Imaging of paraduodenal pancreatitis:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Paraduodenal pancreatitis(PP)represents a diagnostic challenge,especially in non-referral centers,given its potential imaging overlap with pancreatic cancer.There are two main histological variants of PP,the cystic and the solid,with slightly different imaging appearances.Moreover,imaging findings in PP may change over time because of disease progression and/or as an effect of its risk factors exposition,namely alcohol intake and smoking.AIM To describe multimodality imaging findings in patients affected by PP to help clinicians in the differential diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.METHODS The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses 2009 guidelines.A Literature search was performed on PubMed,Embase and Cochrane Library using(groove pancreatitis[Title/Abstract])OR(PP[Title/Abstract])as key words.A total of 593 articles were considered for inclusion.After eliminating duplicates,and title and abstract screening,53 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility.Eligibility criteria were:Original studies including 8 or more patients,fully written in English,describing imaging findings in PP,with pathological confirmation or clinical-radiological follow-up as the gold standard.Finally,14 studies were included in our systematic review.RESULTS Computed tomography(CT)findings were described in 292 patients,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings in 231 and endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)findings in 115.Duodenal wall thickening was observed in 88.8%of the cases:Detection rate was 96.5%at EUS,91.0%at MRI and 84.1%at CT.Second duodenal portion increased enhancement was recognizable in 76.3%of the cases:Detection rate was 84.4%at MRI and 72.1%at CT.Cysts within the duodenal wall were detected in 82.6%of the cases:Detection rate was 94.4%at EUS,81.9%at MRI and 75.7%at CT.A solid mass in the groove region was described in 40.9%of the cases;in 78.3%of the cases,it showed patchy enhancement in the portal venous phase,and in 100%appeared iso/hyperintense during delayed phase imaging.Only 3.6%of the lesions showed restricted diffusion.The prevalence of radiological signs of chronic obstructive pancreatitis,namely main pancreatic duct dilatation,pancreatic calcifications,and pancreatic cysts,was extremely variable in the different articles.CONCLUSION PP has peculiar imaging findings.MRI is the best radiological imaging modality for diagnosing PP,but EUS is more accurate than MRI in depicting duodenal wall alterations.

Diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA of small(≤15 mm) solid pancreatic lesions using a 25-gauge needle

Background: Early detection of small solid pancreatic lesions is increasingly common. To date, few and contradictory data have been published about the relationship between lesion size and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA) diagnostic yield. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between the size of solid pancreatic lesions and the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA using a 25-gauge needle in a center without available rapid on-site evaluation.Methods: In the retrospective cohort study, we selected patients who underwent EUS-FNA for solid pancreatic lesions with a 25-gauge needle from October 2014 to October 2015. Patients were divided into three groups(≤15 mm, 16–25 mm and >25 mm), and the outcomes were compared.Results: We analyzed 163 patients. Overall adequacy, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.2%,81.8%, 93.7%, and 80.4%, respectively. When stratified by size, the sensitivity and accuracy correlated with size(P = 0.016 and P = 0.042, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that lesion size was the only independent factor(P = 0.019, OR = 4.76) affecting accuracy. The role of size as an independent factor affecting accuracy was confirmed in a separate multivariate analysis, where size was included in the model as a covariate(P = 0.018, OR = 1.08).Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that, in the absence of rapid on-site evaluation, mass size affects the accuracy of EUS-FNA of solid pancreatic lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology in pancreaticobiliary carcinomas:diagnostic efficacy of cell-block immunocyto-chemistry

BACKGROUND： Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology was demonstrated to be a useful tool for the diagnosis and staging of pancreaticobiliary neoplastic le- sions. Nonetheless, the diagnostic value of this procedure may be limited by low cellularity of the specimen, contamination of intestinal cells and unfeasibility of ancillary immunocy- tochemical procedures. The present study was to evaluate its usefulness in the diagnosis of neoplastic lesions.

Novel endoscopic management for pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the common bile duct

Pancreatic pseudocyst formation is a well-known complication of pancreatitis. It represents about 75% of the cystic lesions of the pancreas and might be located within or surrounding the pancreatic tissue. Sixty percent of the occurrences resolve spontaneously and only persistent, symptomatic or complicated cysts need to be treated. Complications include infection, hemorrhage, gastric outlet obstruction, splenic infarction and rupture. The formation of fistulas to other viscera is rare and most commonly occurs within the stomach, duodenum or colon. We report a case of a patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst in communication with the common bile duct. There have been only few cases reported in the literature. We successfully managed our case by performing an endoscopicultrasound-guided drainage of the pancreatic collection and a contemporaneous stenting of the common bile duct. Performed independently, both drainages are effective, safe and well-coded and the expertise on these procedures is widespread. By our knowledge this therapeutic approach was never reported in literature but we retain this is the most correct treatment for this very rare condition.

Novel endoscopic over-the-scope clip system

This paper reports our experience with a new overthe-scope clip in the setting of recurrent bleeding and oesophageal fistula. We treated five patients with the over-the-scope Padlock Clip?. It is a nitinol ring, with six inner needles preassembled on an applicator cap, thumb press displaced by the Lock-It? delivery system. The trigger wire is located alongside the shaft of the endoscope, and does not require the working channel. Three patients had recurrent bleeding lesions(bleeding rectal ulcer, post polypectomy delayed bleeding and duodenal Dieulafoy's lesion) and two patients had a persistent respiratory-esophageal fistula. In all patients a previous endoscopic attempt with standard techniques had been useless. All procedures were conducted under conscious sedation but for one patient that required general anaesthesia due to multiple comorbidities. We used one Padlock Clip? for each patient in a single session. Simple suction was enough in all of our patients to obtain tissue adhesion to the instrument tip. A remarkably short application time was recorded for all cases(mean duration of the procedure: 8 min). We obtained technical and immediate clinical success for every patient. No major immediate, early or late(within 24 h, 7 d or 4 wk) adverse events were observed, over follow-up durations lasting a mean of 109.4 d. One patient, treated for duodenal bulb bleeding from a Dieulafoy's lesion, developed signs of mild pancreatitis 24 h after the procedure. The new over-the-scope Padlock Clip? seems to be simple to use and effective in different clinical settings, particularly in "difficult" scenarios, like recurrent bleeding and respiratory-oesophageal fistulas.

COVID-19 in the endoscopy unit:How likely is transmission of infection?Results from an international,multicenter study

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)significantly affected endoscopy practice,as gastrointestinal endoscopy is considered a risky procedure for transmission of infection to patients and personnel of endoscopy units(PEU).AIM To assess the impact of COVID-19 on endoscopy during the first European lockdown(March-May 2020).METHODS Patients undergoing endoscopy in nine endoscopy units across six European countries during the period of the first European lockdown for COVID-19(March-May 2020)were included.Prior to the endoscopy procedure,participants were stratified as low-or high-risk for potential COVID-19 infection according to the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy(ESGE)and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates(ESGENA)joint statement,and contacted 7-14 d later to assess COVID-19 infection status.PEU were questioned regarding COVID-19 symptoms and/or infection via questionnaire,while information regarding hospitalizations,intensive care unitadmissions and COVID-19-related deaths were collected.The number of weekly endoscopies at each center during the lockdown period was also recorded.RESULTS A total of 1267 endoscopies were performed in 1222 individuals across nine European endoscopy departments in six countries.Eighty-seven(7%)were excluded because of initial positive testing.Of the 1135 pre-endoscopy low risk or polymerase chain reaction negative for COVID-19,254(22.4%)were tested post endoscopy and 8 were eventually found positive,resulting in an infection rate of 0.7%[95%CI:0.2-0.12].The majority(6 of the 8 patients,75%)had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy.Of the 163 PEU,5[3%;(95%CI:0.4-5.7)]tested positive during the study period.A decrease of 68.7%(95%CI:64.8-72.7)in the number of weekly endoscopies was recorded in all centers after March 2020.All centers implemented appropriate personal protective measures(PPM)from the initial phases of the lockdown.CONCLUSION COVID-19 transmission in endoscopy units is highly unlikely in a lockdown setting,provided endoscopies are restricted to emergency cases and PPM are implemented.