Endoscopic Management of the Difficult Bile Duct Stones: A Single Tertiary Center Experience

Background. Most common bile duct (CBD) stones can be removed with standard techniques using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but in some cases additional methods are needed. In this study we aimed to investigate the management of patients with difficult stones and the factors that affect the outcome of patients that have undergone periodic endobiliary stenting. Materials and Methods. Data of 1529 patients with naive papilla who had undergone ERCP with an indication of CBD stones was evaluated retrospectively. Stones that could not be removed with standard techniques were defined as “difficult stones.” Cholangiograms of patients who had difficult stones were revised prospectively. Results. Two hundred and eight patients (13.6%) had difficult stones; 150 of these patients were followed up with periodic endobiliary stenting and successful biliary clearance was achieved in 85.3% of them. Both CBD (p<0.001) and largest stone size (p<0.001) were observed to be significantly reduced between the first and the last procedure. This difference was even more significant in successfully treated patients. Conclusions. Periodic endobiliary stenting can be used as an effective treatment for patients with difficult stones. Sizes of the CBD and of the largest stone are independent risk factors that affect the success rate

The Diagnostic Value of Brush Cytology Alone and in Combination with Tumor Markers in Pancreaticobiliary Strictures

Aim. Differentiation of malignant and benign strictures constitutes a problem despite the increasing experience of the endoscopists, radiologists, and pathologists. The aim of our study is to determine the factors that affect the efficacy of the ERCP guided brush cytology in PBS and to evaluate its diagnostic success when used alone and together with tumor markers. Method. The data from brush cytologies of 301 PBS patients were collected retrospectively and analyzed. The final diagnosis was approved based on the histological examination of the tissue taken surgically or by other methods. In the absence of a histological diagnosis, the final diagnosis was based on radiological studies or the results of a 12-month clinical follow up. Results. A total of 28 patients were excluded from the study. From the remaining 273 patients 299 samples were analyzed. The sensitivity and the specificity of brush cytology in diagnosing malignancy are 62.4% and 97.7, respectively. The sensitivity of brush cytology increased to 94.1% when combined with CA-19.9 and CA-125. Conclusion. Brush cytology is a useful method in diagnosing pancreaticobiliary strictures. Advanced age, stricture dilatation before sampling, the presence of a mass identified by radiological studies, high levels of CA-19.9, ALT, and total bilirubin increase the sensitivity of brush cytology

Is Gastric Xanthelasma an Alarming Endoscopic Marker For Advanced Gastric atrophy and Intestinal Metaplasia?

WOS: 000392524200286

Long term efficacy of pegylated interferone in the treatment of delta hepatitis: a single center experience

Conclusion: PEG-interferones have an unsatisfactory efficacy on the treatment of HDV because of a considerable relapse in the long term

Is Gastric Xanthelasma an Alarming Endoscopic Marker for Advanced Atrophic Gastritis and Intestinal Metaplasia?

WOS: 000384211900024PubMed: 27250981The clinical significance of gastric xanthelasmas is unknown. We conducted a case-control study in order to evaluate whether gastric xanthelasma is an indicator of advanced atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. The study was conducted among 1400 patients who underwent elective upper endoscopy. Patients with gastric xanthelasma and atrophy and/or intestinal metaplasia constituted the study group (n = 55). The control group involved patients with only atrophic gastritis and/or intestinal metaplasia (n = 50). Histopathologic findings of the groups including the distribution of atrophic gastritis and/or intestinal metaplasia, operative link on gastritis assessment score, operative link on gastritis intestinal metaplasia assessment (OLGIM) score, and presence of dysplasia and malignancy were compared. Subgroup analysis was performed in order to establish the relation between the characteristics (size, number, and localization) of xanthelasmas, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia. Multifocal atrophic gastritis was significantly more common in patients with a gastric xanthelasma (41.8 vs. 26.0 %, p = 0.03). Patients with multiple xanthelasmas had a significantly higher rate of intestinal metaplasia (p = 0.02) and a higher OLGIM score (p = 0.02) compared to those with a single xanthelasma. Dysplasia was detected in 8 (14.5 %) patients with a xanthelasma and 4 (8.0 %) patients without a xanthelasma (p = 0.2). Gastric xanthelasma(s) is a warning endoscopic sign for the presence of multifocal atrophic gastritis and advanced intestinal metaplasia

Diverticulum With Papillae: Does Position of Papilla Affect Technical Success?

Basis and Purpose:The presence of peripapillary diverticulum (PPD) can cause some biliary diseases, especially common bile duct stones, and also, literally, can change the technique of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and affect the complication ratio of this procedure. In this study, we investigate the effect of localization and position of the papilla according to the diverticulum on the success of therapeutic ERCP procedures.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted prospectively in the patients with naive papillae, who underwent ERCP for a period of 16 months. In all patients, the position of papillae according to the diverticulum (the periphery of the diverticulum is thought as the clock circumference, and the position of papillae is defined as the dials of clock), the success rate of biliary cannulation, total procedure time, overall treatment success rate of ERCP, and the complications are investigated.Results:During this period, 222 (18.5%) of the 1205 enrolled patients who underwent ERCP had PPD. Of the patients with PPD, 123 (55.4%) were female and 99 (44.6%) were male, and the median age was 68.910.1 years. According to the position of the papilla by the diverticulum, 90 (40.5%) patients have it on 7 o'clock position, 64 (28.8%) patients have on 6 o'clock position, 63 (28.3%) patients have on 5 o'clock position, and 5 (2.3%) patients have on 1 o'clock position. In the cases of the papilla on 1 o'clock position according to the diverticulum, cannulation procedures were found to be more difficult than other patients (P<0.05). The presence of the diverticulum did not affect the success of therapeutic procedures and did not increase the ratio of complications.Conclusions:In the presence of PPD, additional cannulation techniques may be required for the procedure. Particularly, the aid of percutaneous techniques may be needed for the papilla on 1 o'clock position