Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy-assisted biliary polypectomy for local palliative treatment of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct

BACKGROUND Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct(IPNB)is a premalignant biliarytype epithelial neoplasm with intraductal papillary or villous growth.Currently reported local palliative therapeutic modalities,including endoscopic nasobiliary drainage,stenting and biliary curettage,endoscopic biliary polypectomy,percutaneous biliary drainage,laser ablation,argon plasma coagulation,photodynamic therapy,and radiofrequency ablation to relieve mechanical obstruction are limited with weaknesses and disadvantages.We have applied percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy(PTCS)-assisted biliary polypectomy(PTCS-BP)technique for the management of IPNB including mucin-hypersecreting cast-like and polypoid type tumors since 2010.AIM To assess the technical feasibility,efficacy,and safety of PTCS-BP for local palliative treatment of IPNB.METHODS Patients with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like or polypoid type IPNB and receiving PTCS-BP between September 2010 and December 2019 were included.PTCS-BP was performed by using a half-moon type snare with a soft stainless-steel wire,and the tumor was snared and resected with electrocautery.The primary outcome was its feasibility,indicated by technical success.The secondary outcomes were efficacy,including therapeutic success,curative resection,and clinical success,and safety.RESULTS Five patients(four with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type and one with polypoid type IPNB)were included.Low-and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia(HGIN)and recurrent IPNB with invasive carcinoma were observed in one,two,and two patients,respectively.Repeated cholangitis and/or obstructive jaundice were presented in all four patients with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type IPNB.All five patients achieved technical success of PTCS-BP.Four patients(three with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type and one with polypoid type IPNB)obtained therapeutic success;one with mucin-hypersecreting cast-like type tumors in the intrahepatic small bile duct and HGIN had residual tumors.All four patients with mucin-hypersecreting IPNB achieved clinical success.The patient with polypoid type IPNB achieved curative resection.There were no PTCS-BP-related serious adverse events.CONCLUSION PTCS-BP appears to be feasible,efficacious,and safe for local palliative treatment of both mucin-hypersecreting cast-like and polypoid type IPNB.

Diagnostic and therapeutic single-operator cholangiopancreatoscopy in biliopancreatic diseases:Prospective multicenter study in Japan

AIM: To assess the utility and safety of single-operator cholangiopancreatoscopy(SOCPS) using the Spy Glass system in widespread clinical application for biliary and pancreatic diseases.METHODS: This study was a prospective case series conducted in 20 referral centers in Japan. There were 148 patients who underwent SOCPS; 124 for biliary diseases and 24 for pancreatic diseases. The attempted interventions were SOCPS examination, SOCPS-directed tissue sampling, and therapy for stone removal, among others. The main outcomes were related to the procedure success rate in terms of visualizing the target lesions, SOCPS-directed adequate tissue sampling, and complete stone removal. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients were enrolled for the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary and pancreatic lesions or treatment of biliary and pancreatic disease. The overall procedure success rate of visualizing the target lesions was 91.2%(135/148). The overall procedural success rates of visualizing the target lesions of diagnostic SOCPS in the bile duct and pancreatic duct were 95.5%(84/89) and 88.2%(15/17), respectively. Diagnosis: the overall adequate tissue for histologic examination was secured in 81.4% of the 86 patients who underwent biopsy under SOCPS(bile duct, 60/75, 80.0%; pancreatic duct, 10/11, 90.9%). The accuracy of histologic diagnosis using SOCPS-directed biopsies in indeterminate bile duct lesions was 70.7%(53/75). In the pancreatic duct, the accuracy of SOCPS visual impression of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm was 87.5%(14/16). Stone therapy: complete biliary and pancreatic stone clearance combined with SOCPS-directed stone therapy using electrohydraulic lithotripsy or laser lithotripsy was achieved in 74.2%(23/31) and 42.9%(3/7) of the patients, respectively. Others: SOCPS using the Spy Glass system was used in cannulation of the cystic duct in two patients and for passing across the obstructed self-expandable metallic stent for a malignant biliary stricture in two patients. All procedures were successful in both SOCPS-guided therapies. The incidence of procedure-related adverse events was 5.4%(8/148). CONCLUSION: SOCPS with direct visualization and biopsy for diagnosis and SOCPS-directed therapy for biliary and pancreatic diseases can be safely performed with a high success rate.

Per oral cholangiopancreatoscopy in pancreatico biliary diseases- Expert consensus statements

AIM: To provide consensus statements on the use of per-oral cholangiopancreatoscopy(POCPS).METHODS: A workgroup of experts in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP), endosonography, and POCPS generated consensus statements summarizing the utility of POCPS in pancreaticobiliary disease. Recommendation grades used validated evidence ratings of publications from an extensive literature review.RESULTS: Six consensus statements were generated:(1) POCPS is now an important additional tool during ERCP;(2) in patients with indeterminate biliary strictures, POCS and POCS-guided targeted biopsy are useful for establishing a definitive diagnosis;(3) POCS and POCS-guided lithotripsy are recommended for treatment of difficult common bile duct stones when standard techniques fail;(4) in patients with main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms(IPMN) POPS may be used to assess extent of tumor to assist surgicalresection;(5) in difficult pancreatic ductal stones,POPS-guided lithotripsy may be useful in fragmentation and extraction of stones; and(6) additional indications for POCPS include selective guidewire placement,unexplained hemobilia, assessing intraductal biliary ablation therapy, and extracting migrated stents. CONCLUSION: POCPS is important in association with ERCP, particularly for diagnosis of indeterminate biliary strictures and for intra-ductal lithotripsy when other techniques failed, and may be useful for preoperative assessment of extent of main duct IPMN, for extraction of difficult pancreatic stones, and for unusua indications involving selective guidewire placement,assessing unexplained hemobilia or intraductal biliary ablation therapy, and extracting migrated stents.

Role of digital single-operator cholangioscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary disorders

Due to the need for improvement in the diagnosis and minimally invasive therapy of the bile duct disorders new technologies for cholangioscopy have been recently developed. Per-oral cholangioscopy has become an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool leading to avoidance of aggressive and unnecessary surgery in many clinical scenarios. This paper focuses on the newly developed SpyGlass DS technology, its advantages, and the technique of single-operator cholangioscopy(SOC), biliary indications and possible adverse events. We also review the available literature; discuss the limitations and future expectations.Digital SOC(D-SOC) is a useful technique, which provides endoscopic imaging of the biliary tree, optical diagnosis, biopsy under direct vision and therapeutic interventions. The implementations are diagnostic and therapeutic. Diagnostic indications are indeterminate biliary strictures, unclear filling defects, staging of cholangiocarcinoma, staging of ampullary tumors(extension into the common bile duct), unclear bile duct dilation, exploring cystic lesions of the biliary tree,unexplained hemobilia, posttransplant biliary complications. Therapeutic indications are lithotripsy of difficult stones, retrieval of migrated stents, foreign body removal, guide wire placement, transpapillary gallbladder drainage and endoscopic tumor ablative therapy. Most studied and established indications are the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary stricture and intraductal lithotripsy of difficult stones. The adverse events are not different and more common compared to those of Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)alone. D-SOC is a safe and effective procedure, adjunct to the standard ERCP and the newly available digital technology overcomes many of the limitations of the previous generations of cholangioscopes.

Residual common bile duct stones on direct peroral cholangioscopy using ultraslim endoscope

AIM:To detect and manage residual common bile duct(CBD)stones using ultraslim endoscopic peroral cholangioscopy(POC)after a negative balloon-occluded cholangiography.METHODS:From March 2011 to December 2011,a cohort of 22 patients with CBD stones who underwent both endoscopic retrograde cholangiography(ERC)and direct POC were prospectively enrolled in this study.Those patients who were younger than 20 years of age,pregnant,critically ill,or unable to provide informed consent for direct POC,as well as those with concomitant gallbladder stones or CBD with diameters less than 10 mm were excluded.Direct POC using an ultraslim endoscope with an overtube balloon-assisted technique was carried out immediately after a negative balloon-occluded cholangiography was obtained.RESULTS:The ultraslim endoscope was able to be advanced to the hepatic hilum or the intrahepatic bile duct(IHD)in 8 patients(36.4%),to the extrahepatic bile duct where the hilum could be visualized in 10 patients(45.5%),and to the distal CBD where the hilum could not be visualized in 4 patients(18.2%).The procedure time of the diagnostic POC was 8.2 ± 2.9 min(range,5-18 min).Residual CBD stones were found in 5(22.7%)of the patients.There was one residual stone each in 3 of the patients,three in 1 patient,and more than five in 1 patient.The diameter of the residual stones ranged from 2-5 mm.In 2 of the patients,the residual stones were successfully extracted using either a retrieval balloon catheter(n = 1)or a basket catheter(n = 1)under direct endoscopic control.In the remaining 3 patients,the residual stones were removed using an irrigation and suction method under direct endoscopic visualization.There were no serious procedure-related complications,such as bleeding,pancreatitis,biliary tract infection,or perforation,in this study.CONCLUSION:Direct POC using an ultraslim endoscope appears to be a useful tool for both detecting and treating residual CBD stones after conventional ERC.

Pancreatoscopy: An update

Per-oral pancreatoscopy(POPS) is an endoscopic procedure to visualize the main pancreatic duct. POPS specifically has the advantage of direct visualization of the pancreatic duct, allowing tissue acquisition and directed therapies such as stones lithotripsy. The aim of this review is to analyze and summarize the literature around pancreatoscopy. Pancreatoscopy consists of the classic technique of the mother-baby method in which a mini-endoscope is passed through the accessory channel of the therapeutic duodenoscope. Pancreatoscopy has two primary indications for diagnostic purpose. First, it is used for visualization and histological diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. In these cases, POPS is very useful to assess the extent of malignancy and for the study of the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in order to guide the surgery resection margins. Second, it is used to determine pancreatic duct strictures,particularly important in cases of chronic pancreatitis, which is associated with both benign and malignant strictures. Therefore POPS allows differentiation between benign and malignant disease and allows mapping the extent of the tumor prior to surgical resection. Also tissue sampling is possible, but it can be technically difficult because of the limited maneuverability of the biopsy forceps in the pancreatic ducts. Pancreatoscopy can also be used for therapeutic purposes, such as pancreatoscopy-guided lithotripsy in chronic painful pancreatitis with pancreatic duct stones. The available data for the moment suggests that, in selected patients, pancreatoscopy has an important and promising role to play in the diagnosis of indeterminate pancreatic duct strictures and the mapping of main pancreatic duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate and validate the pancreatoscopy role in the therapeutic algorithm of chronic pancreatitis.

Peroral cholangioscopy in the new millennium

Peroral cholangioscopy was first described in 1970s and has recently gained popularity.Peroral cholangioscopy is appealing to therapeutic endoscopists because a direct intraluminal view of the biliary duct system offers possibilities for diagnosis and interventions beyond that which other imaging or endoscopic modalities can provide.As the image quality of cholangioscopies improves,so too does their diagnostic capability,and as their durability and maneuverability increases,so too does their potential use for therapeutic applications.This editorial is intended to provide a brief review of recent developments in peroral cholangioscopy and current indications for its use.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy and lithotripsy in treating difficult biliary ductal stones: Two case reports

BACKGROUND Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) is preferred for managing biliary obstruction in patients with bilio-enteric anastomotic strictures(BEAS) and calculi. In patients whose duodenal anatomy is altered following upper gastrointestinal(UGI) tract surgery, ERCP is technically challenging because the biliary tree becomes difficult to access by per-oral endoscopy.Advanced endoscopic therapies like balloon-enteroscopy or rendevous-ERCP may be considered but are not always feasible. Biliary sepsis and comorbidities may also make these patients poor candidates for surgical management of their biliary obstruction.CASE SUMMARY We present two 70-year-old caucasian patients admitted as emergencies with obstructive cholangitis. Both patients had BEAS associated with calculi that were predominantly extrahepatic in Patient 1 and intrahepatic in Patient 2. Both patients were unsuitable for conventional ERCP due to surgically-altered UGl anatomy. Emergency biliary drainage was by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography(PTC) in both cases and after 6-weeks' maturation, PTC tracts were dilated to perform percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy and lithotripsy(PTCSL) for duct clearance. BEAS were firstly dilated fluoroscopically,and then biliary stones were flushed into the small bowel or basket-retrieved under visualization provided by the percutaneously-inserted video cholangioscope. Lithotripsy was used to fragment impacted calculi, also under visualization by video cholangioscopy. Satisfactory duct clearance was achieved in Patient 1 after one PTCSL procedure, but Patient 2 required a further procedure to clear persisting intrahepatic calculi. Ultimately both patients had successful stone clearance confirmed by check cholangiograms.CONCLUSION PTCSL offers a pragmatic, feasible and safe method for biliary tract clearance when neither ERCP nor surgical exploration is suitable.

Current status of peroral cholangioscopy in biliary tract diseases

Peroral cholangioscopy(POC) is an important tool for the management of a selected group of biliary diseases. Because of its direct visualization, POC allows targeted diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. POC can be performed using a dedicated cholangioscope that is advanced through the accessory channel of a duodenoscope or via the insertion of a small-diameter endoscope directly into the bile duct. POC was first described in the 1970 s, but the use of earlier generation devices was substantially limited by the cumbersome equipment setup and high repair costs. For nearly ten years, several technical improvements, including the single-operator system, high-quality images, the development of dedicated accessories and the increased size of the working channel, have led to increased diagnostic accuracy, thus assisting in the differentiation of benign and malignant intraductal lesions, targeting biopsies and the precise delineation of intraductal tumor spread before surgery. Furthermore, lithotripsy of difficult bile duct stones, ablative therapies for biliary malignancies and direct biliary drainage can be performed under POC control. Recent developments of new types of conventional POCs allow feasible, safe and effective procedures at reasonable costs. In the current review, we provide an updated overview of POC, focusing our attention on the main current clinical applications and on areas for future research.

Prospective evaluation of the short access cholangioscopy for stone clearance and evaluation of indeterminate strictures

BACKGROUND： Peroral cholangioscopy facilitates diagnosis and therapy of biliary disorders. This study prospectively evaluated a new short access cholangioscopy. METHODS： Consecutive patients were included as follows： difficult stones （group 1） underwent cholangioscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy and indeterminate biliary strictures （group 2） were evaluated with macroscopic assessment and cholangioscopy guided biopsy sampling. We evaluated the complete stone clearance rate （group 1） and diagnostic accu- racy （group 2）. Follow-up was performed over a median of 13 and I6 months, respectively. RESULTS： Group 1 （n=21）： complete stone clearance defined as lack of stones in cholangiography and stone removal dur- ing cholangioscopy was achieved in 15 （71.4%） patients. Clini- cal stone clearance defined as lack of symptoms, laboratory abnormalities and hospital visits during follow-up, irrespec- tive of stone clearance was evident in 17 （81.0%） patients. One serious adverse event occurred （bile duct perforation）. Group 2 （n=28）： malignancy was confirmed in 15 patients. Sensitiv- ity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of cholangioscopy were 85.7%, 75.0% and 80.7%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of biopsies were 54.5%, 100.0% and 72.2%, respectively. No serious adverse events occurred, and one patient was lost to follow-up.CONCLUSIONS： The novel system enabled complex stone treatment and biliary stricture diagnosis. Cholangioscopy outperformed direct biopsy regarding characterization of in- determinate strictures.

Peroral cholangioscopy-assisted guidewire placement for removal of impacted stones in the cystic duct remnant

It is well known that impacted biliary stones are difficult to remove endoscopically.Among the many factors associated with failure of endoscopic therapy for removal of bile duct stones,impaction ranks high.One of the reasons behind failure of endoscopic therapy in such cases is that the impacted stone often does not allow passage of a guidewire.Recent introduction of a novel single-operator cholangioscopy system has made it possible for a single endoscopist to use cholangioscopy for evaluation and treatment of a wide variety of biliary disorders.This cholangioscopy system was used for placement of a guidewire in the cystic duct remnant with subsequent removal of an impacted stone which had prevented passage of a guidewire by conventional means.

Direct cholangioscopy combined with doubleballoon enteroscope-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Double-balloon enteroscope (DBE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an effective endoscopic approach for pancreatobiliary disorders in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy. Endoscopic interventions via DBE in these postoperative settings remain difficult because of the lack of an elevator and the use of extra-long ERCP accessories. Here, we report the usefulness of direct cholangioscopy with an ultra-slim gastroscope during DBE-assisted ERCP. Three patients with choledocholithiasis in postoperative settings (two patients after Billroth Ⅱ gastrojejunostomy and one patient after Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy) were treated. DBE was used to gain access to the papilla under carbon dioxide insufflation, and endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed with a conventional sphincterotome. For direct cholangioscopy, the enteroscope was exchanged for an ultra-slim gastroscope through an incision in the overtube, which was inserted directly into the bile duct. Direct cholangioscopy was used to extract retained bile duct stones in two cases and to confirm the complete clearance of stones in one case. Bile duct stones were eliminated with a 5-Fr basket catheter under direct visual control. No adverse events were noted in any of the three cases. Direct cholangioscopy with an ultra-slim gastroscope facilitates subsequent treatment within the bile duct. This procedure represents another potential option during DBE-assisted ERCP.

Endoscopic lithotripsy with peroral direct cholangioscopy using a conventional endoscope

Recently,peroral direct cholangioscopy(PDCS) using an ultra-slim endoscope has come into the spotlight.However,the working channel is too small to use various devices for lithotripsy.We report a case of endoscopic lithotripsy with PDCS using a conventional endoscope as a cholangioscope.Computed tomography scan on an 80-year-old female who was admitted with acute cholangitis showed two large stones in the bile duct.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was attempted first.However,mechanical lithotripsy failed because the stone was too large for the basket catheter.Finally,electric hydraulic lithotripsy with PDCS using a conventional endoscope was performed allowed the stones to be cleared completely.In conclusion,PDCS using a conventional endoscope can be an alternative solution for endoscopic lithotripsy for patients with large stones in the dilated bile duct.

Single-operator cholangioscopy for biliary complications in liver transplant recipients

To evaluate cholangioscopy in addition to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for management of biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT).METHODSTwenty-six LT recipients with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction who underwent ERCP for suspected biliary complications between April and December 2016 at the university hospital of Muenster were consecutively enrolled in this observational study. After evaluating bile ducts using fluoroscopy, cholangioscopy using a modern digital single-operator cholangioscopy system (SpyGlass DS™) was performed during the same procedure with patients under conscious sedation. All patients received peri-interventional antibiotic prophylaxis and bile was collected during the intervention for microbial analysis and for antibiotic susceptibility testing.RESULTSThirty-three biliary complications were found in a total of 22 patients, whereas four patients showed normal bile ducts. Anastomotic strictures were evident in 14 (53.8%) patients, non-anastomotic strictures in seven (26.9%), biliary cast in three (11.5%), and stones in six (23.1%). A benefit of cholangioscopy was seen in 12 (46.2%) patients. In four of them, cholangioscopy was crucial for selective guidewire placement prior to planned intervention. In six patients, biliary cast and/or stones failed to be diagnosed by ERCP and were only detectable through cholangioscopy. In one case, a bile duct ulcer due to fungal infection was diagnosed by cholangioscopy. In another case, signs of bile duct inflammation caused by acute cholangitis were evident. One patient developed post-interventional cholangitis. No further procedure-related complications occurred. Thirty-seven isolates were found in bile. Sixteen of these were gram-positive (43.2%), 12 (32.4%) were gram-negative bacteria, and Candida species accounted for 24.3% of all isolated microorganisms. Interestingly, only 48.6% of specimens were sensitive to prophylactic antibiotics.CONCLUSIONSingle-operator cholangioscopy can provide important diagnostic information, helping endoscopists to plan and perform interventional procedures in LT-related biliary complications.

Direct peroral cholangioscopy

Peroral cholangioscopy is an important tool for diagnosis and treatment of various biliary disorders. Peroral cholangioscopy can be performed by using a dedicated cholangioscope that is advanced through the accessory channel of a duodenoscope, or by direct insertion of a small-diameter endoscope into the bile duct. Direct peroral cholangioscopy refers to insertion of an ultraslim endoscope directly into the bile duct for visualization of the biliary mucosa and lumen. This approach provides a valuable and economic solution for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the biliary tree. Compared to ductoscopy using a dedicated cholangioscope, the direct approach has several advantages and disadvantages. In this editorial, I discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and possible future developments pertaining to direct peroral cholangioscopy.

Direct peroral cholangioscopy using an ultraslim upper endoscope for biliary lesions

BACKGROUND: The development of direct peroral cholangioscopy(DPOC) using an ultraslim endoscope simplifies biliary cannulation. The conventional techniques are cumbersome to perform and require advanced skills. The recent introduction of the guidewires and balloons has improved the therapeutic outcomes. Here we describe an effective and easier method for performing DPOC using an ultraslim upper endoscope. METHODS: Indications for DPOC were the presence of stones on follow-up of patients who had previously undergone complete sphincteroplasty, including endoscopic sphincterotomy or endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation. Fifteen patients underwent DPOC. An ultraslim endoscope was inserted perorally and was advanced into the major papilla. The ampulla of Vater was visualized by retroflexing the endoscope in the distal second portion of the duodenum, and then DPOC was performed using a wire-guided cannulation technique with an anchored intraductal balloon catheter. RESULTS: One patient failed in the treatment due to looping of the endoscope in the fornix of the stomach. Fourteen(93.3%) were successfully treated with our modified DPOC technique. Only one patient(6.7%) experienced an adverse event(pancreatitis) who responded well to conservative management. Residual stones of the common bile duct were completely removed in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: The modified method of DPOC is simple, safe and easy to access the bile duct.

Digital single-operator cholangioscopy for biliary stricture after cadaveric liver transplantation

BACKGROUND Biliary strictures after liver transplantation(LT)remain clinically arduous and challenging situations,and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)has been considered as the gold standard for the management of biliary strictures after LT.Nevertheless,in the treatment of biliary strictures after LT with ERCP,many studies show that there is a large variation in diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic success rate.Digital single-operator peroral cholangioscopy(DSOC)is considered a valuable diagnostic modality for indeterminate biliary strictures.AIM To evaluate DSOC in addition to ERCP for management of biliary strictures after LT.METHODS Nineteen patients with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction who underwent ERCP for suspected biliary complications between March 2019 and March 2020 at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital,Capital Medical University,were consecutively enrolled in this observational study.After evaluating bile ducts using fluoroscopy,cholangioscopy using a modern digital single-operator cholangioscopy system(SpyGlass DS^(TM))was performed during the same procedure with patients under conscious sedation.All patients received peri-interventional antibiotic prophylaxis.Biliary strictures after LT were classified according to the manifestations of choledochoscopic strictures and the manifestations of transplanted hepatobiliary ducts.RESULTS Twenty-one biliary strictures were found in a total of 19 patients,among which anastomotic strictures were evident in 18(94.7%)patients,while non-anastomotic strictures in 2(10.5%),and space-occupying lesions in 1(5.3%).Stones were found in 11(57.9%)and loose sutures in 8(42.1%).A benefit of cholangioscopy was seen in 15(78.9%)patients.Cholangioscopy was crucial for selective guidewire placement prior to planned intervention in 4 patients.It was instrumental in identifying biliary stone and/or loose sutures in 9 patients in whom ERCP failed.It also provided a direct vision for laser lithotripsy.A spaceoccupying lesion in the bile duct was diagnosed by cholangioscopy in one patient.Patients with biliary stricture after LT displayed four types:(A)mild inflammatory change(n=9);(B)acute inflammatory change edema,ulceration,and sloughing(n=3);(C)chronic inflammatory change;and(D)acute suppurative change.Complications were seen in three patients with post-interventional cholangitis and another three with hyperamylasemia.CONCLUSION DSOC can provide important diagnostic information,helping plan and perform interventional procedures in LT-related biliary strictures.

Role of pancreatoscopy in management of pancreatic disease:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Per-oral pancreatoscopy(POP) plays a role in the diagnosis and therapy of pancreatic diseases. With recent technological advances, there has been renewed interest in this modality.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of POP in management of pancreatic stone disease and pancreatic ductal neoplasia.METHODS To determine the safety and efficacy of POP in the management of pancreatic diseases, a systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Ovid.Articles in languages other than English and case reports were excluded. All published case series were eligible. Data specific to POP were extracted from studies, which combined cholangiopancreatoscopy. Ten studies were included in the analysis of POP therapy for pancreatic stone disease, and 15 case series satisfied the criteria for inclusion for the role of POP in the management of pancreatic ductal neoplasia. The examined data were subcategorized according to adjunctive modalities, such as direct tissue sampling, cytology, the role of intraoperative POP, intraductal ultrasound(IDUS) and POP combined with image-enhancing technology.RESULTS The success rate for complete ductal stone clearance ranged from 37.5%-100%.Factors associated with failure included the presence of strictures, multiple stonesand the inability to visualize the target area. Although direct visualization can identify malignant and premalignant conditions, there is significant overlap with benign diseases. Visually-directed biopsies provide a high degree of accuracy,and represent a unique approach for tissue acquisition in patients with ductal abnormalities. Addition of pancreatic fluid cytology increases diagnostic yield for indeterminate lesions. Protrusions larger than 3 mm noted on IDUS are significantly more likely to be associated with malignancy. The rate of adverse events associated with POP ranged from 0%-35%.CONCLUSION Current evidence supports wider adoption of pancreatoscopy, as it is safe and effective. Improved patient selection and utilization of novel technologies may further enhance its role in managing pancreatic disease.

Peroral cholangioscopy for non-invasive papillary cholangio-carcinoma with extensive superficial ductal spread

Papillary carcinoma arising from the extrahepatic bile duct often shows superficial ductal spread. We report herein the case of a patient with extensive superficial spread of non-invasive papillary cholangiocarcinoma,which was depicted with peroral cholangioscopy. A 65-year-old woman presented with the sudden-onset of severe epigastric pain. Ultrasonography revealed acute acalculous cholecystitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography found small protruding lesions around the confluence of the cystic duct, suggestive of a cholangiocarcinoma. As the contour of the middle and upper bile ducts it was slightly irregular on the cholangiogram, the presence of superficial ductal spread was suspected. Peroral cholangioscopy revealed small papillary lesions around the confluence of the cystic duct and fine granular mucosal lesions in the middle and upper bile ducts and the right hepatic duct, suggesting a superficially spreading tumor. A right hepatectomy with bile duct resection was performed and no residual tumor was found. Histological examination revealed a non-invasive papillary carcinoma arising from the cystic duct with extensive superficial spread. Our experience of this case and a review of the literature suggest that a fine granular or fine papillary appearance of the ductal mucosae on cholangioscopy indicates superficial spread of papillary cholangiocarcinoma, for which peroral cholangioscopy is an efficient diagnostic option.

A case of eosinophilic cholangitis:Imaging findings ofcontrast-enhanced ultrasonography, cholangioscopy, andintraductal ultrasonography

A 38-year-old woman was referred to our institution due to epigastralgia. She presented with obstructive jaundice and eosinophilia. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed diffuse narrowing from the distal common bile duct to the bifurcation of the hepatic ducts. An endoscopic plastic biliary stent was inserted; the specimen obtained from the common bile duct wall revealed dense infiltration by eosinophils. Treatment was started with prednisolone 60 mg daily. The patient's biliary stenosis and eosinophilia gradually improved. Eosinophilic infiltration in the lungs or stomach is relatively common, but it is rare in the common bile duct. Most of the reported cases of eosinophilic cholangitis presented with eosinophilia; our patient's eosinophil count was over 1000/mm3. Since our patient had allergies to pollen and house dust, a relationship between the allergies and the eosinophilic cholangitis was suspected, but no cause was identified.