Comparison of liquid-based cytology (CellPrepPlus) and conventional smears in pancreaticobiliary disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUSFNA) and brushing cytology are used worldwide to diagnose pancreatic and biliary malignant tumors. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been developed and it is currently used to overcome the limitations of conventional smears (CS). In this study, the authors aimed to compare the diagnostic value of the CellPrepPlus (CP; Biodyne) LBC method with CS in samples obtained using EUS-FNA and brushing cytology. METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled 75 patients with pancreatic or biliary lesions from June 2012 to October 2013. For cytological analyses, including inadequate specimens, benign and atypical were further classified into benign, and suspicious and malignant were subcategorized as malignant. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were evaluated. RESULTS: In the EUS-FNA based cytological analysis of pancreatic specimens, CP had a sensitivity of 60.7%; specificity, 100%; accuracy, 77.1%; PPV, 100%; and NPV, 64.5%. CS had a sensitivity of 85.7%; specificity, 100%; accuracy, 91.7%; PPV, 100%; and NPV, 83.3%. In the brushing cytology based analysis of biliary specimens, CP had sensitivity of 53.1%; specificity, 100%; accuracy, 54.5%; PPV, 100%; and NPV, 6.3%. CS had a sensitivity of 78.1%; specificity, 100%; accuracy, 78.8%; PPV, 100%; and NPV, 12.5%. CONCLUSION: Our study found that CP had a lower sensitivity because of low cellularity compared with CS. Therefore, CP (LBC) has a lower diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic EUS-FNA based and biliary brush cytology based analyses compared with CS.

Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Papillary Balloon Dilation Using Cap-Fitted Forward-Viewing Endoscope in Patients Who Underwent Billroth II Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic exploration of the common bile duct (CBD) is difficult and dangerous in patients with Billroth II gastrectomy (B-II). Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) via a cap-fitted forward-viewing endoscope has been reported to be an effective and safe procedure. We analyzed the technical success and complications of EPBD in patients who underwent B-II. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients with B-II were enrolled from among 2,378 patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a single institute in the last 4 years. The EPBD procedure was carried out using a cap-fitted forward-viewing endoscope with 8-mm balloon catheters for 60 seconds. We analyzed the rates of CBD exploration, technical success, and complications. RESULTS: Afferent loop intubation was performed in all patients and selective cannulation of the bile duct was performed in 32 patients (88.9%). Complications such as transient hypoxia were observed in two patients (5.6%) and perforation, in three patients (9.7%). The perforation sites were ductal injury in two patients and one patient showed retroperitoneal air alone without symptoms. Three patients manifested different clinical courses of severe acute pancreatitis and peritonitis, transient abdominal pain, and retroperitoneal air alone. The condition of one patient improved with surgery and that of the other two patients, with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with perforation during EPBD in B-II showed different clinical courses. Tailored treatment strategies are necessary for improving the clinical outcomes.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Initial Endoscopy for Ampullary Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ampullary tumors come in a wide variety of malignant forms. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy for ampullary tumors, and analyzed the causes of misdiagnosis. METHODS: We compared endoscopic imaging and biopsy results to final diagnoses. Types of endoscope, numbers of biopsy specimens taken, and final diagnoses were evaluated as possible factors influencing diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Final diagnoses were 19 adenocarcinomas, 18 normal or papillitis, 11 adenomas, two adenomyomas, one paraganglioma, and one neuroendocrine tumor. The diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic imaging or the initial biopsy was identical (67.3%). At least one test was concordant with the final diagnosis in all except two cases. Compared with the final diagnosis, endoscopic imaging tended to show more advanced tumors, whereas the initial biopsy revealed less advanced lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of the initial biopsy was influenced by the type of endoscope used and the final diagnosis, but not by the number of biopsies taken. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy has limited accuracy in the diagnosis of ampullary tumors. However, most cases with concordant endoscopic imaging and biopsy results are identical to the final diagnosis. Therefore, in cases where both of these tests disagree, re-evaluation with a side-viewing endoscope after resolution of papillitis is required.

A rare combination of the left circumflex coronary artery fistula connecting a dilated coronary sinus with persistent left superior vena cava and multiple arteriovenous fistulae.

Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is an abnormal communication between an epicardial coronary artery and a cardiac chamber, major vessel or other vascular structures. This report presents a rare case of CAF in which a dilated left main trunk and proximal circumflex coronary artery are connected to a dilated coronary sinus. There were also two other fistulae and persistent left superior vena cava. The coronary fistula was managed conservatively.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a supraclavicular lymph node with no known primary: a case report.

Although metastasis is relatively frequent in cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), metastasis in the cervical or supraclavicular lymph node (LN) is relatively rare. Moreover, cases of metastatic RCC with a non-identifiable kidney mass are extremely rare. Here, the authors report a case of metastatic RCC in a supraclavicular LN without a primary kidney lesion. A 69-year-old man presented with a progressively enlarging right supraclavicular mass. Incisional biopsy of the affected supraclavicular LN was performed, and histological examination revealed metastatic RCC. However, no tumor was found in either kidney, despite various examinations. The patient was treated with radiotherapy followed by sunitinib. After three months on sunitinib, a follow-up computed tomography scan revealed that the supraclavicular LN had markedly decreased, and after 20 months, the disease had not progressed. This case suggests that, even when there is no primary kidney lesion, clinicians must consider the possibility of metastatic RCC when evaluating patients with clear cell carcinoma with an unknown primary site.