Clinicopathologic features of early gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma and feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND: Gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma (GCLS) is a rare disease known to have unique features and a favorable prognosis. This study aimed to determine the clinicopathologic features of early GCLS (EGCLS) and define the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for EGCLS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 70 EGCLS patients treated via ESD or surgery and 1626 patients who underwent surgical resection for early non-GCLS (ENGCLS) between January 2007 and December 2014 at Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea. RESULTS: The mean age of EGCLS patients was 58 years (range 36-77 years); a male predominance (3.7:1) was observed, and 81.4% showed Epstein-Barr virus positivity. Compared with ENGCLS, EGCLS was macroscopically more elevated (34.3 vs. 18.0%, P = 0.003) and located more proximally (upper third: 37.1 vs. 9.7%, P < 0.001). Tumor size was smaller (2.1 ± 1.1 vs. 3.1 ± 2.0 cm, P < 0.001), but submucosal invasion was more frequent (77.1 vs. 44.4%, P < 0.001) and deeper in the EGCLS group. Among the 59 EGCLS patients who were treated surgically, only two (3.4%) showed lymph node metastasis (LNM). Despite submucosal invasion, EGCLS showed a lower LNM rate (4.0 vs. 19.4%, P = 0.007) than ENGCLS, even in patients with SM3 EGCLS (5.3 vs. 24.5%, P = 0.007). There were no recurrences in the available ten patients who underwent ESD alone during a mean follow-up of 37.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed unique clinicopathologic features with a very low LNM rate in EGCLS. We consider ESD a potentially curative treatment strategy for EGCLS despite deep submucosal invasion, especially in patients with poor performance status and significant comorbidities.

[A Case of Giant Fibrovascular Polyp of the Esophagus, Treated Successfully by Endoscopic Resection].

Fibrovascular polyps are rare benign intraluminal tumors that usually arise from the cervical esophagus. These often present as very large sized pedunculated polyps and cause symptoms including dysphagia and respiratory distress. Generally, large polyps are surgically excised, while endoscopic resection is limited to smaller polyps. Herein, we present a giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus treated successfully by endoscopic resection.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with cholangiocarcinoma: focus on risk factors and impact on survival.

BACKGROUND: A high incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been observed in patients with cancer. However, few data are available on patients with cholangiocarcinoma. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of VTE and to investigate whether VTE would affect the survival of patients with cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 273 patients who were diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma from January 2004 to December 2008. RESULTS: We observed 40 cases of VTE, among which 10 patients had VTE at diagnosis. There were 14 cases of pulmonary thromboembolism with or without deep vein thrombosis, 18 cases of portal vein thrombosis, four cases of inferior vena cava thrombosis, and four of hepatic vein thrombosis. We found that progression of stage, C-reactive protein, and chemotherapy were significantly associated with the occurrence of VTE (P=0.022, 0.006, and 0.014, respectively). The median survival in the VTE and non-VTE groups were 13.0 and 25.0 months, respectively (log-rank test, P=0.026). VTE was an unfavorable prognostic factor for cholangiocarcinoma (hazard ratio=1.626, P=0.042). CONCLUSION: In our study, advanced stage, C-reactive protein, and treatment with chemotherapeutic agents were related to the occurrence of VTE in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. VTE was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for survivors of cholangiocarcinoma.

[A case of a neuroendocrine carcinoma in the minor papilla].

Neuroendocrine tumors are usually found in the ileum, appendix, rectum, colon and stomach. Ampullary neuroendocrine tumor is extremely rare and only a few cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the minor papilla have been reported. The preoperative diagnosis is very challenging because either asymptomatic or manifests as nonspecific abdominal pain. The tumor is relatively small and located at the deep mucosa and submucosa. Endoscopy with deep biopsy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography are good diagnostic tools. The best therapeutic choice is surgery. We report an unusual case of a 55-year-old woman who underwent endoscopy as part of a regular health checkup and was diagnosed a neuroendocrine carcinoma in the minor papilla, which was successfully resected by pancreaticoduodenectomy. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2011;58:144-148).

[Recurrent common bile duct stone and endoscopic treatment after endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation with minor endoscopic sphincterotomy].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have reported the potentials of endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation (EPLBD) with minor endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for the complete removal of common bile duct (CBD) stone in the high risk groups. However, there have been no reports about the recurrence of the CBD stone after EPLBD with minor EST. The aim of this study was to evlauate the recurrence of CBD stone after EPLBD with minor EST. METHODS: A total of 1,036 patients who underwent endoscopic treatment due to CBD stones at Pusan University Hospital were enrolled. The patients were classified into two groups: those who underwent EPLBD with minor EST (group 1) and those who underwent EST treatment (group 2). We investigated clinical factors and recurrence rate between two groups. RESULTS: The recurrence of CBD stone occurred in total of 74 patients (7%), and the recurrence rates of CBD stone were 21/321 (6.5%) in Group 1 and 53/715 (7.4%) in Group 2. There were no difference in the presence of diverticulum and the number and size of recurrent CBD stone between the two groups. In case of diverticulum existence, recurrence rates were 12/158 (7.6%) in Group 1 and 21/101 (20.8%) in Group 2. When compared to the case of no diverticulum existence (Group 1: 9/163 [5.5%], Group 2: 32/614 [5.2%]), the recurrence rate of CBD stone was significantly lower if treated after EPLBD with minor EST (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CBD stone that recurs after going through EPLBD with minor EST can be successfully removed with an endoscopic treatment. The recurrence of CBD stone was especially lower in cases with periampullary diverticulum and treated with EPLBD with minor EST. Our results will be helpful in endoscopic retreatment and preventing the recurrence of CBD stone.