Percutaneous endoscopic sigmoidopexy using T-fasteners for management of sigmoid volvulus.

BACKGROUND: Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is the third leading cause of large bowel obstruction after colonic neoplasms and diverticular disease. SV has traditionally been managed via endoscopic detorsion and decompression followed by non-emergent surgical resection owing to the high risk of recurrence. Most cases of SV occur in elderly debilitated patients with multiple comorbidities and may not be candidates for surgical resection. Endoscopic sigmoidopexy has been described as an alternative to surgical resection. Here, we describe our experience with endoscopic sigmoidopexy using T-fasteners. METHODS: Three patients with recurrent SV that were identified as poor surgical candidates by our colorectal surgery team underwent endoscopic sigmoidopexy. The patients received preoperative bowel preparation. A colonoscope was inserted and the site of the volvulus was visualized and assessed for adequate decompression. Subsequently, four points of fixation were identified and T-fasteners were deployed. RESULTS: Two patients underwent successful sigmoidopexy without any complications or recurrence on follow-up. One patient developed post procedure pneumoperitoneum that was successfully treated conservatively; however, he passed away from their underlying comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Overall, preliminary results for sigmoidopexy using T-fasteners have been promising, offering a potential option to prevent recurrence in high risk patients unsuitable for surgical intervention.

Endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration: A novel way to diagnose a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the liver.

Plasmacytoma is a neoplastic production of a single line of plasma cells, usually forming monoclonal immunoglobulin. It most often occurs in the bone marrow; however, in 3% of the cases, solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma arises, which is a proliferation in the soft tissue, outside the bone marrow. In only 10% of the cases is the gastrointestinal tract involved. A 77-year-old female presented with lethargy, abdominal fullness, bilious vomiting, and clay-colored stools. The patient was anemic with initial laboratory results showing increased total and direct bilirubin with elevated transaminases. Despite conservative management, liver function tests (LFTs) continued to increase. On endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), there was mild diffuse mucosal thickening consistent with possible infiltrative disease of the gastric body without any obvious focal lesions. There was a 1.7 cm × 1.8 cm hypoechoic heterogeneous lesion noted in the porta hepatis and fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed. Cytology showed infiltrative plasma cells. The patient was then taken for computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of the liver. Pathology showed liver involvement by atypical plasma cells in a nodular and sinusoidal pattern. Immunohistochemical staining appropriately identified the solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma. Plasma cell neoplasm is essentially a clonal disease of differentiated B-cells that can encompass a broad spectrum and present as asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to plasma cell neoplasms or multiple myeloma. Five percent of patients with multiple myelomas are diagnosed with extramedullary plasmacytomas, and even less than that are diagnosed as a primary lesion. When the liver is affected, either as a direct diffuse neoplastic plasma cell infiltration, or as a single or multiple space occupying lesion as plasmacytomas, symptomatic features include extrahepatic biliary obstruction, jaundice, or ascites. In our case, the patient was diagnosed via EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) bringing to light an alternative method to its diagnosis.

Severe Hypercholesterolemia: A Unique Presentation of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

We report a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with an unusual initial manifestation as severe hypercholesterolemia and obstructive jaundice in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1). NHL should be considered in the evaluation of obstructive jaundice alone or in combination with severe hypercholesterolemia. Relief of biliary obstruction led to the resolution of hypercholesterolemia in our 59-year-old male patient, followed by doxorubicin-based chemotherapy for the underlying lymphoma. NF 1 is a genetic condition that results from a defect in a tumor-suppressor gene and it is likely that this led to the development of NHL in our patient. It is important that clinicians are familiar with the gastrointestinal manifestations of NF 1, especially its association with intra-abdominal malignancies, when treating patients with a personal or family history. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of NHL presenting initially as severe hypercholesterolemia and it is also one of the few instances where NHL has been reported in association with NF 1.