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Biomedical subjects

C J Lightdale

Publications and source records attributed to C J Lightdale.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Localization of pancreatic endocrine tumors by endoscopic ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: After a pancreatic endocrine tumor has been diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and the results of laboratory tests, localization of the tumor by the usual imaging procedures fails in as many as 40 to 60 percent of patients. Endoscopic ultrasonography, a sensitive test for small carcinomas of the pancreas, might also be useful in patients with endocrine tumors of the pancreas that cannot be localized by conventional methods. METHODS: We studied 37 patients later shown to have 39 endocrine tumors of the pancreas who had negative results on transabdominal ultrasonography and CT. All the patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography, and 22 also underwent selective angiography. All the tumors were confirmed by surgical excision and immunohistologic examination; they consisted of 31 insulinomas, 7 gastrinomas, and 1 glucagonoma, 0.5 to 2.5 cm (mean, 1.4 cm) in diameter. All but one of the patients were cured of their disease, as ascertained by at least six months of clinical and laboratory follow-up. RESULTS: Using endoscopic ultrasonography, we were able to localize 32 of the 39 tumors (sensitivity, 82 percent); no tumor was incorrectly localized. The size of the tumors was very similar (within 2 mm) to that predicted by endoscopic ultrasonography. Among the 22 patients who underwent both angiography and endoscopic ultrasonography, ultrasonography was significantly more sensitive than angiography for tumor localization (sensitivity, 82 percent vs. 27 percent). Among 19 control patients without pancreatic endocrine tumors, endoscopic ultrasonography was negative in 18 (specificity, 95 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic ultrasonography is a highly sensitive and specific procedure for the localization of pancreatic endocrine tumors. It should be considered for the preoperative localization of such tumors once the clinical and laboratory diagnosis has been established.

Adenoma, Islet Cell

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis, staging and follow-up of esophageal and gastric cancer.

The accumulating data show that endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is highly compatible with the UICC/AJCC staging classification for esophageal and gastric cancer, based on the TNM system expressing anatomical extent of disease. The great strength of EUS in staging these cancers is its ability to image the gut wall and adjacent structures in unique detail. EUS is more accurate than computed tomography in staging the depth of primary tumor invasion (T) and regional lymph node metastases (N). High frequency EUS is not useful in staging for distant metastases (M) due to limited depth of the field. EUS also has limitations in reliably distinguishing between neoplastic and inflammatory tissue. Thus, the major use of EUS is in staging rather than in diagnosis. However, initial reports indicate that EUS may be helpful in the detection of malignancy in Barrett's esophagus, in diagnosing post-operative recurrent cancer, and in evaluating the response to non-operative therapy. EUS appears to represent an important advance in the staging and follow-up of patients with esophageal and gastric cancer. Instruments and techniques will continue to evolve, but the next level of research should be designed to show that the improved staging provided by EUS has clinical utility and can affect patient outcome.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal

Localization of endocrine tumors of the pancreas with endoscopic ultrasonography.

High-frequency endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was used to image the pancreas through the wall of the stomach and duodenum in 12 patients with clinically suspected pancreatic endocrine tumors. In another patient, endocrine tumors in the wall of the duodenum were imaged by EUS. The findings were compared with those obtained by dynamic computed tomography (all patients) and selective angiography (eight patients). Laparotomy was done in eight patients. In our 13 patients, EUS detected endocrine tumors of the pancreas and duodenum in ten patients. More than one tumor was evident in five patients, including one of two patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type I. In the eight patients treated surgically, there was one false-positive finding as a result of hypertrophic peripancreatic lymph nodes and one false-negative finding, in retrospect obviously imaged but incorrectly interpreted. The technique of EUS imaged small tumors in the pancreas (0.5 to 2.0 cm in diameter) in five patients where dynamic computed tomography and selective angiography were negative, but surgery and pathologic examination confirmed the EUS findings. This technique appears to be an important new addition to the battery of tests used for preoperative localization of endocrine tumors of the pancreas.

Adult

Preoperative staging of esophageal cancer: comparison of endoscopic US and dynamic CT.

Fifty patients with esophageal cancer proved by means of biopsy underwent preoperative staging with endoscopic ultrasonography (US); in 42 of the patients, dynamic CT of the chest and abdomen was also performed. All results were compared with the findings at pathologic examination of resected specimens. In staging the depth of tumor growth, endoscopic US was significantly more accurate (46 of 50 tumors [92%]) than CT (25 of 42 tumors [60%]) (P less than .0003). In staging regional lymph nodes, it was more accurate (44 of 50 patients [88%]) than CT (31 of 42 patients [74%]), but this was not statistically significant. In staging distant metastases, however, CT was more accurate (38 of 42 patients [90%]) than endoscopic US (35 of 50 patients [70%]) (P less than .016). The highest concordance with surgical and pathologic findings in overall stage (36 of 42 tumors [86%]) occurred with the combined use of CT and endoscopic US, which was significantly more accurate than use of CT alone (27 of 42 tumors [64%]) (P less than .008).

Adenocarcinoma

Preoperative staging of gastric cancer: comparison of endoscopic US and dynamic CT.

Fifty consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma proved by means of biopsy underwent preoperative staging with endoscopic ultrasonography (US). Dynamic computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen was performed before surgery in 33 of the patients. In all 50 patients, the TNM classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer was used to compare the imaging findings with pathologic findings in specimens resected at surgery. When the depth of tumor penetration was evaluated, the findings at endoscopic US and those at pathologic examination were concordant in 46 of 50 patients (92%), and the findings at dynamic CT and those at pathologic examination, in 14 of 33 patients (42%) (P less than .00042). Evaluation of regional lymph node metastases showed a concordance of 78% with endoscopic US and 48% with dynamic CT (P less than .038). Overall determination of stage with both dynamic CT and endoscopic US showed a concordance of 73%, compared with a concordance of 45% for dynamic CT alone (P less than .028).

Adenocarcinoma

Six primary cancers in individuals. Report of four cases.

Four patients who had six or more primary cancers are described in this article. Two of the patients had seven cancers each; the most frequent cancer site was the colon. These patients were young at the onset of their first cancer and had a long survival. All the patients had a strong family history of cancer, especially colon cancer. We found that family members of individuals with multiple cancers should be considered to have an increased risk for the development of cancer.

Adult

Ogilvie's syndrome. Successful management without colonoscopy.

We reviewed the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of 25 patients with Ogilvie's syndrome (acute colonic pseudoobstruction) at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1982 through 1985. All patients had cancer and severe associated medical problems. Abdominal x-rays uniformly showed cecal distension ranging between 9 and 18 cm. Twenty-four of the 25 patients were treated with conservative nonendoscopic management. One patient had an exploratory laparotomy for prophylactic cecostomy after only one day of conservative therapy. Of the 24 patients treated conservatively, 23 (96%) improved by both clinical and radiologic criteria in a mean of 3.0 days. The remaining patient died of multisystem failure not related to the acute colonic pseudoobstruction. Colonoscopic decompression was not attempted in any of the 25 patients. There were no colonic perforations, and there were no pseudoobstruction-related deaths. This study questions the need for early endoscopic or surgical treatment in cancer patients with acute colonic pseudoobstruction.

Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction

Outpatient management of esophageal cancer with endoscopic Nd:YAG laser.

In 50 inoperable patients with advanced malignant obstruction of the esophagus, endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment was used for palliation of dysphagia. In 30 of these patients, treatment was carried out entirely in an outpatient setting, providing more time at home and saving costs of hospitalization. Most patients had received prior radiation and chemotherapy. All were unable to swallow solid food; 16 had difficulty with liquids. Palliation was achieved in 69% allowing patients to eat a nearly normal diet. Therapy was least successful in cancers involving the cervical esophagus, in cancers more than 8 cm in length, and in cancers that were primarily infiltrating or extraluminal. Epidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas were effectively treated, except for adenocarcinomas of the gastric cardia, which tended to be infiltrating. There were two serious but nonfatal complications, one perforation and one episode of bleeding, directly attributable to Nd:YAG laser therapy. An esophageal dilation prior to endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment facilitated outpatient management.

Adult

Bilateral perinephric abscesses: a complication of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy.

Ten years after right hepatic lobectomy for primary hepatocellular cancer, a 45-yr-old black woman presented with bleeding esophageal varices. After five endoscopic injection sclerotherapy procedures using sodium morrhuate, she developed fever and elevated white blood count. Reendoscopy, chest x-ray, and upper gastrointestinal contrast x-rays showed no local complication. Urine analysis was normal, but CT scans, renal sonograms, and white blood cell radionuclide scan demonstrated bilateral perinephric abscesses. Percutaneous abscess drainage grew Streptococcus pneumoniae, normally found in the nasopharyngeal flora, which was probably a result of hematogenous spread. The perinephric abscesses were successfully treated with percutaneous drainage and antibiotics. Renal infection should be considered as a possible locus of distant blood-borne infection in patients who develop fever after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy.

Abscess

Aspiration and brush cytology of the liver.

In this study, 1,650 liver aspirates and laparoscopic brushings, representing a wide range of neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions were examined cytologically. Of the 470 cytologic malignancies, only one was a false-positive. The most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasms were carcinomas of the colon, breast, pancreas, lung, and liver. The overall accuracy rate of cytologic examination was 96%, with a sensitivity of 94%, and a specificity of 100%. Predictive values for both positive and negative results, were high: 100% and 95%, respectively. Reviewing the literature on aspiration cytology of the liver, we found that our results confirmed the findings of others: that cytologic examination of liver aspirates and brushings is a safe, useful, and accurate technique and may obviate tissue biopsy in cases of tumors metastatic to the liver.

Biopsy, Needle

Malabsorption and mucosal abnormalities of the small intestine in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Diarrhea and weight loss may accompany the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We studied 30 patients with the syndrome, 20 of whom had diarrhea and weight loss and 10 of whom did not. Patients with identifiable enteric infections or small intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma were excluded. Malabsorption was common in the patients with diarrhea and weight loss, as shown by abnormal D-xylose and 14C-glycerol-tripalmitin absorption tests. In these patients, duodenal biopsy specimens showed a histiocytic infiltrate containing numerous acid-fast organisms in 5 and a mild-moderate chronic inflammation in 13. In asymptomatic patients, duodenal biopsy specimens were normal in 6 and showed chronic inflammation in 4. These results suggest that malabsorption is common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with chronic diarrhea and may contribute to their weight loss.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Kaposi's sarcoma. Gastrointestinal involvement correlation with skin findings and immunologic function.

We have evaluated 19 homosexual/bisexual male patients with biopsy-proven Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of the skin in order to define the extent of gastrointestinal involvement and determine its correlation with oral mucosal disease, skin findings, and immunologic function. Nearly half the patients had oral mucosal lesions. In patients with oral mucosal lesions, 75% had gastrointestinal lesions. Some gastrointestinal involvement during the period of observation was present in 10 of the 19 patients. Involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract was more common than colonic involvement: esophagus 1, stomach 8, duodenum 3, and colon 6. Significant immunosuppression was observed in these patients, measured in vitro by natural killer (NK) assay, and lymphocyte proliferation response to mitogens.

Adult

Screening diagnosis and staging of esophageal cancer.

In geographic areas where there is a high risk of esophageal cancer, analysis of cells obtained from the esophagus has been used effectively to detect early lesions. This has been demonstrated on a large scale in studies from China. Using abrasive balloon cytology techniques, 75% of the cancers detected were early lesions, where the 5-year survival after resection was in the range of 90%. Endoscopic followup studies indicate that dysplastic changes in the esophageal mucosa are a common precursor to malignancy. In many cases, the time course from dysplasia to carcinoma in situ to early invasive cancer may take place over many years, allowing a reasonable amount of time for screening. In low-incidence areas, such as the United States, most esophageal cancers are related to the excessive use of tobacco and alcohol. These factors are too common and the incidence of the disease too low, however, to justify screening on this basis. There are smaller groups at higher risk where selective screening by endoscopy with cytology and biopsy is recommended, usually every 1 to 3 years. These include patients with longstanding achalasia, lye strictures, and Plummer- Vinson syndrome. Patients with cancers of the head and neck region and patients with celiac disease may also be considered to be at increased risk. Tylosis is a rare inherited disease with a very high risk of esophageal cancer. There is an increased incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with Barrett's epithelium, and once identified such patients should be kept under endoscopic surveillance. The finding of severe dysplasia in any of these groups would indicate a shorter screening interval. Most patients with symptoms referable to the esophagus are first tested by barium esophagram. If negative, with persistent symptoms or if a suspicious lesion is identified, endoscopy with cytology and biopsy is recommended. Staging of the cancer is based on the size of the cancer both longitudinally and circumferentially and the presence of extraesophageal spread. At the present time, CT is the best noninvasive method for judging the extent of the cancer. Performance and nutritional status are also determinants of prognosis and should be considered in planning treatment.

Adult