Clinical assessment of computed tomography for detecting ingested blister packs: A single-center retrospective study.

Objectives: Blister pack (BP) ingestion poses serious risks, such as gastrointestinal perforation, and accurate localization by computed tomography (CT) is a common practice. However, while it has been reported in vitro that CT visibility varies with the material type of BPs, there have been no reports on this variability in clinical settings. In this study, we investigated the CT detection rates of different BPs in clinical settings. Methods: This single-center retrospective study from 2010 to 2022 included patients who underwent endoscopic foreign body removal for BP ingestion. The patients were categorized into two groups for BP components, the polypropylene (PP) and the polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) groups. The primary outcome was the comparison of CT detection rates between the groups. We also evaluated whether the BPs contained tablets and analyzed their locations. Results: This study included 61 patients (15 in the PP group and 46 in the PVC/PVDC group). Detection rates were 97.8% for the PVC/PVDC group compared to 53.3% for the PP group, a significant difference (p < 0.01). No cases of BPs composed solely of PP were detected by CT. Blister packs were most commonly found in the upper thoracic esophagus. Conclusions: Even in a clinical setting, the detection rates of PVC and PVDC were higher than that of PP alone. Identifying PP without tablets has proven challenging in clinical. Considering the risk of perforation, these findings suggest that esophagogastroduodenoscopy may be necessary, even if CT detection is negative.

Giant Brunner's gland hyperplasia of the duodenum successfully resected en bloc by endoscopic mucosal resection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Duodenal Brunner's gland hyperplasia (BGH) is a therapeutic target when complications such as bleeding or gastrointestinal obstruction occur or when malignancy cannot be ruled out. Herein, we present a case of large BGH treated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). CASE SUMMARY: An 83-year-old woman presented at our hospital with dizziness. Blood tests revealed severe anemia, esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a 6.5 cm lesion protruding from the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb, and biopsy revealed the presence of glandular epithelium. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) demonstrated relatively high echogenicity with a cystic component. The muscularis propria was slightly elevated at the base of the lesion. EMR was performed without complications. The formalin-fixed lesion size was 6 cm × 3.5 cm × 3 cm, showing nodular proliferation of non-dysplastic Brunner's glands compartmentalized by fibrous septa, confirming the diagnosis of BGH. Reports of EMR or hot snare polypectomy are rare for duodenal BGH > 6 cm. In this case, the choice of EMR was made by obtaining information on the base of the lesion as well as on the internal characteristics through EUS. CONCLUSION: Large duodenal lesions with good endoscopic maneuverability and no evident muscular layer involvement on EUS may be resectable via EMR.

Phlegmonous Colitis after Cold Snare Polypectomy in an Immunosuppressed Patient: A Case Report.

Introduction: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is a procedure with a low risk of complications. Here, we present our experience of a rare case of submucosal abscess following CSP in an immunosuppressed patient. Case Presentation: Seventy-eight-year-old man underwent CSP, developing a fever, chills, and right lower abdominal pain 8 days later. Ultrasound and computed tomography revealed wall thickening of the ascending colon, presenting as whitening and thickening of the same region, and excretion of pus was observed after biopsy. The diagnosis was made as phlegmonous colitis, for which antibiotic therapy was commenced. The patient was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) during admission. We considered the following reasons as possible causes of infectious complications after CSP: (1) the patient had a highly immunosuppressed state with comorbidities such as CMML as well as diabetes mellitus and (2) disruption of the mucosal barrier occurred during endoscopic resection. Conclusion: Although CSP is generally considered safe, our case highlights the potential for serious complications in immunosuppressed patients. Therefore, the decision to perform CSP in such patients should be made with caution to avoid unnecessary interventions. In instances where treatment is essential, thorough bowel preparation and prophylactic antibiotic use may be necessary to mitigate the risks.

Antimicrobial therapy outcomes in acute cholangitis: Hilar multiple obstructions versus single hilar and common bile duct obstructions.

Background and Aim: The appropriate duration of antimicrobial therapy for acute cholangitis (AC) arising from multiple hilar biliary obstructions as opposed to simple obstruction in the extrahepatic bile duct has not been established. This study assessed the efficacy of the duration of antimicrobial treatments in the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 for AC based on the cause and site of obstruction. Methods: This single-center retrospective study involved patients with AC who underwent successful biliary drainage and completed a 7-day or shorter antimicrobial treatment. Patients were categorized into three groups: Group 1, bile duct stone or benign obstruction; Group 2, simple biliary obstruction due to malignancy; and Group 3, multiple hilar biliary obstruction due to malignancy. The primary outcome was clinical cure rate, and the secondary outcomes were 3-month recurrence rate and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 373 patients were selected. Patients in Group 3 were younger or had Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥4, and had fewer positive blood cultures. In Group 3, the clinical cure rate (87.1%) and 3-month recurrence rate (32.3%) were less favorable than those in the other groups. In Group 1, the clinical cure rate was significantly higher (98.1%, P = 0.02) with a much lower 3-month recurrence rate of only 3.4% (P < 0.001) than that in the other groups. The median hospital stay for all groups was 7 days. Conclusion: This study suggests that the outcomes in Group 3 may be worse than those in Groups 1 or 2, regardless of the duration of the antibiotic treatment.

Severe induction of aberrant DNA methylation by nodular gastritis in adults.

BACKGROUND: Nodular gastritis (NG) is characterized by marked antral lymphoid follicle formation, and is a strong risk factor for diffuse-type gastric cancer in adults. However, it is unknown whether aberrant DNA methylation, which is induced by atrophic gastritis (AG) and is a risk for gastric cancer, is induced by NG. Here, we analyzed methylation induction by NG. METHODS: Gastric mucosal samples were obtained from non-cancerous antral tissues of 16 NG and 20 AG patients with gastric cancer and 5 NG and 6 AG patients without, all age- and gender-matched. Genome-wide methylation analysis and expression analysis were conducted by a BeadChip array and RNA-sequencing, respectively. RESULTS: Clustering analysis of non-cancerous antral tissues of NG and AG patients with gastric cancer was conducted using methylation levels of 585 promoter CpG islands (CGIs) of methylation-resistant genes, and a large fraction of NG samples formed a cluster with strong methylation induction. Promoter CGIs of CDH1 and DAPK1 tumor-suppressor genes were more methylated in NG than in AG. Notably, methylation levels of these genes were also higher in the antrum of NG patients without cancer. Genes related to lymphoid follicle formation, such as CXCL13/CXCR5 and CXCL12/CXCR4, had higher expression in NG, and genes involved in DNA demethylation TET2 and IDH1, had only half the expression in NG. CONCLUSIONS: Severe aberrant methylation, involving multiple tumor-suppressor genes, was induced in the gastric antrum and body of patients with NG, in accordance with their high gastric cancer risk.

Systemic AL amyloidosis with multiple submucosal hematomas of the colon: a case report and literature review.

Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis rarely causes colorectal submucosal hematoma. A 76-year-old man presented with a complaint of bloody stool. An initial colonoscopy revealed ulcerative lesions in the descending colon, leading to a diagnosis of ischemic colitis. One month later, he presented with cardiac failure, suspected cardiac amyloidosis, and underwent a second colonoscopy. Although it revealed multiple ulcerative lesions from the ascending to transverse colon, biopsy samples did not confirm amyloid deposition. He underwent a third colonoscopy 3 weeks later due to recurrent bloody stool. It showed multiple submucosal hematomas from the ascending to descending colon concomitant with ulcerative lesions in the descending colon and multiple elevated lesions in the sigmoid colon. Biopsy samples confirmed amyloid deposition. Using a systemic search, multiple myeloma with AL amyloidosis was diagnosed. Colorectal submucosal or intramural hematomas are conditions usually encountered in trauma, antithrombotic use, or coagulation disorders. Based on our review of the literatures, we identified several differences between colorectal intramural hematoma caused by amyloidosis and those caused by other etiologies. We believe that amyloidosis should be considered when relatively small and multiple colorectal hematomas, not restricted to the sigmoid colon, and with concomitant findings of erosions and ulcers, are observed.

Exploration of predictors associated with bleeding in computed tomography-guided core needle splenic biopsy: A retrospective study.

Splenic diseases may be caused by infections and can be either malignant, such as lymphoma and lung cancer, or benign, such as hemangioma. In some cases, diagnostic uncertainty of imaging persists, and image-guided splenic needle biopsy is a useful diagnostic tool to avoid the disadvantages of incorrect diagnosis, including performing unnecessary splenectomy or not giving the necessary treatment. Splenic biopsies can be divided into ultrasound-guided, computed tomography (CT)-guided fine-needle aspiration, or core needle biopsy (CNB). However, few studies have focused exclusively on complications associated with CT-guided CNB of the spleen. Therefore, we assessed bleeding, the most common complication of CT-guided CNB of the spleen, and evaluated factors associated with the bleeding. Using the biopsy database maintained at the institution, all patients who underwent CT-guided CNB of the spleen between May 2012 and September 2022 were identified retrospectively. The 18 identified patients were divided into post-biopsy bleeding and non-bleeding groups for analysis. In total, 17 patients (94.4%) could be diagnosed accurately with CT-guided CNB. Bleeding complications occurred in 7 cases of CT-guided CNB; of these, 2 patients with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 4 disease required transcatheter arterial embolization. The bleeding group was characterized by diffuse spleen tumors in all cases, with significantly more diffuse spleen tumors than the non-bleeding group. CT-guided CNB is a useful option for neoplastic lesions of the spleen that are difficult to diagnose using imaging alone. However, consideration should be given to post-biopsy bleeding in patients with diffuse splenic tumors.

Comprehensive review on endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition techniques for solid pancreatic tumor.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is speculated to become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality by 2030, a high mortality rate considering the number of cases. Surgery and chemotherapy are the main treatment options, but they are burdensome for patients. A clear histological diagnosis is needed to determine a treatment plan, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA) is a suitable technique that does not worsen the cancer-specific prognosis even for lesions at risk of needle tract seeding. With the development of personalized medicine and precision treatment, there has been an increasing demand to increase cell counts and collect specimens while preserving tissue structure, leading to the development of the fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needle. EUS-FNB is rapidly replacing EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) as the procedure of choice for EUS-TA of pancreatic cancer. However, EUS-FNA is sometimes necessary where the FNB needle cannot penetrate small hard lesions, so it is important clinicians are familiar with both. Given these recent dev-elopments, we present an up-to-date review of the role of EUS-TA in pancreatic cancer. Particularly, technical aspects, such as needle caliber, negative pressure, and puncture methods, for obtaining an adequate specimen in EUS-TA are discussed.

Clinical features of acute esophageal mucosal lesions and reflux esophagitis Los Angeles classification grade D: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute esophageal mucosal lesions (AEMLs) are an underrecognized and largely unexplored disease. Endoscopic findings are similar, and a higher percentage of AEML could be misdiagnosed as reflux esophagitis Los Angeles classification grade D (RE-D). These diseases could have different pathologies and require different treatments. AIM: To compare AEML and RE-D to confirm that the two diseases are different from each other and to clarify the clinical features of AEML. METHODS: We selected emergency endoscopic cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with circumferential esophageal mucosal injury and classified them into AEML and RE-D groups according to the mucosal injury's shape on the oral side. We examined patient background, blood sampling data, comorbidities at onset, endoscopic characteristics, and outcomes in each group. RESULTS: Among the emergency cases, the AEML and RE-D groups had 105 (3.1%) and 48 (1.4%) cases, respectively. Multiple variables exhibited significantly different results, indicating that these two diseases are distinct. The clinical features of AEML consisted of more comorbidities [risk ratio (RR): 3.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68-5.71; P < 0.001] and less endoscopic hemostasis compared with RE-D (RR: 0.25; 95%CI: 0.10-0.63; P < 0.001). Mortality during hospitalization was higher in the AEML group (RR: 3.43; 95%CI: 0.82-14.40; P = 0.094), and stenosis developed only in the AEML group. CONCLUSION: AEML and RE-D were clearly distinct diseases with different clinical features. AEML may be more common than assumed, and the potential for its presence should be taken into account in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with comorbidities.

Gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type with autoimmune gastritis.

An 87-year-old man with dysphagia presented to our hospital. He was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG) with severe atrophy and hypergastrinemia. The patient was positive for parietal cell antibody (PCA) and anti-intrinsic factor antibody (IFA), without evidence of H. pylori infection. A flat elevated tumor was detected in the middle corpus, and therapeutic endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed. Histopathological examination revealed atypical cells mimicking the fundic glands, which were positive for pepsinogen-I and partially positive for MUC6 and H + /K + -ATPase, proliferating to the deep layer. The final diagnosis was gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type (GAFG). AIG is expected to be difficult to develop GAFG because the basal gastric glands are highly atrophic due to the production of PCA. However, some chief cells may remain and could have the potential to develop into malignancy during AIG progression. Therefore, careful observation is required in patients with AIG when considering the occurrence of GAFG.

White gastric mucosa during endoscopy as a new endoscopic feature of chronic ischemic gastritis: A case report.

Chronic ischemic gastritis (CIG) requires early diagnosis and treatment as complications of thromboembolism can be fatal. Although computed tomography (CT) is useful in the diagnosis of CIG, it is difficult to diagnose from a patient's history, endoscopic findings, and tissue biopsy. Identification of the key findings that motivate computed tomography is an important issue. We report a case of CIG diagnosed by endoscopic findings of white patches of mucosa over time. A 63-year-old man presented with epigastric pain. He had a history of repeated gastric ulcers of an undetermined cause. We performed upper endoscopy and observed the appearance of multiple white patches on the gastric mucosa. Central vessel stenosis was considered, and aortic computed tomography revealed complete occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and stenosis of the celiac artery. We carried out a surgical bypass and found no postoperative endoscopic mucosal changes or abdominal pain. White patch changes in the gastric mucosa over time during endoscopy may indicate CIG. This finding may help in the future diagnosis of CIG.

Effectiveness of early colonoscopy in patients with colonic diverticular hemorrhage: Nationwide inpatient analysis in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Current guidelines recommend colonoscopy within 24 h for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding; however, the evidence in support for colonic diverticular hemorrhage (CDH) indications remains insufficient. We use a nationwide database to investigate the effectiveness of early colonoscopy for CDH. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database and identified patients who were admitted for CDH from 2010 to 2017. Patients who underwent colonoscopy on the same day of admission (early group) were compared with those who underwent colonoscopy on the next day of admission (elective group). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, total hospitalization cost, fasting period, and the prevalence of re-colonoscopy, interventional radiology or abdominal surgery. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: We identified 74,569 eligible patients. Patients were divided into the early (n = 46,759) and elective (n = 27,810) groups. After propensity score matching, 27,696 pairs were generated. In-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the two groups (0.49% in the early group vs. 0.41% in the elective group; risk difference 0.08%; 95% confidence interval -0.02 to 0.19; P = 0.14). The early group had a significantly longer length of hospital stay, higher total hospitalization cost, longer fasting period, and higher prevalence of re-colonoscopy and abdominal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of early colonoscopy conducted on the same day of admission for CDH could not be confirmed. Early colonoscopy may not result in favorable outcomes in CDH patients.

Effectiveness of early colonoscopy in patients with colonic diverticular hemorrhage: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend colonoscopy within 24 h for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding; however, the evidence in support for colonic diverticular hemorrhage (CDH) indications remains insufficient. AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of early colonoscopy on the length of hospital stay for CDH patients. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent colonoscopy within 24 h of presentation (early group) were compared with those who underwent colonoscopy beyond 24 h of presentation (elective group). The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay, and secondary outcomes were the identification of stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH), rebleeding, red blood cell transfusion more than 4 units, and interventional radiology and abdominal surgery after colonoscopy. RESULTS: We identified 574 CDH cases. Patients were divided into the early (n = 328) and elective (n = 226) groups. After propensity score matching, 191 pairs were generated. The length of hospital stay did not significantly differ between the two groups (early group vs elective group; median, 7 vs 8 d; P = 0.10). The early group had a significantly high identification of SRH (risk difference, 11.6%; 95%CI: 2.7 to 20.3; P = 0.02). No significant differences were found in the rebleeding (risk difference, 4.7%; 95%CI: -4.1 to 13.5; P = 0.35), red blood cell transfusion more than 4 units (risk difference, 1.6%; 95%CI: -7.5 to 10.6; P = 0.82), and interventional radiology and abdominal surgery rate after colonoscopy (risk difference, 0.5%; 95%CI: -2.2 to 3.2; P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: Early colonoscopy within 24 h, on arrival for CDH, could not improve the length of hospital stay.

Clinical features and progress of ischemic gastritis with high fatalities: Seven case reports.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic gastritis is a clinically rare and highly fatal disease that occurs when the hemodynamics of a patient with vascular risk is disrupted. Early diagnosis and treatment are possible only with upper endoscopy after symptom appearance. We report seven cases of ischemic gastritis and its clinical features, prognosis, and indicators that may help in early detection. CASE SUMMARY: Of the seven patients, six had vascular risk and five died within 2 wk of diagnosis. Their symptoms included hematemesis and hypotension. Although surgery is a choice for radical treatment, not all patients were tolerant. For such patients, conservative treatment was selected, but all of them died. In contrast, patients who underwent repeat endoscopy showed improved mucosal findings, suggesting that this improvement may not affect prognosis. Some ischemic changes such as wall thickening, mural emphysema, and fluid retention in the stomach were observed before diagnosis through endoscopy and computed tomography (CT). The CT scan can be effective for early detection, and improvement in circulatory failure and aggressive treatment may save the lives of patients with this disease. CONCLUSION: The characteristic CT findings enable early detection of ischemic gastritis. Early diagnosis increases the chance of survival if early therapeutic intervention and improvement of circulatory dynamics can be achieved in this highly fatal disease.

Liver cyst with biliary communication treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage: A case report.

RATIONALE: Simple liver cysts are common, and usually benign and asymptomatic, requiring little to no treatment. Liver cysts with biliary communication, however, are rare and require effective treatment to avoid recurrence. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 70-year-old woman with breast cancer visited our hospital for treatment. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension and bilateral lower leg edema. DIAGNOSIS: Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a giant liver cyst, inducing inferior vena cava compression that was causing her edema. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous transhepatic cyst drainage was performed. Since the bilirubin level in the drained fluid was high, the patient was diagnosed with a liver cyst with biliary communication. After the procedure, her symptoms improved and the cyst decreased in size. However, the drainage volume did not decrease after approximately 2 weeks. Sclerotherapy with minocycline was ineffective. Thus, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed, and an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube was inserted. The percutaneous drainage tube was clamped, and the cyst showed increase in size. Therefore, endoscopic ultrasound-guided cyst drainage, which is less invasive than surgery, was performed. OUTCOMES: The cyst tended to decrease in size even after the percutaneous drainage tube had been removed. At 3years follow-up, the cyst has almost disappeared. LESSONS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage can treat liver cyst with biliary communication.

Advanced Colon Cancer after Curative Resection of Intramucosal Adenocarcinoma with Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Endoscopic resection, particularly endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), for colorectal cancers enables a precise pathological diagnosis and safe R0 resection. The recurrence rate after ESD is generally extremely low, with annual surveillance colonoscopy recommended. However, surveillance may not be considered for super-elderly patients owing to their condition. This is a case report of an 85-year-old man in whom curative resection was achieved for an intramucosal adenocarcinoma with ESD. The patient presented with a hypoechoic mass located in his lower right abdomen, diagnosed via surveillance abdominal ultrasound. He had undergone curative ESD for intramucosal cecal cancer 2 years prior. Colonoscopy revealed a type 2 epithelial tumor at the proximal aspect of the ESD scar. Ileocolic resection with lymph node dissection was performed. An epithelial tumor and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma but not a submucosal tumor was detected in the mucosal layer. The lesion was diagnosed not as a local recurrence after ESD but as a newly emerged original advanced cancer. After ESD for colorectal cancer, a newly developed advanced cancer may occur at the site of the ESD scar in a shorter term than usual. Surveillance colonoscopy after ESD is necessary even for super-elderly patients.

Secondary Minimal Change Disease Due to Pancreatic Cancer Improved by Chemotherapy.

We herein describe an 82-year-old patient who presented with proteinuria and systemic edema. He was diagnosed with minimal change disease (MCD) and was found to have stage III pancreatic cancer. He could not undergo surgical resection due to invasion to the celiac artery and he was thus treated with chemotherapy. After a month of chemotherapy, his proteinuria improved to a normal level. After two months of chemotherapy, computed tomography indicated a partial response to the therapy. MCD can occur as paraneoplastic syndrome in patients with malignant disease, and chemotherapy can be effective for MCD associated with paraneoplastic syndrome.