Biomedical subjects

Haruo Ito

Publications and source records attributed to Haruo Ito.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Clinical evaluation of transrectal power doppler imaging in the detection of prostate cancer.

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of power Doppler imaging (PDI), we compared this method to gray-scale transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in the detection of prostate cancer. A total of 101 men with abnormally high serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and/or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings were assessed using TRUS and PDI. Random systematic sextant and bilateral far lateral prostate biopsies were performed in all cases. In addition, when TRUS revealed a hypoechoic lesion or PDI revealed a hypervascular lesion (HVL), these lesions were directly biopsied. Of the 101 patients, 48 (47.5%), 42 (41.5%) and 42 (41.5%) were suspicious of having prostate cancer by DRE, TRUS and PDI, respectively. Prostate needle biopsy revealed prostate cancer in 39 patients (38.6%) and benign prostatic diseases in 62 patients (61.4%). If prostate needle biopsy was avoided when PDI was negative, then PDI eliminated the need for biopsy in 59 of the 101 patients (rate of biopsy procedures saved: 58.4%) and missed only 8 (13.6%) prostate cancers. Moreover, in 63 patients with intermediate PSA (3-10 ng/ml), the rate of biopsy procedures saved by DRE, TRUS, and PDI was 60.3%, 65.1%, and 68.3%, respectively, and the rate of cancers missed was 26.3%, 19.5%, and 14.0%, respectively. In a total of 826 specimens of TRUS-guided prostate biopsy, 126 (15.3%) specimens had adenocarcinoma. Site by site based analysis of the present series revealed 34.1% of prostate cancer sites were isoechoic and hypervascular. On a site by site basis, PDI had better sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value than TRUS. In 48 patients without abnormal DRE findings, on a site by site basis, the sensitivities of TRUS and PDI were 22.9% and 34.4%, respectively. Gleason score was associated with a positive rate of PDI on both a patient basis and site by site basis. From these results, on a patient basis, we conclude that PDI was helpful in the indication for prostate biopsy for all patients or patients with intermediate PSA level. On a site by site basis, PDI may be able to select prostate cancer sites at biopsy, in particular in patients without abnormal DRE findings.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Clinical usefulness of serum antip53 antibodies for prostate cancer detection: a comparative study with prostate specific antigen parameters.

PURPOSE: Alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene located on human chromosome 17p13.1 are currently the most common genetic abnormalities associated with many different types of human malignancies. Recently serum p53 antibodies (p53-Abs) have been detected in the serum of patients with various cancers. To evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum p53-Abs we compared p53-Abs with prostate specific antigen (PSA) parameters in patients with benign prostatic disease (BPD) and prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 50 patients with BPD and 103 with histologically diagnosed prostate cancer, including T1c/2N0M0 in 50, T3N0M0 in 29 and TxNxM1 in 24. The serum p53-Abs titer was assessed by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay using a MESCUP Kit II (Medical and Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd., Nagoya, Japan) antip53 test. Free and total PSA was measured using an Architect (Dinabott, Chicago, Illinois) PSA kit. The clinical values of p53-Abs were compared with total PSA, PSA density (PSAD), PSA density of the transition zone (PSATZD) and the free-to-total PSA ratio using ROC curves. RESULTS: All patients with prostate cancer had significantly higher total PSA, PSAD, PSATZD and p53-Abs than patients with BPD. While total PSA, PSAD, PSATZD and free-to-total PSA ratios were associated with stage progression, serum p53-Abs were not related to clinical stage. The Gleason sum 5 or less group had a higher level of p53-Abs than higher Gleason sum groups. Patients with T1c cancer had significantly higher p53-Abs than those with BPD. According to ROC curve analysis to distinguish prostate cancer from BPD the p53-Abs titer had the greatest AUC in the overall patient population and in patients without digital rectal examination findings. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that p53-Abs might be helpful in the clinical decision to perform prostate biopsy. In the current study the serum p53-Abs titer had the most useful validity in discriminating between prostate cancer and BPD in the overall patient population and in patients with normal digital rectal examination.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Alternative antiandrogens to treat prostate cancer relapse after initial hormone therapy.

PURPOSE: We studied the efficiency of second or third line hormonal therapy for prostate cancer relapse after hormone therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 70 patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with hormonal therapy, androgen deprivation monotherapy or maximum androgen blockade including surgical or medical castration combined with steroidal antiandrogen, 100 mg chlormadinone acetate daily or nonsteroidal antiandrogens, 375 mg flutamide (FLT) daily or 80 mg bicalutamide (BCL) daily. When the disease relapsed, we discontinued the antiandrogen and evaluated the patient for the antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Thereafter we administrated an alternative antiandrogen and evaluated its effect. RESULTS: The incidence of the AWS after first, second and third line hormonal therapy was 35.8%, 8.0% and 0%, respectively. The efficiency of subsequent hormonal therapy was not related to the occurrence of the AWS. Nonsteroidal antiandrogens as alternative therapies for disease relapse from primary therapy were effective in second line (FLT 38.1%, BCL 44.4%) or in third line (FLT 30.0%, BCL 28.6%) hormonal therapy. Of 5 (80%) patients who responded to second line therapy 4 (80%) had effective third line therapy, while only 1 of 12 (8.3%) second line nonresponders had effective third line therapy (p = 0.003). The survival of second line responders was significantly better than that of nonresponders (5-year survival rate 92.3% vs 23.9%, p <0.001), indicating a potential predictive value for second line responsiveness. No significant clinical factor identified second line responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent nonsteroidal antiandrogen therapies were effective against prostate cancer relapse after hormonal therapy. The response to third line therapy was more effective and survival was improved from the time of first line therapy relapse among second line responders than that in nonresponders. Our data support the notion that second line responders are androgen independent but still hormonally sensitive.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

In situ gelatinolytic activity correlates with tumor progression and prognosis in patients with bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Degradation of the extracellular matrix by malignant tumor cells has an essential role in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. The 2 gelatinolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 and MMP-9 are believed to be key enzymes in this process. We investigated the possible relationship between in situ gelatinolytic activity of MMPs and clinicopathological factors in patients with bladder cancer to clarify whether these proteins would be critical for tumor advancement in this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the intensity of gelatinolytic activity in 25 bladder cancer tissues by film in situ zymography (FIZ). To clarify the MMP(s) responsible for gelatinolytic activity in bladder cancer tissues we examined MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in bladder tissues by gelatin zymography. MMP expression was also confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. We then investigated the association between MMP expression detected by gelatin zymography and the intensity of gelatinolytic activity determined by FIZ. RESULTS: FIZ demonstrated that all tumor tissues had in situ gelatinolytic activities. There was a statistically significant correlation between the intensity of gelatinolytic activity, and tumor grade, stage, vessel invasion and cause specific survival (p <0.05). Stronger in situ gelatinolytic patterns were documented in cases with higher pro and active MMP-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: FIZ enables the direct assessment of in situ gelatinolytic activity in bladder cancer tissues. The intensity of activity appears to affect the biology of carcinoma tissues. Our results indicate a major role for MMP-2 in in situ gelatinolysis in bladder cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Increased in situ gelatinolytic activity in renal cell tumor tissues correlates with tumor size, grade and vessel invasion.

Degradation of collagen, or gelatinolysis, by tumor cells is one of the most important events in tumorigenesis. We investigate the possible relationship between the in situ gelatinolytic activities exerted by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and clinico-pathological factors in renal cell tumor (RCT) patients. Using the film in situ zymography (FIZ) method, we determined in situ localization of MMP-like gelatinolytic activities in cancerous and normal tissues in the kidney (n = 51). To clarify the MMP(s) responsible for the gelatinolytic activity in RCTs, we examined the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the kidney tissues by means of gelatin zymography (GZG). MMP expression was also detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. We then investigated the associations of MMP expression, as detected by GZG, with the intensity of gelatinolytic activity, as determined by FIZ. We analyzed the possible relationship of FIZ findings to several clinico-pathological factors such as tumor size, grade, vessel invasion, histologic type, stage and metastasis. FIZ demonstrated that all tumor and normal kidney tissues showed in situ gelatinase activities, and that gelatinolytic activities in RCTs were much stronger than those of normal kidney tissues. There was a statistically significant correlation between the intensity of MMP-like gelatinolytic activity and tumor size, tumor grade and vessel invasion (p < 0.05), but not between it and histological type, tumor stage or metastatic status. FIZ showed that tumor tissues in 5 of the 6 patients with fatal outcome exhibited the intense gelatinolytic pattern. Stronger in situ gelatinolytic patterns were documented in cases with higher MMP-2 expression. The molecular species of MMPs detected by GZG were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. The FIZ technique enables a direct assessment of in situ gelatinolytic activity in RCT tissues. The intensity of the activity seems to affect the biology of RCT tissues. Our results also indicate a major role for MMP-2 in in situ gelatinolysis in RCT tissues.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Altered methylation of multiple genes in carcinogenesis of the prostate.

The methylation status of 7 genes was examined in four cell lines, 36 samples of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 20 samples of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and 109 samples of prostate cancer (PCa), using methylation-specific PCR (MSP): the pi-class glutathione S-transferase (GSTP1), retinoic acid receptor beta 2(RARbeta2), androgen receptor (AR), death-associated protein kinase (DAPK), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3), O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), and hypermethylated in cancer-1 (HIC-1). The frequencies of methylation in PCa were 88% for GSTP1, 78% for RARbeta2, 36% for DAPK, 15% for AR, 6% for TIMP-3, and 2% for MGMT, whereas the values were 11% for AR and DAPK, 6% for TIMP-3, 3% for GSTP1, and 0 for RARbeta2 and MGMT in BPH. Aberrant methylation of the GSTP1 and RARbeta2 genes was detected in 30% and 20% of PIN, respectively. Most samples of BPH and PCa were positive for HIC-1 methylation. Regarding accumulation of methylated cancer-related genes, there were significant correlations between PCa and BPH as well as PIN and BPH. In the present study, a high frequency of aberrant promoter methylation of the GSTP1 and RARbeta2 genes was noted in PCa. Our findings suggest that methylation of cancer-related genes may be involved in carcinogenesis of the prostate.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Right ventricular damage due to pulmonary embolism: examination of the number of infiltrating macrophages.

To investigate the pathological changes in the heart induced by pulmonary embolism, 20 autopsy cases of pulmonary embolism and 10 control cases of acute death from traumatic injury were examined. Adding to the routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunostaining with CD68 pan-macrophage marker was performed on the specimens obtained from both right and left ventricular walls. The number of macrophages was counted semi-quantitatively in 100 random high-power fields (HPF). Although typical pathological findings of myocardial infarction was not observed in any of the cases, 16 of the 20 pulmonary embolism cases showed an increase in the number of macrophages, mainly in the right ventricular wall. Four cases showed massive macrophage infiltration in the entire right ventricular wall. It is speculated that ischemia due to pulmonary embolism may be connected to its pathogenesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Possible mechanism of dexamethasone therapy for prostate cancer: suppression of circulating level of interleukin-6.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids may have favorable effects on prostate cancer patients showing clinical and/or biochemical failure after androgen ablation. The efficacy and mechanisms of dexamethasone therapy as possible alternative endocrine therapy were investigated. METHODS: Twenty five patients with prostate cancer treated by androgen ablation and showing a steady increase in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) were treated with low-dose dexamethasone. RESULTS: Of 25 patients, 11 demonstrated 50% or more decline of serum PSA and 9 showed improvement of pain on dexamethasone therapy. Of 8 patients who responded to dexamethasone therapy, 5 had 80% or more decrease in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6). In contrast, none of 8 non-responders showed remarkable IL-6 suppression. Response of PSA was not correlated to the changes in serum dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, or androstendione. CONCLUSIONS: Significant suppression of serum IL-6, probably through inhibition of androgen-independent activation of androgen receptor, may be one of the mechanisms for the effect of dexamethasone therapy in prostate cancer patients with progressive disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Pretreatment serum level of neuron specific enolase (NSE) as a prognostic factor in metastatic prostate cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The serum level of neuron specific enolase (NSE) is gaining acceptance as a marker of neuroendocrine tumors. To clarify the role of NSE in prostate cancer progression, we examined the relationship of NSE to clinicopathological parameters. METHODS: The pretreatment serum NSE level was measured in 104 patients with histologically confirmed prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) and 59 patients in whom prostate cancer was not detected (non-PCa). PCa patients consisted of 5 T1N0M0, 20 T2N0M0, 31 T3N0M0, 7 TxN1M0 and 41 TxNxM1 cases. RESULTS: Non-PCa patients had significantly higher serum NSE than PCa patients. Serum NSE in metastatic PCa patients was significantly higher than that in non-metastatic patients, while NSE did not significantly differ with regard to histological grade, or prostate specific antigen (PSA) response to endocrine therapy. In PCa patients, serum NSE was not correlated to serum PSA nor chromogranin A. In metastatic patients who underwent endocrine therapy, the higher NSE group had significantly poorer cause-specific survival. CONCLUSION: The pretreatment serum level of NSE can predict survival of metastatic PCa patients treated with endocrine therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

An autopsy case of bilateral tension pneumothorax after acupuncture.

Acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary therapies in the world. Pneumothorax due to perforation of the lungs by needle insertion is one of the most common and serious complications of acupuncture treatment. Although there have been several case studies of pneumothorax induced by acupuncture, as far as we know there have been no reports on the pathological findings of autopsy cases. In this report, we describe the pathological findings of an autopsy case of bilateral tension pneumothorax after acupuncture. The patient suffered dyspnea and chest pain soon the completion of an acupuncture treatment, and died 90 min later. Several ecchymoses were macroscopically observed on the parietal pleura in the left and right thoracic cavity, suggesting that needles were inserted into the thoracic cavity and that the lungs were perforated. The many black spots we observed on the parietal pleura along the vertebral column microscopically consisted of a number of dust-like black pigments and macrophages containing these pigments. These spots seemed to have appeared because of the previous insertion of needles.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

PubMed2003

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate expressing prostate-specific antigen and showing syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone: an autopsy case report.

An autopsy case of primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the prostate in a 68-year-old man is reported. The patient was admitted to hospital because of a bloody stool and suspected rectal cancer. However, a diagnosis of prostate cancer was made on the basis of a digital rectal examination, the serum level of prostate-specific antigen, and a needle biopsy of the prostate. The patient also experienced a syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. He died 29 days after admission. At autopsy, the tumor had invaded the rectum, bladder and pelvic peritoneum. Metastases to the heart, vertebrae and lymph nodes were observed. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of small round cells that showed a solid growth pattern. Rosette formations were observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for a prostatic epithelial marker and neuroendocrine markers. A high level of antidiuretic hormone was detected in the tumor tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SCC of the prostate in which both a prostatic epithelial marker and neuroendocrine markers have been found in the same tumor. This finding supports the hypothesis that SCC of the prostate originates from a multipotential stem cell of the prostatic epithelium.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Annual changes of the incidence and clinical characteristics of magnesium ammonium phosphate urinary stones.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) urinary stones account for the majority of staghorn stones and frequently cause a non-functioning kidney. In the present study, we examined the annual changes of the number and clinical characteristics of MAP stones. METHODS: The annual incidence of MAP stones was investigated in 2619 patients with urinary stones in whom composition of the stone was analysed at Chiba University Hospital between 1964 and 1999. In addition, the annual number of patients with MAP stones was examined at Funabashi Clinic. In a total of 644 patients with MAP stones, age and sex of the patients, location and size of the MAP stones, urinary cultures and etiological factors were analysed. RESULTS: The number of MAP stones in the lower urinary tract was relatively constant. In contrast, MAP stones in the upper urinary tract had dramatically decreased since 1989, resulting in an increase in the rate of MAP stones in the lower urinary tract. Age distribution of the MAP stone patients ranged from 10 years to > 80 years, with the majority aged 30-60 years. The proportion of larger MAP stones in the upper urinary tract increased. There was no significant difference in prevalence of urine cultures. Among etiological factors for MAP stones, difficulty on urination tended to be common in recent years. CONCLUSION: The number of MAP stones, especially in upper urinary tract, has been decreasing during the last decade. At present, treatment of urinary tract obstruction seems important for the management of MAP stones in lower urinary tract.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Usefulness of diagnostic imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, prevention of urinary stone recurrence can be achieved by surgical removal of the enlarged parathyroid gland. To ensure the efficacy of surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism, preoperative localization of the enlarged gland is important. In the present study, usefulness of diagnostic imaging for localization of the enlarged gland was investigated in primary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the findings of imaging studies and clinical records in 79 patients (97 glands) who underwent surgical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism at Chiba University Hospital between 1976 and 2000. The detection rates of accurate localization were investigated for imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thallium-201 and technetium-99m pertechnetate (Tl-Tc) subtraction scintigraphy and 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy, and analysed in relation to the size and weight of the gland and pathological diagnosis. RESULTS: The detection rates by US, CT, MRI, Tl-Tc subtraction scintigraphy and MIBI scintigraphy were 70%, 67%, 73%, 38% and 78%, respectively. The overall detection rate changed from 50% to 88% before and after 1987. The detection rate of MIBI scintigraphy was superior to Tl-Tc subtraction scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: In primary hyperparathyroidism, improvement of accurate localization of an enlarged parathyroid gland was demonstrated along with recent advances in imaging techniques including MIBI scintigraphy.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2003

Erythropoietin-producing renal cell carcinoma in chronic hemodialysis patients: a report of two cases.

Erythropoietin (EPO)-producing renal cell carcinomas in two hemodialysis patients are reported. Despite deteriorated kidney function, these patients did not manifest anemia at diagnosis and their elevated serum EPO levels rapidly returned to within the normal range after nephrectomy. Immunohistochemical staining of the resected specimens showed production of erythropoietin in the tumor cells in one case and in the lining cells of the cyst wall in the other case. Renal cell carcinoma could cause an increase of blood hematocrit level in dialysis patients.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

PubMed2003

Association of absence of intestinal oxalate degrading bacteria with urinary calcium oxalate stone formation.

AIM: Urinary concentration of oxalate is considered an important factor in the formation of renal stones. Dietary oxalate is a major contributor to urinary oxalate excretion in most individuals. Furthermore, oxalate degrading bacteria have been isolated from human feces. We investigated the significance of oxalate degrading bacteria for urinary oxalate excretion and urinary stone formation. METHODS: Twenty-two known calcium oxalate stone-forming patients (stone formers) and 34 healthy volunteers (non-stone formers) were included in the study. Stool specimens were inoculated into pepton yeast glucose (PYG) medium supplemented with oxalate under anaerobic condition at 37 C for one week. After the incubation period, each colony was checked for the loss of oxalate from the culture medium. A 24-h urine sample was collected in 43 individuals and analyzed for oxalate excretion. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 34 (82%) healthy volunteers and 10 of 22 (45%) calcium oxalate stone formers were colonized with oxalate degrading bacteria. Calcium oxalate stone formers were more frequently free of oxalate degrading bacteria (P < 0.01). Urinary excretion of oxalate in those with oxalate degrading bacteria was significantly less than in those without oxalate degrading bacteria (P < 0.05). Hyperoxaluria (> 40 mg/day) was found in four of 27 individuals (15%) with oxalate degrading bacteria compared to seven of 16 (44%) without oxalate degrading bacteria (P < 0.05), suggesting an association between the absence of oxalate degrading bacteria and the presence of hyperoxaluria. CONCLUSION: The absence of oxalate degrading bacteria in the gut could promote the absorption of oxalate, thereby increasing the level of urinary oxalate excretion. The absence of oxalate degrading bacteria from the gut appears to be a risk factor for the presence of absorptive hyperoxaluria and an increased likelihood of urolithiasis.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Pyogenic psoas abscess: difficulty in early diagnosis.

AIM: To report on the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of psoas abscess (PA) with special attention to the presence of septic shock. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 17 patients (mean age 66.2, range 43-81 years) with PA. Treatment consisted of intravenous administration of antibiotics and abscess drainage, either surgical or percutaneous with ultrasound guidance. RESULTS: The typical patients presented with fever >38 degrees C (16/17, 94%), pain in back, flank, or abdomen (15/17, 88%), hip flexion contracture with pain extension (14/17, 82%), and mass felt in the flank (5/17, 29%). All 8 patients without septic shock (100%) had the clinical triad (fever, pain in back, flank, or abdomen, and hip flexion contracture) as compared with 4 of 9 patients with septic shock (44%) (p = 0.012). The duration of symptoms before hospitalization was significantly shorter in the patients with septic shock (median 2, range 1-5 days) than in those without septic shock (median 18.5, range 11-63 days; (p = 0.0005). The mortality rates were 33% (3 of 9) and 0% (0 of 8) in the patients with and without septic shock, respectively (p = 0.071). CONCLUSIONS: PA patients with septic shock had a tendency to have nonspecific symptoms and an occult clinical course as compared with those without septic shock. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in a worse clinical outcome (death or totally disabled state). Increased awareness of this condition should lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment with improved outcomes.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Postextrasystolic contractility normally decays in alternans in canine in situ heart.

We have reported that the postextrasystolic (PES) potentiation of left ventricular (LV) contractility usually decays in alternans at heart rates above 80-100 beats/min in the canine excised, cross-circulated heart. We examined whether the PES contractility would also decay in alternans even in the canine in situ heart presumably more physiological than the excised heart. In anesthetized, ventilated, and open-chest mongrel dogs, we measured LV pressure and volume with a micromanometer and a conductance catheter cannulated into the LV and obtained LV end-systolic maximum elastance (E(max)) as the reasonably load-independent contractility index. We inserted an extrasystole followed by a compensatory pause into steady-state regular beats at heart rates above 90 beats/min and analyzed the PES decay pattern of E(max). We found that E(max) potentiated in the first PES beat decayed in alternans within 5-6 PES beats. This indicates that PES contractility also decays in alternans in the normal canine in situ heart.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Two cases of tinea capitis by Microsporum ferrugineum believed infected in Myanmar].

We report two cases of tinea capitis by Microsporum (M) ferrugineum. A two year old boy (case 1) visited our hospital 3 months after his return from Myanmar. About a year later, we observed the same symptom on the scalp of his mother (case 2). In both cases itraconazole was effective clinically and mycologically. In Japan, although M. ferrugineum was the most common organism of tinea capitis before the 1960s, no cases of tinea are found caused by this species nowdays. We believe these cases to have been infected in Myanmar, and suggest the possibility that tinea caused by M. ferrugineum may become a re-emergent infection or an imported fungal disease in Japan.

Adult↗