Detective flow imaging versus contrast-enhanced EUS in solid pancreatic lesions.

Background and objectives: Detective flow imaging EUS (DFI-EUS) is a new technology that detects fine vessels and low-flow velocity without contrast agents, used in real time during EUS, with a better resolution compared to usual technologies such as color Doppler and eFLOW. The aim of this study was to compare DFI-EUS with contrast-enhanced EUS (CE-EUS) for the evaluation of vascularization in solid pancreatic lesions. Methods: We included patients who had a pancreatic mass visualized by EUS, with recorded images of their assessment in DFI-EUS and CE-EUS techniques and a histological diagnosis confirmed malignant tumors or a minimum of 1-year follow-up for benign lesions. Results: Of the 107 patients included in this retrospective single-center study, the histological diagnosis revealed 69 cases (64.5%) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 18 cases (16.8%) of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and 10 cases (9.3%) of metastases from nonpancreatic cancers. A smaller proportion (9.4%) exhibited other lesions. As a result, the incidence of intralesional microvascularization was 43.9% with DFI-EUS and 48.6% with CE-EUS, indicating a positive correlation between the 2 techniques (P = 0.0001). Compared to CE-EUS, DFI-EUS exhibited sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 88.5%, 98.2%, 97.9%, and 90%, respectively, for the detection of intralesional vessels. Conclusions: The novel technique DFI-EUS demonstrates a remarkable correlation with CE-EUS, exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of microvascularization in solid pancreatic lesions. This method eliminates the need for a contrast agent, thus carrying no risk of adverse effects.

Stapfer I and II duodenal perforations after endoscopic procedures: how surgical delay impacts outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Post-endoscopic duodenal perforation is a severe adverse event with high morbidity and mortality rates. Managing this rare event is challenging owing to limited clear guidelines. This retrospective study aimed to examine the relationship between time-to-treatment and morbidity among patients with post-endoscopic duodenal perforations. METHODS: Over 20 years, 78 consecutive patients with post-endoscopic duodenal perforations were analyzed. Among these, most patients underwent endoscopic procedures at the Paoli-Calmettes Institute, whereas some were referred from other centers after a diagnosis of perforation. We described the characteristics of patients who underwent medical treatment alone or interventional procedures. Among patients who underwent interventional management, we compared the outcomes following early or delayed procedures (later than 24 h post-duodenal perforation diagnosis). RESULTS: Overall, 78 patients with post-endoscopic duodenal perforation were identified between September 2003 and September 2022. Of these, 17 (22%) patients underwent non-operative management, and 61 (78%) with peritonitis or adverse clinical features were treated with endoscopic or surgical procedures. Additionally, among these patients, 40 (65%) underwent immediate invasive procedures, surgically (n = 20) or endoscopically (n = 20). Patients with delayed procedures experienced more major Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3 complications and had an increase by 21 of the median comprehensive complication index. Overall, mortality occurred in 7 (8.9%) patients in the entire cohort and in 3 (14.3%) with delayed invasive procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed decision-making is a key factor complicating post-endoscopic duodenal perforation. Therefore, invasive procedures should be performed promptly in cases of adverse conditions requiring additional procedures, ideally within the first 24 h of perforation diagnosis.

EUS-guided hepaticojejunostomy in patients with history of total gastrectomy: a multicenter retrospective feasibility study (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is an effective biliary drainage technique for patients with altered anatomy or duodenal strictures. EUS-guided hepaticojejunostomy (EUS-HJS) can be used to create a fistula between the left hepatic duct and the jejunum in patients with a history of total gastrectomy. No specific data on this technique have been published. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of EUS-HJS in patients with a history of total gastrectomy. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included all adult patients who underwent EUS-HJS at 3 tertiary French centers and 1 tertiary Swiss center between May 2011 and February 2023. The primary outcome was clinical success, which was defined as the disappearance of pruritus, jaundice, and/or cholangitis. An improvement in bilirubin >30% within the first week and/or bilirubin normalization within 1 month after the procedure were also considered indicators of clinical success. Secondary outcomes were technical success, rate of adverse events, need for endoscopic revision, possibility of resuming anticancer treatment, median survival, and technical differences compared with EUS-HGS. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with history of complete gastrectomy who underwent EUS-HJS were included. Technical success was achieved in 100% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 85-100). Clinical success was achieved in 80% of patients (95% CI, 58-92). The incidence of recorded adverse events was 33% (95% CI, 17-55), with cholangitis being the most frequent adverse event. Seven patients (39%) were able to benefit from anticancer treatment after the procedure. Median survival time was 6 months (interquartile range, 1.5-12). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-HJS is an effective and feasible procedure for patients whose anatomy has been altered by total gastrectomy.

In vivo organoid growth monitoring by stimulated Raman histology.

Patient-derived tumor organoids have emerged as a crucial tool for assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy and conducting preclinical drug screenings. However, the conventional histological investigation of these organoids necessitates their devitalization through fixation and slicing, limiting their utility to a single-time analysis. Here, we use stimulated Raman histology (SRH) to demonstrate non-destructive, label-free virtual staining of 3D organoids, while preserving their viability and growth. This novel approach provides contrast similar to conventional staining methods, allowing for the continuous monitoring of organoids over time. Our results demonstrate that SRH transforms organoids from one-time use products into repeatable models, facilitating the efficient selection of effective drug combinations. This advancement holds promise for personalized cancer treatment, allowing for the dynamic assessment and optimization of chemotherapy treatments in patient-specific contexts.

EUS-BD for calibration of benign stenosis of the bile duct in patients with altered anatomy or inaccessible papilla.

Background and study aims In cases of inaccessible papilla, EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been described as an alternative to calibrate benign biliary stenosis. However, few studies are available. Patients and methods This tw-center, retrospective study was designed to evaluate technical success and clinical success at 1 year. All patients who underswent EUS-BD without the rendezvous technique used for calibration of benign biliary stenosis were included from 2016 to 2022. Patients underwent EUS-hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) during the first session. Then, HGS was used to access the bile duct, allowing calibration of the stenosis: Dilation of the biliary stenosis and placement of double pigtail stents through the stenosis for 1 year. Results Thirty-six patients were included. Technical success was 89% (32/36), with four failures to cross the stenosis but EUS-HGS was performed in 100% of the cases. Nine patients were excluded during calibration because of oncological relapse in six and complex stenosis in three. Three patients had not yet reached 1 year of follow-up. Twenty patients had a calibration for at least 1 year. Clinical success after stent placement was considered in all cases after 1 year of follow-up. Thirteen patients underwent stent removal and no relapse occurred after 435 days of follow-up (SD=568). Global morbidity was 41.7% (15/36) with only one serious complication (needing intensive care), including seven cases of cholangitis due to intrabiliary duct obstruction and five stent migrations. No deaths were reported. Conclusions EUS-BD for calibration in case of benign biliary stenosis is an option. Dedicated materials are needed to decrease morbidity.

Outcome of nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors after initial surveillance or surgical resection: a single-center observational study.

Background: Current guidelines consider observation a reasonable strategy for G1 or G2 nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (nf pNETs) ≤2 cm. We aimed to characterize their natural behavior and confront the data with the outcomes of patients undergoing upfront surgery. Methods: Data from patients with histologically confirmed nf pNETs ≤2 cm, managed at a single tertiary referral center between 2002 and 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Thirty-nine patients (mean age 62.1 years, 56% male) with 43 lesions (mean size 12.7±3.9 mm; 32 grade 1 [G1] and 7 grade 2 lesions [G2]) were managed by careful surveillance. Progression was observed in 15 lesions (35%; mean follow up 47 months). Six patients (18%) underwent secondary surgery because of an increase in tumor size or dilation of the main pancreatic duct; 3 of them had lymph node metastasis in the resected specimen. Surgery was followed by pancreatic fistula in 2/6 patients, 1 of whom died. Fourteen patients (mean age 59 years, 64.3% female, mean size of lesions 11.4±3.1 mm) underwent pancreatic surgery immediately after diagnosis. The surgery-associated complication rate was 57.1% (8/14). Of the 14 patients, 13 remained recurrence free (mean follow up 67 months). Recurrent metastatic disease was observed 3 years after pancreaticoduodenectomy (R0, 15 mm G2 lesion, 0 N+/8 N) in 1 patient. Conclusions: The behavior of small nf pNETs is difficult to predict, as there is evidence for malignant behavior in a subgroup of patients, even after surgical treatment. Optimal management remains challenging, as pancreatic surgery is associated with significant morbidity.

Piecemeal Resection for Large Colorectal Adenomas Remains Essential in 2022: A Single-Center Experience in a Tertiary French Center.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colorectal lesions measuring greater than 20 mm are unsuitable for en bloc endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): piecemeal EMR (PM-EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are needed. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends ESD only for microinfiltrative lesions, although Japanese teams perform en bloc ESD for all lesions. We report the outcomes obtained in our endoscopy unit for these lesions and assess the hybrid "knife-assisted piecemeal EMR" (KAPM-EMR) technique. The main aim was to assess the short-term outcomes (C1). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the long-term results (C2), adverse event rate and management of recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients treated by PM-EMR, KAPM-EMR and ESD for a colorectal lesion measuring greater than 20 millimeters using prospective inclusion over four years. RESULTS: Data from 167 patients (median age: 70) with a median follow-up of 15.1 months were analyzed after excluding 95 patients. A total of 131 lesions were removed by PM-EMR, 24 by KAPM-EMR and 12 by ESD; 146/167 (87.4%) patients were considered in remission at C1. Recurrence was treated by endoscopy in 20/21 patients (95%); 86/89 (96.6%) were in remission at C2. A total of 16/167 patients developed adverse events, all of whom except one were endoscopically managed. KAPM-EMR was associated with a higher perforation risk (p=0.037). No differences in postoperative bleeding were found among the three groups (p=0.576). CONCLUSIONS: Piecemeal resection remains an effective and safe technique for large colorectal adenomas. KAPM-EMR may be useful but should be applied with caution due to the risk of perforation.

EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy in the management of malignant biliary obstruction: Experience and learning curve in a tertiary referral center.

BACKGROUND: EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is a recognized second-line strategy for biliary drainage when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography fails or is impossible. Substantial technical and procedural progress in performing EUS-HGS has been achieved. The present study wanted to analyze whether growing experience in current practice has changed patient outcomes over time. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with malignant biliary obstruction treated by EUS-HGS between 2002 and 2018 at a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: A total of 205 patients were included (104 male; mean age 68 years). Clinical success was achieved in 93% of patients with available 30-days follow-up (153), and the rate of procedure-related morbidity and mortality after one month was 18% and 5%, respectively. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) learning curve suggests a slight improvement in the rate of early complications during the second learning phase (23% vs 32%; P = 0.14; including death for any cause and intensive care). However, a significant threshold of early complications could not be determined. Recurrent biliary stent occlusion is the main cause for endoscopic reintervention (47/130; 37%). CONCLUSION: The rate of procedure-related complications after EUS-HGS has improved over time. However, the overall morbidity rate remains high, emphasizing the importance of dedicated expertise, appropriate patient selection and multidisciplinary discussion.

Correction: Efficiency of an endoscopic resection strategy in the management of submucosal tumors less than 20 mm in size and located in the upper gastrointestina.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-1783-8675.].

Efficiency of an endoscopic resection strategy for management of submucosal tumors < 20 mm in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Background and study aims The histologic diagnosis of submucosal tumors (SMTs) < 20 mm is challenging. Monitoring is the main option offered, but compliance is debatable. Endoscopic resection (ER) of malignant SMTs or those with an uncertain diagnosis is an alternative that has already been reported about and proposed in our center. The aims of this study were to confirm the safety of this resection strategy and to perform long-term follow-up of malignant SMTs after resection. Patients and methods All patients who underwent ER for SMTs < 2 cm in a single center between 2007 and 2019 were included retrospectively. Patients were classified into two groups according to the need for postresection follow-up: benign SMTs (B-SMTs) and follow-up SMTs (FU-SMTs). Results One hundred and one patients were included. The mean tumor size was 16.7 mm. In total, 92 of 101 SMTs had an uncertain diagnosis. Macroscopic resection was completed for 95 SMTs (93.1 %), with en bloc resection in 94 (92.1%). The morbidity rate was 3 %, with no mortality. A total of 84 of 101 SMTs (84 %) were B-SMTs and did not need monitoring, and 17 SMTs (19.7 %) were FU-SMTs (8 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 6 neuroendocrine tumors, and 3 others). No relapse was reported in the FU-SMT group, with a median follow-up duration of 33 months [4-127] (61 months [17-127] for the gastrointestinal stroma tumor group). Conclusions The study results suggest ER is a potentially reliable and effective strategy for upper gastrointestinal tract SMTs < 20 mm. Although the strategy needs further validation in advanced care units, it could eliminate the need for long-term monitoring, therefore targeting such follow-up efforts to patients with FU-SMTs.

Management of non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors by endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation: Retrospective study in two tertiary centers.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been growing interest in investigating endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) for the management of small non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (nf pNETs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A bicentric retrospective study was performed that included patients with histologically confirmed nf pNETs who were consecutively treated by EUS-RFA between December 2015 and March 2021 at two tertiary referral centers. RESULTS: In 27 patients (mean age 65.0 years, 52% male), EUS-RFA was successfully performed. All patients had sporadic G1 lesions (mean size 14.0 ± 4.6 mm, 7% uncinated process, 22% head, 11% body, 19% body/tail junction, and 41% tail). Overall, 9/27 lesions (33%) were cystic. The mean hospital stay was 3.2 days. Complete treatment response was confirmed in 25/27 patients (93%) on cross-sectional imaging (mean follow-up 15.7 ± 12.2 months, range 2-41 months). Two patients had two EUS-RFA sessions until complete necrosis was observed. Periprocedural acute pancreatitis occurred in 4/27 (14.8%), three of them were treated by endoscopic cystogastrostomy (11.1%). One patient underwent secondary surgery. The histopathology of the resected specimen revealed 3 mm of residual tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: EUS-RFA seems to be a promising treatment strategy for the management of small nf pNETs with excellent efficacy. Further evidence focusing on long-term survival, safety profile and recurrence is needed.

Preoperative EUS evaluation of the response to neoadjuvant therapy for gastric and esophagogastric junction cancer is correlated with survival: A single retrospective study of 97 patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The European Society for Medical Oncology suggests performing EUS staging for esophagogastric junction and gastric cancers to further assess the T and N stages. The use of EUS after neoadjuvant therapy (NT) is still under debate. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of EUS after NT to staging, therapeutic choices, and prognosis prediction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 97 patients with esophagogastric junction and gastric cancers who received NT (chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy) followed by carcinologic surgery, EUS was performed before (uT, uN) and after (yuT, yuN) NT. We compared the results of EUS staging after NT (yuT and yuN) and final histology (ypT and ypN). We analyzed the correlation between overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and the objective and subjective responses to NT evaluated by EUS (comparison of uT and yuT and uN and yuN with OS and DFS). RESULTS: EUS staging detected metastasis that went undetected by computed tomography in 16% of metastatic patients. The accuracy between EUS after NT and postoperative pathological findings was 44.4% (34.2%; 54.7%) for T stage and 49.3% (37.5%; 61.1%) for N stage. On multivariate analysis, OS had significantly correlated with the objective response to NT. In the case of a response to NT, the median OS was 64.77 months, and in the case of stable disease, the median OS was 22.9 months (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: EUS after NT can be used for staging. Despite its moderate accuracy, the evaluation of the response to NT by EUS seems to be correlated with patient prognosis.

Endoscopic mucosal resection of sporadic duodenal nonampullary adenoma: outcomes of 130 patients with a long-term follow up in two tertiary French centers.

BACKGROUND: The long-term outcomes and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of sporadic duodenal adenoma (SDA), and the management of adverse events need to be confirmed. METHODS: A bicentric retrospective study was performed including all patients who underwent EMR for SDAs from 2003-2016. The primary aim was to evaluate the efficiency of EMR for SDA. The secondary objectives were to assess safety, recurrence management, predictive factors for treatment success, and adverse events. RESULTS: One hundred thirty patients (134 procedures) were included (median age 65 years, 49.3% male). The mean SDA size was 20.7 (range 5-50) mm. Of the SDAs, 58.2% were category 3 of the Vienna classification, 35.8% were category 4, and 5.9% were category 5. The median follow up was 25.0 (range 2-120) months. Complete mucosal resection was achieved for 129/134 lesions (96.2%), with en bloc resection in 59/134 (44%). Recurrence occurred in 28.6% of cases (30/105 procedures). Recurrence was successfully treated by new endoscopic procedures in 72.2% (13/18) and by surgery in 27.8% (5/18). Delayed bleeding occurred in 13.4% of cases (18/134) and was successfully managed endoscopically. The perforation rate was 3.7% (5/134); perforations were managed without surgery in 60% (3/5 patients) of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment of SDA appears to be effective and relatively safe in tertiary centers. All bleeding complications were endoscopically controlled, and perforation was rare. Recurrence was frequent but could be managed endoscopically. EMR is confirmed as a first-line treatment in cases of SDA, and surgery is useful only if repeated EMRs fail.

Celiac Disease After Administration of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Case Report.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) reinvigorate the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells. Because of this biological mechanism, patients might develop autoimmune toxicities, notably in the digestive tract (most frequently, hepatitis or colitis). A 70-year-old man with relapsed mesothelioma was treated with nivolumab in 3rd line. He was hospitalized for watery and foul-smelling diarrhea. He underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy, showing duodenitis and villous atrophy and measurement of serum IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA+), leading to the diagnosis of ICI-induced celiac disease. He was treated with steroids, proton pump inhibitors, and a gluten-free diet. If ICI-induced celiac disease is rare in the literature, increasing reports suggest that celiac disease might represent an underestimated ICI toxicity. This case highlights the necessity of complementary investigation (including tTG-IgA and endoscopic biopsies) in patients with atypical digestive symptoms during immunotherapy.

Is Piecemeal Endoscopic Resection Acceptable for Early Colorectal Cancers in Certain Situations? A Single-Center French Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of endoscopic treatment for early colorectal cancer (ECC) is increasing. The European guidelines suggest performing piecemeal endoscopic resection (pmR) for benign lesions and en bloc resection for ECC, especially for patients with favorable lymph node involvement risk evaluations. However, en bloc resections for lesions larger than two centimeters require invasive endoscopic techniques. Our retrospective single-center study aimed to determine the clinical impact of performing pmR for ECC rather than traditional en bloc resection. METHODS: A single-center study was performed between January 2012 and September 2017. All ECC patients were included. The main objective was to evaluate the number of patients who potentially underwent unnecessary surgery due to piecemeal resection. The secondary endpoints were as follows: disease-free survival (DFS), defined as the time from pmR to endoscopic failure (local recurrence not treatable by endoscopy), complication rate, number of patients who did not undergo surgery by default, and factors predictive of outcomes and complications. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-six ECC endoscopically treated patients were included. In total, 85 patients were excluded (71 who underwent en bloc resection, 14 with pending follow-up). Data from 61 patients (33 women and 28 men) were analyzed. Two patients underwent potentially unnecessary surgery [3.28% (0.9%- 11.2%)]. The DFS rate was 87% (75%-93%) at 6 months and 85% [72%-92%] at 12 months. The median follow- up time was 16.5 months (12.4-20.9). Three patients (4.9%) had complications. One patient did not undergo surgery by default. A Paris classification of 0-2c (HR=9.3 (2.4-35.9), p<0.001) and Vienna classification of 5 [HR=16.3 (3.3-80.4), p<0.001] were factors associated with poor DFS. CONCLUSION: Performing pmR in place of en bloc resection for ECC had a limited impact on patients. If the pathology (especially deep margins) is analyzable, careful monitoring could be acceptable in ECC patients who undergo pmR.

Outcomes of duodenal stenting: Experience in a French tertiary center with 220 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic stenting for malignant gastroduodenal outlet obstruction (MGOO) is described as ineffective and not long-lasting despite a few favorable studies. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a large series of patients in a tertiary center. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was performed using data collected from all patients who received palliative duodenal self-expandable metal stents between January 2011 and December 2016. The primary endpoints were patient diet after the first duodenal procedure (Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System, GOOSS) and clinical success. The secondary endpoints were the median patency duration (calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method) and the cumulative incidence of reintervention. RESULTS: Two-hundred twenty patients were included. The increase in the GOOSS score was significant (p < 0.001), and the clinical success rate was 86.3%. The median estimated patency duration was 9.0 months [6.5-29.1]. Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma had significantly longer patency durations (p = 0.02). The estimated cumulative probability of a second duodenal procedure after 4 months was 13%. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series of patients who underwent duodenal stenting for MGOO, we observed significant changes in GOOSS scores, a relatively long patency duration compared to findings in previous series, and a low probability of subsequent duodenal procedures, primarily due to a low median overall survival time (4 months).