Chronic hereditary pancreatitis is a rare disease accounting for 0.9% of chronic pancreatitis cases. Onset is at an earlier age than chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, often with recurrent painful episodes in childhood. We report the occurrence of hereditary pancreatitis in 3 members of a family over 3 generations.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endoscopic varix ligation: a promising new technique?

Endoscopic varix ligation is a new promising endoscopic method which compete with endoscopic sclerotherapy both during acute bleeding and the chronic setting where the aim is to obliterate varices as soon as possible with minimal side effects.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endoscopic management of chronic pancreatitis.

The indications of endoscopic management for chronic pancreatitis are strictly related to the classification of severe types and to the particular anatomy of the ducts: 1. Impacted or distal calculi: endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPS) alone followed by ESWL when extraction fails. 2. Stone(s) and stricture: EPS, ESWL, NPC, and then 10F plastic stenting. 3. Relapsing strictures (with upwards dilatation) after 6 to 12 months stenting: silicone covered self expanding stent in a trial, versus surgical pancreaticojejunostomy. 4. Paraduodenal cyst bulging into the duodenum: ECD. 5. Jaundice and/or cholestasis due to stricture of the intrapancreatic CBD: 10F single or multiple plastic stent for calibration during 3 months. For relapsing cholestasis and stricture, 30F metal mesh stent versus surgical hepaticojejunostomy. The indications of endoscopic management for chronic pancreatitis are specific and require complete imaging and functional check up (ERCP, CT scanner, endosonography, pancreatic function tests). The technique is quite difficult and requires definition fluoroscopy, appropriate devices and experienced team. On this condition, the complication rate is very low and usually medically controlled. Treatment does not compromise any further surgery. Endoscopy allows to avoid or to postpone surgery which indication will become better defined and selected in the future.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas: clinical presentation of 7 patients.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (NPT) are rare and represent less than 0.5% of all pancreatic tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors describe the clinical presentation, the pathological findings and the treatment of 7 patients with nonfunctioning NPT. RESULTS: Non-specific symptoms were noted in 6 patients, depending on the size and the location of the tumor, and 1 patient was asymptomatic. A correct preoperative diagnosis was done in only one case. Immunohistochemical studies, most often on surgically resected tissue sample is needed for diagnosis of NPT. The treatment requires surgical resection. Among 4 patients (57%) classified No at the time of surgery, 3 (75%) are alive, free of recurrence, more than 2 years after tumor resection. CONCLUSION: The preoperative diagnosis is difficult to assess. NPT differ from pancreatic adenocarcinomas by the younger age of the patients, their immunohistochemical pattern and a better prognosis after surgical resection.

Adult↗