Clinical Outcomes of Secondary Duodenal Self-Expandable Metallic Stenting for Duodenal Stent Dysfunction in Patients with Malignant Duodenal Obstruction: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background/Aims: Malignant duodenal obstruction has become more common with the development of palliative therapies.The outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastrojejunostomy (EUS-GJ) are comparable to those of surgical gastrojejunostomy or duodenal stenting. However, EUS-GJ is technically challenging. Duodenal self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement is popular; however, obstructions are common. Duodenal SEMS obstruction can be managed with the insertion of a second SEMS in a stent-in-stent manner. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of secondary duodenal SEMS placement in patients with malignant duodenal obstruction. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent secondary duodenal stent insertion for duodenal stent dysfunction between January 2016 and December 2021. The primary outcome was stent patency. The secondary outcomes were clinical success, factors associated with dysfunction, patient survival, and adverse events. Results: A total of 109 patients were included. The mean age was 64.4±11.2 years, and 63 patients (57.8%) were male. Ninety-two patients (84.4%) had pancreaticobiliary cancer. Clinical success was achieved in 94 cases (86.2%). Twenty-three patients experienced stent dysfunction with 231 days of median stent patency (95% confidence interval [CI], 169 to not available). After a multivariable Cox hazard analysis of stent patency, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (hazard ratio [HR], 2.13; 95% CI, 1.20 to 3.81; p=0.010) and the first stent patency ≥6 months (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.95; p=0.050) remained significant associated factors. Adverse events occurred in five patients (4.6%). Conclusions: Secondary duodenal stent insertion is a viable option for first duodenal stent obstruction. Further comparative studies involving surgery or EUS-GJ for obstructed duodenal stents are warranted.

Surgical Removal of a Huge Common Bile Duct Stone.

A 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with an 8 cm large common bile duct stone and multiple stones in both intrahepatic ducts because of abnormal liver function tests. After a multidisciplinary approach, surgical removal was considered, and primary closure after laparoscopic removal of the common bile duct stone was performed. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. Endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones is the standard treatment, but surgical removal through laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is also a safe and effective treatment method for such huge gallstones.

The predictive value of PD-L1 expression in response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for biliary tract cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recently, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy offers promising results for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, patients show highly heterogeneous responses to treatment, and predictive biomarkers are lacking. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the potential of PD-L1 expression as a biomarker for treatment response and survival in patients with BTC undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search through June 2023, utilizing the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. The outcomes of interest included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) according to PD-L1 expression. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to identify possible sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 30 studies was included in the final analysis. Pooled analysis showed no significant differences in ORR (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.94-2.56) and DCR (OR, 1.84; 95% CIs, 0.88-3.82) between PD-L1 (+) and PD-L1 (-) patients. In contrast, survival analysis showed improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54, 95% CIs, 0.41-0.71) and OS (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.47-0.72) among PD-L1 (+) patients compared to PD-L1 (-) patients. Sensitivity analysis excluding retrospective studies showed no significant differences with the primary results. Furthermore, meta-regression demonstrated that drug target (PD-1 vs. PD-L1), presence of additional intervention (monotherapy vs. combination therapy), and PD-L1 cut-off level (1% vs. ≥5%) significantly affected the predictive value of PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: PD-L1 expression might be a helpful biomarker for predicting PFS and OS in patients with BTC undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. The predictive value of PD-L1 expression can be significantly influenced by diagnostic or treatment variables. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023434114.

Comparison of Two Types of Guidewires for Malignant Hilar Biliary Obstruction by Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is insufficient information regarding the optimal guidewire for managing malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO). Therefore, a newly designed 0.025-inch guidewire was compared with the conventional 0.035-inch guidewire for selective cannulation of both intrahepatic ducts (IHDs) in patients with MHBO. Methods: Patients were randomly enrolled into the curved type newly designed 0.025-inch guidewire group (0.025 group) or the curved type conventional 0.035-inch guidewire group (0.035 group). The primary outcome was the selective cannulation rate of IHD. If the assigned guidewire failed to pass the stricture within 5 min, the crossover guidewire was selected. If the crossover guidewire failed to cross the stricture within the next 5 min, it was judged as a failed selective cannulation of both IHDs. Results: A total of 90 patients were enrolled (0.025 group, n = 47; 0.035 group, n = 43). There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the groups regarding sex, age, BMI, obstruction level, and clinical presentation. Four patients (8.5%) in the 0.025 group the cannulation of the IHD failed and the conventional 0.035-inch guidewire was substituted in a second attempt; the 0.035-inch guidewire failed to cross the stricture in all four patients. In the 0.035 group, eleven patients (25.6%) failed to achieve selective cannulation of IHD, and the 0.025-inch guidewire was substituted; the newly designed 0.025-inch guidewire crossed the stricture in ten of these (10/11, 90.9%). The selective cannulation rate of IHD was significantly higher in the 0.025 group (95.1% vs. 85.5%, p = 0.043). Conclusions: The 0.025 group exhibited a higher success rate for selective cannulation of both IHDs in MHBO than did the 0.035 group.

Comparison of EUS-guided ablation and surgical resection for nonfunctioning small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a propensity score-matching study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Treatment strategies for small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) <2 cm in size are still under debate. The feasibility and safety of EUS-guided ethanol ablation (EUS-EA) have been demonstrated. However, sample sizes in previous studies were small with no comparative studies on surgery. Therefore, we aimed to compare the safety and long-term outcomes of EUS-EA with those of surgery for the management of nonfunctioning small PNETs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with PNETs who were managed by EUS-EA (from 2011 to 2018) and surgery (from 2000 to 2018) at Asan Medical Center. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to increase comparability. The primary outcome was early and late major adverse events (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III) after treatment. Secondary outcomes were 10-year overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates, length of hospital stay, and development of endocrine pancreatic insufficiency. RESULTS: Of all patients, 97 and 188 patients were included in the EUS-EA and surgery groups, respectively. PSM created 89 matched pairs. EUS-EA was associated with a significantly lower rate of early major adverse events (0% vs 11.2%, P = .003). Late major adverse events occurred more frequently after surgery, with no significant difference between groups (3.4% vs 10.1%, P = .07). Both treatment modalities showed comparable 10-year OS and DSS rates. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the EUS-EA group (4 days vs 14.1 days, P < .001), and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency was less common after EUS-EA than after surgery (33.3% vs 48.6%, P = .121). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-EA had fewer adverse events and a shorter hospital stay with similar OS and DSS rates compared with surgery, suggesting that EUS-EA may be a preferred alternative to surgical resection in selected patients with nonfunctioning small PNETs.

Gastric Perforation Encountered during Duodenal Stent Insertion.

Gastric outlet obstruction is a major symptom in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic intervention is often challenging in severe strictures because the guidewire cannot pass beyond the stricture. Sometimes, the air itself cannot pass beyond the stricture, which can result in a severely distended stomach. Such a stomach is vulnerable to excessive air insertion or mechanical stress during endoscopic procedures, and endoscopists may encounter a higher rate of complications. Gastric perforation is rare but could be fatal. However, endoscopic management can show a favorable result if the perforation is noticed early. The authors report a case of the perforation of a gastric tear during duodenal stent insertion in a patient with a gastric outlet obstruction.

YouTube as a source of information on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) carries a higher risk of adverse events than standard endoscopy. Internet media platforms such as YouTube has emerged as a medical information source. Therefore, study aimed to identify whether YouTube videos provide appropriate information on ERCP to the general population. The YouTube search was performed using the terms "endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography" and "ERCP". The top 50 results of both searches, sorted by relevance and view count, were collected. After filtering according to a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 26 videos were eligible for the final analysis. For quality assessment, we created a scoring system called ERCP Data Quality score (E-DQS), based on a colonoscopy education video available on the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy website. Healthcare professionals uploaded 14 (53.8%) videos, and 10 (38.6%) uploaded by medical websites. Only one video was uploaded by a layperson and one by a TV channel. The overall median E-DQS score for enrolled videos was 6.5 out of 20. The majority of videos did not describe the unique features of ERCP. Only 50% of videos informed viewers that patients would be irradiated and only six videos described at least one adverse event related to ERCP. ERCP videos on YouTube provide inadequate information regarding ERCP. Considering the unique characteristics of this procedure, professionals and academic societies need to be vigilant and proactive in producing and promoting high-quality videos.

Comparison of the Malignant Predictors in Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct.

Background: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a precancerous lesion of cholangiocarcinoma, for which surgical resection is the most effective treatment. We evaluated the predictors of malignancy in IPNB according to anatomical location and the prognosis without surgery. Methods: A total of 196 IPNB patients who underwent pathologic confirmation by surgical resection or endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic biopsy were included. Clinicopathological findings of IPNB with invasive carcinoma or mucosal dysplasia were analyzed according to anatomical location. Results: Of the 116 patients with intrahepatic IPNB (I-IPNB) and 80 patients with extrahepatic IPNB (E-IPNB), 62 (53.4%) and 61 (76.3%) were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that mural nodule > 12 mm (p = 0.043) in I-IPNB and enhancement of mural nodule (p = 0.044) in E-IPNB were predictive factors for malignancy. For pathologic discrepancy before and after surgery, IPNB has a 71.2% sensitivity and 82.3% specificity. In the non-surgical IPNB group, composed of nine I-IPNB and seven E-IPNB patients, 43.7% progressed to IPNB with invasive carcinoma within 876 days. Conclusions: E-IPNB has a higher rate of malignancy than I-IPNB. The predictive factor for malignancy is mural nodule > 12 mm in I-IPNB and mural nodule enhancement in E-IPNB.

Impact of 5-Year Endoscopic Surveillance Intervals with Biopsy following Endoscopic Papillectomy for Ampullary Adenoma.

Background: Endoscopic snare papillectomy (ESP) has been established as a safe and effective treatment for ampullary adenomas. However, little is known about the optimal post-procedure follow-up period and the role of routine endoscopic surveillance biopsy following ESP. We aimed to evaluate patient adherence to a 5-year endoscopic surveillance and routine biopsy protocol after ESP of ampullary adenoma. Methods: We reviewed our prospectively collected database (n = 98), all members of which underwent ESP for ampullary lesions from January 2011 to December 2016, for the evaluation of long-term outcomes. The primary outcome was the rate of patient adherence to 5-year endoscopic surveillance following ESP. The secondary outcomes were the diagnostic yield of routine endoscopic biopsy, recurrence rate, and adverse events after endoscopic surveillance in the 5-year follow-up (3-month, 6-month, and every 1 year). Results: A total of 19 patients (19.4%) experienced recurrence during follow-up, all of these patients experienced recurrence within 3 years of the procedure (median 217 days, range 69-1083). The adherence rate for patients with sporadic ampullary adenoma were 100%, 93.5%, and 33.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years after ESP, respectively. The diagnostic yield of routine endoscopic biopsy without macroscopic abnormality was 0.54%. Pancreatitis occurred in four patients (4%, 3 mild, 1 moderate) after surveillance endoscopic biopsy without macroscopic abnormality. Conclusions: Given the low 5-year adherence rate and diagnostic yield of routine endoscopic biopsy with risk of pancreatitis, optimal surveillance intervals according to risk stratification (low grade vs. high grade adenoma/intramucosal adenocarcinoma) may be required to improve patient adherence, and routine biopsy without macroscopic abnormality may not be recommended.

Clinical utility of directional eFLOW compared with contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound for assessing the vascularity of pancreatic and peripancreatic masses.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CEH-EUS) can be used for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic lesions by evaluating microvascular circulation and patterns of contrast enhancement. However, routine use of CEH-EUS is limited by its high cost, the lack of contrast agent availability and the absence of expertise with this technique. Directional eFLOW (D-eFLOW) (Aloka Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was introduced as a new high-definition modality that detects blood flow in microvessels. Because it uses built-in functions, it entails no additional cost and reduces time for examination. The present study compared the usefulness of D-eFLOW and CEH-EUS for differential diagnosis of pancreatic and peripancreatic lesions. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 130 patients who underwent EUS and D-eFLOW examinations from January 2016 to March 2020 to evaluate pancreatic and peripancreatic masses. RESULTS: All 130 patients underwent D-eFLOW and CEH-EUS examinations. Histological diagnoses were confirmed in 130 patients by EUS-FNA and/or surgery. D-eFLOW and CEH-EUS showed good correlation in evaluating the vascularity of pancreatic and peripancreatic tumors (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In evaluating the characteristics of tumorous lesions, vascularity detected by D-eFLOW showed good correlation with enhancement patterns of CEH-EUS. D-eFLOW can be considered a good alternative to CEH-EUS in diagnosing pancreatic and peripancreatic masses.

Acute Abdominal Pain due to Accessory Splenic Infarction in an Adult: A Case Report.

Accessory spleens are common congenital anatomic variations that are usually asymptomatic. On the other hand, they can be clinically significant if complicated by hemorrhage, torsion, or infarction. This paper describes a case of an infarcted accessory spleen in a 30-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal CT and MRI revealed an isolated mass, 4.5 cm in size, in the perisplenic area. An infarcted accessory spleen was suspected. The patient underwent laparoscopic accessory splenectomy. Histopathology identified the mass as splenic tissue that had undergone ischemic necrosis. A definitive diagnosis of an infarcted accessory spleen was made, and the patient was discharged on day 5 after surgery symptom-free.

Endoscopic versus Surgical Intervention for Painful Obstructive Chronic Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There is limited evidence on the standard care for painful obstructive chronic pancreatitis (CP), while comparisons of endoscopic and surgical modes for pain relief have yielded conflicting results from small sample sizes. We aimed to obtain a clear picture of the matter by a meta-analysis of these results. We searched the Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies comparing endoscopic and surgical treatments for painful obstructive CP. Pooled effects were calculated by the random effect model. Primary outcomes were overall pain relief (complete and partial), and secondary outcomes were complete and partial pain relief, complication rate, hospitalization duration, and endocrine insufficiency. Seven studies with 570 patients were included in the final analysis. Surgical drainage was associated with superior overall pain relief [OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.23-0.47, p < 0.001, I2 = 4%] and lesser incidence of endocrine insufficiency [OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.20-3.67, p = 0.01, I2 = 0%], but no significant difference in the subgroup of complete [OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.32-1.01, p = 0.054, I2 = 0%] or partial [OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.37-1.22, p = 0.19, I2 = 0%] pain relief, complication rates [OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.41-2.46, p = 0.99, I2 = 49%], and hospital stay [OR -0.54, 95% CI -1.23-0.15, p = 0.13, I2 = 87%] was found. Surgery is associated with significantly better overall pain relief and lesser endocrine insufficiency in patients with painful obstructive CP. However, considering the invasiveness of surgery, no significant differences in complete or partial pain relief, and heterogeneity of a few parameters between two groups, endoscopic drainage may be firstly performed and surgical drainage may be considered when endoscopic drainage fails.

Initial experience of endoscopic ultrasound-guided antegrade covered stent placement with long duodenal extension for malignant distal biliary obstruction (with video).

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided antegrade covered stent placement with long duodenal extension (EASL) for malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO) with duodenal obstruction (DO) or surgically altered anatomy (SAA) after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: Outcomes were technical and clinical success, reintervention rate, adverse events, stent patency, and overall survival. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and competing-risk analysis were performed to compare with conventional EUS-BD. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (DO, n = 18; SAA, n = 7) were included. The technical and clinical success rates were 96% and 84%, respectively. Reintervention occurred in two patients (8.3%). Adverse events occurred in six patients (24%; two cholangitis, 16%; four mild postprocedural pancreatitis [24% (n = 4/17) in patients with non-pancreatic cancers]). The median patency was 9.4 months, and the overall survival was 2.73 months. After IPTW adjustment, the median patency in the EASL (n = 25) and conventional EUS-BD (n = 29) were 10.1 and 6.5 months, respectively (P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: EASL has acceptable clinical outcomes with a low reintervention rate but higher rate of postprocedural pancreatitis in patients with non-pancreatic cancers. Randomized trials comparing EASL and conventional EUS-BD for MDBO with pancreatic cancers and DO/SAA after failed ERCP are needed to validate our findings.

Feasibility and Safety of Endoluminal Radiofrequency Ablation as a Rescue Treatment for Bilateral Metal Stent Obstruction Due to Tumor Ingrowth in the Hilum: A Pilot Study.

Background. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a palliative method known for its application in the endoscopic treatment of malignant bile duct obstruction. It may be a useful rescue method for metal stent malfunction caused by tumor ingrowth. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and safety of endoluminal RFA for occluded bilateral hilar metal stents due to tumor ingrowth in patients with malignant hilar bile duct obstruction. Methods: From March 2016 to June 2018, 11 patients with unresectable malignant hilar bile duct stricture with occluded bilateral hilar metal stents due to tumor ingrowth were enrolled. Endoluminal RFA was performed through a novel temperature-controlled catheter at a setting of 7 W power for 120 s with a target temperature of 80 °C via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The patients' demographics, clinical outcomes, and adverse events were investigated. Results: The median age was 64 (interquartile range, 54-72) years. All RFA procedures were successful. Clinical success was achieved in eight patients (72.7%). During the follow-up, eight patients (72.7%) showed stent dysfunction, and the median patency after RFA was 50 days (95% confidence interval (CI): 34-not available (NA)). All stent dysfunctions were successfully managed with ERCP. Ten patients died, and the median overall survival was 289 days (95% CI, 107-NA) from RFA to death. There was one case of mild abdominal pain after the procedure without serious adverse events. Conclusions: As a rescue therapy for occluded bilateral hilar metal stents due to tumor ingrowth, endoluminal RFA seemed to be safe and useful in selected patients.

Macroscopic on-site evaluation after EUS-guided fine needle biopsy may replace rapid on-site evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rapid on-site cytologic evaluation (ROSE) increases the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA. However, ROSE requires the presence of a cytopathologist and additional cost and time for slide staining and interpretation. Macroscopic on-site examination (MOSE) was recently introduced as an alternative to ROSE and showed high accuracy for the use in pathologic diagnosis. We evaluated the efficacy of MOSE in terms of tissue acquisition and diagnostic accuracy for abdominal lesions. METHODS: We analyzed consecutive patients included who underwent EUS-guided fine needle biopsy (FNB) between January 2019 and November 2019. All procedures were done by dry suction using a 22G needle. Obtained specimens were expelled onto filter papers and evaluated by MOSE. Needle pass was done until the acquisition of satisfactory whitish macroscopic visible core or bloody tissue granules. The primary outcomes were successful tissue acquisition and accuracy for pathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: In 75 patients (male, 52%; median age: 62 years), the pancreas was the most commonly targeted organ (81.4%) and the median target diameter was 25 mm. The median number of needle passes was 2.0 (range, 2-5). Successful targeting of the lesion was achieved in 75 patients (100%) and overall accuracy was 97.3%. There were no procedure-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: MOSE was effective for complementing EUS-FNB by ensuring the adequate acquisition of biopsy specimens with a minimal number of needle passes while providing a critically high diagnostic accuracy. MOSE seems to be a viable alternative to ROSE in select clinical situations.

Predictors of stent dysfunction in patients with bilateral metal stents for malignant hilar obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: For unresectable hilar obstruction, restoring and maintaining biliary ductal patency are crucial for improved survival and quality of life. The endoscopic placement of stents is now a mainstay of its treatment, and bilateral stenting is effective for biliary decompression. This study aimed to determine the clinical outcomes of bilateral metal stent placement using large cell-type stents and the clinical predictors of stent dysfunction in patients with malignant hilar obstruction. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent bilateral metal stent placement using two large cell-type stents at two academic teaching hospitals between September 2017 and February 2019. The primary outcome was stent dysfunction. Secondary outcomes included predictors related to stent dysfunction and overall survival. RESULTS: The study included 87 patients who underwent bilateral metal stent placement for malignant hilar obstruction. Technical success and clinical success were achieved in 80 patients (92.0%) and 83 patients (95.4%), respectively. During the follow-up period (median: 201, range: 18-671 days), stent dysfunction occurred in 42 patients (48.3%), and the median stent patency was 199 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 181-262). In univariate analysis, age, cholangitis before stent insertion, and subsequent chemotherapy were found to be associated with the cumulative risk of stent dysfunction. In multivariate analysis, cholangitis before stent insertion (hazards ratio [HR]: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.216-4.209, P = 0.010) and subsequent chemotherapy (HR: 0.250, 95% CI: 0.130-0.482, P<0.001) remained as statically significant factors associated with the cumulative risk of stent dysfunction. The median overall survival was 288 days (95% CI: 230-327). CONCLUSION: The bilateral placement of large cell-type stents for malignant hilar obstruction was effective with high technical and clinical success rates and acceptable patency. Cholangitis before stent insertion was associated with shorter patency, and subsequent chemotherapy was associated with longer stent patency.

A comparison between 25-gauge and 22-gauge Franseen needles for endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling of pancreatic and peripancreatic masses: a randomized non-inferiority study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) are the current standard of care for sampling pancreatic and peripancreatic masses. Recently, a 22G EUS-FNB needle with Franseen geometry was developed, and this device was also introduced in a 25G platform. We compared the performance of the 25G and 22G Franseen needles for EUS-guided sampling of pancreatic and peripancreatic solid masses. METHODS: We conducted a parallel-group randomized non-inferiority trial at a tertiary-care center from November 2018 to May 2019. The primary outcome was the quality of the histologic core assessed using the Gerke score. The optimal histologic core is indicated by a Gerke score of 4 or 5, which enables optimal histologic interpretation. The overall diagnostic accuracy and adverse event rate were also evaluated. RESULTS: 140 patients were enrolled and randomized (1:1) to the 25G and 22G groups. Tissue acquisition by EUS-FNB was successful in all patients. The optimal histologic core procurement rate was 87.1 % (61/70) for the 25G needle vs. 97.1 % (68/70) for the 22G; difference -10 % (95 % confidence interval -17.35 % to -2.65 %). High quality specimens were more frequently obtained in the 22G group than in the 25G group (70.0 % [49/70] vs. 28.6 % [20 /70], respectively; P < 0.001). The overall diagnostic accuracy did not differ between the groups (97.4 % for 25G vs. 100 % for 22G). CONCLUSIONS: The 25G Franseen needle was inferior to the 22G needle in histologic core procurement. Therefore, for cases in which tissue architecture is pivotal for diagnosis, a 22G needle, which procures relatively higher quality specimens than the 25G needle, should be used.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic papillectomy for early-stage cancer in duodenal ampullary adenoma: Comparison to surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: While recent evidences support endoscopic resection as curative in ampullary tumors with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, only small case series have reported endoscopic management of early-stage ampullary cancer; thus, radical surgery remains the only accepted treatment modality. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of early ampullary adenocarcinoma administered endoscopic management. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of 715 patients undergoing endoscopic papillectomy (EP) in a single tertiary medical center in Korea in 2004-2016. We included patients incidentally diagnosed with early-stage adenocarcinoma (Tis and T1a, American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition) after EP and with >2 years of follow-up data and analyzed their demographics, histopathologic data, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 70 total patients in the EP-alone (n = 42) and subsequent surgery (n = 28) groups, we observed no significant differences in demographics or tumor size (2.0 ± 0.6 vs 1.9 ± 0.5 cm, P = 0.532), histologic grade (P = 0.077), tumor extent (P = 1.000), lymphovascular invasion (2.4% vs 10.7%, P = 0.344), or complete resection rates (57.1% vs 57.1%, P = 1.000) between groups. Adenocarcinoma lesions were larger in the subsequent surgery group (0.7 ± 0.5 vs 1.1 ± 0.7 cm, P = 0.002). The EP-alone group received more additional ablative treatment (42.9% vs 14.3%, P = 0.024). The 5-year disease-free and cancer-free survival rates were 79.1% vs 87.4% (P = 0.111) and 93.5% versus 87.4% (P = 0.726), respectively, and did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic papillectomy followed by endoscopic surveillance showed long-term outcomes comparable with surgical resection for early ampullary cancer and maybe curable alternative to surgery for incidentally found early-stage ampullary cancer, especially in patients unfit for or refusing radical surgery.

A case of eosinophilic cholangiopathy mimicking cholangiocarcinoma.

Eosinophilic cholangiopathy is an uncommon etiology of biliary stenosis, which is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration. Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish eosinophilic cholangiopathy from other causes of obstructive cholangiopathy before pathologic confirmation. We report a case of eosinophilic cholangiopathy. A 30-year-old male patient complained of right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed distended gallbladder and multifocal bile duct strictures with diffuse wall thickening. His bilirubin level increased continuously even after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. He underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis and pathology of resected gallbladder revealed marked eosinophilic infiltration with no malignant component. His pain improved after cholecystectomy and multifocal bile duct strictures with wall thickening were rapidly improved after steroid therapy.