Endoscopic and Endosonographic Palliation for Triple Obstruction Caused by Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer: A Case Report / 대한췌담도학회지

Gallbladder cancer is the most common cause of hilar biliary obstruction; however, it rarely causes combined biliary, duodenal, and colon triple obstruction. In this case, the quality of life for a patient with recurrent gallbladder cancer with combined duodenal, colonic, and biliary obstruction was improved by endoscopic and endosonographic palliation, despite its technical difficulty and complexity. Seven metal stents were implanted one by one using only endoscopic methods. Successful stent-in-stent placement and endoscopic ultrasound-guided stenting after failed ERCP improved the patient’s quality of life to the extent that there was no need for any external drainage.

Approach to Hyperamylasemia and Hyperlipasemia / 대한췌담도학회지

Hyperamylasemia and hyperlipidemia occur when the amounts of amylase and lipase that enter the blood overweigh the kidney and liver reticuloendothelial system clearance of the enzymes. In normal homeostasis, most of these enzymes are excreted from the apical membrane of the acinar cells into the ductal system of the gland. However, in pathological conditions, this apical exocytosis is blocked, and the leakage of these enzymes at the basolateral membrane is increased. Therefore, these enzymes are released into the bloodstream. Many different pancreatic pathologies and Gullo syndrome can cause this type of leakage in the pancreas. This mechanism can also cause basolateral leakage in other organs that secrete amylase and lipase. In small bowel inflammatory conditions, amylase and lipase are absorbed through the inflamed mucosa and introduced into the bloodstream due to increased vascular permeability. Regardless of the enzymes that enter the blood circulation, several kidney and liver diseases prevent the excretion and metabolism of serum amylase and lipase. When the amylase and lipase are combined with immunoglobulins, they escape normal glomerular filtration due to the development of macroenzymes and accumulate in the blood. These situations related to the clearance of the enzymes are also crucial mechanisms of serum enzyme elevation that should not be overlooked.

Successful Endoscopic Treatment of Difficult Common Bile Duct Stones Using Various Interventional Techniques: A Case Report / 대한췌담도학회지

Clearance of a difficult biliary stone can be obtained using various interventional techniques such as endoscopic sphincterotomy followed by endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation, mechanical lithotripsy, peroral cholangioscopy-assisted intraductal electrohydraulic/laser lithotripsy, temporary plastic stent insertion, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy, and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. We hereby describe the successful endoscopic treatment using various currently available interventional techniques in a case with multiple difficult common bile duct stones. Furthermore, we discuss the countermeasures to overcome the hurdles of each procedure.

A Proposal for Modification of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System Considering the Prognostic Implication of Performance Status

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) C stage demonstrates considerable heterogeneity because it includes patients with either symptomatic tumors (performance status [PS], 1–2) or with an invasive tumoral pattern reflected by the presence of vascular invasion (VI) or extrahepatic spread (EHS). This study aimed to derive a more relevant staging system by modification of the BCLC system considering the prognostic implication of PS. METHODS: A total of 7,501 subjects who were registered in the Korean multicenter hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) registry database from 2008 to 2013 were analyzed. The relative goodness-of-fit between staging systems was compared using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and integrated area under the curve (IAUC). Three modified BCLC (m-BCLC) systems (#1, #2, and #3) were devised by reducing the role of PS. RESULTS: As a result, the BCLC C stage, which includes patients with PS 1–2 without VI/EHS, was reassigned to stage 0, A, or B according to their tumor burden in the m-BCLC #2 model. This model was identified as the most explanatory and desirable model for HCC staging by demonstrating the smallest AIC (AIC=70,088.01) and the largest IAUC (IAUC=0.722), while the original BCLC showed the largest AIC (AIC=70,697.17) and the smallest IAUC (IAUC=0.705). The m-BCLC #2 stage C was further subclassified into C1, C2, C3, and C4 according to the Child-Pugh score, PS, presence of EHS, and tumor extent. The C1 to C4 subgroups showed significantly different overall survival distribution between groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An accurate and relevant staging system for patients with HCC was derived though modification of the BCLC system based on PS.

Improvement of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Reduces the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little evidence is available about the effect of change in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) status on risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) development. In this study, we tried to analyze the DM risk according to change in NAFLD status over time. METHODS: Among a total of 10,141 individuals for whom routine healthcare assessment was performed, 2,726 subjects were selected according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. NAFLD status change was determined by using serial abdominal ultrasonography and fatty liver index (FLI) during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Subjects were categorized according to change in NAFLD status as follows: 670 subjects in the persistent NAFLD group, 155 subjects in the resolved NAFLD group, 498 subjects in the incident NAFLD group, and 1,403 subjects in the no NAFLD group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that incident NAFLD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 3.50; p=0.026) and persistent NAFLD (HR, 3.59; 95% CI, 2.05 to 6.27; p<0.001) were independent risk factors for predicting DM development, whereas the risk with resolved NAFLD was not significantly different from that with no NAFLD. FLI could reproduce the results acquired by ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that future DM risk could be influenced by changes in NAFLD status over time. Resolution of NAFLD could reduce the risk of future DM development, while the development of new NAFLD could increase the risk of DM development.

Prospective Multicenter Study of the Challenges Inherent in Using Large Cell-Type Stents for Bilateral Stent-in-Stent Placement in Patients with Inoperable Malignant Hilar Biliary Obstruction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although endoscopic bilateral stent-in-stent placement is challenging, many recent studies have reported promising outcomes regarding technical success and endoscopic re-intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the technical accessibility of stent-in-stent placement using large cell-type stents in patients with inoperable malignant hilar biliary obstruction. METHODS: Forty-three patients with inoperable malignant hilar biliary obstruction from four academic centers were prospectively enrolled from March 2013 to June 2015. RESULTS: Bilateral stent-in-stent placement using two large cell-type stents was successfully performed in 88.4% of the patients (38/43). In four of the five cases with technical failure, the delivery sheath of the second stent became caught in the hook-cross-type vertex of the large cell of the first stent, and subsequent attempts to pass a guidewire and stent assembly through the mesh failed. Functional success was achieved in all cases of technical success. Stent occlusion occurred in 63.2% of the patients (24/38), with a median patient survival of 300 days. The median stent patency was 198 days. The stent patency rate was 82.9%, 63.1%, and 32.1% at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. Endoscopic re-intervention was performed in 14 patients, whereas 10 underwent percutaneous drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Large cell-type stents for endoscopic bilateral stent-in-stent placement had acceptable functional success and stent patency when technically successful. However, the technical difficulty associated with the entanglement of the second stent delivery sheath in the hook-cross-type vertex of the first stent may preclude large cell-type stents from being considered as a dedicated standard tool for stent-in-stent placement.

Negative Histology after Endoscopic Resection: An Endoscopist's Aspect / 대한Helicobacter연구학회지

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is accepted as the standard treatment for gastric epithelial dysplasia or early gastric cancer because it enables curative en bloc resection and complete histopathological assessment of the specimen. However, occasionally, a tumorous lesion may not be detected, and histopathological discrepancies can occur after ESD. Reportedly, the prevalence of negative histopathological results after endoscopic resection is 2.0~4.4%. Negative histopathological results after endoscopic resection are commonly attributable to complete removal of the lesion via an endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB) at the time of the initial diagnostic endoscopic examination, an initial histopathological overestimation of the EFB specimen, and incorrect localization of the original tumor with subsequent ESD performed at a wrong site. A small tumor size and surface area are known to be significant endoscopic predictors of negative histopathological results after ESD. Therefore, clinicians should be mindful of the fact that negative histopathological findings observed after endoscopic resection warrant a comprehensive review of all pre-ESD data and an adequate follow-up to determine the cause of these findings and to detect any possibility of local recurrence.

Prediction of Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis Using 4-Hour Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Serum Amylase and Lipase Levels

Early post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) prediction may allow safe same-day outpatients discharge after ERCP and earlier proper management. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of the 4-hour post-ERCP serum amylase and lipase levels for PEP early prediction and to investigate predictive cut-off values for 4-hour post-ERCP serum amylase and lipase levels for safe discharge and urgent initiation of resuscitation. The data of 516 consecutive patients with native papilla who underwent ERCP between January 2013 and August 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Serum amylase and lipase levels were measured before, and 4 and 24 hours after ERCP. PEP occurred in 16 (3.1%) patients. The receiver-operator characteristic curve for 4-hour post-ERCP serum amylase and lipase levels showed that the areas under the curve were 0.919 and 0.933, respectively, demonstrating good test performances as predictors for PEP (both P values 1.5 × the upper limit of reference (ULR) was found useful for PEP exclusion with a sensitivity of 93.8%, while 4 × ULR was found useful to guide preventive therapy with the best specificity of 93.2%. Similarly, the lipase level 2 × ULR showed best sensitivity, while 8 × ULR had the best specificity. Logistic regression analysis showed that 4-hour post-ERCP amylase level > 4 × ULR, lipase level > 8 × ULR, precut sphincterotomy, and pancreatic sphincterotomy were significant predictors for PEP. In conclusion, 4-hour post-ERCP amylase and lipase levels are useful early predictors of PEP that can ensure safe discharge or prompt resuscitation after ERCP.

A Gangliocytic Paraganglioma of the Ampulla of Vater Removed by Endoscopic Resection / 대한췌담도학회지

Gangliocytic paraganglioma (GP) is an extremely rare tumor that mostly occurs in the periampullary area of the duodenum. It is characterized by benign behavior and favorable outcomes, but sometimes shows regional lymph node dissemination. GP consist of three characteristic histological components: epithelioid, spindle, and ganglion cells. Therefore, it is often misdiagnosed as a neuroendocrine tumor when only endoscopic forceps biopsy is performed. The clinical management of GP has not yet been standardized. This case report describes an asymptomatic patient who was initially diagnosed with a grade-1 neuroendocrine tumor, but was confirmed as having benign GP after endoscopic papillectomy. Complete en-bloc resection was performed for this patient, without any significant adverse events. At a 6-month follow-up assessment, the patient remained asymptomatic and there was no evidence of recurrence.

Recurrent Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage due to Hemosuccus Pancreaticus from True Splenic Artery Aneurysm / 대한내과학회지

Hemosuccus pancreaticus, defined as bleeding from the papilla of Vater via the pancreatic duct, is a rare cause of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, who was subsequently diagnosed with hemosuccus pancreaticus caused by rupture of a true splenic artery aneurysm. The patient had chronic pancreatitis after considerable delay and unnecessary surgical small bowel exploration. The patient was cured with distal pancreatectomy because concomitant arcuate ligament syndrome precluded the angiographic approach via the celiac trunk, and tortuous dilatation of the distal pancreatic duct could not exclude the main duct type of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). In the surgical specimen, the pancreatic duct contained a hematoma and was lined by normal epithelium, indicating rupture of the splenic artery aneurysm that bled into the pancreatic duct.

Impact of prior lamivudine use on the antiviral efficacy and development of resistance to entecavir in chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the efficacies of entecavir (ETV) in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and in those with prior lamivudine (LAM) use who did not develop resistance. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 337 patients with CHB who were treated with ETV (0.5 mg daily) for at least 30 months. The study included 270 (80.1%) NA-naive patients and 67 (19.9%) LAM-use patients. Ten of the LAM-use patients were refractory to LAM therapy without developing resistance. RESULTS: Genotypic resistance to ETV developed more frequently in the LAM-use group (13.1%) than in the NA-naive group (2.6%) at 60 months (P=0.009). In subgroup analysis, after excluding the 10 patients who were refractory to LAM therapy, the cumulative probability of ETV resistance did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.149). Prior LAM refractoriness and a higher hepatitis B virus DNA level at month 12 were independent predictive factors for the development of ETV resistance. CONCLUSIONS: ETV resistance developed more frequently in LAM-use patients with CHB. However, prior LAM use without refractoriness did not affect the development of ETV resistance. The serum hepatitis B virus DNA level at month 12 was a major predictor for the development of ETV resistance.

Association of the Extent of Atrophic Gastritis With Specific Dyspeptic Symptoms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It remains unclear whether atrophic gastritis can affect dyspeptic symptoms. We aimed to investigate whether the extent of atrophic gastritis is associated with specific dyspeptic symptoms. METHODS: Consecutive adults in a routine health-checkup program were enrolled in the study. The extent of atrophic gastritis was classified into 3 groups based on the Kimura-Takemoto criteria; the gastritis with no or little atrophy (group A: C0), the gastritis with atrophy mainly in the antrum (group B: C1 and C2), and the gastritis with atrophy in the large area of the corpus (group C: C3 and O). Upper gastrointestinal symptoms were categorized into "typical reflux symptoms," "epigastric pain syndrome (EPS)-related symptoms," and "postprandial distress syndrome (PDS)-related symptoms." RESULTS: A total of 1827 patients (1009 males, mean age 45.1 years) were included in the analysis. The subgroups of atrophic gastritis were as follows: group A (n = 1218, 66.7%), group B (n = 392, 21.4%), and group C (n = 217, 11.9%). Typical reflux, EPS-related, and PDS-related symptoms were present in 10.5%, 19.8%, and 16.2% of the subjects, respectively. PDS-related and EPS-related symptoms were significantly more prevalent in the group C of male patients and the group B of female patients, respectively, compared with other groups. PDS-related and EPS-related symptoms were independently associated with the group C in males (OR, 2.123; 95% CI, 1.090-4.136) and the group B in females (OR, 2.571; 95% CI, 1.319-5.025), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The extent of atrophic gastritis appears to affect the generation of specific dyspeptic symptoms in a gender-dependent manner.

Comparison of radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization for the treatment of a single hepatocellular carcinoma smaller than 4 cm / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an established curative therapeutic modality for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been used as a palliative treatment for inoperable HCC. It is still unknown whether RFA and TACE are equally effective for improving the survival of patients with unresectable HCC that is amenable to either treatment. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical impacts of two treatments, and analyze the prognostic factors for recurrence and survival. METHODS: Ninety-three patients with a single HCC smaller than 4 cm who showed complete responses (complete ablation or complete lipiodol tagging) after treatment with RFA (n=43) or TACE (n=50) between January 2002 and February 2009 were investigated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for 13 potential prognostic factors using the Cox proportional-hazards model. RESULTS: The time-to-recurrence rates at 1, 2, and 3 years after treatment were 32.9%, 44.3%, and 55.4%, respectively, for the RFA group, and 42%, 68.3%, 71.7% for the TACE group. The probability of survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 97.7%, 77.4%, and 63.1%, respectively, for the RFA group, and 95.9%, 76.1%, and 60.2% for the TACE group. The time-to-recurrence and overall survival rates did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups. A multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model revealed that a tumor size larger than 3 cm and lower serum albumin levels were independent risk factors for recurrence, and that being male, being seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen, and having a higher serum albumin level were independent favorable prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS: TACE and RFA exhibited similar therapeutic effects in terms of recurrence and survival for patients with a single HCC smaller than 4 cm, if they could exhibited complete responses.

Acute Mitral Regurgitation due to Spontaneous Chordal Rupture in a Patient With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

A 69-year-old male presented with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve regurgitation, and myxomatous mitral valve prolapse. A spontaneous chordal rupture and acute severe mitral regurgitation resulted in abrupt clinical deterioration despite complete relief of severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet. The patient underwent extensive cardiac surgery due to intractable heart failure. Surgical procedures included a mitral valve replacement, a septal myectomy, and the Maze procedure.

A Case of Low-grade B-cell Lymphoma of Bronchial Associated Lymphoid Tissue Mimicking Lipoid Pneumonia / 결핵및호흡기질환

BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of low-grade B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are classified as a marginal-zone lymphomas. The majority of the patients are asymptomatic or their pulmonary lesions is often discovered incidentally on a routine chest radiograph. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an the evaluation of cough, dyspnea and fever. His chest CT showed ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening in both lower lobes, right middle lobe and left lingular division. He had been initially diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia and was kept under observation. However, his chest lesion showed continuous progression and a video-associated thoracoscopy was performed His pulmonary lesion was confirmed histologically to be a BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. We report a case of a BALT lymphoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as lipoid pneumonia.

A Case of Low-grade B-cell Lymphoma of Bronchial Associated Lymphoid Tissue Mimicking Lipoid Pneumonia / 결핵및호흡기질환

BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of low-grade B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are classified as a marginal-zone lymphomas. The majority of the patients are asymptomatic or their pulmonary lesions is often discovered incidentally on a routine chest radiograph. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an the evaluation of cough, dyspnea and fever. His chest CT showed ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening in both lower lobes, right middle lobe and left lingular division. He had been initially diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia and was kept under observation. However, his chest lesion showed continuous progression and a video-associated thoracoscopy was performed His pulmonary lesion was confirmed histologically to be a BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. We report a case of a BALT lymphoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as lipoid pneumonia.