Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical College, S. 1, W. 16, Sapporo, Japan