Circulating tumor cells detected by lab-on-a-disc: Role in early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Background: The use of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as an early diagnostic biomarker and prognostic indicator after surgery or chemotherapy has been suggested for various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate CTCs in patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to explore their clinical usefulness in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Methods: A total of 116 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy and 31 healthy volunteers were prospectively included between 2014 and 2015.

Magnifying endoscopy of gastric epithelial dysplasia based on the morphologic characteristics.

Aim: To investigate the difference in magnifying endoscopic findings of gastric epithelial dysplasias (GEDs) according to the morphologic characteristics.

Methods: This study included 46 GED lesions in 45 patients who underwent magnifying endoscopy using narrow band imaging (ME-NBI) before endoscopic resection. During ME-NBI, the microvascular and microsurface (MS) patterns and the presence of light blue crest (LBC) and white opaque substance were investigated.

[Clinical factors predicting for neoplastic transformation of gastric hyperplastic polyps].

Background/aims: Hyperplastic polyps (HPs) are the most common cause of all benign epithelial gastric polyps, constituting 30 to 93%. Although gastric HPs are usually considered as benign lesions compared with adenoma, neoplastic transformation has been known to occur rarely. We aimed to identify the clinical factors of gastric HPs predicting for neoplastic transformation.

[A case of Chlamydia trachomatis peritonitis mimicking tuberculous peritonitis].

Lymphocytic ascites with low serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) are observed mainly in tuberculous peritonitis, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and pancreatic disease. However, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) induced generalized peritonitis causing diffuse ascites has been rarely described. We report a 26-year old female patient, who was diagnosed as generalized peritonitis with diffuse ascites due to Chlamydia trachomatis infection.