Metal endoprosthesis for carcinoma esophagus complicating achalasia cardia.

A self-expanding metallic esophageal prosthesis was placed in a patient with carcinoma esophagus complicating achalasia cardia. Dysphagia was successfully palliated at 9 months follow up.

Pedunculated large leiomyoma of esophagus.

We report a patient with pedunculated esophageal leiomyoma which was 20 cm in length. Barium swallow had shown a grossly dilated esophagus with filling defect along its whole length, giving an appearance suggesting achalasia and retained food. The patient is doing well after transhiatal esophagectomy.

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma--disease spectrum and management: a 15-year review from north India.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze retrospectively the disease spectrum and outcome of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (PGIL) in a tertiary referral center in north India. MATERIAL: Seventy five patients presenting with PGIL between January 1971 and December 1985 were evaluated. RESULTS: The 49 males and 26 females were aged 3.5-69 years (mean 34) at presentation. Abdominal pain, weight loss and vomiting were cardinal symptoms at presentation; the stomach was the most common site of involvement. Histologically, a majority of patients were classified as having diffuse poorly-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (46.7%) and diffuse histiocytic type (30.7%). Twenty seven (36%) patients had stage I disease, 31 (40%) stage II, 11 (14.7%) stage III, and 6 (8%) stage IV. At laparotomy, primary resection and anastomosis was carried out in 66 patients, while only biopsies were taken in nine. Forty eight patients received adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy. The mean follow-up was 3.9 years (range 1-14). The 5-year actuarial survival was 34%, 25% and 16% for stages I, II, and higher-stage disease, respectively. The survival was significantly better (p < 0.01) for gastric location (44%) compared to other sites (24%). CONCLUSION: PGIL was more common in the 3rd and 4th decades of life, with the stomach being the predominant site of involvement. Survival was better among patients with stages I and II disease, and gastric location of lesion.

Transcriptional expression of gastrin mRNA in Helicobacter pylori infected patients.

In order to study the association between gastrin and H. pylori infection the density of antral G cells was evaluated by transcriptional expression of gastrin mRNA using a sensitive cold probe labelled with digoxigenin. the study group included 22 patients with symptomatic H. pylori positive gastritis and/or duodenal ulcer, 12 of whom were re-evaluated after eradication of H. pylori and 6 controls. The number of G cells per high power field in H.pylori positive patients (26.68 +/- 9.51) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) compared to controls (5.83 +/- 3.37). Among the 12 patients re-evaluated after H. pylori eradication, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the number of G cells (13.5 +/- 5.44) compared to pre-eradication value (26.25 +/- 8.0). The present study suggests that increased transcriptional expression of gastrin is directly related to H. pylori infection.

Normal pancreatic duct morphology in a north Indian population.

Ninety three normal pancreatograms from a North Indian population were studied. The pancreatic duct (PD) was L-shaped in 47%, oblique in 5% and sigmoid in 11%. The mean length (SD) of PD was 18.2 (3.0) cm, being longer in males but not varying with age. The mean maximum diameters of PD in head, body and tail were 3.7 (0.8), 2.7 (0.6) and 1.7 (0.4) mm respectively. These did not vary with sex. The PD diameters showed a statistically significant increase with age but this variation does not appear to be of much practical importance.

Gastric stromal tumor: treatment by snare polypectomy.

A patient presenting with hematemesis was detected to have a 3 cm sized pedunculated polyp in the gastric antrum. A snare polypectomy was performed. Histopathology of polyp revealed it to be benign submucosal stromal tumor.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in postcholecystectomy syndrome.

The study was aimed to determine the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with postcholecystectomy symptoms in respect to interval of presentation following cholecystectomy. 170 patients with postcholecystectomy symptoms and negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were evaluated using ERCP. One hundred and seventeen (75%) out of 156 patients with successful ERCP had one or more abnormalities seen at ERCP. Bile duct stones (55 patients), benign strictures of bile duct (27 patients) were the common lesions detected. A significantly higher (p < 0.001) positive diagnosis was possible at ERCP in patients presenting with jaundice (100%) as compared to those without jaundice (61.8%). Spectrum of causes among patients presenting in early post-operative period (< 1 month) was somewhat different from those presenting later. Bile duct ligature and biliary fistula were the predominant causes in the former group, while stones and benign strictures were commoner in the patients presenting late. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone removal was performed successfully in 25 out of 30 patients in whom it was attempted. ERCP was found to be a very useful procedure in the management of postcholecystectomy symptoms. Spectrum of underlying disease was different in patients presenting before 1 month following cholecystectomy as compared to those presenting later.

Helicobacter pylori eradication--evaluation of triple therapy containing omeprazole.

BACKGROUND: There is a need to develop alternative regimen(s) for treating Helicobacter pylori infection because of problems of drug compliance, side-effects and resistance with the conventional regimen consisting of bismuth, metronidazole and an antibiotic. AIMS: To compare prospectively the efficacy of conventional triple therapy (bismuth subcitrate 120 mg QID, amoxycillin 500 mg QID and metronidazole 400 mg TID for 2 weeks with one containing omeprazole (20 mg OD), bismuth subcitrate and amoxycillin (regimen B). METHODS: Sixty two consecutive patients with H pylori infection associated with antral gastritis and/or duodenal ulcer were randomized to two treatment groups and re- evaluated after completion of 2 weeks of therapy and then after a further 4 weeks for eradication of H pylori, ulcer healing and drug side-effects. RESULTS: Regimen B resulted in higher H pylori eradication rate as compared to regimen A (76.7% vs 63.3%, better ulcer healing rate (90.9%, vs 70.6%), lesser side-effects (10.0% vs 36.7%) and better drug compliance (100% vs 93.3%). The difference between the two regimens was significant (p < 0.05) only in respect to side-effects. CONCLUSION: For H pylori eradication, omeprazole, bismuth and amoxycillin combination for 2 weeks is as effective as the conventional therapy and is better tolerated.

Pancrease divisum: five years' experience in a teaching hospital.

AIM: To study the frequency and significance of pancreas divisum. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all pancreatograms carried out between July 1989 and June 1994. RESULTS: The 809 pancreatograms performed included 207 in patients with pancreatitis (acute 74, chronic 133), 330 with biliary disease, 238 with obscure abdominal pain and 34 with pancreatic malignancy. Of these, 30 patients (3.7%) were diagnosed to have pancreas divisum - 26 had type I variant, one had type II variant and three had type III variant. Accessory papillary cannulation was attempted in 10 patients; 8 were successful, with dorsal ductography confirming pancreas divisum in all of them. Two of these 8 patients had changes of chronic pancreatitis in the dorsal duct. The frequency of pancreas divisum in patients with pancreatitis (19 of 207, 9.2%) was significantly higher than in patients with biliary diseases and those with obscure abdominal pain (11 of 568, 1.9%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pancreas divisum is not an uncommon condition in India and its frequency in patients with idiopathic pancreatitis is higher than that in patients with other abdominal conditions. It should be looked for in any case of idiopathic pancreatitis.

Abdominal cocoon in a male: rare cause of intestinal obstruction.

Abdominal cocoon, which is characterised by encasement of bowel by a fibrous membrane, is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. It occurs primarily in females with only three cases reported earlier in males. We report a male patient presenting with small bowel obstruction and detected to have abdominal cocoon at surgery. Incision of thick membrane and lysis of adhesions led to relief of obstruction without any recurrence.

Carcinoid tumor presenting as acute abdomen due to hemoperitoneum.

A patient presenting with massive hemoperitoneum due to a large retroperitoneal carcinoid tumor is reported.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting as acute intestinal obstruction.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Three cases of eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting as intestinal obstruction are reported. Two patients had stenotic lesions in the jejunum whereas the ileum was involved in the third. None had peripheral eosinophilia. All underwent resection-anastomosis of the bowel and are symptom-free at follow-up ranging from 8 months to 6 years.

Pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion treated by endoscopic pancreatic stent placement.

Usefulness of endoscopic pancreatic stents in the management of pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion has been evaluated only recently. We report a patient with alcoholic pancreatitis who presented with ascites and pleural effusion and had a pancreatic duct disruption in the body area on pancreaticography. A 5 F stent was placed across the disruption with rapid subsidence of both ascites and pleural effusion. The stent was removed after 12 weeks and there has been no recurrence during a follow-up period of 9 months.

Colovesical fistula complicating colonic diverticulosis.

Two cases of colovesical fistulae secondary to colonic diverticulosis are reported. Urinary symptoms were the prominent presenting features. Barium enema was helpful in documenting the fistulae, which cystoscopically was not localised. Definitive treatment included resection of the fistula and the diseased segment of the intestine. Both patients are well on follow-up. Diverticulosis coli should be considered in the differential diagnosis of colovesical fistulae even in tropical countries.

Isolated esophageal tuberculosis.

Isolated esophageal tuberculosis is very rare. We report a patient who presented with history of retrosternal pain and dysphagia and on investigation was found to have a smooth esophageal mass. Endoscopic biopsy showed epitheloid cell granuloma with necrosis suggestive of tuberculosis. CT scan of the thorax showed no involvement of adjacent structures. The patient responded to antitubercular therapy.

Fungal colonization of untreated peptic ulcer.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between Candida and peptic ulcer. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with untreated peptic ulcer (81 with duodenal ulcer and 19 with gastric ulcer) were studied using histopathology, culture and fungal serology. Twenty subjects with non-ulcer dyspepsia were taken as controls. RESULTS: Forty seven patients (47%) with peptic ulcer were colonized by Candida as compared to 3 patients (15%) with non ulcer dyspepsia (p < 0.05). Confluent growth of Candida on culture of gastric aspirate or biopsy from ulcer edge was a more sensitive method for diagnosis of peptic ulcer-associated candidiasis than histological examination. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Candida isolation in relation to age or sex of the patients, smoking habit and alcoholism. Large ulcers (> 2 cm) were, however, more often colonized by Candida (75%) than smaller ones (43%) (p < 0.05). Candida albicans was the commonest species isolated (60%). Invasive candidiasis was associated with Candida agglutinin titer of 1:128 in 81% of cases. CONCLUSION: Candida colonization rate in peptic ulcer is significantly higher than in non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Colonic diverticulosis in India: the changing scene.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis has a wide geographic and ethnic variation and has been considered to be quite low in India. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of colonic diverticulosis in northern India based on barium enema examination in symptomatic patients. METHODS: All barium enema examinations performed between January 1985 and December 1991 were reviewed for the presence of colonic diverticulosis. Clinical data of such patients were retrieved. RESULTS: 51 (3.2%) of 1610 barium enema studies showed colonic diverticulosis. The frequency of diverticulosis in barium studies increased from 0.3% among subjects in the third decade to 32.4% in patients above 60 years. Most patients were city dwellers, vegetarians and belonged to the upper socio-economic stratum. Twenty patients (39.2%) presented with a complication; the spectrum of such patients was no different from that reported from the West. While the sigmoid colon was the commonest site of diverticuli, there was a relative preponderance of right sided diverticuli as compared to the Western experience. Seven patients with complications required surgical treatment, while the rest were managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: Colonic diverticulosis and its complications are not rare in India and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal disorders.

Spectrum of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage: an endoscopic study of 166 patients.

BACKGROUND: The spectrum of lesions causing lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage shows marked geographic variation. The study was aimed to determine this spectrum in our region using endoscopic examination. METHODS: 166 patients presenting with lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage were investigated using colonoscopy as the first investigation. RESULTS: Lesions responsible for bleeding could be identified in 141 patients (84.9%). In 25 patients (15.1%), the etiology of bleed could not be determined either because of failure to identify a lesion (10 patients) or because of an incomplete examination (15 patients). Major causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding included idiopathic ulcerative colitis (19.3%), acute colitis (12.0%), colonic polyps (10.2%), radiation colitis (9.0%), solitary rectal ulcer (7.8%), colonic carcinoma (7.2%), colonic tuberculosis (4.2%) and enteric fever (3.0%). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic examination is very useful in evaluating patients with lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The predominant causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in our experience are different from those reported from western countries.