Role of endoscopic ultrasound in the characterization of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas

BACKGROUND Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm(SPN)is an uncommon pathology of the pancreas with unpredictable malignant potential.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)assessment plays a vital role in lesion characterization and confirmation of the tissue diagnosis.However,there is a paucity of data regarding the imaging assessment of these lesions.AIM To determine the characteristic EUS features of SPN and define its role in preoperative assessment.METHODS This was an international,multicenter,retrospective,observational study of prospective cohorts from 7 large hepatopancreaticobiliary centers.All cases with postoperative histology of SPN were included in the study.Data collected included clinical,biochemical,histological and EUS characteristics.RESULTS One hundred and six patients with the diagnosis of SPN were included.The mean age was 26 years(range 9 to 70 years),with female predominance(89.6%).The most frequent clinical presentation was abdominal pain(80/106;75.5%).The mean diameter of the lesion was 53.7 mm(range 15 to 130 mm),with the slight predominant location in the head of the pancreas(44/106;41.5%).The majority of lesions presented with solid imaging features(59/106;55.7%)although 33.0%(35/106)had mixed solid/cystic characteristics and 11.3%(12/106)had cystic morphology.Calcification was observed in only 4(3.8%)cases.Main pancreatic duct dilation was uncommon,evident in only 2 cases(1.9%),whilst common bile duct dilation was observed in 5(11.3%)cases.One patient demonstrated a double duct sign at presentation.Elastography and Doppler evaluation demonstrated inconsistent appearances with no emergence of a predictable pattern.EUS guided biopsy was performed using three different types of needles:Fine needle aspiration(67/106;63.2%),fine needle biopsy(37/106;34.9%),and Sonar Trucut(2/106;1.9%).The diagnosis was conclusive in 103(97.2%)cases.Ninety-seven patients were treated surgically(91.5%)and the post-surgical SPN diagnosis was confirmed in all cases.During the 2-year follow-up period,no recurrence was observed.CONCLUSION SPN presented primarily as a solid lesion on endosonographic assessment.The lesion tended to be located in the head or body of the pancreas.There was no consistent characteristic pattern apparent on either elastography or Doppler assessment.Similarly SPN did not frequently cause stricture of the pancreatic duct or common bile duct.Importantly,we confirmed that EUS-guided biopsy was an efficient and safe diagnostic tool.The needle type used does not appear to have a significant impact on the diagnostic yield.Overall SPN remains a challenging diagnosis based on EUS imaging with no pathognomonic features.EUS guided biopsy remains the gold standard in establishing the diagnosis.

Endoscopic techniques for gastric neuroendocrine tumors:An update

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms(gNENs)are a rare type of gastric neoplasm,even if their frequency is increasing according to the latest epidemiologic revisions of the main registries worldwide.They are divided into three main subtypes,with different pathogeneses,biological behaviors,and clinical characteristics.GNEN heterogeneity poses challenges,therefore these neoplasms require different management strategies.Update the knowledge on the endoscopic treatment options to manage g-NENs.This manuscript is a narrative review of the literature.In recent years,many advances have been made not only in the knowledge of both the pathogenesis and the molecular profiling of gNENs but also in the endoscopic expertise towards innovative treatment options,which proved to be less aggressive without losing the capa-bility of being radical.The endoscopic approach is increasingly applied in the field of gastrointestinal(GI)luminal neoplasms,and this is true not only for adenocarcinomas but also for gNENs.In particular,different techniques have been described for the endoscopic removal of suspected lesions,ranging from classical polypectomy(cold or hot snare)to endoscopic mucosal resection(both with“en bloc”or piecemeal technique),endoscopic submucosal dissection,and endoscopic full-thickness resection.GNENs comprise different subtypes of neoplasms with distinct management and prognosis.New endoscopic techniques offer a wide variety of approaches for GI localized neoplasms,which demonstrated to be appropriate and effective also in the case of gNENs.Correct evaluation of size,site,morphology,and clinical context allows the choice of tailored therapy in order to guarantee a definitive treatment.

在内视镜的指导超声的胆汁的排水以后的 Endocoil 放置可以阻止一条胆汁漏缝

AIM:To further reduce the risk of bleeding or bile leakage.METHODS:We performed endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary drainage in 6 patients in whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) had failed.Biliary access of a dilated segment 2 or 3 duct was achieved from the stomach using a 19G needle.After radiologically confirming access a guide wire was placed,a transhepatic tract created using a 6 Fr cystotome followed by balloon dilation of the stricture and antegrade metallic stent placement across the malignant obstruction.This was followed by placement of an endocoil in the transhepatic tract.RESULTS:Dilated segmental ducts were observed in all patients with the linear endoscopic ultrasound scope from the proximal stomach.Transgastric biliary access was obtained using a 19G needle in all patients.Biliary drainage was achieved in all patients.Placement of an endocoil was possible in 5/6 patients.All patients responded to biliary drainage and no complications occurred.CONCLUSION:We show that placing endocoils at the time of endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary stenting is feasible and may reduce the risk of bleeding or bile leakage.

Applications of endoscopic ultrasound elastography in pancreatic diseases: From literature to real life

Elastography is a non-invasive method widely used to measure the stiffness of the tissues,and it is available in most endoscopic ultrasound machines,using either qualitative or quantitative techniques.Endoscopic ultrasound elastography is a tool that should be applied to obtain a complementary evaluation of pancreatic diseases,together with other imaging tests and clinical data.Elastography can be informative,especially when studying pancreatic masses and help the clinician in the differential diagnosis between benign or malignant lesions.However,further studies are necessary to standardize the method,increase the reproducibility and establish definitive cut-offs to distinguish between benign and malignant pancreatic masses.Moreover,even if promising,elastography still provides little information in the evaluation of benign conditions.

Gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy:Indications,technique,results and comparison with surgical approach

Gastroparesis is a chronic disease of the stomach that causes a delayed gastric emptying,without the presence of a stenosis.For 30 years the authors identified pylorospasm as one of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms determining gastroparesis.Studies with EndoFLIP,a device that assesses pyloric distensibility,increased the knowledge about pylorospasm.Based on this data,several pyloric-targeted therapies were developed to treat refractory gastroparesis:Surgical pyloroplasty and endoscopic approach,such as pyloric injection of botulinum and pyloric stenting.Notwithstanding,the success of most of these techniques is still not complete.In 2013,the first human gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy(GPOEM)was performed.It was inspired by the POEM technique,with a similar dissection method,that allows pyloromyotomy.Therapeutical results of GPOEM are similar to surgical approach in term of clinical success,adverse events and post-surgical pain.In the last 8 years GPOEM has gained the attention of the scientific community,as a minimally invasive technique with high rate of clinical success,quickly prevailing as a promising therapy for gastroparesis.Not surprisingly,in referral centers,its technical success rate is 100%.One of the main goals of recent studies is to identify those patients that will respond better to the therapies targeted on pylorus and to choose the better approach for each patient.

Endoscopic ultrasound diagnostic gain over computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholang-iopancreatography in defining etiology of idiopathic acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND About 10%-30%of acute pancreatitis remain idiopathic(IAP)even after clinical and imaging tests,including abdominal ultrasound(US),contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT)and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP).This is a relevant issue,as up to 20%of patients with IAP have recurrent episodes and 26%of them develop chronic pancreatitis.Few data are available on the role of EUS in clarifying the etiology of IAP after failure of one or more cross-sectional techniques.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic gain after failure of one or more previous crosssectional exams.METHODS We retrospectively collected data about consecutive patients with AP and at least one negative test between US,CECT and MRCP,who underwent linear EUS between January 2017 and December 2020.We investigated the EUS diagnostic yield and the EUS diagnostic gain over different combinations of these crosssectional imaging techniques for the etiologic diagnosis of AP.Types and frequency of EUS diagnosis were also analyzed,and EUS diagnosis was compared with the clinical parameters.After EUS,patients were followed-up for a median of 31.5 mo to detect cases of pancreatitis recurrence.RESULTS We enrolled 81 patients(63%males,mean age 61±18,23%with previous cholecystectomy,17%with recurrent pancreatitis).Overall EUS diagnostic yield for AP etiological diagnosis was 79%(20%lithiasis,31%acute on chronic pancreatitis,14%pancreatic solid or cystic lesions,5%pancreas divisum,5%autoimmune pancreatitis,5%ductal abnormalities),while 21%remained idiopathic.US,CECT and MRCP,taken alone or in combination,led to AP etiological diagnosis in 16(20%)patients;among the remaining 65 patients,49(75%)obtained a diagnosis at EUS,with an overall EUS diagnostic gain of 61%.Sixty-eight patients had negative US;among them,EUS allowed etiological diagnosis in 59(87%).Sixty-three patients had a negative CECT;among them,47(74%)obtained diagnosis with EUS.Twenty-four had a negative MRCP;among them,20(83%)had EUS diagnosis.Twenty-one had negative CT+MRCP,of which 17(81%)had EUS diagnosis,with a EUS diagnostic gain of 63%.Patients with biliary etiology and without previous cholecystectomy had higher median values of alanine aminotransferase(154 vs 25,P=0.010),aspartate aminotransferase(95 vs 29,P=0.018),direct bilirubin(1.2 vs 0.6,P=0.015),gammaglutamyl transpeptidase(180 vs 48,P=0.006)and alkaline phosphatase(150 vs 72,P=0.015)Chronic pancreatitis diagnosis was more frequent in patients with recurrent pancreatitis at baseline(82%vs 21%,P<0.001).During the follow-up,AP recurred in 3 patients,one of which remained idiopathic.CONCLUSION EUS is a good test to define AP etiology.It showed a 63%diagnostic gain over CECT+MRCP.In suitable patients,EUS should always be performed in cases of IAP.Further prospective studies are needed.

Endoscopic multiple metal stenting for the treatment of enteral leaks near the biliary orifice: A novel effective rescue procedure

Between April 2013 and October 2015, 6 patients developed periampul ary duodenal or jejunal/biliary leaks after major abdominal surgery. In all patients, percutaneous drainage of the collection or re-operation with primary surgical repair was attempted at first but failed. A fully covered enteral metal stent was placed in all patients to seal the leak. Subsequently, we cannulated the common bile duct and, in some cases, and the main pancreatic duct inserting hydrophilic guidewires through the stent after dilating the stent mesh with a dilatation balloon or breaking the meshes with Argon Plasma Beam. Finally, we inserted a fully covered biliary metal stent to drain the bile into the lumen of the enteral stent. In cases of normal proximal upper gastrointestinal anatomy, a pancreatic plastic stent was also inserted. Oral food intake was initiated when the abdominal drain outflow stopped completely. Stent removal was scheduled four to eight weeks later after a CT scan to confirm the complete healing of the fistula and the absence of any perilesional residual fluid collection. The leak resolved in five patients. One patient died two days after the procedure due to severe, pre-existing, sepsis. The stents were removed endoscopically in four weeks in four patients. In one patient we experiencedstent migration causing small bowel obstruction. In this case, the stents were removed surgically. Four patients are still alive today. They are still under follow-up and doing well. Bilio-enteral fully covered metal stenting with or without pancreatic stenting was feasible, safe and effective in treating postoperative enteral leaks near the biliopancreatic orifice in our small series. This minimally invasive procedure can be implemented in selected patients as a rescue procedure to repair these challenging leaks.