Gastric pouch adenocarcinoma and tubular adenoma of the pylorus: a field effect of dysplasia following bariatric surgery.

There are reports of gastric carcinoma following bariatric surgery, but it is unclear if these procedures predispose to malignancy. We present a case of a 60-year-old man who, 15 years after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), had a massive upper GI bleed. Endoscopy revealed a large tumor of the gastric pouch. Histology confirmed an intestinal type of gastric adenocarcinoma arising in a background of H. pylori-negative gastritis with atrophy, foveolar hyperplasia and intestinal metaplasia. An incidental tubular adenoma at the pylorus was also identified. The pathogenesis of gastric pouch carcinoma is discussed. The present example of neoplastic change in both the pouch and pylorus may indicate that a field effect for dysplasia develops subsequent to VBG.

Early post-transplant smooth muscle neoplasia of the colon presenting as diminutive polyps: a case complicating post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

A 44-year-old woman, 3 years post-transplant for pulmonary sarcoidosis, developed abdominal pain and diarrhea 13 months subsequent to an eradicated diffuse large B-cell-type, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) of the cecal region. Endoscopic examination identified multiple pale tan 5-to-9 mm rubbery nodules of the transverse and right colon in an otherwise unremarkable mucosa. Histology was characterized by bland smooth muscle proliferations, focally pushing into the mucosa. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the sampled nodules confirmed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of neoplastic cells. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of EBV-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative and smooth muscle neoplasms (PTSN) having distinct tropism for the colon. Endoscopic features of early PTSN, which in this case presented as diminutive polypoid lesions, have not been described previously.

Multimodal immunosuppressant therapy in steroid-refractory common variable immunodeficiency sprue: a case report complicating cytomegalovirus infection.

Immunodeficient patients can develop malabsorption, mimicking celiac disease clinically and histologically. Such individuals may also occasionally require immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune disorders. We have identified a patient with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)-associated sprue complicated by duodenal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following corticosteroid and ancillary immunomodulatory therapy. Ganciclovir and a modification of the immunosuppressant regimen improved both clinical symptoms and villous atrophy. To our knowledge, this is original documentation of duodenal CMV infection secondary to immunomodulatory therapy for steroid-refractory CVID-sprue.

Synchronous collagenous sprue and enteropathy-type T cell lymphoma: variants of the same disease.

A 64-year-old man with treated hypothyroidism had 10 months of diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia and recent involuntary 13.6 kg weight loss. He presented to hospital with an acute abdomen that had a radiological correlate of free air under the diaphragm. He was diagnosed with a perforated mid-jejunum due to an ulcerated enteropathy-type T cell lymphoma (ETL), complicating collagenous sprue and cryptic celiac disease. Polymerase chain reaction verified monoclonal gamma- and beta-T cell receptor gene rearrangements in the neoplasm. He had a complete resolution of symptoms when treated with a gluten-free diet in the postoperative period. This is apparently the first report describing collagenous sprue and ETL as synchronous lesions. Because atypical CD8+ lymphocytes are in both the collagenous sprue epithelium and ETL, the implication is that collagenous sprue is a noninvasive component of the ETL.

ERCP-directed brush cytology prepared by the Thinprep method: test performance and morphology of 149 cases.

Conventionally prepared endobiliary brushings are moderately (42%) sensitive and highly (98%) specific in detecting malignancy. The performance and morphological features of brushings prepared by Thinprep, a liquid-based method are mostly unknown. All brushings were retrieved from the laboratory files. Disease was classified as benign or malignant by linkage with the provincial cancer registry and sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) calculated. True positives and negatives were reviewed and predictive morphological features analysed by regression tree analysis. Out of 149 brushings, 55 (37%) were positive and 94 (63%) negative. Malignancy was identified in 86 (58%) and benign disease in 63 (42%) of the cases. The sensitivity was 51%, specificity 83%, PPV 80% and NPV 55%. Absolute discriminants of positive and negative brushings were not found, but nuclear cytoplasmic ratio was a useful feature. The performance of Thinprep-prepared brushings from this anatomical site was comparable with conventional preparations.

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 38-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea and iron-deficient anemia. Computed tomogram showed a 2 x 4 cm inhomogeneous lesion of the right adnexa. An unusual mass was identified extending from the appendiceal orifice at colonoscopy, and an 8 cm tubular appendix, apparently prolapsed into the cecum, was identified at celiotomy. An appendectomy with cecectomy was performed. On cut section, mucin was extruded from the lumen of the appendix. A mucinous neoplasm of the appendix with mucinous dissection to the serosal surface was reported at the time of frozen section. No gross ovarian pathology or peritoneal implants were noted. Cystadenoma with associated mucocele formation was verified by permanent histology. Mucocele of the vermiform appendix is a rare condition associated with neoplastic transformation in approximately 75% of all cases. Benign mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix should be differentiated from cystadenocarcinoma by frozen section at the time of celiotomy to ensure appropriate treatment. While systemic lupus erythematosus can lead to cutaneous mucinosis, an association with mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix has not been previously reported. Surveillance for metachronous colonic neoplasms is warranted in patients diagnosed with a mucinous neoplasm of the appendix.

Conservative management of small adenomata in ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Patients with chronic ulcerative colitis may develop colitis-related dysplasia and/or sporadic adenomata. Differentiating between these two processes is important because they may dictate different therapeutic approaches. Although distinguishing features of sporadic adenomata versus colitis-related dysplasia have been suggested previously on an a priori basis, they have never been verified by follow-up analysis. We have identified six chronic ulcerative colitis patients whose discrete adenomata were managed conservatively, with subsequent continuation in their surveillance programs. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 69 yr with a mean 21.3 yr of ulcerative colitis. Surveillance endoscopy of 63 patient-yr duration yielded 24 adenomata. A mean follow-up after the initial adenoma diagnosis was 7.2 yr with no carcinoma identified (including the examination of one prophylactic colectomy specimen). One patient, with a 34-yr history of ulcerative colitis and a single sporadic adenoma subsequently developed dysplasia of flat mucosa 14 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings concur with previous reports and indicate that small, discrete adenomata with morphology identical to those seen in the general population occur in patients with ulcerative colitis. Such lesions in patients older than 45 yr, with tubular or tubulovillous architecture and low-grade dysplasia, are effectively treated by polypectomy only and are not necessarily an indication for colectomy. However, sporadic adenomata and colitis-related dysplasia can develop metachronously. It is suggested that subsequent to a diagnosis of sporadic adenoma in a patient with chronic ulcerative colitis, surveillance should increase to colonoscopic examination every 6 to 12 months.