Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography in the clinical suspicion of biliary disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a very sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of biliary diseases. This procedure has proven its usefulness in cases of high suspicion of biliary disease (history of gallstones and dilatation of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts). We know less about its usefulness in cases of low suspicion of biliary pathology.The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in patients with low suspicion of biliary disease (patients with dilatation of the biliary tract were excluded). METHODS: 33 patients with low suspicion of biliary disease were recruited in 12 months. All of them had no biliary findings in a previous abdominal ultrasound and computer tomography scan. All of them underwent EUS and were studied prospectively. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and/or by ERCP in patients with positive EUS or clinical follow-up in those with normal EUS. Time of follow-up was 9 months (range, 3-12 months). RESULTS: seventeen patients (51.5%) presented with abnormal biliary findings on EUS (7 choledocholithiasis, 3 cholelithiasis, 2 choledocholithiasis + cholelithiasis and 5 microlithiasis). CONCLUSION: EUS is a useful and safe procedure for diagnosing patients with low suspicion of biliary disease.

Utilidad de la ultrasonografía endoscópica en la sospecha clínica de patología biliar / Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography in the clinical suspicion of biliary disease

Antecedentes y objetivos: la ultrasonografía endoscópica (USE) es una técnica muy sensible y específica para el diagnóstico de enfermedades biliares. Este procedimiento ha demostrado su utilidad en casos de alta sospecha de enfermedad biliar (historia de colelitiasis y dilatación de la vía biliar intra- y/o extrahepática). Sabemos menos sobre su utilidad en casos de baja sospecha de patología biliar. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la precisión diagnóstica de la USE en pacientes con baja sospecha de enfermedad biliar (los pacientes con dilatación de la vía biliar fueron excluidos). Métodos: 33 pacientes con baja sospecha de enfermedad biliar fueron reclutados en 12 meses. Todos ellos presentaban una ecografía abdominal previa y un TAC sin hallazgos relevantes. Todos se sometieron a una USE y se estudiaron de forma prospectiva. El diagnóstico fue confirmado con los hallazgos quirúrgicos y/o con la colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) en pacientes con USE positiva o con seguimiento clínico en pacientes con USE normal. El tiempo de seguimiento medio fue de 9 meses (3- 12 meses). Resultados: diecisiete pacientes (51,5%) presentaron patología biliar en la USE (7 coledocolitiasis, 3 colelitiasis, 2 colelitiasis + coledocolitiasis y 5 microlitiasis). Conclusión: la USE es un procedimiento útil y seguro para el diagnóstico de pacientes con baja sospecha de enfermedad biliar(AU)

Background and aims: endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a very sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of biliary diseases. This procedure has proven its usefulness in cases of high suspicion of biliary disease (history of gallstones and dilatation of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts). We know less about its usefulness in cases of low suspicion of biliary pathology. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in patients with low suspicion of biliary disease (patients with dilatation of the biliary tract were excluded). Methods: 33 patients with low suspicion of biliary disease were recruited in 12 months. All of them had no biliary findings in a previous abdominal ultrasound and computer tomography scan. All of them underwent EUS and were studied prospectively. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and/or by ERCP in patients with positive EUS or clinical follow-up in those with normal EUS. Time of followup was 9 months (range, 3-12 months). Results: seventeen patients (51.5%) presented with abnormal biliary findings on EUS (7 choledocholithiasis, 3 cholelithiasis, 2 choledocholithiasis + cholelithiasis and 5 microlithiasis). Conclusion: EUS is a useful and safe procedure for diagnosing patients with low suspicion of biliary disease(AU)

Liver iron concentration quantification by MRI: are recommended protocols accurate enough for clinical practice?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of quantification of liver iron concentration (LIC) by MRI using the Rennes University (URennes) algorithm. METHODS: In the overall study period 1999-2006 the LIC in 171 patients was calculated with the URennes model and the results were compared with LIC measured by liver biopsy. RESULTS: The biopsy showed that 107 patients had no overload, 38 moderate overload and 26 high overload. The correlation between MRI and biopsy was r=0.86. MRI correctly classified 105 patients according to the various levels of LIC. Diagnostic accuracy was 61.4%, with a tendency to overestimate overload: 43% of patients with no overload were diagnosed as having overload, and 44.7% of patients with moderate overload were diagnosed as having high overload. The sensitivity of the URennes method for high overload was 92.3%, and the specificity for the absence of overload was 57.0%. MRI values greater than 170 µmol Fe/g revealed a positive predictive value (PPV) for haemochromatosis of 100% (n=18); concentrations below 60 µmol Fe/g had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% for haemochromatosis (n=101). The diagnosis in 44 patients with intermediate values remained uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of LIC with the URennes method was useful in 74.3% of the patients to rule out or to diagnose high iron overload. The method has a tendency to overestimate overload, which limits its diagnostic performance.