Surgical management and results for cystic neoplasms of pancreas

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The diagnosis for cystic neoplasm of pancreas is based on the morphologic criteria through imaging studies, but the pre- and postoperative diagnoses are often inconsistent. This study aims at the analysis of clinical characteristics and the results of surgical treatments. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 93 patients who have undergone surgery for pancreatic cystic diseases in our hospital from January 2001 to February 2013. Among them, 69 patients were confirmed as cystic neoplasms based on pathologic findings. Their clinical manifestations, diagnostic accuracy, surgical method and complications, pathologic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Serous cystic neoplasm was the most common (n=22), followed by mucinous cystic neoplasm (n=18), intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (n=11), solid pseudopapillary tumor (n=9), neuroendocrine tumor (n=7), and cystic lymphangioma (n=2). The most common clinical symptom is abdominal pains (49.3%). Preoperative imaging studies were consistent with pathological findings in 72% of patients. Cystic fluid CEA levels of 400 ng/ml or more were reliable to detect mucin secreting tumors. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed for 13 cases and the remaining 54 patients were treated with left-side pancreatectomy. Malignancy was found in 9 cases (13%) of mucin secreting tumors; 5 cases (27.8%) in mucinous cystic neoplasm and 4 cases (36.4%) in intraductal papillary mucinous tumor. Two of these survived without recurrences during the follow-up periods. CONCLUSIONS: Exact treatment protocols for cystic neoplasm of pancreas are not decided because tumors are found with atypical forms. Surgical management is suggested for resectable tumors because a good prognosis can be expected with proper surgery if precancerous lesions are suspected at the time of discovery.

Efficacy of Fenoverine and Trimebutine in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Multicenter Randomized Double-blind Non-inferiority Clinical Study / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antispasmodic agents have been used in the management of irritable bowel syndrome. However, systematic reviews have come to different conclusions about the efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome. Fenoverine acts as a synchronizer of smooth muscle in modulating the intracellular influx of calcium. We compared fenoverine with trimebutine for the treatment of patients with IBS. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority clinical study was conducted to compared fenoverine with trimebutine. Subjects were randomized to receive either fenoverine (100 mg three times a day) or trimebutine (150 mg three times a day) for 8 weeks. A total of 197 patients were analyzed by the intention-to-treat approach. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who had 30% reduction in abdominal pain or discomfort measured by bowel symptom scale (BSS) score at week 8 compared to the baseline. The secondary endpoints were changes of abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, overall and total scores of BSS, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: At week 8, fenoverine was shown to be non-inferior to trimebutine (treatment difference, 1.76%; 90% CI, -10.30-13.82; p=0.81); 69.23% (54 of 78 patients) of patients taking fenoverine and 67.47% (56 of 83 patients) of patients taking trimebutine showed 30% reduction in abdominal pain or discomfort compared to the baseline. There results of the secondary endpoints were also comparable between the fenoverine group and the trimebutine group. CONCLUSIONS: Fenoverine is non-inferior to trimebutine for treating IBS in terms of both efficacy and tolerability.

Clinical comparison of choledochal cystsbetween children and adults

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Choledochal cyst of the bile duct is characterized by cystic dilatation of the intra- or extrahepatic bile ducts. It is a relatively uncommon disease and there is still much controversy regarding its etiology as being congenital or acquired. METHODS: The medical records of 60 patients who underwent surgical treatments for choledochal cyst between April 1995 and April 2009 at the Gachon University Gil Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. To compare the clinical characteristics, patients under 19 years of age were grouped into children and the others were grouped into adults. RESULTS: Of the overall 60 patients, 24 were grouped into children and 36 were grouped into adults. Female predominance was common in both groups (M : F=1 : 6.5). The most common clinical symptom was abdominal pain (73.3%) in both groups. Children had remarkable jaundice (33.3% vs. 0%) and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea and vomiting. Fever and chills were more common in children because of the associated complications of cholangitis. According to the Todani classification, type I was the most common form of choledochal cyst in both groups, and type IVa was significantly more common in children than adults (45.3% vs. 16.7%). Thirty patients (50%) had anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union which was confirmed by preoperative imaging studies or intraoperative cholangiography. All patients except for one child underwent cyst excision with hepaticojejunostomy. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the clinical characteristics of choledochal cysts between children and adults. However, combined diseases especially bile duct malignancy were common in aged patients, early detection and more aggressive surgery is necessary for patients with choledochal cysts.

Clinical Usefulness of Endoscopic Choledochoduochoduodenal Fistulotomy in Patients with Ampullary Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGORUND/AIMS: Endoscopic choledochoduodenal fistulotomy(fistulotomy), using a needle-knife sphin-cterotome as an alternative to failed duct cannulation and subsequent endoscopic drainage in patients with ampullary cancer, can be performed in patients with a suprapapillary bulged or distorted papilla. The purpose of this prospective sutdy was to evaluate the safety and clinical usefulness of endoscopic fistulotomy in patients with ampullary cancer. METHODS: Of the 29 patients with ampullary cancer requiring biliary drainage, 13 patients with a suprapapillary bulged papilla underwent fistulotomy either alone or followed by an upward extension of the fistulous orifice using a standard sphincterotome (fistulotomy group). Of the remaing 16 patients, transpapillary biliary stenting was successful in 13 patients (biliary stenting group). In both group, the rate of successful bile duct cannulation and effective biliary drainage were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Bile duct cannulation was successful in 92.3% of the patients in the fistulotomy group and 81.3% of patients in the biliary stenting group, and the only complications were mild bleeding in 1 patient (7.7%) and cholangitis in 1 patient(6.3%). The success rate for initial biliary drainage with the fistulotomy or transpapillary stenting were 100% and 84.6%, respectively. Of the 12 patients in whom biliary drainage was used as the definite treatment, the symptom-free duration was 3.2 months in 6 patients of the fistulotomy group and 3.9 months in 6 patients in the biliary stenting group. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic fistulotomy is safe and effective for both preoperative and palliative biliary decompression in patients with ampullary cancer and it is suggested that the procedure can be applied primarily to increase the success rate of biliary access and subsequent biliary drainage especially in patients with a bulged papilla.