Interventional endosonography for pancreatic cancer.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Surakit Pungpapong.
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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cytokine concentration in pancreatic juice of patients with pancreatic disease is unknown. Secretin stimulation allows endoscopic collection of pancreatic juice secreted into the duodenum. We aimed to evaluate the cytokine concentrations in pancreatic juice of patients with abdominal pain to discriminate presence from absence of pancreatic disease. METHODS: From January 2003-December 2004, consecutive patients with abdominal pain compatible with pancreatic origin were enrolled. Patients underwent upper endoscopy. Intravenous secretin (0.2 mug/kg) was given immediately before scope intubation. Pancreatic juice collected from the duodenum was immediately snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen until assays were performed. Pancreatic juice levels of interleukin-8, interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were measured by modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The final diagnosis was made by the primary gastroenterologist on the basis of medical history; laboratory, endoscopic, and imaging studies; and clinical follow-up. Fisher exact test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 130 patients screened, 118 met the inclusion criteria. Multivariate analysis revealed that only interleukin-8 was able to discriminate between normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis (P = .011), pancreatic cancer (P = .044), and the presence of pancreatic diseases (P = .007). Individual cytokine concentrations were not significantly different in chronic pancreatitis compared with pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine levels can be measured in pancreatic juice obtained from the duodenum without direct cannulation of the pancreatic duct. Interleukin-8 concentration in pancreatic juice can be used to discriminate between normal pancreas and patients with pancreatic disease. This is a relatively simple and noninvasive method to aid in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.
Despite certain strict criteria for suitable organ donors, some unrecognized and unusual diseases have been transmitted through liver transplantation to recipients. In the current series, we review our experience with 14 patients who underwent liver transplantation using donor grafts with unusual pathology, including amyloidosis (6), schistosomiasis (3), iron overload (2), and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (3). One of 6 patients who received grafts with amyloidosis developed vasculitis associated with the presence of arterial amyloid. With proper management, patients with donor schistosomiasis, iron overload and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency appear to have outcomes comparable to liver transplantation using grafts without these findings. In conclusion, long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm these findings and understand the impact of using these grafts.
Peritonitis occurring after liver transplantation (PLT) has been poorly characterized to date. The aims of this study were to define the incidence, risk factors, microbiology profiles, and outcome of nonlocalized PLT. This was a retrospective study of 950 cadaveric liver transplantation (LT) procedures in 837 patients, followed for a mean of 1,086 days (range, 104-2,483 days) after LT. PLT was defined as the presence of at least one positive ascitic fluid culture after LT. There were 108 PLT episodes in 91 patients occurring at a median of 14 days (range, 1-102 days) after LT. Significant risk factors associated with the development of PLT by multivariate analysis included pre-LT model for end-stage liver disease score, duration of LT surgery, Roux-en-Y biliary anastomosis, and renal replacement therapy after LT. Biliary complications, intra-abdominal bleeding, and bowel leak/perforation were associated with 34.3%, 26.9%, and 18.5% of episodes, respectively. Multiple organisms, gram-positive cocci, fungus, and multidrug-resistant bacteria were isolated in 61.1%, 92.6%, 25.9%, and 76.9% of ascitic fluid cultures, respectively. The 28 fungal PLT episodes were associated with bowel leak/perforation and polymicrobial peritonitis. Patients who developed PLT after their first LT had a significantly greater risk of graft loss or mortality compared to unaffected patients. Parameters significantly associated with these adverse outcomes by multivariate analysis were recipient age at LT and bowel leak or perforation after LT. In conclusion, PLT is a serious infectious complication of LT, associated with significant intra-abdominal pathology and reduced recipient and graft survival.
Direct pancreatic function tests have been the mainstay for the diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Due to their cumbersome nature and limited availability there is a continuous search for a rapid and inexpensive test of pancreatic function. Endoscopic approaches to evaluate pancreatic function have been assessed. This article critically reviews the current evidence related to this novel approach, outlining some elements for further refinement.
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OBJECTIVES: An imbalance of free radicals and scavenging processes has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pancreatic tissue injury. Gradual decreases in antioxidant enzyme expression in pancreatic cells from normal pancreas to chronic pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer have been reported. Zinc is one of the components of antioxidant enzymes and may play a role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic diseases. A recent report showed a significant decrease in pancreatic zinc output in patients with chronic pancreatitis and proposed that zinc output can be used as an alternative to enzyme output for the diagnosis. We aimed to determine the zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid of patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer compared to normal pancreas. PATIENTS: Seventy-five consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated. Chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed in 20 patients by ERCP (n=16) and histology (n=4). Pancreatic cancer was diagnosed in 17 patients by cytology from EUS-FNA (n=12) or surgical pathology (n=5). Thirty-eight patients were confirmed to have normal pancreas. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy following intravenous secretin injection (0.2 microg/kg). Pancreatic fluid collected for 10 minutes was immediately frozen at -80 degrees C and stored until the assay was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Zinc concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. RESULTS: Among the three groups, patients with pancreatic cancer were significant older (P<0.001) with a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P=0.002). Gender distribution (P=0.098), body mass index (P=0.925), and history of alcohol use (P=0.997) were similar among groups. Zinc concentrations in pancreatic fluid were not significantly different among groups (P=0.129). CONCLUSIONS: Zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid was comparable in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer compared to normal pancreas. Zinc concentration in pancreatic fluid collected by our 10-minute endoscopic method cannot reliably be used for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and/or pancreatic cancer.
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Since its development and introduction to clinical practice, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has progressed rapidly from being a purely imaging modality with limited use in the detection of small pancreatic cancers to one that can provide a tissue diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and deliver therapy. EUS has now firmly established a place as the investigation of choice in the diagnosis, locoregional staging and management of a wide range of gastrointestinal cancers. With the increasing use of FNA, the accuracy of EUS has substantially improved and may become a stand-alone investigation in some situations. However, it is recommended that a combination of information obtained from other imaging modalities and EUS is needed to maximize the accuracy, in particular to complete staging beyond locoregional stage. In addition to well-established indications, newer applications of EUS are emerging and are no longer limited to the gastrointestinal system. In lung cancer, EUS combined with endobronchial ultrasonography is emerging as an accurate, minimally invasive, nonsurgical alternative to staging of the mediastinum. Furthermore, the ability of EUS to acquire tissue safely and conveniently results in a potential role of the molecular diagnostics to enhance the performance of EUS-guided FNA. Besides a diagnostic role of EUS, there continues to be technological advances in the field of interventional EUS, with many potential applications under investigation. This review focuses on the current and future roles of EUS in the diagnosis and management of cancers.
BACKGROUND: Several complications from ERCP have been described, including pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation, and cholangitis. The actual incidences and risk factors in Thailand have never been analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors retrospectively reviewed the outcome of ERCP at Chulalongkorn University Hospital between September 2000 and December 2002. Potential risk factors were statistically assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation and cholangitis was 3.6%, 2.1%, 1.2% and 6%, respectively. Risk factors of pancreatitis were the suspected diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and pancreatic interventions, especially through minor papilla. Prophylactic pancreatic duct stent prior to precut sphincterotomy may reduce the incidence of pancreatitis. Hemorrhage was associated with duodenal diverticulum. The incidence of cholangitis was higher in biliary duct dilation and cholangiocarcinoma, especially hilar involvement. CONCLUSION: Incidence of these complications was comparable to international series with similar risk factors. Cholangitis developed more frequently probably due to a higher incidence of cholangiocarcinoma.
CONTEXT: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a distinctive lesion of unknown etiology. It has generally been considered a rare benign pseudosarcomatous lesion of admixed inflammatory infiltrates with myofibroblastic spindle cells. Although original case descriptions focused on the pulmonary system, it is now recognized that virtually any anatomic location can be involved. However, an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor located in the pancreas is rare. CASE REPORT: We report a case of an asymptomatic 70-year-old Caucasian man with a 3.8 cm inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor located in the tail of the pancreas which was discovered incidentally on a computed tomography scan of the abdomen. Endoscopic ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration was negative for malignancy. However, because of worrisome radiographic features, a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. The pathology revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with focal extension into the peripancreatic soft tissues, but with negative surgical margins. The patient has been followed for 10 months without evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: To date, there have been only 25 cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor located in the pancreas reported in the English language scientific literature. Even with multimodal pre-surgical investigation, it can be extremely difficult to differentiate inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor from pancreatic malignancies. Most cases require surgical exploration and complete resection to obtain an accurate diagnosis. A review of published case reports is also presented.
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BACKGROUND: The adequacy of ERCP training in the United States may be suboptimal because many training programs do not provide fellows with the exposure to the procedures necessary to achieve competence. METHODS: A short survey questionnaire, which assesses the training program, the personal ERCP experience, the perceptions regarding training adequacy, and the post-training practice plans, was sent to all fellows graduating from gastroenterology training programs. RESULTS: Graduating fellows performed a median of 140 ERCPs and 35 sphincterotomies during training, with an associated median comfort level for independently performing sphincterotomy of 7.5 on a scale of 1 to 10. The median estimated success rate for independent free cannulation was 75%. Based on nonparametric correlation and regression analysis, 180 ERCPs would be necessary to achieve a free cannulation rate of 80% and 69 sphincterotomies to achieve a comfort level of 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. Thirty-six percent of fellows achieved the number of procedures and cannulation success determined by this study to indicate procedural competence. Sixty-four percent of fellows did not achieve procedural competence and 33% reported inadequate ERCP training. Nevertheless, 91% of fellows expected to perform unsupervised ERCP after training. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are consistent with those of previously published studies demonstrating that 160 to 200 ERCP procedures are necessary to achieve competence to perform ERCP. The majority of graduating fellows do not achieve an acceptable success rate during training, yet still intend to perform ERCP after training.
Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and other vascular complications are significant causes of morbidity after liver transplantation. Although cigarette smoking increases the risk of vascular complications after renal transplantation, its impact after liver transplantation remains unknown. Between May 1995 and April 2001, 288 liver transplantations were performed in 263 patients. Vascular complications developed in 39 patients (13.5%) (arterial complications, 28 patients [9.7%]; venous complications, 11 patients [3.8%]). Patient demographics, comorbid illnesses, and risk factors were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact test. In patients with a history of cigarette smoking, incidence of vascular complications was higher than in those without history of cigarette smoking (17.8% v 8%, P =.02). Having quit cigarette smoking 2 years before liver transplantation reduced the incidence of vascular complications by 58.6% (24.4% v 11.8%, P =.04). The incidence of arterial complications was also higher in patients with a history of cigarette smoking compared with those without such history (13.5% v 4.8%, P =.015). Cigarette smoking cessation for 2 years also reduced the risk of arterial complications by 77.6% (21.8% v 5.9%, P =.005). However, the incidence of venous complications was not associated with cigarette smoking. Furthermore, there was no significant association between development of vascular complications and all other characteristics studied. Cigarette smoking is associated with a higher risk for developing vascular complications, especially arterial complications after liver transplantation. Cigarette smoking cessation at least 2 years before liver transplantation can significantly reduce the risk for vascular complications. Cigarette smoking cessation should be an essential requirement for liver transplantation candidates to decrease the morbidity arising from vascular complication after liver transplantation.