Can early precut reduce post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in patients with difficult bile duct cannulation?

BACKGROUND Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)is associated with a variety of adverse events(AEs).One of the most important AEs is post-ERCP pancreatitis(PEP),which is most common in cases of difficult biliary cannulation.Although the precut technique has been reported as a PEP risk factor,recent studies indicate that early precut could reduce PEP,and that precut itself is not a risk factor.AIM To evaluate the safety of the precut technique,especially in terms of PEP.METHODS We conducted a retrospective study,spanning the period from November 2011 through December 2021.It included 1556 patients,aged≥20 years,who underwent their initial ERCP attempt for biliary disease with a naïve papilla at the Kawasaki University General Medical Center.We compared the PEP risk between the early precut and the delayed precut group.RESULTS The PEP incidence rate did not significantly differ between the precut and nonprecut groups.However,the PEP incidence was significantly lower in the early precut group than the delayed precut group(3.5%vs 10.5%;P=0.02).The PEP incidence in the delayed precut group without pancreatic stent insertion(17.3%)was significantly higher compared to other cases(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that early precut may reduce PEP incidence.If the precut decision is delayed,a pancreatic stent should be inserted to prevent PEP.

Synchronous Double Primary Combined Hepatocellularcholangiocarcinoma and Cholangiolocarcinoma in a Cirrhotic Liver

Both combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma(cHCCCCA)and cholangiolocarcinoma are rare primary liver cancers.cHCC-CCA is believed to originate from transformed hepatocellular carcinoma or liver stem/progenitor cells.Cholangiolocarcinoma is characterized by ductular reaction-like anastomosing cords and glands resembling cholangioles or canals containing hepatocellular carcinoma components and adenocarcinoma cells.According to the 2019 revision of the World Health Organization criteria,a subtype with stem cell features as a subclassification of cHCC-CCA was abolished for lack of conclusive evidence of the stem cell origin theory.That led to the classification of cholangiolocarcinoma with hepatocytic differentiation as cHCC-CCA.Consequently,cholangiolocarcinoma without hepatocytic differentiation is classified as a subtype of small-duct cholangiocarcinoma and is assumed to originate from the bile duct.Herein,we report the first case of double primary cHCC-CCA and cholangiolocarcinoma without hepatocytic differentiation in different hepatic segments of a cirrhotic liver.We believe this case supports the validity of the new World Health Organization criteria because the pathological finding of cHCC-CCA in this case shows the transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma to cholangiocarcinoma.Furthermore,this case may demonstrate that immature ductular cell stemness and mature hepatocyte cell stemness in hepatocarcinogenesis can coexist in the same environment.The results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of growth,differentiation,and regulation of liver cancers.