A case report: Severe bone marrow suppression caused by 6-mercaptopurin in Crohn's disease patient]

A 23-year-old man was admitted for treatment of acute exacerbation of ileitis and perianal abscess caused by Crohn's disease. After incision and drainage of the abscess, coupled with antibiotic therapy, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was commenced. His white blood cell (WBC) count on day 12 after initiation of 6-MP was not decreased. However, on day 24 he was re-admitted because of severe myelosuppression (WBC: 300/microl), which was complicated by the recurrence of the perianal abscess. Myelosuppression was prolonged and required the administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF was continued for 17 days to achieve recovery of his WBC count to a normal level.     

Hematoma Size in Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage and its Correlation with Dot-Like Hemosiderin Spots on Gradient Echo T2*-Weighted MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dot-like low intensity spots (dot-like hemosiderin spots: dotHSs) on gradient echo T2*-weighted MRI have been histologically diagnosed to represent old cerebral microbleeds associated with microangiopathies. They have also been correlated to the fragility of small vessels and the tendency to bleed. Therefore, a substantial number of dotHSs might be associated with a large-sized, deep intracerebral hematoma (ICH). On the other hand, dotHSs may reflect old microbleeds that did not enlarge to symptomatic size. METHODS: To investigate how dotHSs are related to the size (maximal diameter) of primary deep ICH, we analyzed the diameter and the number of dotHSs in 151 patients with deep ICH not associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage or intraventricular hemorrhage (75 males and 76 females, age ranged from 37 to 90 [65.7 +/- 11.3 years old] who were consecutively admitted to Hakodate Municipal Hospital. The hazard ratio (HR) for a maximal diameter of deep ICH < or =2 cm was estimated, using the number of dotHSs and risk factors for stroke. RESULTS: The number of dotHSs associated with the diameter < or =2 cm was 9.2 +/- 11.5, significantly larger than that with the diameter > or =2 cm (4.7 +/- 7.0, P= .012). Multivariate analysis revealed that a maximal diameter of deep ICH of < or =2 cm was found in patients with dotHS (HR, 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-10.1; P= .009). CONCLUSION: Though small sample size limited the power of our analyses, these findings suggest that the number of dotHSs may be associated with a small diameter of deep ICH.     

Multi-center analysis of calcinosis in children with juvenile dermatomyositis]

OBJECTIVES: To reveal the frequency and the clinical characteristics of dystrophic calcification that occurs in children with juvenile dermatomyositis, multi-center analysis was constructed. METHOD: Fifty children with JDM were enrolled, and 14 of them (28.0%) were complicated with calcinosis. Clinical symptoms and laboratory tests at onset, initial therapy and disease course were compared in children with and without calcinosis. RESULTS: The mean age of the onset of calcinosis was 4.78 +/- 3.33 years, and it was younger than those of children without calcinosis (8.66 +/- 3.85 years) (P = 0.0017). No differences of clinical manifestation except Gower's sign were observed. The frequency of positive anti-nuclear antibody was 7.1% in children with calcinosis and 52.9% without calcinosis (P = 0.0112). The initial therapy of methylprednisolon pulses gave no effects on prognosis of calcium deposition. The calcinosis appeared in 1.56 +/- 1.91 year after the onset of the disease. The various types of calcium deposition including large tumorous clumps, subcutaneous plaques or nodules, sheet-type calcification were deserved. They appeared over knee joints (64.3%), elbow joint (64.3%), and hip processes (50.0%). Calcinosis affecting the subcutaneous tissues frequently resulted in painful superficial ulceration of the overlying skin (42.9%), local infection (50.0%), and limitation of joint movement (14.3%). Although aluminum phosphate was effective in 2 children among 7, no other effective treatment was recommended. In 5 cases, surgical removal of tumorous clumps was operated. Thus, juvenile dermatomyositis is frequently complicated with calcinosis. This type of calcinosis was found to be unlikely to resolve completely, and resulted in severe disability in children.     

ENDOSCOPIC NASOBILIARY DRAINAGE: CURRENT INDICATIONS AND EVALUATION OF THE PRODUCTS

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is a well established mode of biliary decompression. Although ENBD is certainly an uncomfortable procedure with the potential risk of spontaneous dislocation or removal of the drainage catheter by disoriented patients, it has several advantages over endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) using an indwelling stent. The current indications for ENBD are: (i) temporary drainage to treat obstructive jaundice and cholangitis caused by malignant or benign biliary stricture; (ii) urgent drainage to treat suppurative cholangitis primarily caused by common bile duct stones; (iii) temporary drainage after stone removal in patients with suspected incomplete clearance and/or with cholangitis; and (iv) biliary leaks that occur primarily after surgery, as well as other indications. Different types of nasobiliary catheters are currently available that have been designed with various diameters, shapes, and materials. However, the current catheters are not considered by most endoscopists to be sufficient. Further improvements are needed to achieve better drainage and better maneuverability.     

Ectopic cystic thymoma associated with Raynaud's phenomenon.

Mediastinal cystic tumors are well-marginated round lesions that comprise 12% to 18% of all mediastinal masses. These lesions include a variety of diseases with overlapping radiologic appearances and variable prognoses. Pathological examinations are almost always required for differential diagnosis. We encountered a case of anterior mediastinal tumor discovered in the process of investigation of Raynaud's phenomenon. Taking into account the tumor location, a pericardial cyst was initially suspected. However, the tumor was surgically resected and histopathological examinations demonstrated thymus-like tissue in the cyst walls. Raynaud's phenomenon greatly improved after surgery. These findings suggested that cystic thymoma originated from ectopic thymic tissue and is accompanied by paraneoplastic syndrome.     

Case of severe ulcerative colitis successfully treated with intravenous cyclosporine without high dose corticosteroid]

A 44-year-old women developed marked myopathy one year earlier, when she was treated with intravenous prednisolone for acute severe exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. When she was admitted to our hospital for another severe exacerbation, intravenous cyclosporine A was administered as monotherapy because she could not tolerate corticosteroid. The treatment was successful and she obtained complete remission. Cyclosporine A monotherapy is considered to be a valuable alternative to proctocolectomy for severe ulcerative colitis patients who cannot tolerate corticosteroid.     

Benign schwannoma of the pancreas

Reported cases of intrapancreatic schwannomas have recently increased in the literature. However, none of these cases were diagnosed clearly as schwannoma preoperatively. We herein describe the clinicopathologic findings of a solitary benign schwannoma occurring in the head of the pancreas. Additionally, the differential diagnosis versus other cystic- and solid-appearing pancreatic masses is briefly discussed.     

A case of double cancer: renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder

This is a case report on a patient with double cancer of kidney and urinary bladder. The patient was a 65-year-old female, and she was admitted with the chief complaint of gross hematuria and right flank pain. After careful examinations, she was diagnosed with right nonfunctioning kidney caused by invasive bladder cancer. Computerized tomography incidentally revealed a mass in the upper pole of the left kidney. Selective left renal arteriography showed stretched arteries and irregularity and tortuosity of the smaller vessels. She was diagnosed with double cancer of bladder and left kidney. Owing to the damage of the right renal function, left partial nephrectomy, total cystectomy, right nephroureterectomy and left ureterocutaneostomy were performed. According to DMSA scintigraphy measured 15 days later, the uptake value of the left kidney was 13.25%, compared to the preoperative value of 25.62%. To date, this case is 36th reported case in Japan.