Review of lymphoma in the duodenum: An update of diagnosis and management

The presentation,subtype,and macroscopic images of lymphoma vary depending on the site of the tumor within the gastrointestinal tract.We searched PubMed for publications between January 1,2012 and October 10,2022,and retrieved 130 articles relating to duodenal lymphoma.A further 22 articles were added based on the manual screening of relevant articles,yielding 152 articles for full-text review.The most predominant primary duodenal lymphoma was follicular lymphoma.In this review,we provide an update of the diagnosis and management of representative lymphoma subtypes occurring in the duodenum:Follicular lymphoma,diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue,mantle cell lymphoma,and Tcell lymphomas.

Review of the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bezoars

The formation of a bezoar is a relatively infrequentdisorder that affects the gastrointestinal system.Bezoars are mainly classified into four types dependingon the material constituting the indigestible mass of thebezoar phytobezoars, trichobezoars, pharmacobezoars,and lactobezoars. Gastric bezoars often cause ulcerativelesions in the stomach and subsequent bleeding,whereas small intestinal bezoars present with smallbowel obstruction and ileus. A number of articles haveemphasized the usefulness of Coca-Cola？ administrationfor the dissolution of phytobezoars. However, persimmonphytobezoars may be resistant to such dissolutiontreatment because of their harder consistency comparedto other types of phytobezoars. Better understanding ofthe etiology and epidemiology of each type of bezoarwill facilitate prompt diagnosis and management.Here we provide an overview of the prevalence, classification,predisposing factors, and manifestations ofbezoars. Diagnosis and management strategies arealso discussed, reviewing mainly our own case series.Recent progress in basic research regarding persimmonphytobezoars is also briefly reviewed.

Prognosis of ulcerative colitis differs between patients with complete and partial mucosal healing, which can be predicted from the platelet count

AIM:To determine the difference in clinical outcome between ulcerative colitis(UC)patients with Mayo endoscopic subscore(MES)0 and those with MES 1.METHODS:UC patients with sustained clinical remission of 6 mo or more at the time of colonoscopy were examined for clinical outcomes and the hazard ratios of clinical relapse according to MES.Parameters,including blood tests,to identify predictive factors for MES 0and slight endoscopic recurrence in clinically stablepatients were assessed.Moreover,a receiver operating characteristic curve was generated,and the area under the curve was calculated to indicate the utility of the parameters for the division between complete and partial mucosal healing.All P values were two-sided and considered significant when less than 0.05.RESULTS:A total of 183 patients with clinical remission were examined.Patients with MES 0(complete mucosal healing:n=80,44%)were much less likely to relapse than those with MES 1(partial mucosal healing:n=89,48%)(P<0.0001,log-rank test),and the hazard ratio of risk of relapse in patients with MES 1 vs MES0 was 8.17(95%CI:4.19-17.96,P<0.0001).The platelet count(PLT)<26×104/μL was an independent predictive factor for complete mucosal healing(OR=4.1,95%CI:2.15-7.99).Among patients with MES 0 at the initial colonoscopy,patients of whom colonoscopy findings shifted to MES 1 showed significant increases in PLT compared to those who maintained MES 0(3.8×104/μL vs-0.6×104/μL,P<0.0001).CONCLUSION:The relapse rate differed greatly between patients with complete and partial mucosal healing.A shift from complete to partial healing in clinically stable UC patients can be predicted by monitoring PLT.

Chromoendoscopy of gastric adenoma using an acetic acid indigocarmine mixture

AIM:To investigate the usefulness of chromoendoscopy,using an acetic acid indigocarmine mixture(AIM),for gastric adenoma diagnosed by forceps biopsy.METHODS:A total of 54 lesions in 45 patients diagnosed as gastric adenoma by forceps biopsy were prospectively enrolled in this study and treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)between January 2011 and January 2012.AIM-chromoendoscopy(AIMCE)was performed followed by ESD.AIM solution was sprinkled and images were recorded every 30 s for 3min.Clinical characteristics such as tumor size(<2cm,≥2 cm),surface color in white light endoscopy(WLE)(whitish,normochromic or reddish),macroscopic appearance(flat or elevated,depressed),and reddish change in AIM-CE were selected as valuables.RESULTS:En bloc resection was achieved in all 54 cases,with curative resection of fifty two lesions(96.3%).Twenty three lesions(42.6%)were diagnosed as welldifferentiated adenocarcinoma and the remaining 31lesions(57.4%)were gastric adenoma.All adenocarcinoma lesions were well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinomas and were restricted within the mucosal layer.The sensitivity of reddish color change in AIM-CE is significantly higher than that in WLE(vs tumor size≥2 cm,P=0.016,vs normochromic or reddish surface color,P=0.046,vs depressed macroscopic type,P=0.0030).On the other hand,no significant differences were found in the specificity and accuracy.In univariate analysis,normochromic or reddish surface color in WLE(OR=3.7,95%CI:1.2-12,P=0.022)and reddish change in AIM-CE(OR=14,95%CI:3.8-70,P<0.001)were significantly related to diagnosis of early gastric cancer(EGC).In multivariate analysis,only reddish change in AIM-CE(OR=11,95%CI:2.3-66,P=0.0022)was a significant factor associated with diagnosis of EGC.CONCLUSION:AIM-CE may have potential for screening EGC in patients initially diagnosed as gastric adenoma by forceps biopsy.

Endoscopic features and prognoses of mantle cell lymphoma with gastrointestinal involvement

AIM: To evaluate the endoscopic manifestations and prognoses of gastrointestinal (GI) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). METHODS: A database search at the Department of Pathology of Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences revealed 57 MCL patients with GI involvement. Clinical records were available for 35 of the 57 patients from 21 institutions, and those 35 patients were enrolled in this study. We summarized the gross types of endoscopic features, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) of those patients.RESULTS: Of the 35 patients, GI involvement in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum was found in 2 (5.7%), 26 (74.3%), and 12 (34.3%) patients, respectively. Twenty-one of the 35 patients underwent colonoscopy; among them, GI involvement in the ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum was found in 10 (47.6%), 3 (14.3%), 12 (57.1%), and 10 (47.6%), respectively. Various lesions, such as superficial, protruded, fold thickening, or ulcerative, were found in the stomach, whereas multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) was dominant from the duodenum to the rectum. Twelve patients were treated with a hyper-CVAD/MA regimen, and they had better OS (3-year rate, 88.3% vs 46.4%, P < 0.01) and better EFS (3-year rate, 66.7% vs 33.8%, P < 0.05) than the remaining 23 patients who were not treated with this regimen. CONCLUSION: MLP was a representative form of intestinal involvement, whereas a variety of lesions were found in the stomach. The hyper-CVAD/MA regimen may improve survival in these patients.

Tolerability of magnifying narrow band imaging endoscopy for esophageal cancer screening

AIM:To compare the tolerability of magnifying narrow band imaging endoscopy for esophageal cancer screening with that of lugol chromoendoscopy.METHODS:We prospectively enrolled and analyzed 51 patients who were at high risk for esophageal cancer.All patients were divided into two groups:a magnifying narrow band imaging group,and a lugol chromoendoscopy group,for comparison of adverse symptoms.Esophageal cancer screening was performed on withdrawal of the endoscope.The primary endpoint was a score on a visual analogue scale for heartburn after the examination.The secondary endpoints were scale scores for retrosternal pain and dyspnea after the examinations,change in vital signs,total procedure time,and esophageal observation time.RESULTS:The scores for heartburn and retrosternal pain in the magnifying narrow band imaging group were significantly better than those in the lugol chromoendoscopy group(P =0.004,0.024,respectively,ANOVA for repeated measures).The increase in heart rate after the procedure was significantly greater in the lugol chromoendoscopy group.There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to othervital sign.The total procedure time and esophageal observation time in the magnifying narrow band imaging group were significantly shorter than those in the lugol chromoendoscopy group(450 ± 116 vs 565 ± 174,P =0.004,44 ± 26 vs 151 ± 72,P < 0.001,respectively).CONCLUSION:Magnifying narrow band imaging endoscopy reduced the adverse symptoms compared with lugol chromoendoscopy.Narrow band imaging endoscopy is useful and suitable for esophageal cancer screening periodically.

Diagnosis of follicular lymphoma of the gastrointestinaltract:A better initial diagnostic workup

Due to an increasing incidence and more frequent recognition by endoscopists, gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma has been established as a variant of follicular lymphoma. However, due to its rarity, there are no established guidelines on the optimal diagnostic strategy for patients with primary gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma or secondary gastrointestinal involvement of systemic follicular lymphoma. This review offers an overview and pitfalls to avoid during the initial diagnostic workup of this disease entity. Previously reported case reports, case series, and retrospective studies are reviewed and focus on the disease's endoscopic and histological features, the roles of computed tomography and positron emission tomography scanning, the clinical utility of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and the possible pathogenesis.

Ulcerative colitis patients in clinical remission demonstrate correlations between fecal immunochemical test results, mucosal healing, and risk of relapse

AIM: To assess the risk of relapse in ulcerative colitis(UC) patients in clinical remission using mucosal status and fecal immunochemical test(FIT) results. METHODS: The clinical outcomes of 194 UC patients in clinical remission who underwent colonoscopy were based on evaluations of Mayo endoscopic subscores(MESs) and FIT results.RESULTS: Patients with an MES of 0(n = 94, 48%) showed a ten-fold lower risk of relapse than those with an MES of 1-3(n = 100, 52%)(HR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.05-0.19). A negative FIT result(fecal hemoglobin concentrations ≤ 100 ng/m L) was predictive of patients with an MES of 0, with a sensitivity of 0.94 and a specific of 0.76. Moreover, patients with a negative FIT score had a six-fold lower risk of clinical relapse than those with a positive score(HR = 0.17, 95%CI: 0.10-0.28). Inclusion of the distinguishing parameter, sustaining clinical remission > 12 mo, resulted in an even stronger correlation between negative FIT results and an MES of 0 with respect to the risk of clinical relapse(HR = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.04-0.23).CONCLUSION: Negative FIT results one year or more after remission induction correlate with complete mucosal healing(MES 0) and better prognosis. Performing FIT one year after remission induction may be useful for evaluating relapse risk.

Long-term follow-up of ulcerative colitis patients treated on the basis of their cytomegalovirus antigen status

AIM:To clarify the impact of cytomegalovirus(CMV)activation and antiviral therapy based on CMV antigen status on the long-term clinical course of ulcerative colitis(UC)patients.METHODS:UC patients with flare-up were divided into CMV-positive and-negative groups according to the CMV antigenemia assay.The main treatment strategy provided for the patients in the CMV-positive group comprised a dose reduction of corticosteroids and administration of ganciclovir.RESULTS:The median number of days to initial remission was significantly greater for the patients in the CMV-positive group(21 d vs 16 d,P=0.009).However,the relapse rate after remission and colectomy rate during more than 30 mo of observation did not differ between the two groups.Multivariate analysis revealed that administration of ganciclovir was the only independent factor for avoiding colectomy in patients of the CMV-positive group.CONCLUSION:CMV antigen status did not significantly affect the long-term prognosis in UC patients under treatment with appropriate antiviral therapy.

Partial stent-in-stent placement of biliary metallic stents using a short double-balloon enteroscopy

Endoscopic intervention is less invasive than percutaneous or surgical approaches and should be considered the primary drainage procedure in most cases with obstructive jaundice.Recently,therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) using double-balloon enteroscopy(DBE) has been shown to be feasible and effective,even in patients with surgically altered anatomies.On the other hand,endoscopic partial stent-in-stent(PSIS) placement of selfexpandable metallic stents(SEMSs) for malignant hilar biliary obstruction in conventional ERCP has also been shown to be feasible,safe and effective.We performed PSIS placement of SEMSs for malignant hilar biliary obstruction due to liver metastasis using a short DBE in a patient with Roux-en-Y anastomosis and achieved technical and clinical success.This procedure can result in quick relief from obstructive jaundice in a single session and with short-term hospitalization,even in patients with surgically altered anatomies.

Primary intestinal follicular lymphoma:How to identify follicular lymphoma by routine endoscopy

A 69-year-old Japanese female was diagnosed with primary intestinal follicular lymphoma. Esophagogas-troduodenoscopy with high-definition imaging revealed not only the typical feature of whitish polyps of up to 2 mm in diameter in the duodenal second and third portions, but also more detailed morphology, such as enlarged whitish villi and tiny whitish depositions. These findings appeared to reflect the pathological structures; infiltration of lymphoma cells into the villi were probably seen as enlargement of the villi, and the formation of lymphoid follicles were shown as opaque white spots or tiny white depositions. Thus, the above features might contribute to the distinct diagnosis of intestinal follicular lymphoma. This case indicates that routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy can visualize microsurface structures, which can be pathognomonic and help to diagnose intestinal follicular lymphoma, even without magnifying endoscopy.

Review of the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lanthanum deposition

Lanthanum carbonate is used for treatment of hyperphosphatemia mostly in patients with chronic renal failure.Although lanthanum carbonate is safe,recently,lanthanum deposition in the gastrointestinal mucosa of patients has been reported in the literature.This review provides an overview of gastroduodenal lanthanum deposition and focuses on disease's endoscopic,radiological,and histological features,prevalence,and outcome,by reviewing relevant clinical studies,case reports,and basic research findings,to better understand the endoscopic manifestation of gastrointestinal lanthanum deposition.The possible relationship between gastric lanthanum deposition pattern and gastric mucosal atrophy is also illustrated;in patients without gastric mucosal atrophy,gastric lanthanum deposition appears as diffuse white lesions in the posterior wall and lesser curvature of the gastric body.In the gastric mucosa with atrophy,lanthanum-related lesions likely appear as annular or granular whitish lesions.Moreover,these white lesions are probably more frequently observed in the lower part of the stomach,where intestinal metaplasia begins.

Management of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in patients with extra copies of the MALT1 gene

AIM To identify the clinical features of gastric mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma with extra copies of MALT1.METHODS This is a multi-centered,retrospective study. We reviewed 146 patients with MALT lymphoma in the stomach who underwent fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for t(11;18) translocation. Patients were subdivided into patients without t(11;18) translocation or extra copies of MALT1(Group A,n = 88),patients with t(11;18) translocation(Group B,n = 27),and patients with extra copies of MALT1(Group C,n = 31). The clinical background,treatment,and outcomes of each group were investigated.RESULTS Groups A and C showed slight female predominance,whereas Group B showed slight male predominance. Mean ages and clinical stages at lymphoma diagnosis were not different between groups. Complete response was obtained in 61 patients in Group A(69.3%),22 in Group B(81.5%),and 21 in Group C(67.7%). Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication alone resulted in complete remission in 44 patients in Group A and 13 in Group C. In Group B,14 patients underwent radiotherapy alone,which resulted in lymphoma disappearance. Although the difference was not statistically significant,event-free survival in Group C tended to be inferior to that in Group A(P = 0.10).CONCLUSION Patients with t(11;18) translocation should be treated differently from others. Patients with extra copies of MALT1 could be initially treated with H. pylori eradication,similar to patients without t(11;18) translocation or extra copies of MALT1.

Successful biliary drainage using a metal stent through the gastric stoma

We report a case of biliary drainage for malignant stricture using a metal stent with an ultrathin endoscope through the gastric stoma. A 78-year-old female was referred to our hospital for jaundice and fever. She had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy(PEG) for esophageal obstruction after radiation therapy for cancer of the pharynx. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a 3-cm enhanced mass in the middle bile duct and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct. We initially performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) with a trans-oral approach. However, neither the side-viewing endoscope nor the ultrathin endoscope passed through the esophageal orifice. Thus, we eventually performed ERCP via the PEG stoma using an ultrathin endoscope. We performed biliary drainage with a 6F introducer selfexpanding metal stent. The cytology findings obtained by brush cytology showed malignancy. Her laboratory results were restored to normal levels after drainage and no complication occurred.

Randomized study of lafutidine vs lansoprazole in patients with mild gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM: To compare the clinical efficacy of the secondgeneration H2 RA lafutidine with that of lansoprazole in Japanese patients with mild gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). METHODS: Patients with symptoms of GERD and a diagnosis of grade A reflux esophagitis(according to the Los Angeles classification) were randomized to receive lafutidine(10 mg, twice daily) or lansoprazole(30 mg, once daily) for an initial 8 wk, followed by maintenance treatment comprising half-doses of the assigned drug for 24 wk. The primary endpoint was the frequency and severity of heartburn during initial and maintenance treatment. The secondary endpoints were the sum score of questions 2 and 3 in the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale(GSRS), and the satisfaction score.RESULTS: Between April 2012 and March 2013, a total of 53 patients were enrolled, of whom 24 and 29 received lafutidine and lansoprazole, respectively. After 8 wk, the frequency and severity of heartburn was significantly reduced in both groups. However, lafutidine was significantly inferior to lansoprazole with regard to the severity of heartburn during initial and maintenance treatment(P = 0.016). The sum score of questions 2 and 3 in the GSRS, and satisfaction scores were also significantly worse in the lafutidine group than the lansoprazole group(P = 0.0068 and P = 0.0048, respectively).CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of lafutidine was inferior to that of lansoprazole, even in Japanese patients with mild GERD.

Clinicopathological characteristics of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive Barrett's adenocarcinoma

AIM:To compare the clinicopathological characteristics of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and HER2-negative Barrett's adenocarcinoma in Japan. METHODS:We performed immunohistochemical analysis of HER2 in 30 samples taken from patients with Barrett's adenocarcinoma and dual color in situ hybridization in cases showing 2+ reactions. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics of HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients.RESULTS:HER2 positivity was identified in 8 (27%) carcinoma samples. We found that HER2 expression was associated with p53 overexpression (100% vs 52.6% in pT1 tumor; 100% vs 54.5% in all stage tumor, P < 0.05) and protruding lesions at the early disease stage. There was no association between the mucin phenotype of the carcinomas and prognosis. HER2 expression and low clinical stage were unexpectedly different between Barrett's adenocarcinoma patients and gastric cancer patients, but the macroscopic features may be associated with earlier diagnosis in these patients. CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that HER2-positive Barrett's adenocarcinomas are associated with p53 overexpression and lesion protrusion at the early disease stage.

Circulating tumor DNA dynamics analysis in a xenograft mouse model with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND It remains unclear which factors,such as tumor volume and tumor invasion,influence circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA),and the origin of ctDNA in liquid biopsy is always problematic.To use liquid biopsies clinically,it will be very important to address these questions.AIM To assess the origin of ctDNA,clarify the dynamics of ctDNA levels,assess ctDNA levels by using a xenograft mouse after treatment,and to determine whether tumor volume and invasion are related to ctDNA levels.METHODS Tumor xenotransplants were established by inoculating BALB/c-nu/nu mice with the TE11 cell line.Groups of mice were injected with xenografts at two or four sites and sacrificed at the appropriate time point after xenotransplantation for ctDNA analysis.Analysis of ctDNA was performed by droplet digital PCR,using the human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT)gene.RESULTS Mice given two-site xenografts were sacrificed for ctDNA at week 4 and week 8.No hTERT was detected at week 4,but it was detected at week 8.However,in four-site xenograft mice,hTERT was detected both at week 4 and week 6.These experiments revealed that both tumor invasion and tumor volume were asso ciated with the detection of ctDNA.In resection experiments,hTERT was detected at resection,but had decreased by 6 h,and was no longer detected 1 and 3 d after resection.CONCLUSION We clarified the origin and dynamics of ctDNA,showing that tumor volume is an important factor.We also found that when the tumor was completely resected,ctDNA was absent after one or more days.

Prediction of flare-ups of ulcerative colitis using quantitative immunochemical fecal occult blood test

AIM:To examine the feasibility of predicting the flareup of ulcerative colitis (UC) before symptoms emerge using the immunochemical fecal occult blood test (IFOBT).METHODS:We prospectively measured fecal hemoglobin concentrations in 78 UC patients using the I-FOBT every 1 or 2 mo.RESULTS:During a 20 mo-period,823 fecal samples from 78 patients were submitted.The median concentration of fecal hemoglobin was 41 ng/mL (range:0-392 500 ng/mL).There were three types of patients with regard to the correlation between I-FOBT and patient symptoms;the synchronous transition type with symptoms (44 patients),the unrelated type withsymptoms (19 patients),and the flare-up predictive type (15 patients).In patients with the flare-up predictive type,the values of I-FOBT were generally low during the study period with stable symptoms.Two to four weeks before the flare-up of symptoms,the I-FOBT values were high.Thus,in these patients,I-FOBT could predict the flare-up before symptoms emerged.CONCLUSION:Flare-up could be predicted by I-FOBT in approximately 20% of UC patients.These results warrant periodical I-FOBT in UC patients.

Diagnostic role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for follicular lymphoma with gastrointestinal involvement

AIM:To investigate the capacity for 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG) positron emission tomography(PET) to evaluate patients with gastrointestinal lesions of follicular lymphoma.METHODS:This retrospective case series consisted of 41 patients with follicular lymphoma and gastrointestinal involvement who underwent 18F-FDG-PET and endoscopic evaluations at ten different institutions between November 1996 and October 2011.Data for endoscopic,radiological,and biological examinations performed were retrospectively reviewed from clinical records.A semi-quantitative analysis of 18F-FDG uptake was performed for each involved area by calculating the maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax).Based on the positivity of 18F-FDG uptake in the gastrointestinal lesions analyzed,patients were subdivided into two groups.To identify potential predictive factors for 18F-FDG positivity,these two groups were compared with respect to gender,age at diagnosis of lymphoma,histopathological grade,pattern of follicular dendritic cells,mitotic rate,clinical stage,soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels detected by 18F-FDG-PET,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) levels,hemoglobin levels,bone marrow involvement,detectability of gastrointestinal lesions by computed tomography(CT) scanning,and follicular lymphoma international prognostic index(FLIPI) risk.RESULTS:Involvement of follicular lymphoma in the stomach,duodenum,jejunum,ileum,cecum,colon,and rectum was identified in 1,34,6,3,2,3,and 6 patients,respectively.No patient had esophageal involvement.In total,19/41(46.3%) patients exhibited true-positive 18F-FDG uptake in the lesions present in their gastrointestinal tract.In contrast,false-negative 18F-FDG uptake was detected in 24 patients(58.5%),while false-positive 18F-FDG uptake was detected in 5 patients(12.2%).In the former case,2/19 patients had both 18F-FDG-positive lesions and 18F-FDGnegative lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.In patients with 18F-FDG avidity,the SUVmax value of the involved gastrointestinal tract ranged from 2.6 to 17.4(median:4.7).For the 18F-FDG-negative(n = 22) and-positive(n = 19) groups,there were no differences in the male to female ratios(10/12 vs 4/15,P = 0.186),patient age(63.6 ± 2.4 years vs 60.1 ± 2.6 years,P = 0.323),presence of histopathological grade 1 vs 2(20/2 and 17/2,P = 1.000),follicular dendritic cell pattern(duodenal/nodal:13/5 vs 10/3,P = 1.000),mitotic rate(low/partly high,14/1 vs 10/3,P = 0.311),clinical stage according to the Ann Arbor system(stages ⅠE and ⅡE/other,15/7 vs 15/4,P = 0.499),clinical stage according to the Lugano system(stages Ⅰ and Ⅱ-1/other,14/8 vs 14/5,P = 0.489),soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels(495 ± 78 vs 402 ± 83,P = 0.884),LDH levels(188 ± 7 vs 183 ± 8,P = 0.749),hemoglobin levels(13.5 ± 0.3 vs 12.8 ± 0.4,P = 0.197),bone marrow involvement(positive/negative,1/8 vs 1/10,P = 1.000),detectability by CT scanning(positive/negative,1/16 vs 4/13,P = 0.335),and FLIPI risk(low risk/other,16/6 vs 13/6,P = 0.763),respectively in each case.CONCLUSION:These findings indicate that it is not feasible to predict 18F-FDG-avidity.Therefore,18FFDG-PET scans represent a complementary modality for the detection of gastrointestinal involvements in follicular lymphoma patients,and surveillance of the entire gastrointestinal tract by endoscopic examinations is required.

Dilation of a severe bilioenteric or pancreatoenteric anastomotic stricture using a Soehendra Stent Retriever

Bilioenteric or pancreatoenteric anastomotic stric-tures often occur after surgery for a pancreaticobiliary disorder. Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholan-giopancreatography using balloon enteroscopy has been shown to be feasible and effective in patients with such strictures. However, when a benign anas-tomotic stricture is severe, a dilation catheter cannot pass through the stricture despite successful insertion of the guidewire. We report on the usefulness of the Soehendra Stent Retriever over a guidewire for dilating a severe bilioenteric or pancreatoenteric anastomotic stricture under short double-balloon enteroscopy, in two patients with surgically altered anatomies.