Combination of two-hour post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography amylase levels and cannulation times is useful for predicting post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

AIM To estimate the efficacy of 2 h post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) serum amylase levels and other factors for predicting postERCP pancreatitis.METHODS This was a retrospective,single-center cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent ERCP from January 2010 to December 2013.Serum amylase levels were measured 2 h post-procedure,and patient- and procedure-related pancreatitis(PEP) risk factors wereanalyzed using a logistic model.RESULTS A total of 1520 cases(average age 72 ± 12 years,60% male) were initially enrolled in this study,and 1403 cases(725 patients) were ultimately analyzed after the exclusion of 117 cases.Fifty-five of these cases developed PEP.We established a 2 h serum amylase cutoff level of two times the upper limit of normal for predicting PEP.Multivariate analysis revealed that a cannulation time of more than 13 min [odds ratio(OR) 2.28,95%CI:1.132-4.651,P=0.0210] and 2 h amylase levels greater than the cutoff level(OR=24.1,95%CI:11.56-57.13,P<0.0001) were significant predictive factors for PEP.Forty-seven of the 55 patients who developed PEP exhibited 2 h amylase levels greater than the cutoff level(85%),and six of the remaining eight patients who developed PEP(75%) required longer cannulation times.Only 2 of the 1403 patients(0.14%) who developed PEP did not exhibit concerning 2 h amylase levels or require longer cannulation times.CONCLUSION These findings indicate that the combination of 2 h post-ERCP serum amylase levels and cannulation times represents a valuable marker for identifying patients at high risk for PEP.

Narrow pelvic inlet plane area and obesity as risk factors for anastomotic leakage after intersphincteric resection

BACKGROUND Intersphincteric resection(ISR)has been increasingly used as the ultimate sphincter-preserving procedure in extremely low rectal cancer.The most critical complication of this technique is anastomotic leakage.The incidence rate of anastomotic leakage after ISR has been reported to range from 5.1%to 20%.AIM To investigate risk factors for anastomotic leakage after ISR based on clinicopathological variables and pelvimetry.METHODS This study was conducted at Department of Colorectal Surgery,Japanese Red Cross Medical Center,Tokyo,Japan,with a total of 117 patients.We enrolled 117 patients with extremely low rectal cancer who underwent laparotomic and laparoscopic ISRs at our hospital.We conducted retrospective univariate and multivariate regression analyses on 33 items to elucidate the risk factors for anastomotic leakage after ISR.Pelvic dimensions were measured using threedimensional reconstruction of computed tomography images.The optimal cutoff value of the pelvic inlet plane area that predicts anastomotic leakage was determined using a receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.RESULTS We observed anastomotic leakage in 10(8.5%)of the 117 patients.In the multivariate analysis,we identified high body mass index(odds ratio 1.674;95%confidence interval:1.087-2.58;P=0.019)and smaller pelvic inlet plane area(odds ratio 0.998;95%confidence interval:0.997-0.999;P=0.012)as statistically significant risk factors for anastomotic leakage.According to the receiver operating characteristic curves,the optimal cutoff value of the pelvic inlet plane area was 10074 mm2.Narrow pelvic inlet plane area(≤10074 mm2)predicted anastomotic leakage with a sensitivity of 90%,a specificity of 85.9%,and an accuracy of 86.3%.CONCLUSION Narrow pelvic inlet and obesity were independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage after ISR.Anastomotic leakage after ISR may be predicted from a narrow pelvic inlet plane area(≤10074 mm2).

Esophageal carcinoma originating in the surface epithelium with immunohistochemically proven esophageal gland duct differentiation: A case report

A case of esophageal carcinoma exclusively composed of adenocarcinoma simulating an esophageal gland duct in a 61-year-old man is presented. The tumor arose as a slightly elevated lesion in the middle intrathoracic esophagus. It was almost completely overlaid with nonneoplastic stratified squamous epithelial cells. Beneath the overlying surface epithelium, an adenocarcinoma that was bilayered in structure diffusely invaded both the mucosal and submucosal layers. Although the tumor consisted exclusively of adenocarcinomatous cells, a keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma component was focally observed. The invasive carcinoma was focally continuous with the small area of the surface squamous epithelial layer, which was confirmed to be neoplastic by immunohistochemistry. Morphological and immunohistochemical examinations suggested that the adenocarcinomatous component arose from the esophageal surface epithelium and clearly differentiated into an esophageal gland duct. It is important to consider the possibility of this type of adenocarcinoma when diagnosing a ductal or glandular lesion of the esophagus in small biopsy specimens.

Clinically diagnosed late-onset fulminant Wilson's disease without cirrhosis: A case report

A 64-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with jaundice of the bulbar conjunctiva and general fatigue. After admission, she developed hepatic encephalopathy and was diagnosed with fulminant hepatitis based on the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease(AASLD) position paper. Afterwards, additional laboratory findings revealed that serum ceruloplasmin levels were reduced, urinary copper levels were greatly elevated and Wilson's disease(WD)-specific routine tests were positive, but the Kayser-Fleischer ring was not clear. Based on the AASLD practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of WD, the patient was ultimately diagnosed with fulminant WD. Then, administration of penicillamine and zinc acetate was initiated; however, the patient unfortunately died from acute pneumonia on the 28 th day of hospitalization. At autopsy, the liver did not show a bridging pattern of fibrosis suggestive of chronic liver injury. Here, we present the case of a patient with clinically diagnosed late-onset fulminant WD without cirrhosis, who had positive disease-specific routine tests.