原发性胃淋巴瘤17例内镜下表现及分析

目的:分析原发性胃恶性淋巴瘤内镜下表现特征及其病理学特点。方法:我院PGML患者17例,患者均行电子胃镜检查,并行黏膜活检病理检查,同时行免疫组织化学染色检测和14碳呼吸试验。结果:内镜检查17例患者,病变主要在胃体(41.9%)和胃窦(29.4%);形态表现多为溃疡型(61.8%)。病理结果多为B细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤,4例(11.8%)为大B细胞性淋巴瘤,3例(%)为低度恶性黏膜相关淋巴组织淋巴瘤,1例(%)为高度恶性黏膜相关淋巴组织淋巴瘤;幽门螺杆菌感染率为占76%。结论:原发性胃恶性淋巴瘤多属B细胞来源,并且与幽门螺杆菌感染有关,内镜检查的广泛应用及活检的充分和准确,对于PGML具有重要的确诊意义。

Endoscopic and histopathological study on the duodenum of Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection

AIM:To investigate endoscopic and histopathological findings in the duodenum of patients with Strongyloides stercoralis(S.stercoralis)hyperinfection. METHODS:Over a period of 23 years(1984-2006),we investigated 25 patients withS.stercoralis hyperinfection who had had an esophagogastroduodenoscopy before undergoing treatment for strongyloidiasis.The clinical and endoscopic findings were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS:Twenty-four(96%)of the patients investigated were under immunocompromised condition which was mainly due to a human T lymphotropic virus type 1(HTLV-1)infection.The abnormal endoscopic findings,mainly edematous mucosa,white villi and erythematous mucosa,were observed in 23(92%) patients.The degree of duodenitis including villous atrophy/destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration corresponded to the severity of the endoscopic findings. The histopathologic yield for identifying larvae was 71.4% by duodenal biopsy.The endoscopic findings of duodenitis were more severe in patients whose biopsies were positive for larvae than those whose biopsies were negative(Endoscopic severity score:4.86±2.47vs 2.71 ±1.38,P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Our study clearly demonstrates that,in addition to stool analysis,endoscopic observation and biopsies are very important.We also emphasize that S.stercoralis and HTLV-1 infections should be ruled out before immunosuppressive therapy is administered in endemic regions.

Metastatic tumors to the stomach: Clinical and endoscopicfeatures

AIM: To evaluate the clinical and endoscopic patterns in a large series of patients with metastatic tumors in the stomach. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with gastric meta- stases from solid malignant tumors were retros- pectively examined between 1990 and 2005. The clinicopathological findings were reviewed along with tumor characteristics such as endoscopic pattern, location, size and origin of the primary sites. RESULTS: Common indications for endoscopy were anemia, bleeding and epigastric pain. Metastases presented as solitary (62.5%) or multiple (37.5%) tumors were mainly located in the middle or upper third of stomach. The main primary metastatic tumors were from breast and lung cancer and malignant melanoma. CONCLUSION: As the prognosis of cancer patients has been improving gradually, gastrointestinal (GI) metastases will be encountered more often. Endoscopic examinations should be conducted carefully in patients with malignancies, and endoscopic biopsies and information on the patient’s clinical history are useful for correct diagnosis of gastric metastases.

Predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer and their impact on the surgical strategy

AIM:To identify the predictive clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in poorly differentiated early gastric cancer (EGC) and to further expand the possibility of using endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for the treatment of poorly differentiated EGC. METHODS: Data were collected from 85 poorly- differentiated EGC patients who were surgically treated. Association between the clinicopathological factors and the presence of LNM was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (OR = 5.814, 95% CI = 1.050 - 32.172, P = 0.044), depth of invasion (OR = 10.763, 95% CI = 1.259 - 92.026, P = 0.030) and lymphatic vessel involvement (OR = 61.697, 95% CI = 2.144 - 175.485, P = 0.007) were the significant and independent risk factors for LNM. The LNM rate was 5.4%, 42.9% and 50%, respectively, in poorly differentiated EGC patients with one, two and three of the risk factors, respectively. No LNM was found in 25 patients without the three risk factors. Forty-four lymph nodes were found tohave metastasis, 29 (65.9%) and 15 (34.1%) of the lymph nodes involved were within N1 and beyond N1, respectively, in 12 patients with LNM. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic mucosal resection alone may be sufficient to treat poorly differentiated intramucosal EGC (≤ 2.0 cm in diameter) with no histologically-confirmed lymphatic vessel involvement. When lymphatic vessels are involved, lymph node dissection beyond limited (D1) dissection or D1+ lymph node dissection should be performed depending on the tumor location.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for foregut neuroendocrine tumors:An initial study

AIM： To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of endo- scopic submucosal dissection （ESD） for foregut neuro- endocrine tumors （NETs）. METHODS： From April 2008 to December 2010, pa- tients with confirmed histological diagnosis of foregut NETs were included. None had regional lymph node enlargement or distant metastases to the liver or lung on preoperative computerized tomography scanning or endoscopic ultrasonography （EUS）. ESD was attempted under general anesthesia. After making several mark-ing dots around the lesion, a mixture solution was injected into the submucosa. The mucosa was incised outside the marking dots. Dissection of the submu- cosal layer beneath the tumor was performed under direct vision to achieve complete en bloc resection of the specimen. Tumor features, clinicopathological char- acteristics, complete resection rate, and complications were evaluated. Foregut NETs were graded as G1, G2, or G3 on the basis of proliferative activity by mitotic count or Ki-67 index. All patients underwent regular follow-up to evaluate for any local recurrence or dis- tant metastasis. RESULTS： Those treated by ESD included 24 patients with 29 foregut NETs. The locations of the 29 lesions are as follows： esophagus （n = 1）, cardia （n = 1）, stomach （n = 23）, and duodenal bulb （n = 4）. All le- sions were found incidentally during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for other indications, and none had symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Preop- erative EUS showed that all tumors were confined to the submucosa. Among the 24 gastric lesions, 16 le- sions in 11 patients were type I gastric NETs arising in chronic atrophic gastritis with hypergastrinemia, while the other 8 solitary lesions were type Ⅲ because of absence of atrophic gastritis in these cases. All of the tumors were removed in an en bloc fashion. The av- erage maximum diameter of the lesions was 9.4 mm （range： 2-30 ram）, and the procedure time was 20.3 rain （range： 10-45 rain）. According to the World Health Organization 2010 classification, histological evaluation determined that 26 lesions were NET-G1, 2 gastric le- sions were NET-G2, and 1 esophageal lesion was neu- roendocrine carcinoma （NEC）. Complete resection was achieved in 28 lesions （28/29, 96.6%）, and all of them were confined to the submucosa in histopathologic assessment with no lymphovascular invasion. The re- maining patient with NEC underwent additional surgery because the resected specimens revealed angiolym- phatic and muscularis invasion, as well as incomplete resection. Delayed bleeding occurred in 1 case 3 d af- ter ESD, which was managed by endoscopic treatment. There were no procedure-related perforations. During a mean follow-up period of 24.4 mo （range： 12-48 too）, local recurrence occurred in only 1 patient 7 mo after initial ESD. This patient successfully underwent repeat ESD. Metastasis to lymph nodes or distal organs was not observed in any patient. No patients died dur- ing the study period. CONCLUSION： ESD appears to be a safe, feasible, and effective procedure for providing accurate histo- pathological evaluations and curative treatment for eligible foregut NETs.

Sensory testing of the human gastrointestinal tract

The objective of this appraisal is to shed light on the various approaches to screen sensory information in the human gut. Understanding and characterization of sensory symptoms in gastrointestinal disorders is poor. Experimental methods allowing the investigator to control stimulus intensity and modality, as well as using validated methods for assessing sensory response have contributed to the understanding of pain mechanisms. Mechanical stimulation based on impedance planimetry allows direct recordings of luminal cross-sectional areas, and combined with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, the contribution of different gut layers can be estimated. Electrical stimulation depolarizes free nerve endings non-selectively. Consequently, the stimulation paradigm （single, train, tetanic） influences the involved sensory nerves. Visual controlled electrical stimulation combines the probes with an endoscopic approach, which allows the investigator to inspect and obtain small biopsies from the stimulation site. Thermal stimulation （cold or warm） activates selectively mucosal receptors, and chemical substances such as acid and capsaicin （either alone or in combination） are used to evoke pain and sensitization. The possibility of multimodal （e.g. mechanical, electrical, thermal and chemical） stimulation in different gut segments has developed visceral pain research. The major advantage is involvement of distinctive receptors, various sensory nerves and different pain pathways mimicking clinical pain that favors investigation of central pain mechanisms involved in allodynia, hyperalgesia and referred pain. As impairment of descending control mechanisms partly underlies the pathogenesis in chronic pain, a cold pressor test that indirectly stimulates such control mechanisms can be added. Hence, the methods undoubtedly represent a major step forward in the future characterization and treatment of patients with various diseases of the gut, which provides knowledge to dinicians about the underlying symptoms and treatment of these patients.

Acute esophageal necrosis and liver pathology,a rare combination

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) or 'black esophagus' is a clinical condition found at endoscopy. It is a rare entity the exact etiology of which remains unknown. We describe a case of 'black esophagus', first of its kind, in the setting of liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.