Pseudomyxoma Peritonei with High Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Level: Report of Two Cases

Two cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei with high serum carcinoembryonicantigen (CEA) are reported. CEA levels in serum increased incorrelation with the accumulation of ascites. Systemic chemotherapywith anticancer agents such as 5-fluorouraciI (5-FU), cyclophosphamide,mitomycin C (MMC) and chromomycin A_a showed no effect on reducingeither the production of mucinous materials or the CEA level,but repeated intraperi-toneal instillation of large amountsof MMC reduced them in one case. In the other case, the CEAlevel returned to normal after removal of the tumor. These resultssuggest that CEA may be a useful indicator of the effect oftreatment and of the prognosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei.     

Electrophysiological Mapping and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

A 38‐year‐old female with prior failed endocardial ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) was referred for further treatment. She had been diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy 7 years before and had persistent left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 20%. Epicardial voltage mapping showed extensive epicardial scar despite absence of endocardial scar. Five distinct VT morphologies were induced. Ablation was aided by electrogram characteristics, pace mapping, entrainment mapping, and establishing electrical inexcitability along areas of epicardial scar. After epicardial ablation no sustained VT was induced. She had been doing well without VT occurrence but died 1 year later unexpectedly at home.