Small duodenal carcinoids: a case series comparing endoscopic resection and autoamputation with band ligation.

GOALS: We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided endoscopic resection (ER) and endoscopic band ligation (EBL) for autoamputation of small duodenal carcinoids. BACKGROUND: The ideal management of small duodenal carcinoid tumors remains unclear. STUDY: A retrospective review of duodenal carcinoids over a 10-year period (2002 to 2012) was performed at our tertiary-care teaching hospital. All patients with duodenal carcinoids ≤10 mm in size treated with either ER or EBL were included. The main outcome measurements were the efficacy and safety of endotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients with 39 subcentimeter duodenal carcinoids were identified. In the EBL group, the mean (SD) tumor size was 6.7±2.1 mm compared with 6.7±1.7 mm in the ER group (P=0.943). The mean Ki-67 index was ≤2% in specimens available for histologic analysis in both groups (16/23 EBL and 15/16 ER). The positive deep margin rate in the ER group was 68.8%. Residual carcinoid tumor cells were detected on follow-up biopsies in 1 patient after EBL, and 2 patients after ER. All underwent subsequent successful endotherapy. No adverse events occurred in the EBL group compared with an 18.8% adverse event rate in the ER group (P=0.066). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided EBL is a safe, effective method for removal of small superficial duodenal carcinoids and seems to be a lower risk alternative to conventional ER with cautery.

Unique features of esophagogastric junction pressure topography in hiatus hernia patients with dysphagia.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to assess pressure dynamics within the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) in sliding hiatus hernia (HH) during normal peristalsis and to compare the pressure profiles of HH patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms (HH-GERD) to HH patients with dysphagia (HH-dysphagia). METHODS: High-resolution manometry studies in 230 consecutive patients and 68 controls were reviewed. HH patients were defined by a >or=1.5 cm separation between the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and crural diaphragm (CD) on pressure topography plots. The HH population was further culled to eliminate those patients with motor disorders or stricture. The study groups were composed of 18 HH patients with only reflux symptoms and 10 HH patients with only dysphagia. Analysis of the pressure dynamics within the EGJ was performed at rest and after swallowing to independently quantify the LES and CD contributions to residual EGJ pressure, as well as the magnitude and genesis of distal esophageal intrabolus pressure (IBP). Differences among study groups were analyzed with analysis of variance. RESULTS: After swallows, HH-dysphagia patients had greater residual CD pressure (9 mmHg; standard deviation [SD], 4) and IBP pressure (19 mmHg; SD, 4) compared to HH-GERD patients (5 mmHg; SD, 2; and 12 mmHg; SD, 2, respectively; P<.001) or normal subjects (NA; 11 mmHg; SD, 3; P<.001). CONCLUSION: Sliding HH alters the pressure dynamics through the EGJ and can lead to a functional obstruction. Patients with HH and dysphagia have greater pressures through the CD compared to HH patients with GERD symptoms, supporting the hypothesis that sliding HH in and of itself may be responsible for dysphagia.

Functional esophagogastric junction obstruction with intact peristalsis: a heterogeneous syndrome sometimes akin to achalasia.

BACKGROUND: Some patients with suspected achalasia are found on manometry to have preserved peristalsis, thereby excluding that diagnosis. This study evaluated a series of such patients with functional esophagogastric junction (EGJ) obstruction. METHODS: Among 1,000 consecutive high-resolution manometry studies, 16 patients had functional EGJ obstruction characterized by impaired EGJ relaxation and intact peristalsis. Eight patients with post-fundoplication dysphagia and similarly impaired EGJ relaxation were studied as a comparator group with mechanical obstruction. Intrabolus pressure (IBP) was measured 1 cm proximal to the EGJ. Sixty-eight normal controls were used to define normal IBP. Patients' clinical features were evaluated. RESULTS: Functional EGJ obstruction patients presented with dysphagia (96%) and/or chest pain (42%). IBP was significantly elevated in idiopathic and post-fundoplication dysphagia patients versus controls. Among the idiopathic EGJ obstruction group treated with pneumatic dilation, BoTox(TM), or Heller myotomy, only the three treated with Heller myotomy responded well. Among the post-fundoplication dysphagia patients, three of four responded well to redo operations. CONCLUSION: Functional EGJ obstruction is characterized by pressure topography metrics demonstrating EGJ outflow obstruction of magnitude comparable to that seen with post-fundoplication dysphagia. Affected patients experience dysphagia and/or chest pain. In some cases, functional EGJ obstruction may represent an incomplete achalasia syndrome.

Inflammatory bowel disease: complications and extraintestinal manifestations.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disorder driven by immune dysregulation, characterized by a relapsing-remitting pattern which is punctuated by flares associated with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Management in general is guided by potent immunosuppressive regimens, often with equally potent associated toxicities. Treatment of refractory disease has been revolutionized by biologic therapies. Surgery remains an important part of the overall treatment plan, especially in patients presenting with acute mechanical complications and for prophylactic total colectomy in certain patients at high risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). IBD is associated with a host of intestinal disease-related complications such as intestinal stricture and fistula formation, small bowel obstruction, toxic megacolon, CRC and malnutrition. In addition to these complications there exist a myriad of extraintestinal manifestations that affect almost every organ system, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, ankylosing spondylitis, pyoderma gangrenosum and uveitis.

Celiac disease.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by the continued ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, by predisposed individuals. With the development of highly sensitive serologic tests, this has become an increasingly recognized disease with prevalence as high as 1% in certain patient populations, such as Caucasian females. Almost all celiac patients carry the human leukocyte antigen DQ2/DQ8 gene. Much has recently been discovered about the role of the innate immune system in exposing genetically vulnerable patients to the pathogenic gliadin fraction of gluten. The "classical" presentation of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption is now a rarity. Due to earlier detection and increased awareness, celiac disease now presents with a myriad of "atypical" signs and symptoms such as iron-deficiency anemia and osteoporosis. Associated conditions include T-cell lymphoma, dermatitis herpetiformis, autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes. Diagnosis requires serologic confirmation with either antiendomysial or antitransglutaminase antibodies as well as histologic confirmation from endoscopic small bowel biopsy. The only effective treatment necessitates a lifelong, continual adherence to a gluten-free diet.