Intestinal amyloidosis: a diagnostic challenge.

Amyloidosis is a disease caused by extracellular deposition of abnormally folded proteins. While gastrointestinal involvement is relatively frequent in its systemic form, isolated gastrointestinal disease is rare. We present the case of a 62-year-old man assessed for iron deficiency anemia and abdominal pain after starting antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid and ticagrelor for ischemic heart disease. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed as part of the study, showing thickened folds with pseudopolypoid morphology and nodular mucosa with a preserved crypt pattern in the duodenal bulb and second duodenal portion.

Ecoendoscopia con punción-aspiración intermitente en el diagnóstico de lesiones sólidas pancreáticas. Estudio piloto / Intermittent endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration for the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions. A pilot study

Antecedentes y objetivo: la ecoendoscopia con punción-aspiración con aguja fina (USE-PAAF) es el método de elección para la toma de muestras de lesiones sólidas pancreáticas. Sin embargo, existe una heterogeneidad significativa en cuanto a la técnica utilizada. La aspiración intermitente no ha sido evaluada en lesiones sólidas pancreáticas y podría mejorar el rendimiento diagnóstico.Métodos: estudio piloto de no inferioridad, simple ciego. Se incluyeron de forma prospectiva pacientes con lesiones sólidas pancreáticas e indicación de USE-PAAF. Los pacientes fueron asignados aleatoriamente para el método de aspiración intermitente (AI) o continua (AC). Se evaluaron el rendimiento diagnóstico, la celularidad, la contaminación hemática y el número de pases necesarios para llegar al diagnóstico.Resultados: treinta y tres pacientes fueron asignados a AC (16 pacientes) o AI (17 pacientes). El rendimiento diagnóstico fue del 87,5 % en AC y del 94,1 % en AI (OR 2,29, IC 95 %: 0,19-27,99, p = 0,51). En el grupo de AI las muestras tuvieron mayor celularidad (OR 1,83, IC 95 %: 0,48-6,91, p = 0,37) y menor contaminación hemática (OR 0,38, IC 95 %: 0,09-1,54, p = 0,18). El número de pases necesarios para llegar al diagnóstico fue de 2,12 en AC y 1,94 con AI (p = 0,64). Se obtuvo citología líquida en el 73,3 % de AI y en el 61,5 % de AC (OR 1,72, IC 95 % 0,35-8,50).Conclusiones: la técnica de AI no fue inferior a la AC en términos de precisión diagnóstica, con tendencia a obtener mayor celularidad, menor contaminación hemática y frecuente presencia de bloque celular en la evaluación de lesiones sólidas pancreáticas. (AU)

Intermittent endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration for the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions. A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the method of choice for sampling pancreatic solid lesions. However, there is significant heterogeneity in terms of the technique used. Intermittent aspiration has not been evaluated in pancreatic solid lesions and could improve the diagnostic performance. METHODS: a single-blind, non-inferiority pilot study was performed. Patients with solid pancreatic lesions and an indication for EUS-FNA were prospectively included. Patients were randomly assigned to intermittent (IS) or continuous (CS) suction techniques. Diagnostic performance, cellularity, blood contamination and the number of passes required to reach a diagnosis were evaluated. MAIN RESULTS: thirty-three patients were assigned to CS (16 patients) or IS (17 patients). Diagnostic performance was 87.5 % for CS and 94.1 % for IS (OR 2.29, 95 % CI: 0.19-27.99, p = 0.51). In the IS group, samples had a higher cellularity (OR 1.83, 95 % CI: 0.48-6.91, p = 0.37) and lower blood contamination (OR 0.38, 95 % CI: 0.09-1.54, p = 0.18). The number of passes required to reach a diagnosis was 2.12 for CS and 1.94 for IS (p = 0.64). Liquid cytology was obtained in 73.3 % of IS and 61.5 % of CS (OR 1.72, 95 % CI: 0.35-8.50). CONCLUSIONS: the IS technique was not inferior to CS in terms of diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of pancreatic solid lesions, with a tendency to obtain higher cellularity, lower blood contamination and the frequent presence of cell block.

Molecular analysis of pancreatic cystic neoplasm in routine clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Cystic pancreatic lesions consist of a wide variety of lesions that are becoming increasingly diagnosed with the growing use of imaging techniques. Of these, mucinous cysts are especially relevant due to their risk of malignancy. However, morphological findings are often suboptimal for their differentiation. Endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with molecular analysis has been suggested to improve the diagnosis of pancreatic cysts. AIM: To determine the impact of molecular analysis on the detection of mucinous cysts and malignancy. METHODS: An 18-month prospective observational study of consecutive patients with pancreatic cystic lesions and an indication for EUS-FNA following European clinical practice guidelines was conducted. These cysts included those > 15 mm with unclear diagnosis, and a change in follow-up or with concerning features in which results might change clinical management. EUS-FNA with cytological, biochemical and glucose and molecular analyses with next-generation sequencing were performed in 36 pancreatic cysts. The cysts were classified as mucinous and non-mucinous by the combination of morphological, cytological and biochemical analyses when surgery was not performed. Malignancy was defined as cytology positive for malignancy, high-grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma on surgical specimen, clinical or morphological progression, metastasis or death related to neoplastic complications during the 6-mo follow-up period. Next-generation sequencing results were compared for cyst type and malignancy. RESULTS: Of the 36 lesions included, 28 (82.4%) were classified as mucinous and 6 (17.6%) as non-mucinous. Furthermore, 5 (13.9%) lesions were classified as malignant. The amount of deoxyribonucleic acid obtained was sufficient for molecular analysis in 25 (69.4%) pancreatic cysts. The amount of intracystic deoxyribonucleic acid was not statistically related to the cyst fluid volume obtained from the lesions. Analysis of KRAS and/or GNAS showed 83.33% [95% confidence interval (CI): 63.34-100] sensitivity, 60% (95%CI: 7.06-100) specificity, 88.24% (95%CI: 69.98-100) positive predictive value and 50% (95%CI: 1.66-98.34) negative predictive value (P = 0.086) for the diagnosis of mucinous cystic lesions. Mutations in KRAS and GNAS were found in 2/5 (40%) of the lesions classified as non-mucinous, thus recategorizing those lesions as mucinous neoplasms, which would have led to a modification of the follow-up plan in 8% of the cysts in which molecular analysis was successfully performed. All 4 (100%) malignant cysts in which molecular analysis could be performed had mutations in KRAS and/or GNAS, although they were not related to malignancy (P > 0.05). None of the other mutations analyzed could detect mucinous or malignant cysts with statistical significance (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Molecular analysis can improve the classification of pancreatic cysts as mucinous or non-mucinous. Mutations were not able to detect malignant lesions.

Neoplasias quísticas pancreáticas: enfoque diagnóstico / Diagnostic Approach to Cystic Pancreatic Neoplasms

Resumen Los quistes pancreáticos comprenden una amplia variedad de lesiones cada vez más frecuentemente diagnosticadas debido tanto al empleo creciente de técnicas de imagen como al envejecimiento de la población. Entre ellas, las neoplasias quísticas mucinosas son especialmente relevantes por su potencial de malignización. Aunque la ecografía abdominal, la tomografía axial computarizada y la resonancia magnética suelen ser las pruebas diagnósticas de imagen iniciales, muchas veces los hallazgos morfológicos no son suficientes para su diferenciación. La ecoendoscopia se ha convertido en la mejor prueba para su caracterización ya que permite realizar estudio morfológico y también del líquido obtenido mediante punción, aunque su precisión diagnóstica para la detección de quistes de estirpe mucinosa y de malignidad sigue siendo baja. La importancia de la adecuada caracterización radica tanto en la detección precoz de las lesiones preneoplásicas y malignas como en evitar cirugías innecesarias. La indicación de ecoendoscopia, de tratamiento quirúrgico y de seguimiento varía entre las distintas guías de práctica clínica estando actualmente en duda especialmente el tratamiento y seguimiento de las neoplasias quísticas mucinosas papilares intraductales de rama lateral por el menor riesgo de degeneración y su asociación con el cáncer de páncreas.

Abstract Cystic pancreatic lesions comprise a wide variety of lesions that are being increasingly diagnosed due to the more frequent use of imaging techniques and the aging of the population. Among these lesions, mucinous cystic neoplasms are especially relevant because of their malignant potential. Although abdominal ultrasound, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are usually the initial diagnostic imaging tests, morphological findings are often not enough for their differentiation. Endoscopic ultrasound has become the best test for their characterization because it allows morphological study and fluid analysis obtained by puncture of the lesion, although its diagnostic accuracy for the detection of mucinous and malignant cysts remains low. The importance of proper characterization is the early detection of preneoplastic as well as malignant lesions and to avoid unnecessary surgery. Clinical practice guidelines differ about the indications for endoscopic ultrasound, surgical treatment and follow-up of these lesions. Questions specially remains in the management of side-branch intraductal papillary neoplasm because of their lower risk of degeneration and their association with pancreatic cancer.

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia: CT findings, clinical outcomes and assessment of the diameter of the superior mesenteric artery.

OBJECTIVE: Review of the experience of a tertiary care centre for almost 10 years in the CT diagnosis of non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia (NOMI). Analysis of CT findings, correlation with clinical outcomes and evaluation of the usefulness of measuring the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) diameter for the diagnosis of NOMI. METHODS: 106 patients were diagnosed with NOMI in a biphasic CT examination from 2008 to 2017 in our hospital. Clinical outcomes and CT findings were reviewed. In 55 patients, the diameter of the SMA was compared with a previous CT scan where NOMI was not the diagnosis, and statistical analysis using paired t-test was performed. RESULTS: 81 patients (76%) had findings consistent with small bowel ischaemia and the ileum was the segment most commonly involved (47%). Lack of wall enhancement, pneumoperitoneum, pneumatosis intestinalis and portal venous gas were all considered signs of bowel necrosis and surgery was performed promptly. 70 patients had signs of vascular narrowing of the SMA branches and in the 55 cases with a previous CT scan, there were statistically significant differences regarding the SMA diameter with a mean reduction of the artery calibre and standard deviation of 1.93 ± 1.1 mm between the NOMI and non-NOMI scans (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Acknowledgment of characteristic bowel necrosis CT findings is crucial for determining the therapeutic attitude and the use of previous CT scans to compare the SMA diameter may help the radiologist to achieve an early diagnosis of NOMI in an often critically ill patient population. Advances in knowledge: Diagnosis of NOMI can be difficult in cases of partial mural ischaemia, thus objective data (diameter of the SMA) should be useful for the radiologist to include NOMI as the first diagnostic option in the differential diagnosis.