Diagnosis of isolated hilar-/extrahepatic-type IgG-4-related sclerosing cholangitis can be increased by improved recognition of this condition-A Japanese multicenter analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) often undergo unnecessary resection. The aim of this study was to validate the revised Japanese diagnostic criteria for isolated IgG-4-SC and to improve awareness about this condition in the population. METHODS: This was a Japanese retrospective multicenter study. We focused on the data and diagnostic yield obtained using the Japanese diagnostic criteria published initially in 2012 and revised later in 2020 for the diagnosis of isolated IgG4-SC. RESULTS: Patients with isolated IgG4-SC could be classified into two groups based on the primary location of the lesion: the hilar type (n = 40) and the extrahepatic type (n = 13). In total, 10 patients with the hilar type had undergone unnecessary resection. The revised 2020 criteria are useful for the diagnosis of extrahepatic lesions, which are not included in the 2012 criteria. The need for a steroid trial was reduced from 37.7% when the diagnosis was based on the 2012 criteria to 7.6% when the diagnosis was based on the revised 2020 criteria. The diagnostic specificity also improved from 58.5% for the 2012 criteria to 88.7% for the revised 2020 criteria. CONCLUSION: Our validation of the 2020 criteria for the diagnosis of IgG4-SC could contribute to avoiding unnecessary resection in patients with isolated IgG4-SC, which can be classified into the hilar and extrahepatic types. The 2020 criteria can enhance the diagnosis rate of isolated IgG4-SC and uncover this tough-to-diagnose entity based on inclusion of the imaging findings and decrease the dependence on a steroid trial.

TOKYO criteria 2024 for the assessment of clinical outcomes of endoscopic biliary drainage.

The consensus-based TOKYO criteria were proposed as a standardized reporting system for endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage. The primary objective was to address issues arising from the inconsistent reporting of stent outcomes across studies, which has complicated the comparability and interpretation of study results. However, the original TOKYO criteria were not readily applicable to recent modalities of endoscopic biliary drainage such as biliary drainage based on endoscopic ultrasound or device-assisted endoscopy. There are increasing opportunities for managing hilar biliary obstruction and benign biliary strictures through endoscopic drainage. Biliary ablation has been introduced to manage benign and malignant biliary strictures. In addition, the prolonged survival times of cancer patients have increased the importance of evaluating overall outcomes during the period requiring endoscopic biliary drainage rather than solely focusing on the patency of the initial stent. Recognizing these unmet needs, a committee has been established within the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society to revise the TOKYO criteria for current clinical practice. The revised criteria propose not only common reporting items for endoscopic biliary drainage overall, but also items specific to various conditions and interventions. The term "stent-demanding time" has been defined to encompass the entire duration of endoscopic biliary drainage, during which the overall stent-related outcomes are evaluated. The revised TOKYO criteria 2024 are expected to facilitate the design and reporting of clinical studies, providing a goal-oriented approach to the evaluation of endoscopic biliary drainage.

A novel balloon dilation catheter facilitating endoscopic papillary balloon dilation in patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy.

Video 1Selective biliary cannulation was difficult, and the catheter tended to be cannulated into the pancreatic duct. We applied a double-wire technique to achieve biliary cannulation. Finally, selective biliary cannulation was achieved. Cholangiography revealed a small stone of approximately 5 mm in the common bile duct (red arrow). Subsequently, endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) was performed using a new EPBD catheter with a diameter of 8 mm. This new EPBD catheter was inserted. We inflated this EPBD catheter slightly while observing both endoscopy and fluoroscopy monitors to confirm its dilation process. EPBD was easily and effectively performed without slipping in or out of the papilla. The orifice of the papilla was dilated. Stone extraction was completely achieved.

Efficacy of texture and color enhancement imaging for short-type single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted biliary cannulation in patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy: Multicenter study (with video).

OBJECTIVES: Texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) reportedly improves the identification of the papilla of Vater for selective biliary cannulation compared with white light imaging (WLI). This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy of short-type single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE)-assisted biliary cannulation using a new-generation image-enhanced endoscopy processing system equipped with TXI in patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastrectomy. METHODS: Patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy with a native papilla, and underwent short SBE-assisted biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-related procedures between January 2019 and April 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes of biliary cannulation using TXI and WLI were compared. The primary outcome was time to successful biliary cannulation. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients underwent biliary cannulation with TXI and 98 underwent WLI. The biliary cannulation success rates and median time to successful biliary cannulation with TXI and WLI were 93.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 79.8-99.3%) and 83.7% (95% CI 74.8-90.4%), respectively (P = 0.14), and 10 min (interquartile range [IQR] 2.5-23.5) and 18 min (IQR 9.75-24), respectively (P = 0.04). Biliary cannulation with TXI required a shorter cannulation time than that required with WLI. Adverse event rates with TXI and WLI did not differ significantly (P = 0.58). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the use of TXI and short length of oral protrusion were associated with a shorter successful biliary cannulation time. CONCLUSION: Short SBE-assisted biliary cannulation was effective and safe on TXI in patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastrectomy, and achieved shorter successful biliary cannulation time.

22-gauge Co-Cr versus stainless-steel Franseen needles for endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition in patients with solid pancreatic lesions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) using Franseen needles is reportedly useful for its high diagnostic yield. This study compared the diagnostic yield and puncturing ability of EUS-TA using 22-gauge cobalt-chromium (CO-Cr) needles with those of stainless-steel Franseen needles in patients with solid pancreatic lesions. METHODS: Outcomes were compared between the 22-gauge Co-Cr Franseen needle (December 2019 to November 2020; group C) and stainless-steel needle (November 2020 to May 2022; group S). RESULTS: A total of 155 patients (group C, 75; group S, 80) were eligible. The diagnostic accuracy was 92.0% in group C and 96.3% in group S with no significant intergroup differences (p=0.32). The rate of change in the operator (from training fellows to experts) was 20.0% (15/75) in group C and 7.5% (6/80) in group S. Stainless-steel Franseen needles showed less inter-operator difference than Co-Cr needles (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Both Co-Cr and stainless-steel Franseen needles showed high diagnostic ability. Stainless-steel Franseen needles are soft and flexible; therefore, the range of puncture angles can be widely adjusted, making them suitable for training fellows to complete the procedure.

Successful cholangioscopy-guided cannulation using a novel slim cholangioscope.

Selective biliary cannulation is a difficult step in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In this case video, Tanisaka and colleagues report a successful cholangioscopy-guided cannulation achieved using a novel slim cholangioscope with a 2.3-mm scope tip. Cholangioscopy-guided cannulation using this cholangioscope could be a good option in cases of difficult biliary cannulation.

ERCP using balloon-assisted endoscopes versus EUS-guided treatment for common bile duct stones in Roux-en-Y gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We compared ERCP using a balloon-assisted endoscope (BE-ERCP) with EUS-guided antegrade treatment (EUS-AG) for removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones in patients with Roux-en-Y (R-Y) gastrectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients who had previous R-Y gastrectomy undergoing BE-ERCP or EUS-AG for CBD stones in 16 centers were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: BE-ERCP and EUS-AG were performed in 588 and 59 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar, except for CBD diameter and angle. The technical success rate was 83.7% versus 83.1% (P = .956), complete stone removal rate was 78.1% versus 67.8% (P = .102), and early adverse event rate was 10.2% versus 18.6% (P = .076) in BE-ERCP and EUS-AG, respectively. The mean number of endoscopic sessions was smaller in BE-ERCP (1.5 ± .8 vs 1.9 ± 1.0 sessions, P = .01), whereas the median total treatment time was longer (90 vs 61.5 minutes, P = .001). Among patients with biliary access, the complete stone removal rate was significantly higher in BE-ERCP (93.3% vs 81.6%, P = .009). Negative predictive factors were CBD diameter ≥15 mm (odds ratio [OR], .41) and an angle of CBD <90 degrees (OR, .39) in BE-ERCP and a stone size ≥10 mm (OR, .07) and an angle of CBD <90 degrees (OR, .07) in EUS-AG. The 1-year recurrence rate was 8.3% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Effectiveness and safety of BE-ERCP and EUS-AG were comparable in CBD stone removal for patients after R-Y gastrectomy, but complete stone removal after technical success was superior in BE-ERCP.

Texture and color enhancement imaging aided in the identification of a deviated bile duct orifice in a patient with a large periampullary diverticulum.

Deviation of the bile duct orifice due to a large periampullary diverticulum presents difficulty in identifying the bile duct orifice, resulting in failure to achieve selective biliary cannulation. Tanisaka and colleagues demonstrate the usefulness of texture and color enhancement imaging for the identification of a deviated bile duct orifice.

Postprocedure serum amylase or lipase levels predict postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: Meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies and utility assessment.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to clarify the clinical utility of measuring serum pancreatic enzymes after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the purpose of predicting post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) by a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies. METHODS: Studies on the prediction accuracy of PEP by serum amylase or lipase measured at 2, 3, and 4 h after ERCP were collected. A literature search was performed in PubMed and the Cochrane Library database for studies published between January 1980 and March 2023. The quality of individual studies was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. Data were analyzed using Meta-DiSc 2.0 software. RESULTS: We searched the databases and identified 20 observational studies (12,313 participants). PEPs were defined according to criteria by Cotton or modified Cotton, revised Atlanta criteria, or the Japanese criteria. Meta-analysis of eight studies (4389 participants) showed a pooled sensitivity of 71.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 56.1-82.5) and pooled specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 85.9-94.6) for the serum amylase cut-off value at 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). Another meta-analysis of five studies (1970 participants) showed a pooled sensitivity of 85.8% (95% CI 61.9-95.7) and pooled specificity of 85.3% (95% CI 81.9-88.1) for the serum lipase cut-off value at 3 times ULN. CONCLUSION: Despite a high risk of bias due to various reference standards, this updated meta-analysis and the utility assessment by a decision tree showed the utility of serum amylase or lipase levels more than 3 times ULN measured 2-4 h after ERCP for predicting PEP.

A Case of Bile Duct Mixed Neuroendocrine-nonendocrine Neoplasm with a Complete Response to Chemoradiotherapy.

The incidence of neuroendocrine carcinomas arising from the bile duct is low, and that of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) is even lower; therefore, there is no standard treatment for MiNENs. Choosing the appropriate treatment in clinical practice is difficult. We herein report a case of unresectable extrahepatic bile duct MiNEN in a 66-year-old man who received curative chemoradiotherapy and achieved a complete response, remaining recurrence-free for 2.5 years. We consider the findings of this case to be valuable in selecting a treatment strategy for unresectable bile duct MiNENs.