Photodynamic therapy may provide a benefit over systemic chemotherapy among non-surgically managed patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Systemic chemotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC), however, the survival benefit of chemotherapy is limited. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been associated with improved survival among patients with advanced ECC, yet utilization of PDT remains low. We sought to compare the outcomes of patients with unresectable ECC following treatment with PDT versus chemotherapy. METHODS: A review of the National Cancer Database was conducted to identify patients with ECC who were nonsurgically managed between 2004 and 2013. Overall survival (OS) of patients receiving PDT vs systemic chemotherapy was compared using propensity score matching. RESULTS: After propensity matching (PDT, n = 59; chemotherapy, n = 177), 5-year OS was 17.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0%-28.6%) among patients who underwent PDT vs 3.8% (95%CI, 0.4%-14.0%) among patients receiving chemotherapy (P < .001). On multivariable analysis PDT was associated with an OS benefit (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95%CI, 0.52-0.998; P = .048). Subset analysis of patients receiving PDT only (n = 45) and patients receiving chemotherapy demonstrated similar results. In subset analysis of patients undergoing PDT-only vs PDT-chemotherapy, OS was comparable. CONCLUSION: PDT was associated with a survival benefit compared with chemotherapy alone among patients with unresectable ECC.

Palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction with simultaneous endoscopic insertion of afferent and efferent jejunal limb enteral stents in patients with recurrent malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with prior pancreaticobiliary or distal gastric cancer treated surgically may have local anastomotic recurrence with obstruction of the afferent and efferent jejunal limbs. This report describes the efficacy and safety of simultaneous endoscopic insertion of self-expanding metal stents into the afferent and efferent jejunal limbs in patients with gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) of post-surgical anatomy for palliation of recurrent malignancy. METHODS: Patients were identified from an endoscopic database at a specialized cancer center between September 2007 and March 2014. Technical success was defined as single-session insertion of afferent and efferent jejunal limb enteral stents. Clinical success was defined as immediate symptom relief and ability to advance diet. A durable response was defined as symptom relief of at least 60 days or until hospice placement or death. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were identified who underwent insertion of two 22-mm-diameter uncovered duodenal stents. Stent length varied from 60 to 120 mm. Stents were placed under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. Three patients required balloon dilation to facilitate stent insertion. Average procedure time was 58.8 min (range 28-120). Technical success was achieved in 23/24 (96%) patients. Clinical success was achieved in 19/23 (83%) patients. Following initial stent insertion and prior to subsequent re-intervention, 11/19 (58%) patients had a durable response with a median duration of 70 days (range 4-315). Eight (42%) patients underwent subsequent re-intervention at a median of 22 days (range 11-315). Five patients had stent revision and were able to tolerate oral intake. Two patients had percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy insertion. One patient required surgical diversion for persistent obstruction. Complications included stent migration and post-stent insertion bacteremia due to food bolus obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent malignant GOO in patients with post-surgical anatomy treated with simultaneous endoscopic enteral stenting of afferent and efferent jejunal limbs has a high rate of technical and clinical success and low rate of complications and provides effective palliation.

Endoscopic Palliative Treatment for Duodenal and Biliary Obstruction in Advanced Periampullary Malignancy.

Unresectable periampullary malignancies can lead to concomitant duodenal and biliary obstructions, significantly affecting patient quality of life. Effective palliation of these obstructions is crucial for symptom management and improving patient outcomes. Endoscopic techniques provide a minimally invasive approach to address these complications. This report presents a case where endoscopy was successfully used to palliate both duodenal and biliary obstructions in a patient with advanced periampullary malignancy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was attempted to relieve the biliary obstruction caused by periampullary malignancy; however, the procedure was subsequently abandoned and the patient ultimately underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Furthermore, the use of an endoscope for duodenal stenting to restore gastrointestinal continuity was done. The patient experienced significant symptomatic relief and improved quality of life post-procedure. This case underscores the utility of endoscopic interventions in managing complex obstructions due to advanced malignancies.

Palliation in Gallbladder Cancer: The Role of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Gallbladder cancer is a rare malignancy burdened by poor prognosis with an estimated 5-year survival of 5% to 13% due to late presentation, early infiltration of surrounding tissues, and lack of successful treatments. The only curative approach is surgery; however, more than 50% of cases are unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Endoscopy represents, together with surgery and chemotherapy, an available palliative option in advanced gallbladder cancers not eligible for curative treatments. Cholangitis, jaundice, gastric outlet obstruction, and pain are common complications of advanced gallbladder cancer that may need endoscopic management in order to improve the overall survival and the patients' quality of life. Endoscopic biliary drainage is frequently performed to manage cholangitis and jaundice. ERCP is generally the preferred technique allowing the placement of a plastic stent or a self-expandable metal stent depending on the singular clinical case. EUS-guided biliary drainage is an available alternative for patients not amenable to ERCP drainage (e.g., altered anatomy). Gastric outlet obstruction is another rare complication of gallbladder malignancy growing in contact with the duodenal wall and causing its compression. Endoscopy is a less invasive alternative to surgery, offering different options such as an intraluminal self-expandable metal stent or EUS-guided gastroenteroanastomosis. Abdominal pain associated with cancer progression is generally managed with medical treatments; however, for incoercible pain, EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis has been described as an effective and safe treatment. Locoregional treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and intraluminal brachytherapy (IBT), have been described in the control of disease progression; however, their role in daily clinical practice has not been established yet. The aim of this study is to perform a review of the literature in order to assess the role of endoscopy and the available techniques in the palliative therapy of advanced gallbladder malignancy.

Paliación endoscópica con stent duodenal en cáncer gástrico estadio IV complicado con estenosis gastroduodenal / Endoscopic stenting for palliation of Stage IV gastric cancer with malignant gastric outlet obstruction. A clinical case / Paliação endoscópica com stent duodenal em câncer gástrico estágio IV complicado por estenose gastroduodenal. Caso clínico

Resumen: Introducción: el cáncer gástrico es la quinta neoplasia en frecuencia a nivel mundial. Su diagnóstico suele ser tardío. La estenosis gastroduodenal es una complicación frecuente, que condiciona el pronóstico y el tratamiento. Contamos con varias modalidades en cuanto a la paliación de esta complicación. Destacamos el tratamiento quirúrgico mediante derivación digestiva (gastroenteroanastomosis), y el tratamiento endoscópico, mediante colocación de un stent o prótesis metalica autoexpandible (PMA). El objetivo es exponer el caso clínico de una paciente portadora de un cáncer gástrico avanzado complicado con estenosis gastroduodenal en la cual se optó por la colocación de una PMA. La bibliografía comparativa entre ambas técnicas es controvertida. Existen estudios importantes que recomiendan la técnica quirúrgica frente a la endoscópica, y viceversa. Con este fin se han realizado múltiples trabajos. Los posibles beneficios de la paliación endoscópica son: menor estadía hospitalaria, rápido reintegro a la vía oral. El caso clínico expuesto por el contrario no se benefició de la menor estadía hospitalaria, en parte, por ser necesaria su internación por comorbilidades médicas. No presentó complicaciones posteriores relacionadas al procedimiento. Conclusiones: la elección de la técnica a utilizar deberá ser individualizada, teniendo en cuenta el paciente, sus comorbilidades, recursos técnicos, experiencia del personal, y recursos económicos. Se necesitan más estudios para demostrar beneficio de la técnica paliativa más adecuada.

Abstract: Introduction: gastric cancer is the fifth neoplasm in terms of global incidence and its diagnosis often comes late. Gastric outlet obstruction is a frequent complication that influences prognosis and treatment. Among the various modalities available for palliation of this complication, we stand out two: surgical treatment by means of a digestive derivation: gastrojejunostomy and endoscopic treatment, by placing a stent or a steel mesh self-expanding endoprosthesis (EMP). The study aims to present the clinical case of a patient carrier of advanced gastric cancer with gastric outlet obstruction, who was treated by placing a self-expandable metallic stent. Comparative bibliography of both techniques is controversial. A number of important studies recomend the surgical technique instead of endoscopic treatment, and viceversa. For this reason, several studies have been conducted. The potential benefits of endoscopic palliation are the following: shorter hospital stay, fast return to oral intake. However the clinical case presented did not benefit from a shorter hospital stay, since it required longer hospitalization, partly due to medical comorbilities. There were no complications after the procedure. Conclusions: the specific technique to treat the condition needs to be chosen for each individual case, considering the particular patient and his or her comorbilities, technical resources, the experience of the medical staff and economic resources. More studies are necessary to prove the benefits of the most appropriate palliative technique.

Resumo: Introdução: o câncer gástrico é a quinta neoplasia em frequência no mundo. Seu diagnóstico costuma ser tardio. A estenose gastroduodenal é uma complicação frequente, que determina o prognóstico e o tratamento. Existem várias modalidades quanto à paliação desta complicação entre os quais destacamos o tratamento cirúrgico por derivação digestiva: gastro enteroanastomose e o tratamento endoscópico, com colocação de Stent ou Prótese Metálica Autoexpansível (PMA). O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o caso clínico de um paciente com câncer gástrico avançado complicado por estenose gastroduodenal em que se optou pela colocação de PMA. A bibliografia comparativa entre as duas técnicas é controversa. Existem estudos importantes que preconizam a técnica cirúrgica em detrimento da endoscópica e vice-versa. Para isso, vários trabalhos foram realizados. Os possíveis benefícios da paliação endoscópica são: menor tempo de internação, rápida reintrodução à via oral. Neste caso o paciente não se beneficiou do menor tempo de internação, em parte, porque a internação foi necessária por comorbidades médicas. Não foram observadas complicações subsequentes relacionadas ao procedimento. Conclusões: a escolha da técnica a ser utilizada deve ser individualizada, levando em consideração o paciente, suas comorbidades, os recursos técnicos, a experiência da equipe e os recursos econômicos. Mais estudos são necessários para demonstrar o benefício da técnica paliativa mais adequada.

Prótesis metálicas autoexpansibles en lesiones malignas avanzadas del tracto digestivo / Self-expandable metallic stents into advanced malignant injuries of the gastrointestinal tract

La inserción endoscópica de prótesis metálicas autoexpansibles en lesiones malignas del tracto gastrointestinal ha sido descrita como tratamiento paliativo. Reportar el uso de dichas prótesis en pacientes con obstrucción del tubo digestivo por lesiones malignas, evaluados en el Centro Médico "Valle de San Diego" y en el Hospital Oncológico "Dr. Miguel Pérez Carreño" de Valencia, estado Carabobo entre enero 2009 y noviembre 2011. 14 prótesis; 6 en sujetos masculinos y 8 en femeninos, con edad de 61,21± 10,43 años. Los tipos fueron: esofágica Ultraflex y enterales Wallstent. La lesión fue localizada en el esófago en 4 casos, e igual número para la unión esogafogastrica y estómago, 1 caso en rectocolon y otro por complicaciones de órganos vecinos (páncreas). La tipología histológica (78,6%) fue reportada como adenocarcinoma. Hubo dolor como complicación en 6 casos, obstrucción por alimentos y dolor unido a migración en un caso y crecimiento tumoral intraprótesis en dos casos. La sobrevida en un 57,1% fue entre 3 y 6 meses. La paliación fue efectiva, presentándose éxito técnico y clínico, considerándose a las prótesis metálicas autoexpansibles como una solución simple y efectiva para la paliación de las estenosis malignas del tracto gastrointestinal

The endoscopic insertion of self-expandable metallic stents into malignant injuries of the gastrointestinal tract has been described as palliative treatment. To report the use of such stents in patients with obstruction caused by malignant injuries, evaluated in the medical center "Valle de San Diego" and oncologic hospital "Dr. Miguel Pérez Carreño" of the Valencia, Carabobo between January 2009 and November 2011. 14 stents; 6 in male subjects and 8 in female subjects, with 61,21 ± 10,43 years. The types were: esophagic Ultraflex and enteral Wallstent. The injury was located in the esophagus region in 4 cases, and an equal amount in the esophagastric union and in the gastric area, 1 case in the rectocolon and another one originated by complications in neighboring organs. The histological typology (78,6%) reported as adenocarcinoma. There was a pain as a complication in one case, food obstruction and pain with migration in a one case and growth tumoral in two cases. The over life of 57,1% was between 3 and 6 months. The palliation was effective, by having technical and clinical success, therefore considering self-expandable metallic stents as a simple and effective solution for the palliation of malignant stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract