Clinical Value of Contrast-Enhanced Harmonic Endoscopic Ultrasonography in the Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic and Gallbladder Masses

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have revealed that contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CEH-EUS) is beneficial in the differential diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the pancreas and gallbladder from benign masses, in terms of the evaluation of microvasculature and real-time perfusion. In this study, we aimed to prove the clinical value of CEH-EUS in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic and gallbladder masses by direct comparison with that of conventional EUS. METHODS: We reviewed the sonographic images and medical information of 471 patients who underwent conventional EUS and CEH-EUS for the diagnosis of pancreatic and gallbladder masses at a single medical center (Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea) between March 2010 and March 2016. RESULTS: The enhancement pattern of CEH-EUS of the pancreatic solid masses showed higher sensitivity and specificity in differentiating pancreatic adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors (82.0% and 87.9% for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 81.1% and 90.9% for neuroendocrine tumors, respectively), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was higher than that of conventional EUS. The enhancement texture of CEH-EUS of the gallbladder masses showed a higher sensitivity in differentiating malignant masses than that of conventional EUS; however, the difference between the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: CEH-EUS can complement conventional EUS in the diagnosis of pancreatic and gallbladder masses, in terms of the limitations of the latter.

Masa pancreática: una presentación inhabitual de nesidioblastosis en el adulto / Pancreatic mass: an unusual presentation of nesidioblastosis in adults

A 41-year-old woman, multiparous of 4, with personal or familiar history of diabetes, with a history of Nissen fundoplication due to pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux, is refer to an endocrinologjst during her post-operatiye follow up, 4 months after her surgery for a 14 kg weight loss in 10 months and symtomatic hypoglycemia to repetition. A positive prolonged fasting test for hypoglycemia was performed. In addition, abdominal computed axial tomography was performed, which resulted normal and endosonography, showing a lesion on the head of the pancreas. Octreoscan positive for pancreatic head focal lesion with positive somatostatin receptors compatible with insulinoma. Whipple surgery was performed where surgeon palpated pancreatic tumor, biopsy showed tissue compatible with diffuse nesidioblastosis. In the postoperative period, the patient decreased frequency and intensity of hypoglycemic episodes compared to their previous stage. Control prolonged fasting test and Octreoscan were within normal ranges. However, 4 months after surgery, the patient presented hypoglycemia of lower intensity and frequency than before surgery. Currently he remains in control with nutritionist and endocrinologist, mainly adjusting diet and with good control glycemias.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy for diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions

An accurate diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs) is important because pancreatic cancer cannot be ignored if curative treatment is possible. Prompt and reliable diagnostic procedures are greatly needed for patients presenting with SPLs, particularly where resection is possible for a malignant mass. Several endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-related technologies including a novel EUS-guided needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (EUS-nCLE) can provide real-time images at the cellular level (1,000-fold magnification). A 19-gauge EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) needle is recommended because its channel is large enough for the 0.85-mm diameter nCLE miniprobe. The procedure is performed by standard EUS-FNA techniques with either pre- or post-loading technique. Ten percent fluorescein sodium (2.5–5 mL) is used as an enhancing agent and is intravenously injected immediately before puncturing the lesion. Only a few studies have used the technique and reported results. A recent study from 19 malignant and 3 benign SPLs classified EUS-nCLE findings according to 4 signs: dark clumps, and dilated vessels (predominantly seen in malignant SPLs) and fine white fibrous bands and normal acini (predominantly seen in benign SPLs). Using these criteria, researchers correctly diagnosed 18 of the malignant SPLs (94.7%). Another study described 2 lesions as having “dark cells aggregates with pseudo-glandular aspects, and straight hyperdense elements more or less thick corresponding to tumoral fibrosis” in 17 of 18 malignant SPLs. Thus far, no large and systematic study has been performed to evaluate the potential clinical use of EUS-nCLE for diagnosing SPLs. However, based on available information from a few studies and the current limitations of EUS-FNA, EUS-nCLE can potentially provide a complementary role in diagnosing such lesions. Nevertheless, more studies are certainly needed.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound guided FNAC in diagnosis of pancreatic TB presenting as mass lesion: A case report and review of literature.

A 24-year-old male patient presented with abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice, anorexia and weight loss. Ultrasound abdomen revealed pancreatic head mass with dilated common hepatic duct and intrahepatic bliliary radicles. CECT abdomen was suggestive of pancreatic head mass invading portal vein, splenic artery and hepatic artery. Provisional diagnosis of unresectable carcinoma head of pancreas was established. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was done, which was also suggestive of pancreatic head mass infiltrating portal vein. EUS guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was taken with an intent to obtain tissue diagnosis and to start palliative chemotherapy. EUS guided FNAC features were suggestive of tuberculosis (TB). Patient was started on anti-tubercular therapy, to which he responded and was cured. Pancreatic tuberculosis should be considered as a possibility, in pancreatic mass, especially in countries where TB is endemic and establishing its diagnosis with the aid of FNAC can save trauma of major surgery to the patient, which prompted us to report this case.

Coexistence of Pancreatic Carcinoma and Pancreatic Tuberculosis: Case Report

Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is extremely rare and mimics pancreatic carcinoma both clinically and radiologically. This paper discusses the occurrence of 2 heterogeneous masses located in the head and tail of the pancreas in an adult male. In this patient, laparotomy was performed because of the high suspicion of pancreatic carcinoma. Intraoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed the coexistence of pancreatic carcinoma with pancreatic TB, and a combined resection of the distal pancreas and spleen was successfully performed. Following surgery, the patient received standard chemotherapy for TB. At 7-month follow-up, computed tomography showed resolution of the mass in the pancreatic head. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for pancreatic TB in patients with pancreatic masses. The coexistence of malignancy and TB should be considered when patients present with multiple pancreatic masses.

Effectiveness of the echoendoscopic puncture in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic mass / Efetividade da punção ecoendoscópica no diagnóstico de massa pancreática sólida

BACKGROUND: Echoendoscopy is a mixed technique which adds the advantages of endoscopy to those of transabdominal ultrasonography through an endoscope with transductor in its distal extremity, allowing for the evaluation of the abdominal organs reached by the endoscope and in contact with the intestinal wall. AIM: To verify the positivity rate of the echoendoscopy with puncture with thin needle (EEPTN) or (EE-PAF) in solid pancreatic mass based on the technique used in the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit of Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation - cohort study - of 138 patients who were submitted to echoendoscopy through aspiration puncture between May 2004 and June 2007. The data were collected through the medical charts present in the medical files of Hospital das Clínicas (Clinical Hospital) of the University of São Paulo, having as inclusion criterion the presence of solid pancreatic mass in computerized tomography and as exclusion criterion the presence of non solid pancreatic tumor. The routine technique was the one used in the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit focusing the following variables: mass characteristics (size, location, presence of peripancreatic lymph node, presence of lymph node in celiac trunk); number of punctures to obtain microfragment for cytology, and experience of the professional in charge. The equipment used was an echoendoscopy device model Olympus EUS (EYES) Exera EU - C60, with electronic sectorial transductor and 22 gauges Wilson-Cook needles. RESULTS: Seventy six (55,4 percent) male patients and 61 (44.5 percent) female were enrolled. Age ranged from 16 to 87 years and means 59,9 years. The lesions were cephalic in 94 (68,1 percent). Mass larger than 4 cm had a higher percentage of positivity reaching 40 percent, but lesions smaller than 2 cm had a percentage of 43 percent of inconclusive. Microfragments were obtained in 100 percent of the positive cases and ...

RACIONAL: Ecoendoscopia é técnica mista que adiciona as vantagens da endoscopia àquelas da ecografia, somente que o procedimento ecográfico é realizado do interior dos órgãos para fora deles, no sentido centrífugo. OBJETIVO: Verificar a positividade da ecoendoscopia na punção com agulhas (EEPTN) ou (EE-PAF) em tumores sólidos pancreáticos baseados na técnica utilizada pelo Serviço de Endoscopia Digestiva do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Cohorte retrospectiva de 138 pacientes que realizaram ecoendoscopia com punção aspirativa por agulha fina (EE-PAAF) no período de maio de 2004 a junho de 2007. Os dados foram coletados por meio de consulta aos prontuários, constantes do arquivo médico. O critério de inclusão foi a presença de massa pancreática sólida à tomografia computadorizada e o critério de exclusão a presença de tumor pancreático não sólido. Foram utilizadas as seguintes variáveis: característica da massa (tamanho, localização, presença de linfonodo peripancreático, presença de linfonodo em tronco celíaco); número de punções para obtenção de microfragmento; citologia e experiência do profissional executante. O aparelho utilizado foi um ecoendoscópio da marca Olympus, modelo OLYMPUS EUS (EYS) EXERA EU-C60, com transdutor setorial eletrônico e agulhas de 22 gauges da marca Boston Scientific. RESULTADOS: Setenta e seis (55,4 por cento) deles eram do sexo masculino e 61 (44,5 por cento) do feminino. A idade variou de 16 a 87 anos, com média de 59,9 anos. As lesões foram cefálicas em 94 (68,1 por cento) dos casos. Massas maiores que 4 cm tiveram percentual de positividade maior, chegando a 40 por cento, mas as lesões menores que 2 cm obtiveram percentual de 43 por cento de inconclusivo. A obtenção de microfragmentos foi conseguida em 100 por cento dos casos positivos e apenas 73,1 por cento, quando negativo (P=0,004). Não houve diferença estatística em relação à experiência do endoscopista. Apenas 80 ...

Disfunción beta pancreática

La disfunción beta pancreática es una realidad fisiopatológica que conduce a una pérdida gradual en la eficacia de los opciones terapéuticas utilizadas en la DM. La evidencia actual establece que tanto en los diabéticos como en la condición de prediabetes, la disfunción de la célula beta es el primer defecto demostrable con limitación de la capacidad de compensación en presencia de resistencia a la insulina. Cada vez toma más importancia la necesidad de mantener el control glucémico a largo plazo utilizando opciones terapéuticas que aseguren la preservación del funcionamiento de la masa beta pancreática.

The dysfunction pancreatic beta is a physiopatological reality that conducts to a gradual loss in the efficacy of the therapeutic options utilized in the DM. The current evidence establishes that so much in the diabetic as in the condition of prediabetes, the dysfunction of the cell beta is the first demonstrable defect with limitation of the capacity of clearing in the presence of resistance to the insulin. Each time takes more importance the need to maintain the control glucémico long-term utilizing therapeutic options that assure the preservation of the operation of the pancreatic mass.