Background/AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of low serum amylase and lipase values in the detection of chronic pancreatitis.MethodsPatients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and were diagnosed with non-calcific chronic pancreatitis (NCCP; n=99) and calcific chronic pancreatitis (CCP; n=112). Patient serum amylase and lipase values were compared with those of healthy controls (H; n=170).ResultsThe median serum amylase (normal range, 19 to 86 U/L) and lipase values (7 to 59 U/L) (P25–P75) were 47.0 (39.8 to 55.3) and 25.0 (18.0 to 35.0) for H, 34.0 (24.5 to 49.0) and 19.0 (9.0 to 30.0) for NCCP, and 30.0 (20.0 to 40.8) and 10.0 (3.0 to 19.0) for CCP, respectively. The cutoff values with the highest diagnostic accuracy for discriminating NCCP from H were 40 U/L for amylase and 20 U/L for lipase, respectively, and for CCP from H were 38 U/L for amylase and 15 U/L for lipase, respectively. For the diagnosis of NCCP with a criterion of serum amylase <40 and lipase <20 U/L, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values were 37.4%, 88.8%, 66.1%, and 70.9%, respectively.ConclusionsSerum amylase and/or lipase levels below the normal serum range are highly specific for chronic pancreatitis patients. Clinicians should not ignore low serum pancreatic enzyme values.

PurposeTo determine the prevalence of and investigate the risk factors for gallbladder (GB) polypoid lesions in a healthy population.Materials and MethodsA total of 23827 subjects who underwent abdominal ultrasonography in conjunction with health screening examinations were retrospectively analyzed. The prevalence of risk factors for GB polypoid lesions were evaluated. In addition, risk factors according to the number of polypoid lesions and the presence of stones with polypoid lesions were investigated. To analyze these risk factors, a control group was established with a 1:2 ratio matched for age and sex.ResultsThe prevalence of GB polypoid lesions was identified as 9.96%. On multivariate analysis, chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) were risk factors for GB polypoid lesions. CHB and MS were also significant independent risk factors for multiple GB polypoid lesions when compared with solitary GB polypoid lesions. In addition, gastric Helicobacter pylori infection and MS were significant risk factors for GB polypoid lesions with stones when compared with GB polypoid lesions without stones.ConclusionThe prevalence of GB polypoid lesions in a healthy Korean population was 9.96%. Patients with CHB and MS need to be carefully examined for such lesions.

Abstract. Ectopic ACTH syndrome is rarely caused by pheochromocytoma. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome due to ACTH-producing adrenal pheochromocytoma. She had delivered preterm baby at 32nd week of gestation with 'severe preeclampsia'. After delivery, persistent hypertension accompanied by severe headache led her to being misdiagnosed as Cushing's syndrome due to right adrenal adenoma (normal plasma ACTH level) and cerebral vasculitis of unknown etiology. She was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment. Repeated biochemical studies suggested coexistence of ectopic ACTH syndrome and pheochromocytoma. To reverse her clinical deterioration, right total and left subtotal adrenalectomy was performed with presumptive diagnosis of 1) right adrenal pheochromocytoma causing ectopic ACTH syndrome or 2) coexistence of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome and right adrenal pheochromocytoma. Pathologic examination of right adrenal mass revealed pheochromocytoma which showed strong immunostaining for ACTH. Plasma ACTH and urinary cortisol excretion normalized after surgery, but she succumbed to multiple cerebral infarcts and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Pregnancy and inappropriately low plasma ACTH at initial evaluation might have hampered early diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a case with ectopic ACTH syndrome due to pheochromocytoma associated with pregnancy.