Critical considerations for the management of gastrointestinal mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms and pure neuroendocrine carcinomas

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms constitute rare tumors that are located mainly in the gastrointestinal(GI)tract and have high degrees of malignancy,and the frequency of these tumors has been increasing.They consist of a neuroendocrine neoplastic component with another component of adenocarcinoma usually and have a dismal prognosis.The rare GI pure neuroendocrine carcinoma is highly aggressive and requires complex and extensive management since a genetic distinction exists between it and GI non-neuroendocrine neoplasms,which are generally slow-growing lesions.The most common GI-mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms are colorectal,followed by gastric,mainly in the gastroesophageal junction.Current imaging modalities of nuclear medicine and radiology play important roles in the accuracy of diagnosis.Liquid biopsy may contribute to early detection and timely diagnosis.Ultrasonography,either endoscopic or abdominal,is a technique that contributes to a diagnosis;additionally,contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is very helpful in followup appointments.Histopathology establishes a definite diagnosis and stage by evaluating the cell differentiation grade and the cell proliferation index Ki67.The genetic profile can be valuable in diagnosis and gene therapy.Surgical resection with wide lymphadenectomy,whenever possible,and adjuvant chemotherapy constitute the main therapeutic management strategies.Targeted therapy and immunotherapy achieve encouraging results.

Trends and hotspots in gastrointestinal neoplasms risk assessment: A bibliometric analysis from 1984 to 2022

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal neoplasm(GN)significantly impact the global cancer burden and mortality,necessitating early detection and treatment.Understanding the evolution and current state of research in this field is vital.AIM To conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of publications from 1984 to 2022 to elucidate the trends and hotspots in the GN risk assessment research,focusing on key contributors,institutions,and thematic evolution.METHODS This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of data from the Web of Science Core Collection database using the"bibliometrix"R package,VOSviewer,and CiteSpace.The analysis focused on the distribution of publications,contributions by institutions and countries,and trends in keywords.The methods included data synthesis,network analysis,and visualization of international collaboration networks.RESULTS This analysis of 1371 articles on GN risk assessment revealed a notable evolution in terms of research focus and collaboration.It highlights the United States'critical role in advancing this field,with significant contributions from institutions such as Brigham and Women's Hospital and the National Cancer Institute.The last five years,substantial advancements have been made,representing nearly 45%of the examined literature.Publication rates have dramatically increased,from 20 articles in 2002 to 112 in 2022,reflecting intensified research efforts.This study underscores a growing trend toward interdisciplinary and international collaboration,with the Journal of Clinical Oncology standing out as a key publication outlet.This shift toward more comprehensive and collaborative research methods marks a significant step in addressing GN risks.CONCLUSION This study underscores advancements in GN risk assessment through genetic analyses and machine learning and reveals significant geographical disparities in research emphasis.This calls for enhanced global collaboration and integration of artificial intelligence to improve cancer prevention and treatment accuracy,ultimately enhancing worldwide patient care.

Prevalence of malignant neoplasms in celiac disease patients-a nationwide United States population-based study

BACKGROUND Celiac disease(CeD)is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the immune response to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals.Recent research has unveiled a heightened risk of developing specific malignant neoplasms(MN)and various malignancies,including gastrointestinal,lymphomas,skin,and others,in individuals with CeD.AIM To investigate the prevalence of MN in hospitalized CeD patients in the United States.METHODS Using data from the National Inpatient Sample spanning two decades,from January 2000 to December 2019,we identified 529842 CeD patients,of which 78128(14.75%)had MN.Propensity score matching,based on age,sex,race,and calendar year,was employed to compare CeD patients with the general non-CeD population at a 1:1 ratio.RESULTS Positive associations were observed for several malignancies,including small intestine,lymphoma,nonmelanoma skin,liver,melanoma skin,pancreas myelodysplastic syndrome,biliary,stomach,and other neuroendocrine tumors(excluding small and large intestine malignant carcinoid),leukemia,uterus,and testis.Conversely,CeD patients exhibited a reduced risk of respiratory and secondary malignancies.Moreover,certain malignancies showed null associations with CeD,including head and neck,nervous system,esophagus,colorectal,anus,breast,malignant carcinoids,bone and connective tissues,myeloma,cervix,and ovary cancers.CONCLUSION Our study is unique in highlighting the detailed results of positive,negative,or null associations between different hematologic and solid malignancies and CeD.Furthermore,it offers insights into evolving trends in CeD hospital outcomes,shedding light on advancements in its management over the past two decades.These findings contribute valuable information to the understanding of CeD’s impact on health and healthcare utilization.

Perspective on the practical indications of endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastrointestinal neoplasms

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a new endoluminal therapeutic technique involving the use of cutting devices to permit a larger resection of the tissue over the muscularis propria. The major advantages of the technique in comparison with polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection are controllable resection size and shape and en bloc resection of a large lesion or a lesion with ulcerative findings. This technique is applied for the endoscopic treatment of epithelial neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract from the pharynx to the rectum. Furthermore, some carcinoids and submucosal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract are treated by ESD. To determine the indication, two aspects should be considered. The first is a little likelihood of lymph node metastasis and the second is the technical resectability. In this review, practical guidelines of ESD for the gastrointestinal neoplasms are discussed based on the evidence found in the literature.

Ultraslim endoscopy with flexible spectral imaging color enhancement for upper gastrointestinal neoplasms

AIM:To conduct a preliminary study on the effect of flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE) used in combination with ultraslim endoscopy by focusing on the enhanced contrast between tumor and non-tumor lesions. METHODS: We examined 50 lesions of 40 patients with epithelial tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract before endoscopic submucosal dissection using ultraslim endoscopy with conventional natural color imag ing and with FICE imaging. We retrospectively invest igated the effect of the use of FICE on endoscopic diagn osis in comparison with normal light. RESULTS: Visibility of the epithelial tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract with FICE was superior to normal light in 54% of the observations and comparable to normal light in 46% of the observations. There was no lesion for which visibility with FICE was inferior to that with normal light. FICE visualized 69.6% of hyperemic lesions and 58.8% of discolored lesions better than conventional endoscopy with natural color imaging. FICE sign if icantly improved the visibility of lesions with hyp ere mia or discoloration compared with normocolored lesions. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of FICE would improve the ability of ultraslim endoscopy to detect epithelial tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Mixed neuroendocrine–nonneuroendocrine neoplasms of the gastrointestinal system:An update

Mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasms(Mi NENs)of the digestive tract are a rare heterogeneous group of tumors that present many challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment.Over the years,the diagnostic criteria,classification,and clinical behavior of these tumors have been the subjects of ongoing debate,and the various changes in their nomenclature have strengthened the challenges associated with Mi NENs.This review is performed to provide an understanding of the key factors involved in the evolution of the designation of these tumors as Mi NEN,highlight the current diagnostic criteria,summarize the latest data on pathogenesis and provide information on available treatments.Moreover,this work seeks to increase the awareness about these rare neoplasms by presenting the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors that play important roles in their behavior and discussing their different regions of origin in the gastrointestinal system(GIS).Currently,the Mi NEN category also includes tumors in the GIS with a nonneuroendocrine component and epithelial tumors other than adenocarcinoma,depending on the organ of origin.Diagnosis is based on the presence of both morphological components in more than 30%of the tumor.However,this value needs to be reconfirmed with further studies and may be a limiting factor in the diagnosis of Mi NEN by biopsy.Furthermore,available clinicopathological data suggest that the inclusion of amphicrine tumors in the definition of Mi NEN is not supportive and warrants further investigation.The diagnosis of these tumors is not solely based on immunohistochemical findings.They are not hybrid tumors and both components can act independently;thus,careful grading of each component separately is required.In addition to parameters such as the metastatic state of the tumor at the time of diagnosis and the feasibility of surgical resection,the aggressive potential of both components has paramount importance in the choice of treatment.Regardless of the organ of origin within the GIS,almost Mi NENs are tumors with poor prognosis and are frequently encountered in the elderly and men.They are most frequently reported in the colorectum,where data from molecular studies indicate a monoclonal origin;however,further studies are required to provide additional support for this origin.

Gastrointestinal bleeding as initial presentation of extramedullary plasma cell neoplasms: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Plasma-cell neoplasms rarely involve the gastrointestinal tract and manifest as gastrointestinal bleeding. Plasmablastic myeloma is an aggressive plasma cell neoplasm associated with poor outcomes. A small number of cases with gastrointestinal involvement is reported in the literature and therefore high index of suspicion is essential for avoiding delays in diagnosis and treatment.CASE SUMMARY Our aim is to present our experience of a 70-year-old patient with a secondary presentation of plasmablastic myeloma manifesting as unstable upper gastrointestinal bleeding and to review the literature with the view to consolidate and discuss information about diagnosis and management of this rare entity. In addition to our case, a literature search(Pub Med database) of case reports of extramedullary plasma cell neoplasms manifesting as upper gastrointestinal bleeding was performed. Twenty-seven cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma(EMP) involving the stomach and small bowel presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were retrieved. The majority of patients were males(67%). The average age on diagnosis was 62.7 years. The most common site of presentation was the stomach(41%), followed by the duodenum(15%). The most common presenting complaint was melena(44%). In the majority of cases, the EMPs were a secondary manifestation(63%) at the background of multiple myeloma(26%), plasmablastic myeloma(7%) or high-grade plasma cell myeloma(4%). Oesophagogastroscopy was the main diagnostic modality and chemotherapy the preferred treatment option for secondary EMPs.CONCLUSION Despite their rare presentation, upper gastrointestinal EMPs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding especially in the presence of systemic haematological malignancy.

A new breakthrough:ESD using a newly developed grasping type scissor forceps for early gastrointestinal tract neoplasms

Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) has allowed the achievement of histologically curative en bloc resection of gastrointestinal neoplasms regardless of size,permitting the resection of previously non-resectable tumors.The ESD technique for treatment of early gastric cancer has spread rapidly in Japan and a few other Asian countries due to its excellent eradication rate compared to endoscopic mucosal resection.Although numerous electrosurgical knives have been developed for ESD,technical difficulties and high complication rates(bleeding and perforation) have limited their use worldwide.We developed the grasping type scissor forceps(GSF) to resolve such ESD-related problems.Our animal and preliminary clinical studies showed that ESD using GSF is a safe(no intraoperative complication) and technically efficient(curative en bloc resection rate 92%) method for dissection of early gastrointestinal tumors.The use of GSF is a promising option for performing ESD on early stage GI tract tumors both safely and effectively.

Conventional radiological strategy of common gastrointestinal neoplasms

This article summarizes the clinical characteristics and imaging features of common gastrointestinal(GI) neoplasms in terms of conventional radiological imaging methods. Barium studies are readily available for displaying primary malignancies and are minimallyor not at all invasive. A neoplasm may be manifested as various imaging findings, including mucosal disruption, soft mass, ulcer, submucosal invasion and lumen stenosis on barium studies. Benign tumors typically appear as smoothly marginated intramural masses. Malignant neoplasms most often appear as irregular infiltrative lesions on barium examination. Tumor extension to adjacent GI segments may be indistinct on barium images. Cross-sectional images such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may provide more accurate details of the adjacent organ invasion, omental or peritoneal spread.

Modulation of postoperative immune and inflammatory response by immune-enhancing enteral diet in gastrointestinal cancer patients

AIM: To evaluate if the administration of an enteral diet supplemented with glutamine, arginine and omega-3-fatty acids modulates inflammatory and immune responses after surgery. METHODS: A prospective randomized double-blind, clinical trial was performed. Forty-eight patients with gastrointestinal cancer were randomized into two groups, one group was given an isocaloric and isonitrogenous standard diet and the other was fed with the supplemented diet with glutamine, arginine and omega-3-fatty acids. Feedings were started within 48 hours after operation, and continued until day 8. All variables were measured before operation and on postoperative day 1 and 8. Immune responses were determined by phagocytosis ability, respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear cells, total lymphocytes lymphocyte subsets, nitric oxide, cytokines concentration, and inflammatory responses by plasma levels of C-reactive protein, prostaglandin E2 level. RESULTS: Tolerance of both formula diets was excellent.There were significant differences in the immunological and inflammatory responses between the two groups. In supplemented group, phagocytosis and respiratory burst after surgery was higher and C-reactive protein level was lower (P【0.01) than in the standard group. The supplemented group had higher levels of nitric oxide, total lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, T-helper cells, and NK cells. Postoperative levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were lower in the supplemented group (P 【0.05). CONCLUSION: It was clearly established in this trial that early postoperative enteral feeding is safe in patients who have undergone major operations for gastrointestinal cancer. Supplementation of enteral nutrition with glutamine, arginine, and omega-3-fatty acids positively modulated postsurgical immunosuppressive and inflammatory responses.

Intraductal papillary bile duct adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a case of neurofibromatosis type 1

We report our experience with a synchronous case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct(IPNB) in anelderly woman with neurofibromatosis type 1(NF-1). A 72-year-old woman presented with a 2-mo history of right upper abdominal pain unrelated to diet and indigestion. Fourteen years earlier, she had been diagnosed with NF-1, which manifested as café au lait spots and multiple nodules on the skin. Computed tomography(CT) revealed a multilocular low-density mass with septation, and mural nodules in the right hepatic lobe, as well as a 1.7-cm-sized well-demarcated enhancing mass in the third portion of the duodenum. The patient subsequently underwent right hepatectomy and duodenal wedge resection. We present here the first report of a case involving a synchronous IPNB and GIST in a patient with NF-1. Our findings demonstrate the possibility of various tumors in NF-1 patients and the importance of diagnosis at an early

Patients with brain metastases from gastrointestinal tract cancer treated with whole brain radiation therapy:Prognostic factors and survival

AIM: To identify the prognostic factors with regard to survival for patients with brain metastasis from primary tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: Nine hundred and sixteen patients with brain metastases, treated with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) between January 1985 and December 2000 at the Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients presented with a primary tumor of the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus: n=0, stomach: n=10, colorectal: n=47). Twenty-six patients had a solitary brain metastasis, 31 patients presented with multiple brain metastases. Surgical resection was performed in 25 patients. WBRT was applied with daily fractions of 2 Gray (Gy) or 3Gy to a total dose of 50Gy or 30Gy, respectively. The interval between diagnoses of the primary tumors and brain metastases was 22.6mo vs 8.0mo for patients with primary tumors of the colon/rectum vs other primary tumors, respectively (P<0.01, log-rank). Median overall survival for all patients with brain metastases (n=916) was 3.4mo and 3.2mo for patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms. Patients with gastrointestinal primary tumors presented significantly more often with a solitary brain metastasis than patients with other primary tumors (P<0.05, log-rank). In patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms (n=57), the median overall survival was 5.8 mo for patients with solitary brain metastasis vs 2.7mo for patients with multiple brain metastases (P<0.01, log-rank). The median overall survival for patients with a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥70 was 5.5mo vs 2.1mo for patients with KPS <70 (P<0.01, log-rank). At multivariate analysis (Cox Model) the performance status and the number of brain metastases were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: Brain metastases occur late in the course of gastrointestinal tumors. Pretherapeutic variables like KPS and the number of brain metastases have a profound influence on treatment outcome.

Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for metastatic duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor

BACKGROUND: Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which are rare, comprise 3%-5% of all gastrointestinal stromai tumors. We present a case of a metastatic duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor that was successfully treated by simultaneous tight hemihepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our department for the treatment of a possible metastatic duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). At laparotomy a large duodenal tumor was found displacing the head of the pancreas. A 3 cm in diameter lesion in the posterior aspect of segment Ⅷ of the liver was also noted. Simultaneous right hepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy were performed. RESULTS: Histological examination revealed a high grade metastatic duodenal GIST strongly positive for c-kit, CD34, and vimentin. The patient had no additional therapy. A follow-up of 21 months showed that the patient is very well and there is no evidence of recurrent diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant stromai tumors of the duodenum are rarely encountered. They are usually slow growing, and may be amenable to curative surgery, even after occurrence of metastases. Resection of localized liver metastasis is still advocated when feasible, since imatinib does not provide a complete or long-term response. Combined surgical resection is an efficacious treatment for patients with metastatic duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Pancreas-preserving segmental duodenectomy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the duodenum and splenectomy for splenic angiosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and occur rarely in the duodenum. Splenic angiosarcoma is an aggressive neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. METHODS: We report a case of a 70-year-old man hospitalized for abdominal pain in the upper quadrants, dyspepsia and nausea, previously treated for Hodgkin lymphoma 30 years ago. Abdominal CT showed a solid nodular lesion in the third portion of the duodenum, the presence of retropancreatic, aortic and caval lymph nodes, and four nodular splenic masses. 111 In-octreotide scintigraphy revealed pathological tissue accumulation in the duodenal region, and in the retropancreatic, retroduodenal, aortic and caval lymph nodes, suggesting a nonfunctioning neuroendocrine peripancreatic tumor. RESULTS: At exploratory laparotomy, an exophytic soft tumor was found originating from the third portion of the duodenum. Pancreas-preserving duodenectomy with duodenojejunostomy, splenectomy and lymphnodectomy of retropancreatic aortic and caval lymph nodes were performed. Pathological evaluation and immunohistochemical studies showed the presence of a duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor with low mitotic activity and a well-differentiated angiosarcoma localized to the spleen and invading lymph nodes.CONCLUSIONS: We speculated that the angiosarcoma and duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors of this patient were due to the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma with radiotherapy 30 years ago. Pancreas-preserving segmental duodenectomy can be used to treat non-malignant neoplasms of the duodenum and avoid extensive surgery. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice for localized angiosarcomas but a strict follow-up is mandatory because of the possibility of recurrence.

Bioenergetic alteration in gastrointestinal cancers:The good,the bad and the ugly

Cancer cells exhibit metabolic reprogramming and bioenergetic alteration,utilizing glucose fermentation for energy production,known as the Warburg effect.However,there are a lack of comprehensive reviews summarizing the metabolic reprogramming,bioenergetic alteration,and their oncogenetic links in gastrointestinal(GI)cancers.Furthermore,the efficacy and treatment potential of emerging anticancer drugs targeting these alterations in GI cancers require further evaluation.This review highlights the interplay between aerobic glycolysis,the tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle,and oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS)in cancer cells,as well as hypotheses on the molecular mechanisms that trigger this alteration.The role of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors,tumor suppressors,and the oncogenetic link between hypoxia-related enzymes,bioenergetic changes,and GI cancer are also discussed.This review emphasizes the potential of targeting bioenergetic regulators for anti-cancer therapy,particularly for GI cancers.Emphasizing the potential of targeting bioenergetic regulators for GI cancer therapy,the review categorizes these regulators into aerobic glycolysis/lactate biosynthesis/transportation and TCA cycle/coupled OXPHOS.We also detail various anti-cancer drugs and strategies that have produced pre-clinical and/or clinical evidence in treating GI cancers,as well as the challenges posed by these drugs.Here we highlight that understanding dysregulated cancer cell bioenergetics is critical for effective treatments,although the diverse metabolic patterns present challenges for targeted therapies.Further research is needed to comprehend the specific mechanisms of inhibiting bioenergetic enzymes,address side effects,and leverage high-throughput multi-omics and spatial omics to gain insights into cancer cell heterogeneity for targeted bioenergetic therapies.

Effects of cooperative nursing and patient education on postoperative infection and self-efficacy in gastrointestinal tumors

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal tumors have a high incidence rate.The application value of the cooperative nursing care system of medical care has received widespread attention in recent years.However,there are few studies on the value of the joint application of collaborative nursing care and self-efficacy education.AIM To explore the effect of cooperative nursing care management/self-efficacy education on postoperative infection and self-efficacy in gastrointestinal tumor surgery patients.METHODS A total of 102 patients with gastrointestinal tumors treated in our hospital from October 2018 to February 2020 were selected and divided into a conventional group(n=51)and a combined group(n=51)according to the nursing plan.The routine group adopted routine nursing,and the joint group adopted the medical care cooperative responsibility system nursing management combined with selfefficacy education.The self-efficacy scores,coping style scores,self-experience burden scores,and postoperative complication rates of the two groups before and after intervention were counted.RESULTS After intervention,the daily life behavior management,cognitive symptom management,and disease management scores of the two groups were higher than those before the intervention,and those of the combined group were higher than those of the conventional group(all P=0.000).After the intervention,the positive response scores of the two groups were higher than those before the intervention,the negative response scores were lower than those before the intervention,and the combined group was better than the conventional group(all P=0.000).After the intervention,the two groups’emotional,economic,and physical factor scores were lower than those before the intervention,and the combined group was lower than the conventional group(all P=0.000).The incidence of infection in the combined group(1.96%)was lower than that in the conventional group(15.69%)(P=0.036).CONCLUSION Cooperative nursing care management and self-efficacy education improved the physical and mental states of gastrointestinal cancer surgery patients,change the response to disease,and reduce the risk of postoperative infection.

Ampullary somatostatinomas and jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a patient with Von Recklinghausen's disease

Von Recklinghausen＇s disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease associated with a wide number of neoplasms. We report a case of a 47-year-old Caucasian male affected by Von Recklinghausen＇s disease who developed a malignant somatostatinoma of the papilla major and minor associated with jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumour with uncertain behaviour. At laparotomy, multiple hepatic metastases were evident. Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy, jejunal resection, extensive lymphadenectomy and multiple hepatic wedge resections were performed. The patient was alive without recurrence after 24 mo. This is the fourth case reported in the world literature of a patient with Von Recklinghausen＇s disease associated with periampuUary somatostatinomas and jejunal stromal tumor. In patients with Von Recklinghausen＇s disease who complain of gastrointestinal symptoms, a high suspicion index for periampullary endocrine tumours and/or gastrointestinal stromal tumour is required. An aggressive surgical approach seems to give long term survival also in metastatic patients.

Three cases of jejunal tumors detected by standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy:A case series

BACKGROUND In patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding,re-examination with standard upper endoscopes by experienced physicians will identify culprit lesions in a substantial proportion of patients.A common practice is to insert an adult-sized forward-viewing endoscope into the second part of the duodenum.When the endoscope tip enters after the papilla,which is a marker for the descending part of the duodenum,it is difficult to endoscopically judge how far the duodenum has been traversed beyond the second part.CASE SUMMARY We experienced three cases of proximal jejunal masses that were diagnosed by standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and confirmed with surgery.The patients visited the hospital with a history of melena;during the initial upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy,the bleeding site was not confirmed.Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was suspected;thus,according to guidelines,upper endoscopy was performed again.A hemorrhagic mass was discovered in the small intestine.The lesion of the first patient was thought to be located in the duodenum when considering the general insertion depth of a typical upper gastrointestinal endoscope;however,during surgery,it was confirmed that it was in the jejunum.After the first case,lesions in the second and third patients were detected at the jejunum by inserting the standard upper endoscope as deep as possible.CONCLUSION The deep insertion of standard endoscopes is useful for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding owing to hepatic cancer invasion:A case report

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding refers to bleeding that arises from the gastrointestinal tract proximal to the ligament of Treitz.The primary reason for gastrointestinal bleeding associated with hepatocellular carcinoma is rupture of a varicose vein owing to pericardial hypotension.We report a rare case of gastrointestinal bleeding with hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient who presented with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.The initial diagnosis was gastric cancer with metastasis to the multiple lymph nodes of the lesser curvature.The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy,which identified two lesions in the gastric wall.Total gastrectomy and hepatic local excision was then performed.Pathological results indicated that the hepatocellular carcinoma had invaded the stomach directly,which was confirmed immunohistochemically.The patient is alive with a disease-free survival of 1 year since the surgery.Hepatocellular carcinoma with gastric invasion should be considered as a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatocellular carcinoma patients,especially with lesions located in the left lateral hepatic lobe.Surgery is the best solution.

Current updates and future directions in diagnosis and management of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms are a heterogenous group of rare neoplasms that are increasingly being discovered,often incidentally,throughout the gastrointestinal tract with varying degrees of activity and malignant potential.Confusing nomenclature has added to the complexity of managing these lesions.The term carcinoid tumor and embryonic classification have been replaced with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm,which includes gastrointestinal neuroendocrine and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach is important for clinicians to diagnose,stage and manage these lesions.While histological diagnosis is the gold standard,recent advancements in endoscopy,conventional imaging,functional imaging,and serum biomarkers complement histology for tailoring specific treatment options.In light of developing technology,our review sets out to characterize diagnostic and therapeutic advancements for managing gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors,including innovations in radiolabeled peptide imaging,circulating biomarkers,and endoscopic treatment approaches adapted to different locations throughout the gastrointestinal system.