Double guidewire technique vs transpancreatic precut sphincterotomy in difficult biliary cannulation

AIM:To compare the outcomes between doubleguidewire technique(DGT) and transpancreatic precut sphincterotomy(TPS) in patients with difficult biliary cannulation.METHODS:This was a prospective,randomized study conducted in single tertiary referral hospital in Korea.Between January 2005 and September 2010.A total of 71 patients,who bile duct cannulation was not possible and selective pancreatic duct cannulation was achieved,were randomized into DGT(n = 34) and TPS(n = 37) groups.DGT or TPS was done for selective biliary cannulation.We measured the technical success rates of biliary cannulation,median cannulation time,and procedure related complications.RESULTS:The distribution of patients after randomization was balanced,and both groups were comparable in baseline characteristics,except the higher percentage of endoscopic nasobiliary drainage in the DGT group(55.9% vs 13.5%,P < 0.001).Successful cannulation rate and mean cannulation times in DGT and TPS groups were 91.2% vs 91.9% and 14.1 ± 13.2 min vs 15.4 ± 17.9 min,P = 0.732,respectively.There was no significant difference between the two groups.The overall incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) pancreatitis was 38.2% vs 10.8%,P < 0.011 in the DGT group and the TPS group;post-procedure pancreatitis was significantly higher in the DGT group.But the overall incidence of post-ERCP hyperamylasemia was no significant difference between the two groups;DGT group vs TPS group:14.7% vs 16.2%,P < 1.0.CONCLUSION:When free bile duct cannulation was difficult and selective pancreatic duct cannulation was achieved,DGT and TPS facilitated biliary cannulation and showed similar success rates.However,post-procedure pancreatitis was significantly higher in the DGT group.

Diagnostic value for extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma in positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan

AIM: To evaluated the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extrahepatic metastases. METHODS: A total of 138 patients with HCC who had both conventional imaging modalities and 18F-FDG PET/CT scan done between November 2006 and March 2011 were enrolled. Diagnostic value of each imaging modality for detection of extrahepatic metastases was evaluated. Clinical factors and tumor characteristics including PET imaging were analyzed as indicative factors for metastases by univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: The accuracy of chest CT was significantly superior compared with the accuracy of PET imaging for detecting lung metastases. The detection rate of metastatic pulmonary nodule ≥ 1 cm was 12/13 (92.3%), when < 1 cm was 2/10 (20%) in PET imaging. The accuracy of PET imaging was significantly superior compared with the accuracy of bone scan for detecting bone metastases. In multivariate analy- sis, increased tumor size (≥ 5 cm) (P = 0.042) and increased average standardized uptake value (SUV) uptake (P = 0.028) were predictive factors for extrahepatic metastases. Isometabolic HCC in PET imaging was inversely correlated in multivariate analysis (P = 0.035). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff of average SUV to predict extrahepatic metastases was 3.4. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT scan is invaluable for detection of lung metastases larger than 1 cm and bone metastases. Primary HCC having larger than 5 cm and increased average SUV uptake more than 3.4 should be considered for extrahepatic metastases.

Pancreatic pseudocyst filled with semisolid lipids mimicking solid mass on endoscopic ultrasound

Pancreatic pseudocysts,which account for 70%-90% of pancreatic cystic lesions,characteristically are non-epithelially lined cystic cavities that are contiguous with the pancreas. Pancreatic pseudocysts can be caused by acute,chronic or traumatic pancreatitis and should be differentiated from other pancreatic diseases with cystic appearances,especially cystic neoplasms. We report a unique case of a pancreatic pseudocyst filled with semisolid lipids,which appeared by endoscopic ultrasound as a solid mass,and was therefore resected.