Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy in patients with failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic ultrasonography （EUS）-guided biliary drainage was performed for treatment of patients who have obstructive jaundice in cases of failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP）. In the present study, we introduced the feasibility and outcome of EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy in four patients who failed in ERCR We performed the procedure in 2 papilla of Vater, including one resectable case, and 2 cases of cancer of the head of pancreas. Using a curved linear array echoendoscope, a 19 G needle or a needle knife was punctured transduodenally into the bile duct under EUS visualization. Using a biliary catheter for dilation, or papillary balloon dilator, a 7-Fr plastic stent was inserted through the choledochoduodenostomy site into the extrahepatic bile duct. In 3 （75%） of 4 cases, an indwelling plastic stent was placed, and in one case in which the stent could not be advanced into the bile duct, a naso-biliary drainage tube was placed instead. In all cases, the obstructive jaundice rapidly improved after the procedure. Focal peritonitis and bleeding not requiring blood transfusion was seen in one case. In this case, pancreatoduodenectomy was performed and the surgical findings revealed severe adhesion around the choledochoduodenostomy site. Although further studies and development of devices are mandatory, EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy appears to be an effective alternative to ERCP in selected cases.

Staging accuracy of esophageal cancer by endoscopic ultrasound:A meta-analysis and systematic review

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the staging of esophageal cancer. METHODS: Only EUS studies confirmed by surgery were selected. Articles were searched in Medline and Pubmed. Two reviewers independently searched and extracted data. Meta-analysis of the accuracy of EUS was analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio. Pooling was conducted by both the Mantel-Haenszel method (fixed effects model) and DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). The heterogeneity of studies was tested using Cochran’s Q test based upon inverse variance weights. RESULTS: Forty-nine studies (n = 2558) which met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of EUS to diagnose T1 was 81.6% (95% CI: 77.8-84.9) and 99.4% (95% CI: 99.0-99.7), respectively. To diagnose T4, EUS had a pooled sensitivity of 92.4% (95% CI: 89.2-95.0) and specificity of 97.4% (95% CI: 96.6-98.0). With Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA), sensitivity of EUS to diagnose N stage improved from 84.7% (95% CI: 82.9-86.4) to 96.7% (95% CI: 92.4-98.9). The P value for the χ2 test of heterogeneity for all pooled estimates was > 0.10. CONCLUSION: EUS has excellent sensitivity and specificity in accurately diagnosing the TN stage of esophageal cancer. EUS performs better with advanced (T4) than early (T1) disease. FNA substantially improves the sensitivity and specificity of EUS in evaluating N stage disease. EUS should be strongly considered for staging esophageal cancer.

Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography in preoperative TNM staging of gastric cancer

AIM： To evaluate the value of endoscopic ultrasono- graphy （EUS） in the preoperative TNM staging of gastric cancer. METHODS ： Forty-one patients with gastric cancer （12 early stage and 29 advanced stage） proved by esophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsies preoperatively evaluated with EUS according to TNM （1997） classification of International Union Contrele Cancer （UICC）. Pentax EG-3630U/Hitachi EUB-525 echo endoscope with real-time ultrasound imaging linear scanning transducers （7.5 and 5.0 MHz） and Doppler information was used in the current study. EUS staging procedures for tumor depth of invasion （T stage） were performed according to the widely accepted five-layer structure of the gastric wall. All patients underwent surgery. Diagnostic accuracy of EUS for TNM staging of gastric cancer was determined by comparing preoperative EUS with subsequent postoperative histopathologic findings. RESULTS： The overall diagnostic accuracy of EUS in preoperative determination of cancer depth of invasion was 68.3% （41/28） and 83.3% （12/10）, 60% （20/12）, 100% （5/5）, 25% （4/1） for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The rates for overstaging and understaging were 24.4% （41110）, and 7.3% （4113）, respectively. EUS tended to overstage T criteria, and main reasons for overstaging were thickening of the gastric wall due to perifocal inflammatory change, and absence of serosal layer in certain areas of the stomach. The diagnostic accuracy of metastatic lymph node involvement or N staging of EUS was 100% （17/17） for NO and 41.7% （24/10） for N＋, respectively, and 66% （41127） overall.Misdiagnosing of the metastatic lymph nodes was related to the difficulty of distinguishing inflammatory lymph nodes from malignant lymph nodes, which imitate similar echo features. Predominant location and distribution of tumors in the stomach were in the antrum （20 patients）, and the lesser curvature （17 patients）, respectively. Three cases were found as surgically unresectable （T4 N＋）, and included as being correctly diagnosed by EUS. CONCLUSION： EUS is a useful diagnostic method for preoperative staging of gastric cancer for T and N criteria. However, EUS evaluation of malignant lymph nodes is still unsatisfactory.

How good is endoscopic ultrasound for TNM staging of gastric cancers? A meta-analysis and systematic review

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for staging of gastric cancers. METHODS: Only EUS studies confirmed by surgery were selected. Only studies from which a 2 × 2 table could be constructed for true positive, false negative, false positive and true negative values were included. Articles were searched in Medline, Pubmed, Ovid journals, Cumulative index for nursing & allied health literature, International pharmaceutical abstracts, old Medline, Medline nonindexed citations, and Cochrane control trial registry. Two reviewers independently searched and extracted data. The differences were resolved by mutual agreement. 2 × 2 tables were constructed with the data extracted from each study. Meta-analysis for the accuracy of EUS was analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of sensitivity, specifi city, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio. Pooling was conducted by both the Mantel-Haenszel method (fi xed effects model) and DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). The heterogeneity of studies was tested using Cochran's Q test based upon inverse variance weights. RESULTS: Initial search identified 1620 reference articles and of these, 376 relevant articles were selected and reviewed. Twenty-two studies (n = 1896) which met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. Pooled sensitivity of T1 was 88.1% (95% CI: 84.5-91.1) and T2 was 82.3% (95% CI: 78.2-86.0). For T3, pooled sensitivity was 89.7% (95% CI: 87.1-92.0). T4 hada pooled sensitivity of 99.2% (95% CI: 97.1-99.9). For nodal staging, the pooled sensitivity for N1 was 58.2% (95% CI: 53.5-62.8) and N2 was 64.9% (95% CI: 60.8-68.8). Pooled sensitivity to diagnose distant metastasis was 73.2% (95% CI: 63.2-81.7). The P for chi-squared heterogeneity for all the pooled accuracy estimates was > 0.10. CONCLUSION: EUS results are more accurate with advanced disease than early disease. If EUS diagnoses advanced disease, such as T4 disease, the patient is 500 times more likely to have true anatomic stage of T4 disease.

Role of endosonography in non-malignant pancreatic diseases

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has emerged as a valuable tool in the evaluation of benign and malignant pancreatic diseases. The ability to obtain high quality images and perform fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has led EUS to become the diagnostic test of choice when evaluating the pancreas. This article will review the role of EUS in benign pancreatic diseases.

Review of endoscopic techniques in the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare malignancy of the biliary tract. Key factors in determining therapeutic options include knowledge of tumor extent, anatomy and obtaining tissue diagnosis. Endoscopically, there are three modalities available to make the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. These include endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration and cholangioscopy. Management of cholangiocarcinoma endoscopically is typically confined to stent placement for palliative purposes or as a bridge to surgery. In this article, we will review the endoscopic techniques available for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided trucut biopsy for the preoperative diagnosis of peripancreatic castleman's disease: A case report

Castleman＇s disease （CD） of the pancreas/peripancreas is extremely rare. The recently introduced, endoscopic ultrasonography （EUS）-guided trucut biopsy （TCB） is a useful diagnostic rnodality for obtaining tissue samples from peripancreatic lesions. However, its role in diagnosing CD remains unknown. We report a case of localized, peripancreatic, hyaline-vascular CD biopsied using EUS. The pathology results were initially interpreted as an extranodal, marginal-zone B-cell lyrnphoma. However, polyrnerase chain reaction （PCR） study for the IgH gene rearrangement revealed a polyclonal pattern. We also reviewed the relevant literature. To our knowledge, this is the first illustrated report on EUS-TCB findings of CD with its pathology results of EUS-TCB mimicked a B-cell lymphoma.

Endoscopic ultrasonography for evaluating patients with recurrent pancreatitis

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) is still a complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in clinical practice. In up to 30% of cases of ARP, it is not possible to establish the etiology of the disease. In the other 70%, many factors play an etiological role in ARP: microlithiasis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD), pancreas divisum, hereditary pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, a choledochocele, annular pancreas, an anomalous pancreatobiliary junction, pancreatic tumors or chronic pancreatitis are diagnosed. EUS should be useful in ARP as it is sensitive for diagnosing bile duct stones, gallbladder sludge, pancreatic lesions, ductal abnormalities and chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) appears to be diagnostic in the majority of patients with previously unexplained pancreatitis, and offers an alternative to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as the initial diagnostic test in patients with ARP.

Diagnosis and management of relapsing pancreatitis associated with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas

One of the most important causes of relapsing pancreatitis is a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas. These low grade malignancies may cause pancreatitis by obstructing or communicating with a pancreatic duct. Patients with relapsing pancreatitis and a focal fluid fluid collection should be investigated for the possibility of a mucinous cystic neoplasm. Cross sectional imaging can provide a diagnosis with the imaging findings of a low attenuation cystic lesion containing mural calcification (CT scanning) or a lobular T2 enhancing lesion (MRCP). Endoscopic ultrasound can provide more detailed imaging with the ability to guide fine needle aspiration of the cyst fluid. Cyst fluid analysis can provide a diagnosis of a mucinous cystic lesion with the combination of cytology (mucinous epithelium), elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and the presence of DNA mutations. Management of these patients consists of surgical resection and monitoring in patients not able to withstand surgery.

Comparison of mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography with computed tomography scan in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer

Objective:To compare mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography(MCUS)with computed tomography(CT)in pre-operative T and N staging of esophageal cancer,and to find out the MCUS parameters to judge lymph nodes metastasis for esophageal cancer.Methods:Thirty-five patients received both MCUS and CT preoperatively,on both of which the T and N stages were determined.The accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predicting value and negative predicting value were compared with the postoperative pathological results.Results:The accuracy of MCUS was 85.7% in T staging and 85.7% and 80.0% in N staging by two different methods,which were 45.7% and 74.3%,respectively,by CT.Conclusion:MCUS is better than CT in preoperative staging for esophageal cancer.The ratio of short to long axis(S/L)combined with short axis is a useful way to determine lymph nodes metastasis.

Diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of tuberculous lymphadenitis involving the peripancreatic lymph nodes: A case report

Pancreatic tuberculosis is an extremely rare form of extrapulmonary disease. The diagnosis preoperatively is difficult because clinical, laboratory and radiologic findings are nonspecific. Published data indicate that these lesions mimic cystic neoplasms of the pancreas and the confirmation of clinical suspicion could only be obtained by an open surgical biopsy. Recently, fine needle aspiration cytology has been shown to be a safe, reliable and cost-effective alternative. We report a new case of a peripancreatic tuberculosis in a 52 year old woman and review the relevant literature, paying special attention to the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound guided-fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.