EUS-guided tissue acquisition in the study of the adrenal glands: Results of a nationwide multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data about the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA), by fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or biopsy (EUS-FNB), in the evaluation of the adrenal glands (AG). The primary aim was to assess the diagnostic yield and safety. The secondary aims were the malignancy predictors, and to create a predictive model of malignancy. METHODS: This was a retrospective nationwide study involving all Spanish hospitals experienced in EUS-TA of AGs. Inclusion period was from April-2003 to April-2016. Inclusion criteria: all consecutive cases that underwent EUS-TA of AGs. EUS and cytopathology findings were evaluated. Statistical analyses: diagnostic accuracy of echoendoscopist's suspicion using cytology by EUS-TA, as gold standard; multivariate logistic regression model to predict tumor malignancy. RESULTS: A total of 204 EUS-TA of AGs were evaluated. Primary tumor locations were lung70%, others19%, and unknown11%. AG samples were adequate for cytological diagnosis in 91%, and confirmed malignancy in 60%. Diagnostic accuracy of the endosonographer's suspicion was 68%. The most common technique was: a 22-G (65%) and cytological needle (75%) with suction-syringe (66%). No serious adverse events were described. The variables most associated with malignancy were size>30mm (OR2.27; 95%CI, 1.16-4.05), heterogeneous echo-pattern (OR2.11; 95%CI, 1.1-3.9), variegated AG shape (OR2.46; 95%CI, 1-6.24), and endosonographer suspicion (OR17.46; 95%CI, 6.2-58.5). The best variables for a predictive multivariate logistic model of malignancy were age, sex, echo-pattern, and AG-shape. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-TA of the AGs is a safe, minimally invasive procedure, allowing an excellent diagnostic yield. These results suggest the possibility of developing a pre-EUS procedure predictive malignancy model.

Intensified neoadjuvant multimodal approach in synchronous liver metastases from gastric cancer: a single institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Synchronous liver metastases (LM) from gastric (GC) or esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma are a rare events. Several trials have evaluated the role of liver surgery in this setting, but the impact of preoperative therapy remains undetermined. METHODS: Patients with synchronous LM from GC/EGJ adenocarcinoma who achieved disease control after induction chemotherapy (ICT) and were subsequently scheduled to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to the primary tumor and surgery assessment were retrospectively analyzed. Pathological response, patterns of relapse, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated. From July 2002 to September 2012, 16 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. RESULTS: Primary tumor site was GC (nine patients) or EGJ (seven patients). LM were considered technically unresectable in nine patients. Radiological response to the whole neoadjuvant program was achieved in 13 patients. Eight patients underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor; in five of these LM were resected. A complete pathological response in the primary or in the LM was found in four and three patients, respectively. The most frequent site of relapse/progression was systemic (eight patients). Local and liver-only relapses were observed in two patients each. After a median follow-up of 91 months, the median OS and PFS were 23.0 (95% CI 13.2-32.8) and 17.0 months (95% CI 11.7-22.3). 5-year actuarial PFS is 17.6%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that an intensified approach using ICT followed by CRT in synchronous LM from GC/EGJ adenocarcinoma is feasible and may translate into prolonged survival times in selected patients.

[Utility of endoscopy in digestive hemorrhage due to vasculitis]. / Utilidad de la endoscopia en la hemorragia digestiva por vasculitis.

Vasculitides constitute a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by inflammation of blood vessels. The skin is mainly affected, although the gastrointestinal tract mucosa can also be involved. The contribution of endoscopy in these cases has not been clearly determined. We report three cases of systemic vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa, Schonlein-Henoch purpura and Behcet's disease) presenting with acute digestive bleeding. Endoscopy was an effective technique for completing the diagnosis and in establishing an effective nonsurgical therapeutic approach in these potentially lethal cases of gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Síndrome de Blue Rubber Bled Nevus: tres casos / Blue Rubber Bled Nevus syndrome: three cases

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Caso problema en imagen / Case report

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[Colonic involvement in the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome]. / Afectación de colon en el síndrome de Klippel Trenaunay Weber.

We report the case of a 12-year-old boy, diagnosed of Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome, with hemangiomas and venous varicosities in the right leg, who complaint about incidental hematochezia. In the colonoscopy some violet and plain angiodysplastic lesions like in the skin, were observed in rectum and distal sigmoid colon. We think this case is interesting, because of the unusual affectation of the gut in this disease and the importance of considering the endoscopic procedures in the evaluation of these patients.

Afectación de colon en el síndrome de Klippel Trenaunay Weber / Colonic afectation in Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome

Presentamos el caso de un niño de 12 años, diagnosticado de Síndrome de Klippel Trenaunay Weber, con nevus angiomatosos y dilataciones varicosas en pierna derecha y que refería rectorragia ocasional. En colonoscopia se detectaron lesiones angiodisplásicas planas de color violáceo en recto y porción distal de sigma, similares a las cutáneas. Creemos de interés este caso debido a la rareza de la afección del tubo digestivo en esta entidad y la importancia de considerar la exploración endoscópica en las revisiones de estos pacientes (AU)

[Barrett's esophagus]. / Esófago de Barrett.

Barrett's esophagus (BE), a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, is the replacement of squamous tissue with specialized intestinal metaplasia. Other noxious factor, as biliary acids, may contribute to the induction of BE. It is a premalignant condition, and adenocarcinoma arises in some cases. An endoscopic surveillance with multiple biopsies is mandatory to detect different grades of dysplasia or intramucosal cancer and allow effective therapy. Since its prevalence is high, current surveillance protocols become expensive and patient's compliance is difficult. The main medical goals are: 1) To stratify individuals without dysplasia as either lower or higher risk, to screen less often those at lower risk. 2) To obtain complete remission or eliminate the risk of cancer and the need for surveillance. Current treatments have not demonstrate complete regression of metaplasia. Recently, new endoscopic approaches to therapy have been developed. Although they remain experimental and larger series are required, initial results are encouraging.

[The POEMS syndrome, apropos of 2 cases and review of the literature]. / Síndrome POEMS, a propósito de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

We describe two cases of POEMS syndrome, both with polyneuropathy, monoclonal gammopathy of the IgG lambda type, thickening of the skin with Raynaud phenomenon, multiple osteosclerotic lesions and hypothyroidism. One of them, also had papilledema, elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein, intracranial hypertension and phrenic nerve palsy; the other one had ascites and hepatosplenomegaly. Phrenic nerve palsy associated to this syndrome has not been described previously.

[Dementia caused by bacterial overgrowth in a patient with Billroth II gastrectomy]. / Demencia por sobrecrecimiento bacteriano en paciente portador de gastrectomía Billroth II.

We report the case of a patient in the Psychiatric Department who complained of progressive impairment of cerebral functions consistent with dementia, diarrhea and fecal incontinence in the last few months. His medical history included a Billroth II gastrectomy for gastric ulcer. Biochemical tests detected cobalamin deficiency, without megaloblastic anemia, and an abnormal Schilling test that was not due to intrinsic factor deficiency. Once other causes of cobalamin deficiency were ruled out, we considered it as a deficiency disease due to blind loop syndrome. Treatment with parenteral vitamin B complex and long term oral antibiotic therapy allowed the complete and permanent resolution of neurologic and digestive symptoms. We consider this case to be interesting because it shows the existence of curable dementias and the usefulness of taking into account bacterial overgrowth, usually underestimated, as an entity that can produce a variety of disorders.

Vacuum UV high-performance spectrophotometric setup for use in the 105-200-nm wavelength range.

A complete vacuum UV spectrophotometric device, including the source and a computerized data acquisition system, for both reflectance and transmittance measurements in the 105-200-nm wavelength range is described. The apparatus is suitable for various experimental situations such as measurements in the -200 to +100 degrees C temperature range for gases, liquids, and solids (for gases and liquids within the 0-150 bar pressure range). Drift of 0.07% per day for ambient temperature measurements and absolute reflectance as low as 0.05% are reported, illustrating the high performance reached. The setup is particularly well suited for long cycles of low temperature, high pressure experiments.