Sequential invasions of pancreatic pseudocysts in pancreatic tail, hepatic left lobe, caudate lobe, and spleen

A 66-year-old male patient without a history of risk factors for pancreatitis suffered from pancreatitis and developed pseudocyst. During the course of treatment and follow-up, the pseudocyst was found to have migrated through the pancreatic tail, left hepatic lobe, caudate lobe, and spleen on abdominal sonography and computed tomography scan. Finally, emergent laparotomy was done for splenic abscess and removal of infected pseudocyst in the spleen and lesser sac of the abdomen. The patient made a full recovery after operation.

Various sonographic patterns of smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: a comparison with computed tomography

To evaluate the sonographic patterns of smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, we analyzed 25 patients with histologically confirmed smooth muscle tumors. Sonography revealed no abdominal mass in seven patients (sonogram-negative), and abdominal masses in 18 patients (sonogram-positive). The mean size of tumors in the sonogram-negative group (4.5 +/- 1.5 cm) was smaller than that in the sonogram-positive group (11.4 +/- 3.5 cm). We classified the various sonograms into three patterns. Comparing the sonograms with the computed tomographic pictures of each pattern, we theorized that the different patterns on sonograms may be caused by tumor necroses of different sizes with or without gas in the necrotic cavity. For the necrotic tumors, the size of the necrotic area did not correspond to the size of the tumor. However, the tumors with necroses were significantly larger than those without necroses. A central necrosis was found in cases exhibiting both leiomyosarcoma and leiomyoma. On comparing the sonogram-positive and sonogram-negative groups, we found that the size and location of a tumor may affect the detection rate of that tumor by sonography.

Liver biochemical tests and dengue fever

The impact of dengue on liver function was studied by biochemical tests on 125 male and 145 female patients diagnosed with this disease during an outbreak that extended from November 1987 to December 1988. Abnormal levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (G-GT) were observed in 93.3%, 82.2%, 7.2%, 16.3% and 83.0% of the patients, respectively. The elevation of transaminases was mild to moderate in most cases, but was 10-fold greater than the normal upper limit for AST and ALT in 11.1% and 7.4% of the patients, respectively. Initially, the level of AST was greater than that of ALT, increasing to maximum levels nine days after the onset of symptoms, then decreasing to normal levels within two weeks. Results of the biochemical tests did not differ significantly between the cases with and without hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection, but significantly higher elevations of AST, ALT, and G-GT were observed in patients with episodes of bleeding. Liver biopsies of two patients showed features of lobular hepatitis. Of the five fatal cases, three died of hepatic failure. It is concluded that dengue fever may cause hepatic injury and transaminase elevation similar to that in patients with conventional viral hepatitis. In epidemic or endemic areas, dengue fever infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatitis.

Abnormal pre-drainage serum creatinine as a prognostic indicator in acute cholangitis

Two hundred and twenty-five patients diagnosed as having non-malignant acute cholangitis were studied to evaluate the incidence and prognostic significance of pre-drainage acute renal failure. Thirty-seven patients (16.4%) were found to have serum creatinine greater than, or equal to, 1.5 mg/dl before the drainage procedure. The risk factors for impaired renal function evaluated by multivariate analysis were advanced age, low albumin, low globulin, and clinical presentation of Charcot's triad or Reynold's pentad. The mortality rate in the abnormal pre-drainage serum creatinine group was 21.6%, which was much higher than the mortality (3.7%) seen in the normal serum creatinine group (p less than 0.0001). The other risk factors of mortality evaluated by multivariate analysis were the bilirubin level, combined common bile duct stones and intrahepatic duct stones, and bile duct stricture. We conclude that abnormal pre-drainage serum creatinine is not an uncommon finding in acute cholangitis. It is of prognostic significance, and should be considered as important as the clinical findings of Reynold's pentad.

Sonographic detection of stones in poorly opacified left intrahepatic ducts

Intrahepatic duct (IHD) stone is a common disease in Taiwan. In some cases, left IHD stones cannot be demonstrated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) or even by percutaneous cholangiography (PTC). This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of sonography in demonstrating left IHD stones in poorly opacified left IHD by either ERC or PTC. Of 109 patients with hyperechoic nodular lesions in either the dilated left IHD or atrophic left lobe of the liver, with or without acoustic shadows, 49 patients were excluded because they refused further study. Among the remainder (60 patients), 33 patients had good opacification of left IHD in ERC or PTC. Stones were seen in 31 patients, and tumor obstruction in 2 patients. Twenty-seven patients had complete or partial absence of the left IHD in cholangiograms. Stones were found at surgery in 23 patients and by CT scan in 3 patients. Mucin-producing cholangiocarcinoma was found in 1 patient. The positive predictive value of the demonstration of stones in left IHD by ultrasound was 95% (57/60). Only 15% of patients with atrophy of the left hepatic lobe and stones were demonstrated by sonogram in this series. We conclude that the detection of left IHD stones by ultrasound in patients with poor opacification of the left IHD in cholangiograms is reliable procedure.

Brain abscess following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy: report of a case

A 33-year-old male patient with hepatitis B surface antigen positive cirrhosis, received 2 courses of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices. A Streptococcus viridans brain abscess developed 2 weeks after the first sclerotherapy (or 1 week after the second sclerotherapy). In cirrhotic patients, an increase in pulmonary vasodilatation and pulmonary arteriovenous shunting has been well recognized. Sclerosant as well as bacteria may pass through a pulmonary arteriovenous shunt and reach the brain, directly after an infection of esophageal varices. Brain ischemia and a bacterial infection may occur at the same time, this can accelerate the development of a pyogenic brain abscess. Careful observation for the early detection and treatment of infection following endoscopic sclerotherapy is essential.

Tc-99m HIDA hepatobiliary agent in the diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

Twelve patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and multiple metastatic pulmonary nodules were studied with Tc-99m HIDA imaging. Lung scanning was performed 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after administration of 6 mCi of Tc-99m HIDA with a preset count format of 400 K. In two patients, pulmonary uptake was clearly seen at 1 hour; in the other two patients, uptake could not be detected until 3 hours later. The overall detection rate of 33% suggests that Tc-99m HIDA has limited usefulness as a routine diagnostic tool in the detection of hepatoma metastases. The uptake may include both specific and nonspecific mechanisms.

Hepatic tuberculosis; a rare case of bleeding gastric varices

A laparotomy was performed on a 68-year-old female who, in spite of medical treatment, suffered from uncontrolled upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to ruptured gastric varices. Histological examination of the liver tissue taken during operation revealed tuberculosis. Hepatic tuberculosis, although rare, should be kept in mind as one of the differential diagnosis when there is unexplained, noncirrhotic bleeding gastric varices.

[Pyogenic liver abscess--report of 72 cases]

Seventy-two patients with pyogenic liver abscess treated from Jan. 1986 through June 1988 were reviewed retrospectively. The average age was 55 years with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. Most patients presented with the typical fever, chills and RUQ pain, but unusual signs and symptoms were also common. The right lobe was more commonly involved than left lobe. Biliary tract stone was the most frequent etiology (44.4%) and association with DM was common (37.5%). An elevated alkaline phosphatase and leukocytosis were useful clues to a liver abscess, but diagnosis depended on imaging of an abscess cavity either by echo or CT scan. The average time from onset of Symptoms to diagnosis was 9.3 days and a delay in diagnosis by the doctors was common. The most common complication was septicemia and factors with poor prognosis were old age (greater than or equal to 60 yrs), septicemia, cancer, peritonitis, and serum bilirubin greater than or equal to 5 mg/dl. The overall mortality was 29% with no difference between the group with surgical drains (28.5%) and the group with percutaneous transhepatic aspiration or drains (29.4%).

Duodenal hemangioendothelioma: report of a case

A case of duodenal hemangioendothelioma with bleeding is reported. The possibility of duodenal hemangioma should be borne in mind when there is unexplained bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. This lesion was visualized by endoscopy, removed surgically, and confirmed upon histological examination.

Hepatitis delta virus infection in southern Taiwan

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in Southern Taiwan in comparison to that of Northern Taiwan, a consecutive series of 389 HBsAg-positive patients were tested for serum antibody to HDV (anti-HD) by radioimmunoassay. The anti-HD was positive in 2/122 (1.6%) asymptomatic "healthy" carriers, 1/61 (1.6%) blood donors, 1/24 (4.2%) patients with acute type B hepatitis, 4/25 (16%) carriers with superimposed acute hepatitis, 5/53 (9.4%) patients with chronic hepatitis, 3/42 (7.1%) patients with liver cirrhosis and 1/62 (1.6%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Our findings confirm that the prevalence of HDV infection is low in asymptomatic carriers, acute type B hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but significantly higher in patients with chronic active liver disease. No significant difference in the prevalence of HDV infection between Southern and Northern Taiwan was observed.

The development of cirrhosis in patients with chronic type B hepatitis: a prospective study

The incidence and contributing factors of cirrhosis developing in patients with chronic type B hepatitis were assessed prospectively in 684 clinicopathologically verified patients, of which 509 were HBeAg positive and 175 were anti-HBe positive at entry into the study. During an average follow-up period of 35.3 months, cirrhosis occurred 6 to 64 months after entry in 35 HBeAg-positive and 7 anti-HBe positive patients with a calculated annual incidence of 2.4 and 1.3%, respectively (p greater than 0.05). The incidence increased significantly with the increasing age at entry. Patients who had experienced (a) hepatic decompensation, (b) repeated episodes of severe acute exacerbation (with alpha-fetoprotein greater than 100 ng per ml and/or bridging hepatic necrosis), (c) severe acute exacerbation not accompanied by subsequent HBeAg seroconversion and (d) hepatitis B virus reactivation (particularly those with HBeAg reappearance) were found to develop cirrhosis much more frequently (p less than 0.001). Contrary to general belief, patients who had hepatitis delta virus superinfection and patients with chronic active hepatitis were not particularly prone to develop cirrhosis. We conclude that in addition to age factor, the extent, severity, duration, frequency and etiology of the hepatic lobular alterations are important factors for the development of cirrhosis in patients with chronic type B hepatitis.

Vascular ectasia of the duodenum detected by duodenoscopy

A 65-yr-old Chinese woman suffered from repeated episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding for 5 yr. Despite repeated panendoscopic and angiographic studies, the bleeder was not found until a duodenoscopic examination was performed. A small bleeder was found near the papilla vater area. The lesion was excised and proved to be a vascular ectasia of duodenum.

Acute exacerbation in chronic type B hepatitis: comparison between HBeAg and antibody-positive patients

The incidence, clinicopathological features and etiology of acute exacerbation occurring in patients with chronic type B hepatitis were assessed prospectively among 385 patients who had HBeAg and 279 who had anti-HBe in serum. During an average follow-up of 23.5 months, acute exacerbations occurred in 197 HBeAg-positive patients and in 56 anti-HBe positive patients, with a calculated annual incidence of 28.6 and 10.3%, respectively (p less than 0.001). The clinical and laboratory findings of acute exacerbations were similar in the HBeAg-positive and anti-HBe positive patients. The mean serum bilirubin and alpha-fetoprotein levels were higher in anti-HBe positive patients (p less than 0.01), but actual differences were small. The histologic features of acute exacerbations were also similar in the HBeAg-positive patients and anti-HBe positive patients. Lobular alterations were the main histologic findings; in addition, one-fourth of patients had bridging necrosis and one-fourth had piecemeal necrosis. Spontaneous reactivation of hepatitis B was the major cause of these exacerbations in both HBeAg-positive patients (91.5%) as well as anti-HBe positive patients (62.5%). Hepatitis delta virus superinfection accounted for a higher percentage of exacerbations in anti-HBe positive patients (14.3%) than in HBeAg-positive cases (6.5%). Hepatitis A and possibly non-A, non-B virus superinfections also contributed to some episodes of exacerbation. Thus, acute exacerbations of disease occurred more frequently in HBeAg-positive patients than in anti-HBe positive patients with chronic type B hepatitis, but the clinicopathological features and etiologies were similar.

Alpha-fetoprotein changes in the course of chronic hepatitis: relation to bridging hepatic necrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

To examine the frequency and significance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) elevation, radioimmunoassay for AFP was performed every 3-6 months in a prospective follow-up study on 432 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 105 HBsAg-negative patients with clinicopathologically proven chronic hepatitis. In a period of 6-85 months (mean 26.9 +/- 16.8), AFP elevation (greater than 20 ng/ml) was recorded in 45.6% of the HBsAg-positive patients. In addition, 19.4% of the HBsAg-positive patients had AFP levels greater than 100 ng/ml, with a highest level of 2520 ng/ml in the absence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All these figures were much greater than those for HBsAg-negative patients (P less than 0.001). Most episodes of AFP elevation were transient, with parallel moderate SGPT elevation (greater than 200 IU/L). The AFP levels in such episodes correlated closely with the presence of bridging hepatic necrosis, only weakly with peak SGPT levels, but not with age, sex or hepatitis B e antigen/antibody status. None of the transient episodes was followed by subsequent development of HCC. On the other hand, AFP elevation (greater than 100 ng/ml) without parallel SGPT elevation could predict the presence of HCC with very high specificity (98.7%). However, the sensitivity was not high enough (66.7%) for one to rely solely on AFP for the detection of HCC at its earlier stage.

Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic type B hepatitis. A prospective study

A prospective surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using serum alpha-fetoprotein and high-resolution, linear-array, real-time ultrasonography was carried out in 432 patients with clinicopathologically proven chronic type B hepatitis. During a follow-up period of 6-85 mo (median 23, mean 26.9 +/- 16.8 mo), asymptomatic HCC was identified in 8 patients, with a calculated annual incidence of 826/100,000, and 2768/100,000 for patients over age 35 yr. The relative risk of developing HCC in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive chronic hepatitis patients was 2 when compared to those that were hepatitis B surface antigen-negative, and was 5 when compared in patients over age 35 yr. Hepatocellular carcinomas detected by these methods were in a relatively early stage as most tumors were small, only 50% were associated with cirrhosis, 37.5% were positive for hepatitis B e antibody, and most were still resectable. We, therefore, recommend a combination of alpha-fetoprotein and ultrasonography surveillance in patients with chronic hepatitis in order to improve the chance of early HCC detection as well as the chance for successful resection. In addition, the low incidence of cirrhosis and hepatitis B e antibody in these patients with "early" HCCs and the occurrence of hepatitis B e antigen/hepatitis B e antibody seroconversion after HCC had developed suggest that the development of HCC and progression from hepatitis to cirrhosis were two independent (though related) sequelae of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepatic decompensation associated with hepatitis B e antigen clearance in chronic type B hepatitis

To examine hepatic decompensation associated with acute exacerbation preceding hepatitis B e antigen clearance in chronic type B hepatitis, 376 patients with chronic hepatitis who were hepatitis B e antigen-positive were prospectively studied for up to 7 yr (mean 25 mo). Among the 165 patients who underwent hepatitis B e antigen clearance, 4 patients experienced hepatic decompensation and one of them eventually developed hepatic encephalopathy and died. The incidence of hepatic decompensation associated with hepatitis B e antigen clearance was 2.4%. We suggest that such an event in previously unrecognized chronic hepatitis B carriers could have been erroneously interpreted as acute or subacute hepatic failure, and that it might have been the result of a stronger enhancement of the host immune response.