Histopathology and TB-PCR kit analysis in differentiating the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease

AIM: To compare the histopathologic features of intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) and Crohn’s disease (CD) and to identify whether polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB-PCR) would be helpful for differential diagnosis between ITB and CD.METHODS: We selected 97 patients with established diagnoses (55 cases of ITB and 42 cases of CD) who underwent colonoscopic biopsies.Microscopic features of ITB and CD were reviewed,and eight pathologic parameters were evaluated.Nine cases of acid fast bacilli culture-positive specimens and 10 normal colonic tissue specimens were evaluated as the positive and negative control of the TB-PCR test,respectively.PCR assays were done using two commercial kits: kit <A> detected IS6110 and MPB64,and kit <B> detected IS6110 only;a manual in-house PCR method was also performed on formalin-fi xed,paraffi n-embedded colonoscopic biopsy specimens.RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were noted between ITB and CD with regard histopathologic criteria: size of granulomas (P = 0.000),giant cells (P = 0.015),caseation necrosis (P = 0.003),confluent granulomas (P = 0.001),discrete granulomas (P = 0.000),and granulomas with lymphoid cuffs (P = 0.037).However,29 cases (52.7%) of ITB showed less than fi ve kinds of pathologic parameters,resulting in confusion with CD.The sensitivities and specificities of the TB-PCR test by kit <A>,kit <B>,and the in-house PCR method were 88.9% and 100%,88.9% and 100%,and 66.7% and 100% in positive and negative controls,respectively.The PCR test done on endoscopic biopsy specimens of ITB and CD were signifi cantly different with kit <A> (P = 0.000) and kit <B> (P = 0.000).The sensitivities and specifi cities of TB-PCR were 45.5% and 88.1%,36.4% and 100%,and 5.8% and 100%,for kit <A> and kit <B> and inhouse PCR method on endoscopic biopsy specimens.Among the 29 cases of histopathologically confusing CD,10 cases assayed using kit <A> and 6 cases assayed using kit <B> were TB-PCR positive.A combination of histologic fi ndings and TB-PCR testing led to an increase of diagnostic sensitivity and the increase (from 47.3% to 58.2) was statistically signifi cant with kit <B> (P = 0.000).CONCLUSION: The TB-PCR test combined with histopathologic factors appears to be a helpful technique in formulating the differential diagnosis of ITB and CD in endoscopic biopsy samples.

Giant choledocholithiasis treated by mechanical lithotripsy using a gastric bezoar basket

Mechanical lithotripsy(ML) is usually considered as a standard treatment option for large bile duct stones.However,it is impossible to retrieve oversized stones because the conventional lithotripsy basket may not be able to grasp the stone.However,there is no established endoscopic extraction method for such giant stone removal.We describe a case of successful extraction of a 4-cm large stone using a gastric bezoar basket.A 78-year-old woman had suffered from upper abdominal pain for 20 d.Contrast-enhanced computed tomogram revealed a 4-cm single stone in the distal common bile duct(CBD).Endoscopic stone retraction was decided upon and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation was performed using a large balloon.An attempt to capture the stone using a standard lithotripsy basket failed due to the large stone size.Subsequently,we used a gastric bezoar basket to successfully capturethe stone.The stone was fragmented into small pieces and extracted.The stone was completely removed after two sessions of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography;each of which took 30 min.No complications occurred during or after the procedure.The patient was fully recovered and discharged on day 11 of hospitalization.ML using a gastric bezoar basket is a safe and effective retrieval method in select cases,and is considered as an alternative nonoperative option for the management of difficult CBD stones.

Effectiveness of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound for the evaluation of solid pancreatic masses

AIM:To evaluate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound(CH-EUS)in differentiating between pancreatic adenocarcinomas and other pancreatic disease.METHODS:This retrospective cohort study evaluated90 patients who were seen between November 2010and May 2013.All these patients had solid pancreatic masses that had a hypoechoic appearance on EUS.All patients underwent CH-EUS to evaluate this diagnostic method’s usefulness.The mass lesions observed on CH-EUS were classified into three categories based on their echo intensity:hypoenhanced,isoenhanced,and hyperenhanced lesions.We adjusted the sensitivity and the specificity of each category for detecting malignancies.We also estimated the accuracy of CH-EUS by comparing it to a pathological diagnosis.RESULTS:Of the 90 patients,62 had a pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Fifty-seven out of 62 pancreatic adenocarcinomas showed a hypoenhanced pattern on CHEUS.The sensitivity was 92%,the specificity 68%and the accuracy approximately 82%.The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic analysis for CH-EUS was 0.799.There is a significant association between the hypoenhanced pattern on CH-EUS and pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma(χ2=35.264,P<0.001).In pathological examinations,the number of specimens for EUS-fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA)was considered insufficient for diagnosis in three patients,and in two patients,the results were reported to be negative for malignancy.Pancreatic masses in all five patients revealed a hypoenhanced pattern with CH-EUS.Three patients were diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on the pathology results of a biopsy,and the remaining two patients were clinically diagnosed with malignancy.CONCLUSION:CH-EUS is useful for distinguishing between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and other pancreatic disease.When a pancreatic mass shows a hypoenhanced pattern on CH-EUS but involves either insufficient samples or negative results with EUS-FNA,clinicians might consider performing another pathologic diagnosis on the basis of an EUS-FNA sample or a biopsy.