Efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts using double-pigtail plastic stents: A single tertiary center experience

OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic pseudocysts (PPC) are fluid collections with a well-defined wall that persist for more than 4 weeks inside or around the pancreas as a result of pancreatic inflammation and/or a ductal lesion. PPC have been successfully treated with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage using different stents. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided drainage of PPC using double-pigtail plastic stents in a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Patients with PPC referred for EUS-guided drainage between May 2015 and December 2019 were included in this case series. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the efficacy (clinical success) and safety (adverse events and mortality) of EUS-guided drainage of PPC. Secondary endpoints included technical success and pseudocyst recurrence. RESULTS: Eleven patients (mean age, 44.5±18.98 years) were included in this study. The etiologies for PPC were acute biliary pancreatitis, chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, and blunt abdominal trauma. The mean pseudocyst size was 9.4±2.69 cm. The clinical success rate was 91% (10/11). Adverse events occurred in three of 11 patients (27%). There were no cases of mortality. The technical success rate was 100%. Pseudocyst recurrence was identified in one of 11 patients (9%) at 12 weeks after successful clinical drainage and complete pseudocyst resolution. CONCLUSION: EUS-guided transmural drainage of PPC using double-pigtail plastic stents is safe and effective with high technical and clinical success rates

Prospective comparative study of ERCP brush cytology and EUS-FNA for the diferential diagnosis of biliary strictures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and to compare the diagnostic yield of ERCP brush cytology (ERCP) and EUS-FNA in patients with biliary strictures and evaluates the agreement between general pathologists (GP) and expert GI pathologists (GIP) in the final diagnosis of biliary strictures. METHODS: Patients with biliary strictures documented by ERCP were included. Brush cytology was performed and during EUS, only visible mass lesions or localized bile duct wall thickening were aspirated. The gold standard method for diagnosis was surgical histology and/or follow-up. Tissue sampling results were: malignant, suspicious, atypical, insufficiently or benign. Specimens were interpreted by GP and GIP, blinded for prior tests results. RESULTS: 46 patients were included. Final diagnosis was malignancy in 37 (26 pancreatic - 11 biliary) and benign in 9 (8 chronic pancreatitis - 1 common bile duct inflammatory stricture). Sensitivity and accuracy for ERCP brush cytology were 43.2% and 52.2% for GP and 51.4% and 58.7% for GIP. Sensitivity and accuracy for EUS-FNA were 52.8% and 58.5%, respectively for GP and 69.4% e 73.2% for GIP. In comparison, the combination of brush cytology and EUS-FNA demonstrated higher sensitivity and accuracy for both GP (64.9% and 69.6%, respectively) and GIP (83.8% and 84.8%, respectively) and improved agreement with final diagnosis for both (mostly for GIP). CONCLUSION: Both, ERCP brush cytology and EUS-FNA has a similar yield for the diagnosis of biliary strictures. However, the combination of these methods results in an improved diagnostic accuracy. In addition, GIP might be expected to interpret specimens with greater accuracy than GP.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o desempenho diagnóstico da citologia obtida pela CPER, aquele obtido pela EE-PAAF e a concordância entre patologistas gerais (PG) e especialistas (PE) em pacientes com estenose biliar. MÉTODOS: Incluímos pacientes com estenose biliar identificados pela CPER. A EE-PAAF foi realizada apenas em áreas com efeito de massa ou da parede espessada do ducto biliar. O padrão-ouro foi a cirurgia, histologia e/ou o seguimento. As amostras teciduais foram consideradas: malignas, suspeitas, atípicas, insuficientes ou benignas. Os espécimes obtidos por cada método foi interpretado (cego) por um PG e outro PE. RESULTADO: 46 pacientes foram incluídos (37 malignos e 9 benignos). O diagnóstico final foi de tumor pancreático (26), biliar (11), pancreatite crônica (8) e estenose inflamatória do ducto biliar (1). Sensibilidade e acurácia da CPER foram 43,2% e 52,2% para o PG e 51,4% e 58,7% para o PE. Sensibilidade e acurácia da EE-PAAF foi 52,8% e 58,5% para o PG e 69,4% e 73,2% para o PE. A combinação entre a CPER e EE-PAAF demonstrou maior sensibilidade e acurácia para ambos PG (64,9% e 69,6%) e PE (83,8% e 84,8%), respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A citologia obtida pelo escovado da via biliar durante a CPER e as amostras teciduais colhidas pela EE-PAAF tem rendimento semelhante para o diagnóstico das estenoses biliares. No entanto, a combinação dos métodos resulta em uma maior acurácia. Além disso, espera-se que a interpretação das amostras ocorra com maior precisão pelo PE se comparado ao PG.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto Departamento de Cirurgia e AnatomiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Unidade de Diagnóstico AnatomopatológicoUNIFESP, Unidade de Diagnóstico AnatomopatológicoSciEL

Comparação entre citologia por escovado endoscópico realizada antes e depois da dilatação das estenoses biliares para detecção de câncer

BACKGROUND: Confirmation of malignancy within biliary strictures is endoscopically challenging. Dilation of strictures has been reported to enhance cytological diagnosis. AIM: To compare brush cytology results before and after biliary stricture dilation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with extra-hepatic biliary stricture at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were included in the study. Brushing was performed before and immediately after dilation using a 10 Fr dilating catheter. Cytology samples were classified as: negative for malignancy, presence of atypical cells, insufficient material, suspicious for malignancy or positive for malignancy. Final diagnosis was established by surgery, biopsy or follow-up. RESULTS: Biliary brush cytology was performed in 50 patients, with an overall sensitivity of 40% and 27.5%, before and after dilation, respectively. The combination of results increased cancer detection rate to 45%. There were 5/50 (10%) minor complications and one death related to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Brush cytology performed before biliary stricture dilation has a similar cancer detection rate to that following dilation, although the combination of results enhances sensitivity.RACIONAL: A citologia por escovado apresenta baixa sensibilidade na detecção de câncer em estenoses biliares, mas manipulação endoscópica prévia poderia aumentar a esfoliação de células tumorais. OBJETIVO: Comparar os resultados dos escovados obtidos antes e depois da dilatação de estenoses biliares. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Pacientes com estenose biliar extra-hepática diagnosticada durante colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógada foram submetidos a citologia por escovado. Em seguida, a estenose foi dilatada com cateter de 10 French e o escovado foi repetido. A citologia foi classificada como: negativa para malignidade, presença de células atípicas, material insuficiente, suspeita para malignidade ou positiva para malignidade. O diagnóstico final foi determinado por cirurgia, biopsia ou acompanhamento clínico. RESULTADOS: O escovado biliar foi obtido em 50 pacientes, com sensibilidade de 40% e 27,5%, respectivamente, antes e depois da dilatação. A combinação dos resultados aumentou a positividade para 45%. Houve 5/50 (10%) complicações menores e um óbito relacionado ao procedimento. CONCLUSÕES: A positividade do escovado biliar realizado antes de dilatar a estenose para detecção de neoplasia maligna é semelhante àquela obtida depois da dilatação, embora a combinação dos resultados aumente a sensibilidade.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Department of GastroenterologyFederal University of São Paulo Department of PathologyUNIFESP, Department of PathologySciEL

Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration core biopsy: comparison between an automatic biopsy device and two conventional needle systems

Introducción: la ecografía endoscópica asociada a la punción guiada con aguja fina (EUS-FNA) permite el examen citológico y/o diagnóstico histológico de las lesiones dentro o junto al tracto gastrointestinal. Sin embargo, la cantidad de tejido obtenido con una aguja de calibre 22 G no es siempre satisfactoria. Con el desarrollo de una aguja XNA-10J-KB (Shot-Gun®) que se asemeja a la biopsia hepática automática como una aguja especial, se espera que se obtemgan muestras importantes con más frecuencia permitindo optimizar el mejor análisis histopatológico. Objetivo: comparar las muestras obtenidas con EUS-FNA con 3 diferentes sistemas de aguja: GIP ®, NA-10J-1 ® y Shot-Gun ®. Métodos: 19 pacientes fueron sometidos a EUS-FNA para el diagnóstico (5) para el análisis de las etapas del tumor (14). La edad media fue de 58,9 años (rango 27-82), siendo el 50% hombres. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a EUS-FNA con los 3 modelos de aguja. Del Shot-Gun ® fue "disparada" su punta cuando estaba cerca de la meta en el interior de la lesión, seguida de aspiración. Las muestras se sometieron a examen citológico e histológico. Resultados: el promedio de tamaño de la lesión fue de 3,0 cm (rango 0,8-5,5 cm). Los diagnósticos definitivos fueron hechos después de la cirugía o la biopsia intra-operatoria: 13 tumores de páncreas (12 adenocarcinomas y 1 tumor neuroendócrino), 4 de pancreatitis crónica, 1 de pancreatitis aguda, y 1 de colangiocarcinoma. Las muestras adecuadas para el diagnóstico citológico se obtuvieron en 13/19 (68,4%) pacientes que utilizan GIP ®, en 14/19 (73,7%) con NA10J-1 ®, y en 17/19 (89,5%) con Shot-Gun® (p = 0,039). El análisis histológico fue posible en 10/19 (52,6%) pacientes que utilizan el GIP®, en 14/19 (73,7%) con NA10J-1 ®, y en 17/19 (89,5%) con Shot-Gun® (p = 0,005). Suficientes muestras para citológico o histológico de evaluación en 16/19 (84,2%) pacientes que utilizan el modelo GIP ®, en 17/19 (89,5%) con NA10J-1 ®, y en 18/19 (94,7%) con Shot-Gun® (p = 0,223). En dos casos las biopsias fueron negativos debido a tumores muy duros. Conclusión: la aguja Shot-Gun ® ha obtenido mejores muestras para diagnóstico histológico que NA10J-1® aguja y GIP ®

PROPOSAL OF A CLINICAL CARE PATHWAY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

Background - Upper gastrointestinal bleeding implies significant clinical and economic repercussions. The correct establishment of the latest therapies for the upper gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. The use of clinical pathways for the upper gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with shorter hospital stay and lower hospital costs. Objective - The primary objective is the development of a clinical care pathway for the management of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, to be used in tertiary hospital. Methods - It was conducted an extensive literature review on the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, contained in the primary and secondary information sources. Results - The result is a clinical care pathway for the upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with evidence of recent bleeding, diagnosed by melena or hematemesis in the last 12 hours, who are admitted in the emergency rooms and intensive care units of tertiary hospitals. In this compact and understandable pathway, it is well demonstrated the management since the admission, with definition of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, passing through the initial clinical treatment, posterior guidance for endoscopic therapy, and referral to rescue therapies in cases of persistent or rebleeding. It was also included the care that must be taken before hospital discharge for all patients who recover from an episode of bleeding. Conclusion - The introduction of a clinical care pathway for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding may contribute to standardization of medical practices, decrease in waiting time for medications and services, length of hospital stay and costs

Review of Pancreatic Lesions in Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Von Hippel-Lindaudisease (VHLD) is a rare hereditary tumor syndrome, inherited in autosomal dominant manner. Patients diagnosed with VHLD have a high risk of developing neoplasms of various organs (eyes, central nervous system, bone, kidney, adrenal glands, epididymis, broad ligament and pancreas). Due to its rarity, most of the physicians fail to properly diagnose it in time, and they might expose patients to a risk of unnecessary surgeries with important consequences in a long run. When this condition is diagnosed, lifelong follow-up is necessary. Pancreatic involvement it is seen in most patients with VHLD and various pancreatic lesions have been described, including cystic lesions (simple unilocular or serous microcystic or macro/micro-cystic adenomas), neuroendocrine tumors (NET), renal cell cancer metastasis and adenocarcinoma. These lesions are rarely the primary presenting tumor and frequently diagnosed during the screening of family members with VHLD, by imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT). Cystic lesions are the most common, generally asymptomatic and are rarely associated with malignant degeneration, except mucinous cysts. It is recommended follow-up and intervention if these lesions become symptomatic or mucinous aspect. NET are usually multiple, nonfunctional and have malignant potential. The management of NET depends on size, doubling time and underlying genetics. Because of their malignant potential, it is necessary careful observation in a long-term&nbsp; follow-up. If treatment is necessary, more conservative management is preferable. Molecular targets for treatment of NET in VHLD have also been proposed and some drugs are in preclinical or clinical trials.</p