Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Dancygier

Publications and source records attributed to H Dancygier.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Endosonography in oncology of the upper gastrointestinal tract].

Based on our own experience and on data from the literature, we report on the indications for and efficiency of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the oncology of the upper gastrointestinal tract. At the present time the following conclusions can be drawn: Intramural tumors can be clearly visualized and differentiated from extragastric conditions by EUS. Pancreatic tumors smaller than 2 cm can be delineated exactly by EUS and the sensitivity of EUS in demonstrating pancreatic tumors is 90%, a fact which is especially helpful in the early diagnosis of endocrine tumors. Since the endosonographic aspect does not allow us to separate unequivocally benign from malignant alterations, a clear distinction between inflammatory (pseudo) tumors and neoplastic pancreatic lesions based on EUS findings alone is not possible. The main indication for EUS is in regional TN-staging. The pT-stage of esophageal cancers can be determined correctly in 84% (73-92), of gastric carcinomas in 80% (69-92), of pancreatic cancers in 90% (88-92) and of the distal common bile duct and of papilla of Vater in 85% (83-89) of cases. EUS is superior to computed tomography, especially in early tumor stages. The correct EUS-staging of proximal bile duct tumors and of gallbladder cancer is far more difficult, especially when the latter is filled with stones. Local lymph node metastases are visualized by EUS in about 70-90% of cases. EUS is also valuable in evaluation of the anastomosis after operative resection of esophageal or gastric carcinoma, as well as in the follow-up of patients with gastric non-Hodgkin lymphomas during radiochemotherapy.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

[Endoscopic ultrasound in the demonstration and staging of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the stomach].

Nine patients (five women, four men, mean age 64.2 [49-77] years) with histologically confirmed gastric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were investigated before starting therapy and during follow up, using endoscopic ultrasound, computer-assisted tomography and conventional ultrasound. Of ten gastric NHL infiltrations, nine were demonstrable using endoscopic ultrasound, three by computed tomography and two with conventional ultrasound. Accurate assessment of the primary tumour stage was possible in six out of eight cases using endoscopic ultrasound, but in none using tomography or conventional ultrasound. Three of these patients had inflammatory changes in enlarged paragastric lymph nodes and five malignant lymphomatous involvement. The latter was demonstrable by endoscopic ultrasound in all cases, by computed tomography in three cases and by conventional ultrasound in two cases. False positive results were obtained in two cases using endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography. Regression of the tumour and of paragastric lymph nodes on radio-chemotherapy was demonstrable in two cases, and progression in one using endoscopic ultrasound; the other techniques showed progression of extragastric lymphoma involvement in only one case. Endoscopic ultrasound is an efficient method for demonstration and local staging of gastric non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Endoscopic ultrasound in preoperative TN staging of esophageal cancer. A comparative study between endosonography and computerized tomography].

In 86 patients with histologically proven oesophageal carcinoma endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and computerised tomography (CT) were performed during TN-staging (UICC 1987). 44 patients were operated on and the histological findings were compared with the results of preoperative staging. The T-stage was correctly determined with EUS and CT in 35 (80%) and 24 (55%) patients, respectively. The accuracy of EUS was 75%, 71%, 91% and 67% in stages T1 to T4. The sensitivity of EUS in the diagnosis of lymph node metastases was 91%, that of CT 42%. The specificity of EUS and CT was 64% and 100%, respectively. The accuracy for pN staging (N0/N1) was 84% with EUS and 57% with CT. The presence of local lymph node metastases was closely correlated to the pT-stage (1 patient [14%] with pT1-, 5 patients [71%] with pT2-, 21 patients [95%] with pT3- and 6 patients [100%] with pT4-stage). In 12 out of 34 patients (28%) tumour induced stenosis prevented a complete oesophageal passage of the EUS probe. This fact, however, did not compromise TN-staging significantly. Our study demonstrates that EUS is an efficient method in the locoregional staging of oesophageal carcinoma. Especially in the early tumour stages T1 and T2 and in the demonstration of local lymph node metastases EUS is superior to CT.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Endosonography in chronic pancreatitis--a comparison between endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) were prospectively performed in 114 patients, 94 of whom (62 men, mean age 53 years) had inflammatory pancreatic disease, either chronic pancreatitis or status post acute edematous pancreatitis. Twenty patients (14 men, mean age 54 years) who were examined for other reasons and who had a normal ERP served as controls. EUS was performed in most cases with the knowledge of ERP results which had been classified according to the Cambridge classification system of chronic pancreatitis as being grade 0 (normal) or 1-3 (inflammatory changes). Parenchymal and ductal changes on EUS were correlated with the ERP changes. Abnormal EUS features were found in all patients with grade 2 and 3 chronic pancreatitis, in 88% with stage 1, and in 63% of cases with a normal ERP as well. These changes were, however, not detectable in any of the 20 control cases. Among the EUS features of chronic pancreatitis, diffuse changes predominated (stage 1: 75%, 2: 88%, 3: 96%) and consisted mainly of alternating echopoor and echorich areas and of a lobulated parenchymal pattern. In 80% of patients, these findings were combined with an irregular pancreatic margin. Changes of the main pancreatic duct were found in stages 2 and 3 in 81% and 96%, respectively; isolated side branch alterations, as detected mainly in stage 1 chronic pancreatitis on ERP, escaped endosonographic visualization. We conclude that EUS shows inflammatory changes in almost all patients in whom ERP suggests chronic pancreatitis. EUS, however, is also positive in a considerable number of cases with normal ERP but who have a clinical episode of pancreatic inflammation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1993

[Endosonography in diagnosis and staging of malignant tumors of the stomach. A prospective comparative study between endosonography, computerized tomography and conventional ultrasonography].

78 patients with histologically proven malignant tumors of the stomach (64 carcinomas, 10 non-Hodgkin lymphomas [NHL], 4 sarcomas) were investigated by endosonography (EUS), computed tomography (CT) and conventional ultrasound (US) during TN-staging (TNM-classification/UICC-1987 for carcinomas and NHL, TNMG-classification for sarcomas). In 60 patients (50 carcinomas, 6 NHL, 4 sarcomas) an operative resection was performed and the histological findings were compared with the results of preoperative staging. Demonstration of tumor was successful with EUS in 77 (99%), with CT in 33 (42%) and with US in 18 (23%) cases. The T-stage was correctly determined preoperatively by EUS in 50 (81%), by CT and US only in 15 (24%) and in 7 (11%) patients respectively. The accuracy of EUS in determining the T-stage of carcinomas and NHL amounted to 79% in T1-, 92% in T2-, 92% in T3- and 67% in T4-stage. In gastric sarcomas infiltrative destruction of the gastric wall could be demonstrated with EUS in all patients and with CT in 3 of 4 cases. With EUS and CT two smaller tumors were correctly delineated as submucous tumors while with US this was not possible in any case. In demonstrating local lymph node metastasis EUS achieved a sensitivity of 85%, CT of 29% and US of 13%. The specificity of EUS was 72%, of CT 79% and of US 100%. The overall accuracy for the pN-stage was 79.7% for EUS, 51.6% for CT and 42.2% for US. EUS proves to be an efficient method in the local TN-staging of gastric carcinomas an NHL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Endosonography in tumors of the pancreas and bile ducts].

The sensitivity of EUS in demonstrating pancreatic tumors lies above 90% and tumors smaller than 2 cm in diameter can be visualized. Therefore EUS can be applied e.g. in the early diagnosis of symptomatic endocrine tumors. However, it is not suited as a screening method for pancreatic carcinoma in asymptomatic patients. The EUS findings do not permit a clear differentiation between malignant and inflammatory (pseudo) tumors. The specificity for the demonstration of malignant tumors is 74%. Its main importance is in the locoregional staging of tumors. EUS is superior to all other imaging tools in determining tumor extension and infiltration into the portal or splenic vein. The pT-stage is determined correctly preoperatively in 90% and lymph node metastases (N1) in about 73% (sensitivity 80-90%/specificity 50%) of the cases. Malignant tumors of Vater's papilla (ampullary tumors) and of extrahepatic bile ducts can be demonstrated endosonographically in nearly all cases. However, tumors of the proximal bile ducts, especially of the right hepatic duct are difficult and sometimes impossible to visualize. The value of EUS in bile duct cancer is in local tumor staging. The pT-stage is determined correctly in 80-90%, the sensitivity and specificity for N1-stage is 80-90% and 30% respectively. Comparative studies with other methods are lacking at the present time. The value of EUS in gall bladder tumors is not yet determined. Stones in the gall bladder may hinder the visualization of the gall bladder wall. In one study the pT-stage for gall bladder carcinoma was determined correctly preoperatively in 76.9% and the N1-stage in 80.7% of cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ampulla of Vater↗
PubMed1993

[Endoscopic ultrasound in TN staging of stomach cancer. A comparison with computerized tomography and conventional ultrasound].

64 patients with histologically proven gastric carcinoma were investigated by endosonography (EUS), computed tomography (CT) and conventional transcutaneous sonography (US). In 50 patients a resection of the stomach was performed and the histological findings were compared with the results of preoperative staging. In all cases EUS was successful in demonstrating the tumour. With CT tumour visualisation was possible in 17 (35.4%), with US in 7 (14.6%) cases. The pT-stage was correctly determined preoperatively by EUS in 40 (81.6%) with CT and US in only 12 (25%) and 4 (8.3%) patients, respectively. The staging accuracy of EUS amounted to 80% in T1-, 81% in T2-, 100% in T3-, and 67% in T4-stage. The sensitivity in demonstrating lymph node metastases was 81.3% for EUS, 25.8% for CT and 9.7% for US. The specificity in this regard was 72.2% for EUS, 83.3% for CT and 100% for EUS. The overall accuracy for determination of pN-stage was 78% for EUS, 47.9% for CT and 41.7% for US. EUS is clearly superior to CT and US in the locoregional TN-staging of gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Endoscopic sonography in extrahepatic obstructive jaundice].

In a prospective study, 37 patients (20 women, 17 men, mean age 75 [41-93] years) with extrahepatic obstructive jaundice were investigated, within 24 hours of admission, by transcutaneous ultrasound (US), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). EUS was always performed after US and immediately before ERCP, and the findings were recorded without any knowledge of the results of ERCP (the 'gold standard'). Dilatation of the common bile duct was demonstrated by all three methods. Concretions in the distal common bile duct causing obstructive jaundice were demonstrated by EUS in 15 out of 16 cases, but in only seven cases by US. All 21 cases with an underlying malignant cause were correctly diagnosed by EUS and ERCP, and the level of the biliary obstruction was accurately determined; using US this was possible in only 15 (70%) and 18 (85%) cases. In comparison with ERCP, which imaged the tumour only indirectly, EUS showed the tumour itself and allowed local and regional staging in all cases. EUS is superior to US for elucidating the cause of biliary outflow obstruction and allows reliable local and regional staging. It is of additional benefit in deciding on appropriate therapy. A disadvantage is the impossibility at present of undertaking surgical therapy during EUS investigations.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Endoscopic implantation of balloon expandable endoprostheses (Strecker stents) in extrahepatic bile duct stenoses].

22 balloon expandable wire Strecker-stents were implanted endoscopically in 20 patients (eleven women, nine men, mean age 68.3 [44 to 86] years) with malignant (n = 19) and benign (n = 1) bile duct obstruction. In all cases an effective biliary drainage was obtained. To achieve complete drainage repeated balloon dilatation of the inserted stent was often performed. In two cases stent dislocation occurred immediately after implantation. Additional complications were not observed during the first 30 days. During the observation period of maximally 15 months one patient developed an incomplete occlusion of the stent due to tumor compression that could be reversed endoscopically. In a further patient biliary stones caused relapse of cholestatic jaundice. Four patients died from their malignant disease without evidence of stent occlusion. 15 patients continue to live without renewed jaundice. With the mean observation period of 5.5 months (median five months) this corresponds to a patency rate of 95%. The estimated survival rate according to Kaplan-Meier was 87.7% and the estimated mean survival time 11.7 months. These results demonstrate that in patients with extrahepatic bile duct obstruction an effective biliary drainage can be achieved with balloon expandable wire stents. They represent a further progress in the palliative treatment of patients with extrahepatic obstructive jaundice.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

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↗
PubMed1992

[Hemobilia as a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding].

In a 67-year-old man with upper abdominal and gastrointestinal bleeding gastroscopy revealed a duodenal ulcer which was initially taken to be the source of the bleeding. But subsequent retrograde cholangiography demonstrated nearly complete occlusion of the right hepatic duct and a suspicious tumour-like structure. At laparotomy a tumour was excluded and the supplying artery to the ulcer was ligated to arrest the bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding recurred postoperatively so that selective angiography of the hepatic artery had to be performed. This demonstrated an aneurysm of a branch of the hepatic artery near the hilus. No further bleeding occurred after its embolization. Haemobilia is a rare cause of upper abdominal bleeding and may be difficult to diagnose, except by selective imaging techniques.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Endosonography in chronic pancreatitis. A comparative study of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and endoscopic sonography].

EUS and ERP were performed in 114 patients. 94 patients (32 women, 62 men; mean age 53 years; range 29-78 years) had inflammatory pancreatic disease while 20 patients (6 women, 14 men; mean age 54 years; range 28-78 years) without disease of the pancreas served as controls. ERP-findings served as the gold standard and were classified into stages I-III according to the Cambridge classification. On ERP 51 patients had duct changes typical of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Control cases always displayed a homogeneous echo pattern and a regular outer margin of the pancreas. Abnormal EUS findings were present in all patients with ERP-stages II and III and in 88% of patients with ERP-stage I. 63% of patients with a normal pancreatogram, i.e. ERP-stage 0 showed pathological alterations on EUS examination. Diffuse alterations of the echopattern were seen in 75% of CP patients with stage I, in 88% with stage II and in 96% with stage III. Alternating echo-poor/echo-dense areas were present in 50% of stage I, in 88% of stage II, and in 81% of stage III cases, respectively. 38% of stage I, 56% of stage II, and 27% of stage III cases displayed a lobulated appearance of pancreatic parenchyma. In 80% of the patients these findings were combined with an irregularly lined pancreatic surface. This same combination of EUS-findings in proven CP was also present in 30% of patients with completely normal pancreatic ducts, i.e. ERP-stage 0. Changes of the main pancreatic duct in stages II and III were also seen with EUS in 81% and 96%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Ethanol inhibits interferon-gamma secretion by human peripheral lymphocytes.

Clinical and epidemiological evidence exists that subjects who chronically abuse alcohol are disposed to infections and certain types of cancer. In vitro inhibition of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation has been shown suggesting a direct immunosuppressive effect of ethanol. Using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells we could demonstrate in vitro for the first time that even low ethanol concentrations of 6 and 12.5 mM significantly inhibit spontaneous and mitogen-induced secretion of interferon-gamma. This effect was more pronounced with lower mitogen stimulation and it increased in a dose dependent manner when higher ethanol concentrations were used. Inhibition of cell proliferation as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation did not parallel the inhibition of interferon-gamma secretion. As this lymphokine exerts a great number of immunostimulating effects, diminished secretion might well contribute to the immune defect observed in alcoholics.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1992

Endosonographic diagnosis of submucosal upper gastrointestinal tract tumors.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was performed in 37 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract submucosal tumors (SMT). Fourteen of these were located in the esophagus, 20 in the stomach, and 3 in the duodenum. In 26 patients histologic confirmation was achieved by operation (n = 15) or biopsy/puncture (n = 11). EUS was able to visualize all tumors and, with one exception, determined their originating wall layer correctly. It became evident that myogenic tumors arise from the echo-poor layers (second layer and fourth--that is, muscularis propria) and that other lesions, such as cysts or fibromas, originate from the third, echo-rich layer (submucosa). Tumor size was correctly (+/- less than 5 mm) predicted in 87% of cases. Computed tomography, performed in 22 patients, was successful in visualizing the SMT in only two-thirds of cases. No single endosonographic criterion could be obtained which enabled accurate differentiation between benign and malignant SMT. However, from a clinical point of view, it seems reasonably safe to regard smaller (less than 3 cm), smoothly demarcated SMT as benign and follow them up by repeated EUS, especially in patients at risk for surgery. Larger masses (greater than 5 cm) and those with irregular borders should be suspected of being malignant. In the future, application of new, small ultrasound probes that can be used during conventional endoscopy (two SMT were visualized successfully) may greatly simplify the procedure.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1992

Nonspecific immunostimulation with low doses of cyclophosphamide (LDCY), thymostimulin, and Echinacea purpurea extracts (echinacin) in patients with far advanced colorectal cancers: preliminary results.

Outpatients (n = 15) with metastasizing far advanced colorectal cancers received immunotherapy consisting of low-dose cyclophosphamide (LDCY) 300 mg/m2 every 28 days i.v., thymostimulin 30 mg/m2, days 3-10 after low-dose cyclophosphamide i.m. once daily, then twice a week, and echinacin 60 mg/m2 together with thymostimulin i.m. All patients had had previous surgery and/or chemotherapy and had progressive disease upon entering the study. Two months after onset of therapy a partial tumor regression was documented in one and a stable disease in 6 other patients by abdominal ultrasonography, decrease of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and/or chest roentgenography, which may also be attributed to the natural course of disease. Mean survival time was 4 months, 2 patients survived for more than 8 months. Immunotherapy was well tolerated by all patients without side effects.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

[Endoscopic sonography in esophageal cancer].

Esophageal carcinomas are visualized endosonographically as localized thickenings of the gullet wall with disruption of its echo-layers. The pT-stage is correctly assessed by endosonography in 84% (73-92%). In up to 20% overstaging in the early phases may be caused by accompanying inflammation. The sensitivity for diagnosing local lymph node metastases is 80% (69-90%). The method is well suited for monitoring the course during radio-chemotherapy and for detection of a relapse after operation. At the present time endosonography is the most efficient method in the locoregional staging of esophageal carcinomas. Especially in early tumor stages pT1 and pT2 it is clearly superior to computed tomography. In advanced stages (pT4) in up to 40% of cases marked tumor stenosis, that cannot be passed with the ultrasonic probe, prevents endosonographic staging. However, despite its excellent detail resolution the etiology of a circumscribed wall thickening cannot be determined with absolute accuracy by intraluminal sonography. Based on the echo-pattern inflammatory alterations and scar tissue cannot be definitely distinguished from malignant tumors.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

[Endosonography of stomach tumors].

Based on own experience and on the published literature we report about indications and efficiency of endosonography (EUS) in gastric tumors. The following conclusions can be drawn at the present time. Submucous tumors can be clearly differentiated from extragastric compressions. Although the endosonographic aspect does not allow to formulate an etiologic diagnosis, EUS findings can give hints regarding the nature of the submucous tumor (e.g. leiomyoma, lipoma, cyst). In 75% of cases malignant submucous tumors can be visualized and a correct preoperative staging can be performed. EUS is of special importance in the description of gastric carcinoma. The pT stage can be correctly determined preoperatively in about 80% (69-92%) of cases. Accompanying inflammation in early gastric cancer can lead to overstaging. The sensitivity for local lymph node metastases reaches about 77% (50-88%). Gastric non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be excellently visualized with EUS. The sensitivity amounts to 90-100% and in about 90% of cases the extent of the tumor can be correctly determined preoperatively. The response to radio-chemotherapy of gastric non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be monitored easily with the method. At the present time EUS is the most sensitive imaging tool in visualizing and staging of gastric tumors. Its main advantage is the exact demonstration of intramural and paragastric alterations. However, despite the use of high ultrasonic frequencies and the excellent demonstration of even tiny details with EUS, biopsies for histologic evaluation are still mandatory, especially when dealing with gastric ulcer.

Gastric Mucosa↗