Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsies for mediastinal lesions and lymph node diagnosis and staging

OBJECTIVES: To disseminate transesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) as an alternative to investigate mediastinal tumoral lesions because it is an underused modality that has been available in Brazil for more than 15 years. METHODS: Descriptive analysis of a single endoscopy service's experience since 1997 in the accomplishment of EUSFNA for mediastinal staging of previously known malignancies (Group 1) or diagnostic definition of suspect lymph nodes and masses (Group 2). RESULTS: EUS-FNA was performed in 51 patients between 26 and 87 years of age. The diameter of the lesions ranged between 1.1 and 9.8 cm (mean 3.9 cm). Their location corresponded to the following stations: higher paratracheal (4 cases), lower paratracheal (7), aortic window (12), para-aortic (6), subcarinal (9), paraesophageal (8), and hilar (5). In Group 1, 17 patients had previously diagnosed primary lung (9), breast (4), kidney (2), colon (1), and bladder (1) cancer. Fifteen of these punctures were positive for malignity. Two others were later submitted to mediastinoscopy, which identified metastases not detected by EUS-FNA. Group 2 comprised 34 patients. Among these patients, EUS-FNA diagnosed 22 neoplasms, five cases of tuberculosis and two duplication cysts. Cytology was inconclusive or without a specific diagnosis in five other cases. Mediastinoscopy identified two undiagnosed cases of oat-cell carcinoma, one lymphoma and one cryptococcosis, and confirmed one reactive lymphadenitis. There were no complications related to the method. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA obviated the need for surgical procedures in 86.3% of cases. Therefore, oncologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons should always remember the technique's potential and availability

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsies for mediastinal lesions and lymph node diagnosis and staging

OBJECTIVES: To disseminate transesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) as an alternative to investigate mediastinal tumoral lesions because it is an underused modality that has been available in Brazil for more than 15 years. METHODS: Descriptive analysis of a single endoscopy service's experience since 1997 in the accomplishment of EUSFNA for mediastinal staging of previously known malignancies (Group 1) or diagnostic definition of suspect lymph nodes and masses (Group 2). RESULTS: EUS-FNA was performed in 51 patients between 26 and 87 years of age. The diameter of the lesions ranged between 1.1 and 9.8 cm (mean 3.9 cm). Their location corresponded to the following stations: higher paratracheal (4 cases), lower paratracheal (7), aortic window (12), para-aortic (6), subcarinal (9), paraesophageal (8), and hilar (5). In Group 1, 17 patients had previously diagnosed primary lung (9), breast (4), kidney (2), colon (1), and bladder (1) cancer. Fifteen of these punctures were positive for malignity. Two others were later submitted to mediastinoscopy, which identified metastases not detected by EUS-FNA. Group 2 comprised 34 patients. Among these patients, EUS-FNA diagnosed 22 neoplasms, five cases of tuberculosis and two duplication cysts. Cytology was inconclusive or without a specific diagnosis in five other cases. Mediastinoscopy identified two undiagnosed cases of oat-cell carcinoma, one lymphoma and one cryptococcosis, and confirmed one reactive lymphadenitis. There were no complications related to the method. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA obviated the need for surgical procedures in 86.3% of cases. Therefore, oncologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons should always remember the technique's potential and availability

Pre-malignant signs of gastric MALT lymphoma

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is the most common type of extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which mostly involves the stomach. The clinical suspicion and diagnosis are often challenging because of the lack of specific symptoms and conventional endoscopic findings. Three magnifying endoscopic signs of the gastric mucosa have been described as highly specific to the diagnosis of MALT lymphoma, such as (i) tree-like appearance of the microvessels; (ii) non-structural area; and (iii) ballooning crypt pattern. We report the case of a middle-aged woman in which these signs appeared chronologically over a period of 2 years, showing the association of the sequence of the endoscopic findings and the final histological diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma

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

QUAIS LESÕES APRESENTAM MAIOR RISCO DE EVOLUÇÃO PARA CARCINOMAS COLORRETAIS: AS SERRILHADAS SUPERFICIALMENTE ELEVADAS OU AS DEPRIMIDAS?

Background: There are lesions that are still being missed in colonoscopy. Many of those could be superficially elevated serrated lesions or depressed ones. Aim: Compare the histopathological characteristics of these lesions and their risks for submucosal carcinoma. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional and observational study comparing 217 superficially elevated serrated lesions larger than 5 mm resected by colonoscopies (G1) with 558 depressed lesions (G2). Results: In G1, 217 lesions were found in 12653 colonoscopies (1,7%); in G2, 558 lesions in 36174 colonoscopies (1.5%). In G1 there were 63.4% of women and in G2 no gender predominance. Average size was G1 with 16.2 mm and G2 with 9.2 mm (p<0.001). G1 predominated on the proximal colon and G2 on the distal and rectum (p<0.001). In G1 there were 214 low-grade intramucosal neoplasia (98,6%) and three high grade intramucosal neoplasia (1,4%). Excluding 126 hyperplastic polyps and considering 91 sessile serrated adenomas in G1, was observed 88 (96.7%) with low-grade intramucosal neoplasia and three (3.3%) high-grade intramucosal neoplasia; in G2, 417 low-grade intramucosal neoplasia (74,7%), 113 high-grade intramucosal neoplasia (20,3%) and 28 (5,0%) submucosal adenocarcinomas (p<0.001). Conclusion: Depressed lesions significantly had more high-grade intramucosal neoplasia and more invasive carcinomas for the submucosal layer than superficially elevated serrated lesions and more than superficially elevated sessile serrated adenomas.Racional: Há ainda lesões que podem ser perdidas nas colonoscopias. Muitas delas poderiam ser serrilhadas superficialmente elevadas ou deprimidas. Objetivo: Comparar as características histopatológicas destas lesões e seus riscos para carcinoma invasivo para a submucosa. Método: Estudo retrospectivo, transversal, observacional comparando 217 lesões serrilhadas superficialmente elevadas com mais de 5 mm e ressecadas por colonoscopias (G1) com 558 lesões deprimidas (G2). Resultados: As 217 lesões do G1 foram encontradas em 12653 colonoscopias (1,7%) enquanto as 558 do G2 ocorreram dentre 36174 colonoscopias (1,5%). No G1, 63,4% eram mulheres e no G2 não houve predominância de gênero. O tamanho médio foi no G1, 16,2 mm e no G2, 9,2 mm (p<0,001). G1 predominaram no cólon proximal e G2, no distal e reto (p<0,001). No G1, ocorreram 214 (98,6%) neoplasias mucosas de baixo grau e três de alto grau (1,4%). Excluídos 126 pólipos hiperplásicos e considerados os 91 adenomas sésseis serrilhados, no G1 observou- se 88 (96,7%) neoplasias mucosas de baixo grau e três (3,3%) de alto grau, e no G2, 417 (74,7%) neoplasias mucosas de baixo grau 113 (20,3%) de alto grau e 28 (5,0%) adenocarcinomas invadindo a submucosa (p<0,001). Conclusões: As lesões deprimidas apresentaram significativamente mais neoplasias mucosas de alto grau e carcinomas invasivos para a submucosa do que as serrilhadas superficialmente elevadas e mais do que os adenomas sésseis serrilhados superficialmente elevados

WHICH LESIONS ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING COLORECTAL CARCINOMAS: SUPERFICIALLY ELEVATED SERRATED LESIONS OR DEPRESSED LESIONS?

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: There are lesions that are still being missed in colonoscopy. Many of those could be superficially elevated serrated lesions or depressed ones. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the histopathological characteristics of these lesions and their risks for submucosal carcinoma. METHODS: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, and observational study comparing 217 superficially elevated serrated lesions larger than 5 mm resected by colonoscopies (G1) with 558 depressed lesions (G2). RESULTS: In G1, 217 lesions were found in 12,653 (1.7%) colonoscopies; in G2, 558 lesions were found in 36,174 (1.5%) colonoscopies. In G1, 63.4% were women and in G2, there was no gender predominance. The average size of G1 was 16.2 mm and G2 was 9.2 mm (p<0.001). G1 predominated on the proximal colon and G2 on the distal and rectum (p<0.001). In G1, there were 214 (98.6%) low-grade intramucosal neoplasia and 3 (1.4%) high-grade intramucosal neoplasia. Excluding 126 hyperplastic polyps and considering 91 sessile serrated adenomas in G1, we observed 88 (96.7%) low-grade intramucosal neoplasia and 3 (3.3%) high-grade intramucosal neoplasia; in G2, we observed 417 (74.7%) low-grade intramucosal neoplasia, 113 (20.3%) high-grade intramucosal neoplasia, and 28 (5.0%) submucosal adenocarcinomas (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Depressed lesions significantly had more high-grade intramucosal neoplasia and more invasive carcinomas in the submucosal layer than superficially elevated serrated lesions and more than superficially elevated sessile serrated adenomas