Rapid on-site cytopathological examination (ROSE) performed by endosonagraphers and its improvement in the diagnosis of pancreatic solid lesions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnosis improvement of EUS-FNA when using ROSE performed by the endosonographer. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. A total of 48 pancreatic solid masses EUS-FNA were divided into two groups according to the availability of on-site cytology (ROSE) - the first 24 patients (group A-without ROSE) and the latter 24 cases (group B-with ROSE). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, complications and inadequacy rate of EUS-FNA were determined and compared. RESULTS: Among the 48 EUS-FNA, the overall performance was: sensitivity 82%; specificity 100%; positive predictive value (PPV) 100%; negative predictive value (NPV) 70% and accuracy 87%. The sensitivity of the Group A was 71%, versus 94% in-group B (p=0.61). Moreover, the negative predictive value was 58% versus 87% (p=0.72). The accuracy rate increased from 79% to 96% (p=0.67) in the ROSE group. The number of punctures was similar between the groups. No major complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Rapid on-site cytopathological examination, even when performed by the endosonographer, may improve the diagnostic performance in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions, regardless of the slight increase in the number of punctures.

Fecal microbiota transplant by push enteroscopy to treat diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile.

Clostridium difficile is the major etiological agent of pseudomembranous colitis and is found in up to 20% of adult inpatients. The recommended treatment is antibiotic therapy with metronidazole and/or vancomycin. However, the recurrence rate may reach up to 25% and it increases in each episode. The newest alternative to treat diarrhea due to recurrent Clostridium difficile is fecal microbiota transplantation. The procedure was performed in 12 patients, with a 6-month follow-up on 10 of them. Of the ten cases, bacterial recurrence was diagnosed in only one patient, after a course of antibiotic to treat urinary tract infection, without presenting with diarrhea. The particularity of our study, besides being an unprecedented event in South America, is the way to perform the infusion of fecal microbiota by enteroscopy.

Rapid on-site cytopathological examination (ROSE) performed by endosonagraphers and its improvement in the diagnosis of pancreatic solid lesions

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnosis improvement of EUS-FNA when using ROSE performed by the endosonographer. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. A total of 48 pancreatic solid masses EUS-FNA were divided into two groups according to the availability of on-site cytology (ROSE) - the first 24 patients (group A-without ROSE) and the latter 24 cases (group B-with ROSE). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, complications and inadequacy rate of EUS-FNA were determined and compared. RESULTS: Among the 48 EUS-FNA, the overall performance was: sensitivity 82%; specificity 100%; positive predictive value (PPV) 100%; negative predictive value (NPV) 70% and accuracy 87%. The sensitivity of the Group A was 71%, versus 94% in-group B (p=0.61). Moreover, the negative predictive value was 58% versus 87% (p=0.72). The accuracy rate increased from 79% to 96% (p=0.67) in the ROSE group. The number of punctures was similar between the groups. No major complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Rapid on-site cytopathological examination, even when performed by the endosonographer, may improve the diagnostic performance in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions, regardless of the slight increase in the number of punctures. .

Rectal cancer staging: Correlation between the evaluation with radial echoendoscope and rigid linear probe.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The National Cancer Institute estimated 40,340 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States in 2013. The correct staging of rectal cancer is fundamental for appropriate treatment of this disease. Transrectal ultrasound is considered one of the best methods for locoregional staging of rectal tumors, both radial echoendoscope and rigid linear probes are used to perform these procedures. The objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between radial echoendoscopy and rigid linear endosonography for staging rectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of 48 patients who underwent both, radial echoendoscopy and rigid linear endosonography, between April 2009 and May 2011, was done. Patients were staged according to the degree of tumor invasion (T) and lymph node involvement (N), as classified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Anatomopathological staging of surgical specimen was the gold standard for discordant evaluations. The analysis of concordance was made using Kappa index. RESULTS: The general Kappa index for T staging was 0.827, with general P < 0.001 (confidence interval [CI]: 95% 0.627-1). The general Kappa index for N staging was 0.423, with general P < 0.001 (CI: 95% 0.214-0.632). CONCLUSION: The agreement between methods for T staging was almost perfect, with a worse outcome for T2, but still with substantial agreement. The findings may indicate equivalence in the diagnostic value of both flexible and rigid devices. For lymph node staging, there was moderate agreement between the methods.

Interposiçäo de anteparos entre o cano da arma e o alvo. Análise do perfil de lesäo nos disparos com projéteis de arma de fogo deformáveis. Estudo em blocos de gelatina balística / Interposition of solid structures between gun barrel and target. Analysis of the wounds produced by shots with lead bullets. Study on ballistic blocks

A deformação, fragmentação e a rotação de um projétil de arma de fogo dentro do corpo são conhecidos como os maiores elementos agravantes da lesão. Alguns tipos de anteparos, que podem estar interpostos entre o cano da arma e a vítima, são constituídos de materais rígidos que induzem com freqüência a pré-alteração do formato e da estabilidade do projétil, antes de sua penetração no organismo. É procedente a idéia que também ocorra a alteração no padrão da lesão quando o projétil previamente transfixa um anteparo. O objetivo deste estudo foi a comparação e análise entre as características da lesão em blocos de gelatina balística quando projéteis deformáveis previamente atravessavam anteparos. O volume da lesão obtido com os anteparos foi maior que nos disparos efetuados diretamente nos blocos. Todos os blocos foram transfixados pelos projéteis. Os autores concluem que os anteparos ocasionam aumento do volume e conseqüente agravamento de lesão de entrada nos blocos com uso de projéteis deformáveis não impedindo a transfixação por um percurso de 15 cm.