Harmonic Contrast-Enhanced Endoscopic Ultrasonography for the Guidance of Fine-Needle Aspiration in Solid Pancreatic Masses.

Purpose The global accuracy of fine-needle aspiration guided by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS-FNA) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma is about 85 %. The use of contrast agents during EUS to highlight vessels and the necrotic parts of pancreatic masses may improve biopsy guidance. Our aim was to assess whether the guidance of FNA by harmonic contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (CH-EUS) would increase diagnostic accuracy relative to conventional EUS-FNA in the same pancreatic masses. Patients and Methods In a prospective study, EUS-FNA was performed in patients with pancreatic masses on CT scan, followed by harmonic CH-EUS using SonoVue. A second cluster of CH-EUS-FNA was performed on contrast-enhanced images. The final diagnosis was based on the results of EUS-FNA and surgery, or the findings after 12 months' follow-up. Results The final diagnosis was adenocarcinoma (n = 35), chronic pancreatitis (n = 10), or other (n = 6). The diagnostic accuracy based on core histology was 78.4 % for EUS-FNA and 86.5 % for CH-EUS-FNA (p = 0.35). The accuracy increased to 94 % when the two methods' results were combined. The two false-negative EUS-FNA cases were correctly appreciated by CH-EUS. Neither core histology size nor the presence of necrosis was significant for the true-positive diagnosis of malignancy. Conclusion CH-EUS-FNA had an insignificant incremental effect on diagnostic accuracy compared with conventional EUS-FNA in our small group. The presence of necrosis did not influence the results of CEUS-FNA. Qualitative assessment of the contrast uptake within the lesion was useful in false-negative EUS-FNA cases.

EUS-guided fine needle biopsy for hepatocarcinoma of the right liver lobe as a rescue diagnostic technique after a negative percutaneousguided liver biopsy.

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Endoscopic ultrasonography-fine needle aspiration of solid pancreatic masses: Do we need the fourth pass? A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is important for the differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions. Sample adequacy is related to the number of needle passes, and European guidelines recommend three to four needle passes with a standard EUS-FNA needle. We aimed to evaluate the optimal number of passes with standard EUS-FNA needles in solid pancreatic lesions. METHODS: Patients with solid pancreatic masses without cystic component >20% on computed tomography scan, and without biliary metallic stents, or coagulation problems were included prospectively. Standard 22G needles were used (maximum four passes); each sample was paraffin-embedded and analyzed separately. Final diagnosis was established by EUS-FNA, repeat EUS-FNA, surgery, or follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-one of 65 patients were included. The final diagnoses were adenocarcinoma (n = 44, 72%), neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (n = 10, 16%), metastasis (n = 1, 4%) and nonmalignant lesion (n = 6, 10%). Immunohistochemical staining was possible in 17 cases. The diagnosis was established by the first pass in 62% of cases (n = 38), by the second in 15% (n = 9), by the third in 15% (n = 9), and by the fourth in 3% (n = 2). The diagnostic accuracy for all four passes compared to the first three passes was 95% vs 92% (P = .5). The contribution of the fourth pass was not different between adenocarcinoma and NET (2% vs 10%, respectively; P = .667). CONCLUSION: Three passes with standard EUS-FNA was optimal for a specific diagnosis of solid pancreatic masses, regardless of the histological type of the lesion.

Correlation of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 level with biochemical, histological and viral findings in chronic hepatitis C after interferon-alpha + ribavirin therapy.

UNLABELLED: Intercellular cell adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) are expressed in a high quantity on hepatocytes and at the level of endothelium cells from sinusoidal vessels in the liver tissue of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The soluble forms of these molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 can be determined in the serum of patients through the immunoenzymatic technique (ELISA). THE AIM: of the study was to analyse the base level of these molecules and the changes induced through the combined treatment of interferon-alpha (IFN- alpha) and ribavirin (Rib). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients suffering from viral chronic hepatitis C were studied: 10 patients responded completely to antiviral treatment and 10 patients showed no response at the end of the treatment. At the end of the therapy patients were placed under biochemical observation for a further six months. The serum concentration of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 was measured using ELISA assay at the beginning and the end of the combined treatment: six months IFN 3MU (three times a week) associated with Rib. RESULTS: Statistically, a significant correlation was observed between the values of sICAM-1 pretreatment and the level of viremia, gamma glutamiltrans-peptidase (GGT), but without correlation to the alanin amino transferase (ALT) level. The value of sICAM-1 was significantly higher in patients who had fibrosis score F: 3-4. After the treatment, the serum concentration of sICAM-1 dropped significantly in patients with sustained biochemical response in comparison to patients who had an unsustained response or had no response whatsoever. A significant correlation between the sVCAM-1 pre-treatment value and the level of viremia, GGT, ALT was not established. CONCLUSIONS: The level of sICAM-1 could be a useful parameter in the observation of the disease evolution of patients with viral chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN-alpha and Rib.

Multilocular colorectal tuberculosis and hypogammaglobulinemia.

We present the case of a young male patient admitted for weight loss, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. The patient belonged to a low social class and had associated hypogammaglobulinemia. The endoscopy revealed different localized ulcerations of he rectum and a stenosis. By barium enema and hydrosonography multiple stenotic lesions were observed. The pathological examinations detected lesions suggestive for intestinal tuberculosis. A specific therapy led to the improvement of his general state and to the disappearance of diarrhea and rectal bleeding.

Crosstalk between EGFR and p53 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide, with a high mortality. Most patients present with late stage disease, when the treatment options are limited to systemic chemotherapy. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the significance of p53 and EGFR expression in HCC, and to determine whether these two markers correlate with conventional parameters of prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included a total of 45 patients, diagnosed histopathologically with HCC. Clinicopathological data including sex, age, tumor necrosis, tumor size, histologic grading, tumor stage, the presence of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, were recorded from the Institute database. Three independent microscopic fields were selected for each sample and all the tumor cells within each microscopic field were counted, and then the positive percent of p53 cells were calculated. Three staining patterns were recognized: diffuse, heterogenous and focal. The intensity of EGFR staining was scored on a scale of 0-3+: 0 no staining; 1+ when a weak membrane staining was observed; 2+ when membrane staining is more intense than in 1+, but less than 3+, and 3+ when intense dark brown staining delineated the membrane. To determine the relationship between EGFR expression and p53, we performed double staining in the same HCC specimens. RESULTS: By immunohistochemical staining, p53 protein was detected in tumor cell nuclei in 20 HCCs (44%). We found a significant correlation between the intensity of p53 expression and the histological grade (p=0.008). EGFR expression was detected in 17 (38%) cases, linked to histological grade (p=0.039). Moreover, the intensity of p53 expression was significantly correlated with EGFR intensity (p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that overexpression of p53 and EGFR plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis and contributes to more advanced disease. These markers are not only valuable predictors of prognosis in HCC, but they are also rational targets for new anti-tumor strategies.

Prevalence, histology, endoscopic treatment and long-term follow-up of large colonic polyps and laterally spreading tumors. The Romanian experience.

AIMS: We report the prevalence, histological aspect, endoscopic treatment and follow-up of colonic polyps of 2 cm or larger and of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) in an eastern European country. METHODS: All consecutive colonoscopies carried out over a 1-year period (3,856) in the Endoscopy Department of the 3rd Medical Clinic Cluj-Napoca were evaluated. Fifty-two polyps and 12 LSTs of >=2cm diameter were found. Size, location and histological aspect of large colonic polyps and LSTs were assessed. Endoscopic or surgical resection was recorded. An extensive endoscopic and histological follow-up was performed. RESULTS: Median size of polyps was 32mm and of LSTs 41mm. Invasive carcinoma was found in 7 polyps (20.6%) and in 4 LSTs (28.6%). Thirty-six polyps were endoscopically resected (69.2%). A complete endoscopic excision was performed in 35 polyps (98.6%). Histological complete resection was achieved in 30 polyps (83.3%). Thirteen polyps were surgically resected (25%). Eight LSTs were endoscopically resected (64.3%) using endoscopic piecemeal resection (EPMR). A complete endoscopic excision was performed in three LSTs (37.5%). Three LSTs were surgically resected (21.5%). In the polyp group, one patient presented endoscopic recurrence (16.6%) at 6 months follow-up. In the LST group, two invasive recurrences were present at 3 and 30 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A complete resection can be performed in the majority of large polyps. LSTs larger than 50mm, incomplete resection and superficial invasive carcinoma were correlated with endoscopic recurrence. EPMR might be a curative method for LSTs but an accurate endoscopic diagnosis and long-term endoscopic follow-up are mandatory.