Gastrointestinal stromal tumor presenting with prominent calcification.

We present a rare case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the stomach with prominent calcification at presentation. A 61-year-old woman visited our hospital because of epigastric discomfort. A spherical calcified lesion with a diameter of about 30 mm was incidentally shown in the left upper quadrant on an abdominal X-ray.

[Two cases of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas in terms of the diversity of carcinoma cells (epithelial-mesenchymal transition; EMT)].

The first evaluated case was a 71-year-old man with melaena. A huge tumor mass was observed in the tale of the pancreas, which we diagnosed as pancreatic carcinoma. Pathological findings confirmed that it was anaplastic pancreas carcinoma (giant cell type).

Safer endoscopic gastric mucosal resection: preoperative proton pump inhibitor administration.

Background And Aim: Control of bleeding is crucial in improving the safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and intragastric acidity has a great impact on hemostasis and blood coagulation. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are potent suppressors of gastric acid; however, PPI need to be continuously administered orally for several days, and thus initial effects may be insufficient if PPI is only administered immediately after EMR. The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative administration of PPI prior to EMR can elevate intragastric acidity, facilitate better control of intraoperative bleeding (complete coagulation and hemostasis), prevent postoperative bleeding, and facilitate healing of artificial ulcers.

[Pilot study of concomitant TS-1/CDGP radiotherapy for esophageal cancer].

Although surgery is treatment of choice for esophageal cancer, radiochemotherapy is being employed throughout Japan for the purpose of improving patient QOL. The results of this therapy are reported to be comparable to those associated with surgical treatment. However, since concomitant 5-FU/CDDP radiotherapy, currently the treatment of choice when implementing radiochemotherapy, is associated with a comparatively high incidence of gastrointestinal disorders and requires continuous intravenous infusion for 24 hours, it lowers the level of patient QOL.