• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2012

Purpose: To report the initial clinical experience with single-incision laparoscopic gastric wedge resection for submucosal tumors. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 10 patients who underwent single-incision laparoscopic gastric wedge resection between July 2009 and March 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic data, clinicopathologic and surgical outcomes were assessed. Results: The mean tumor size was 2.5 cm (range, 1.2~5.0 cm), and the tumors were mostly located on the anterior wall (4/10) or along the greater curvature (4/10), of the stomach. Nine of ten procedures were performed successfully, without the use of additional trocars, or conversion to laparotomy. One patient underwent conversion to multiport laparoscopic surgery, to get simultaneous cholecystectomy safely. The mean operating time was 66.5 minutes (range, 24~132 minutes), and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (range, 4~7 days). No serious perioperative complications were observed. Of the 10 submucosal tumors, the final pathologic report revealed 5 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 4 schwannomas, and 1 heterotopic pancreas. Conclusions: Single-incision laparoscopic gastric wedge resection for gastric submucosal tumors is feasible and safe, when performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons. This technique provides favorable cosmetic results, and also short hospital stay and low morbidity, in carefully selected candidates.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2011

Purpose: It is difficult to obtain biopsies from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) prior to surgery because GISTs are submucoal tumors, despite being the most common nonepithelial neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike anatomic imaging techniques, PET-CT, which is a molecular imaging tool, can be a useful technique for assessing tumor activity and predicting the malignant potential of certain tumors. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of PET-CT as a pre-operative prognostic factor for GISTs by analyzing the correlation between the existing post-operative prognostic factors and the maximum SUV uptake (SUVmax) of pre-operative 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 26 patients who were diagnosed with gastric GISTs and underwent surgery after being examined with pre-operative FDG PET-CT. An analysis of the correlation bewteen (i) NIH risk classification and the Ki-67 proliferation index, which are post-operative prognostic factors, and (ii) the SUVmax of PET-CT, which is a pre-operative prognostic factor, was performed. Results: There were significant correlations between (i) SUVmax and (ii) Ki-67 index, tumor size, mitotic count, and NIH risk group (r=0.854, 0.888, 0.791, and 0.756, respectively). The optimal cut-off value for SUVmax was 3.94 between "low-risk malignancy" and "high-risk malignancy" groups. The sensitivity and specificity of SUVmax for predicting the risk of malignancy were 85.7% and 94.7%, respectively. Conclusions: The SUVmax of PET-CT is associated with Ki-67 index, tumor size, mitotic count, and NIH classification. Therefore, it is believed that PET-CT is a relatively safe, non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing malignant potential pre-operatively.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) gastrography in the surgical management of a gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic data of 38 patients who had undergone CT gastrography from among patients who had gastric GISTS surgically resected at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, between January 2001 and February 2006. We compared CT gastrography data, including tumor size and location and distance from the gastroesophageal junction or pylorus with endoscopic, surgical and pathologic findings. Results: The longitudinal tumor locations on CT gastrography and endoscopy were identical to the surgical findings. For tumor sizes on CT gastrography of less than 5 cm, we performed 11 (42.3%) laparoscopic wedge resections from among 26 cases. In the 12 cases with tumor sizes of 5 cm or over, only 1 (8.3%) laparoscopic wedge resection was performed. When the tumor was located in the middle third of the stomach, a laparoscopic wedge resection was performed in 88.9% (8/9) of the cases, but when it was located in the upper or lower third, a laparoscopic wedge resection was performed in only 13.8% (4/29) of the cases. Conclusion: Three-dimensional information from CT gastrography allows the surgeon to perform preoperative planning, including accurate localization.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4801-4802
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• 2015

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8613-8618
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• 2016

Background: The symptoms of small bowel malignancies are mild and frequently nonspecific, thus patients are often not diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage. Moreover, the lack of sufficient studies and available data on small bowel cancer makes diagnosis difficult, further delaying proper treatment for these patients. In fact, only a small number of published studies exist, and there are no studies specific to Thailand. Radiologic and endoscopic studies and findings may allow physicians to better understand the disease, leading to earlier diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Objective: To retrospectively analyze the clinical, radiologic, and endoscopic characteristics of small bowel cancer patients in Thailand's Siriraj Hospital. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included 185 adult patients (97 men, 88 women; mean age = $57.6{\pm}14.9$) with pathologically confirmed small bowel cancer diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2013. Clinical, radiologic, and endoscopic findings were collected and compared between each subtype of small bowel cancer. Results: Of the 185 patients analyzed, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was the most common diagnosis (39.5%, n=73). Adenocarcinoma was the second most common (25.9%, n = 48), while lymphoma and all other types were identified in 24.3% (n = 45) and 10.3% (n = 19) of cases, respectively. The most common symptoms were weight loss (43.2%), abdominal pain (38.4%), and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (23.8%). Conclusions: Based on radiology and endoscopy, this study revealed upper gastrointestinal bleeding, an intra-abdominal mass, and a sub-epithelial mass as common symptoms of GIST. Obstruction and ulcerating/circumferential masses were findicative of adenocarcinoma, as revealed by radiology and endoscopy, respectively. Finally, no specific symptoms were related to lymphoma.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2005

Purpose: This study aimed to provide, as a basic material, the experiences of endoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of tumorous conditions in the upper gastrointestinal tract in children. Methods: The objects were 26 patients diagnosed as having tumorous conditions in the upper gastrointestinal tract among 1,283 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination at the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 1994 to July 2004 retrospectively. The characteristics of patients, the chief complaints for endoscopic examination, the sorts of tumors diagnosed, the endoscopic findings of tumors, and the treatment of tumors were analysed. Results: 1) Eleven male and fifteen female were included, whose mean age was $6.93{\pm}4.02years$. 2) The chief complaints for endoscopic examination were abdominal pain (80.7%), vomiting or nausea (30.8%), and gastrointestinal beeding (30.7%) in order. 3) Six cases of ectopic pancreas, five cases of sentinel polyp, three cases of papilloma and vallecular cyst, two cases of Brunner's gland hyperplasia and gastric submucosal tumor, one case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, duodenal intramural hematoma, T cell lymphoma, lipoma, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome were diagnosed by endoscopy with or without biopsy. 4) The location of tumors was in the pharynx (19.2%), esophagus (7.7%), gastro-esophageal junction (23.0%), stomach (30.7%) and duodeneum (26.9%). 5) The size of tumors was less than 10 mm in 53.8%, 10~20 mm in 26.9%, more than 20 mm 19.2%. 6) Treatments for tumors included resection by laser, surgical resection, endoscopic polypectomy with a forcep or snare, and observation 7) There was no significant complication. Conclusion: Various and not a few tumors were found in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The endoscopy was accurate, effective, and safe means for diagnosis and treatment of those lesions in children.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.146-153
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• 2006

Purpose: Gastrointestinal stromal tumorsm (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors that arise anywhere in the tubular GI tract. The prognosis for GSTIs is important because f GISTs may metastasiwx in the liver or the abdominal cavity in an early stage. For the reason we examined the tumor size, the mitotic number, ki 67, p53, and c-kit mutation as independent prognostic factor for GISTs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 76 patients who had been re-evaluated for confirmation of diagnosis between Jan 1998 and Dec. 2001. at Catholic University of medicine. Results: There were significant difference between the turner size, mitotic indices, ki 67, c-kit mutations and the 5-years survival rates. Tumor size (${\geq}5\;cm$) and mitotic index (${\geq}5/50\;HPF$) were statistically related to a significantly poor prognosis (P=0.017 and P=0.042, respectively). c-kit mutations in exon 11 were found in 7 cases c-kit mutation was observed more frequently in high risk patients, and there was a significant difference between c-kit mutation and survival (P=0.037). Elevated ki 67 was noted in 34 out of the 76 cases. High risk patients showed elevated ki67 index more frequently and there was significant relation with the survival rate (P=0.0417). Conclusion: We think that tumor size, mitotic index, Ki 67 and c-kit mutation are as independent prognostic factors for GISTs, but more research is needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2006

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of capsule endoscopy (CE) for the diagnosis of small bowel diseases. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 66 patients (mean age: 52.1 years, male/female: 39/27), who underwent CE at Yeungnam University Hospital from August 2003 to March 2006. Results: Suspicious gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding presenting as anemia or history of gross bleeding was the most common reason to perform CE (71.2%). Other indications included GI symptoms (21.2%) such as abdominal pain/discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and others (7.6%). In studies performed for GI bleeding (n=47), ulcer/erosion was the most common finding (n=22, 46.8%) followed by tumor (n=5, 10.6%), angiodysplasia (n=3, 6.4%), polyp (n=3, 6.4%), active bleeding (n=1, 2.1 %), ulcer with stenosis (n=1, 2.1%), and normal findings (n=12, 25.5%). Of these, a bleeding focus was detected in 32 cases (68.1%) undergoing CE studies. Among 14 patients with GI symptoms, only two patients had typical findings related with symptoms. Surgical resection was performed in five cases with tumor. Of these, four were diagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumor and the other one was a lymphangioma. There were no complications associated with the CE procedure. Conclusion: Capsule endoscopy is a safe, noninvasive diagnostic tool for small bowel diseases and may be useful for the diagnosis of small bowel hemorrhage including obscure bleeding. However, further studies are needed to confirm its utility for abdominal symptoms other than hemorrhage because of the low diagnostic yield.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.24-27
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• 2014

A 42-year-old female was referred to our department after find out submucosal tumor type lesion on cardia at local clinics. She experienced no specific symptom. On gastroscopy, two distinct neoplasms were detected. One of which was located in the cardia anterior wall of the stomach with the size of 2.0×1.1 cm, and the other one was localized in the cardia posterior wall of the stomach and its size was 1.5×1.2 cm. We performed endoscopic submucosal dissection. Pathological evaluation revealed the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) at the cardia anterior wall and malignant lymphoma from the mass localized cardia posterior wall of the stomach. We would like to report these rare synchronous tumors which were successfully treated by endoscopic resection in the same patient

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2271-2275
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• 2016

Background: The value of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in fluorescence detection of peritoneal metastases and the underlying mechanisms were evaluated in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies. Materials and Methods: Oral 5-ALA was administered at a concentration of 20 mg/kg body weight with 50 ml of water 2 hours prior to surgery (n=115). The diagnostic value of 5-ALA based fluorescence production was evaluated following white light inspection during prior to cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Then, peptide transporter PEPT1 (ALA influx transporter) and ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCG2 (porphyrin efflux transporter) gene expression was determined with quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR and pathological diagnoses confirmed for all tissue samples. Results: The 5-ALA based photodynamic detection rate was 17% for appendiceal mucinous neoplasms, 54% for colorectal cancers, 33% for gastric cancers, 67% for diffuse malign peritoneal mesotheliomas, and 89% for epithelial ovarian cancer of peritoneal metastases. 5-ALA was detected in all cases of peritoneal metastases originating from cholangiocarcinomas whereas it was not able to detect any in granulosa cell and gastrointestinal stromal tumor cases. Furthermore, PEPT1 was overexpressed whereas ABCG2 expression was downregulated in tumors detected with fluorescence. Conclusions: 5-ALA provided 100% specificity and high sensitivity to detect peritoneal metastases in subgroups of patients with peritoneal surface mailgnancies. ALA influx transporter PEPT1 and porphyrin efflux transporter ABCG2 genes are important in tumor specific 5-ALA induced fluorescence in vivo. Further studies should clarify diagnostic utility of 5-ALA in peritoneal surface malignancies.