Condroma pulmonar y paraganglioma carotídeo como manifestaciones de la tríada de Carney: reporte de un caso / Pulmonary chondroma and carotid paraganglioma as expressions of Carney's triad: report of a case

Resumen Objetivos: Presentar caso clínico y revisión de la literatura sobre asociación de tumores poco frecuentes compatibles con diagnóstico de tríada de Carney. Paciente y Métodos: Revisión de ficha clínica de paciente de sexo femenino de 39 años de edad con antecedentes de asma, quien acude a servicio de urgencias por síntomas respiratorios. En estudio con imágenes se evidencia masa pulmonar en lóbulo superior derecho probablemente hamartoma y masa en la bifurcación carotídea izquierda compatible con posible paraganglioma. Se completó el estudio con endoscopia digestiva alta sin evidencia de tumor gástrico y PET-CT (tomografía de emisión de positrones-tomografía computarizada) que descartó otras lesiones. Resultados: La paciente fue sometida a resección quirúrgica de ambos tumores (pulmonar y carotídeo). En estudio histopatológico diferido, se plantean los diagnósticos de paraganglioma carotideo y hamartoma pulmonar, el cual, luego de una segunda revisión histopatológica, es corregido a condroma pulmonar. Discusión: La tríada de Carney se compone por la asociación de al menos 2 de 3 tumores: tumor estromal gastrointestinal (GIST), paraganglioma extra-adrenal y condroma pulmonar. Su expresión es variable, coexistiendo en forma completa en solo el 22% de los casos. Conclusión: Los pacientes con sospecha de tríada de Carney deben recibir evaluación multidisciplinaria, estudio completo en búsqueda de tumores asociados y seguimiento a largo plazo por posibles recurrencias o metástasis.

Objective: To present a clinical case and review of the literature on the infrequent association of pulmonary and extra thoracic tumors compatible with Carney's triad. Patient and Methods: Review of clinical records of a 39 years-old female patient with history of asthma who presented in the emergency department with respiratory symptoms. An imaging study showed a pulmonary mass in the right upper lobe with the aspect of hamartoma and a mass in the left carotid artery bifurcation compatible with a possible paraganglioma. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed no evidence of gastric tumor and a PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography) excluded other lesions. Results: Patient underwent surgical resection of both tumors (pulmonary and carotid). Diagnosis of carotid paraganglioma and pulmonary hamartoma were stated by histopathology. However, lung tumor after a second pathological analysis was confirmed to be a pulmonary chondroma. Discussion: Carney's triad is defined by the association of at least 2 of 3 tumors: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST), extraadrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondroma. Its expression is variable, coexisting completely in only 22% of cases. Conclusion: Patients with suspected Carney's triad should receive a multidisciplinary assessment, a complete study searching associated tumors and long-term follow-up for recurrences or metastases.

GIST gástrico complicado. Una forma de presentación inusual / Complicated gastric GIST. An unusual presentation

RESUMEN Los tumores GIST son un motivo de consulta cada vez más frecuente en las entrevistas de cirugía gastroenterológica. Suelen ser derivados como hallazgos incidentales o por presentar síntomas derivados de su crecimiento. Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente que requirió internación de urgencia por síndrome anémico agudo. Se comenta su algoritmo diagnóstico y su resolución quirúrgica. Asimismo se comentan los estándares de diagnóstico y tratamiento actuales con especial foco en la estrategia quirúrgica, la cual debe ser individualizada según cada caso.

ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are becoming an increasingly common reason for consultation in gastroenterology surgery interviews. Patients are usually referred for surgery due to an incidental finding or symptoms associated with tumor growth. We report the case of a female patient who required urgent hospitalization due to acute anemic syndrome. The diagnostic algorithm and surgical approach are described. The current standards of diagnosis and treatment are also discussed, with special focus on the surgical strategy, which must be tailored to each case.

THE ROLE OF CONVENTIONAL ECHOENDOSCOPY (EUS) IN THERAPEUTIC DECISIONS IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROENDOCRINE GASTROINTESTINAL TUMORS.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are rare, usually presented as subepithelial or polypoid tumors. Accurate diagnosis and indication of the type of resection are still challenging. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of echoendoscopy in determining the depth of the lesions (T) identified by endoscopy in order to evaluate surgical and/or endoscopic indication, and to evaluate the results of endoscopic removal in the medium term. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients were included, all of whom underwent echoendoscopy for TN tumor staging and the evaluation of possible endoscopic resection. The parameters were: lesion size, origin layer, depth of involvement and identified perilesional adenopathies. The inclusion criteria for endoscopic resection were: 1) high surgical risk; 2) those with NET <2 cm; 3) absence of impairment of the muscle itself; and 4) absence of perilesional adenopathies in echoendoscopy and in others without distant metastases. Exclusion criteria were TNE> 2 cm; those with infiltration of the muscle itself; with perilesional adenopathies and distant metastases. The techniques used were: resection with polypectomy loop; mucosectomy with saline injection; and mucosectomy after ligation with an elastic band. The anatomopathological study of the specimens included evaluation of the margins and immunohistochemistry (chromogranin, synaptophysin and Ki 67) to characterize the tumor. Follow-up was done at 1, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Resections with polypectomy loop were performed in 15 patients; mucosectomy in five; mucosectomy and ligation with elastic band in three and the remaining four were referred for surgery. The anatomopathological specimens and immunohistochemical analyzes showed positive chromogranin and synaptophysin, while Ki 67 was less than 5% among all cases. The medium-term follow-up revealed three recurrences. The average size of tumors in the stomach was 7.6 mm and in the duodenum 7.2 mm. Well-demarcated, hypoechoic, homogeneous lesions occurred in 75%; mucous layer in 80%; and the deep and submucosal mucosa in 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Echoendoscopy proved to be a good method for the study of subepithelial lesions, being able to identify the layer affected by the neoplasm, degree of invasion, echogenicity, heterogeneity, size of the lesion and perilesional lymph node involvement and better indicate the treatment option.

Reporte de caso: metástasis gástrica de carcinoma endometrial, una localización inusual / Case report: gastric metastasis of endometrial carcinoma, an unusual localization

INTRODUCCIÓN: el carcinoma endometrial es la sexta entidad maligna más común a nivel mundial. En la mayoría de casos se diagnóstica de forma temprana. Recurre principalmente a cúpula vaginal y a nivel linfático, sin embargo, se han descrito metástasis a vagina, peritoneo y pulmones, entre otros. PRESENTACIÓN DEL CASO: paciente femenina adulta mayor con antecedente de carcinoma endometrial hace 7 años, tratado quirúrgicamente con estudio histopatológico que evidenciaba un miometrio infiltrado en un 95% sin invasión a otros órganos y linfadenectomía libre de lesión (estadio FIGO IB), quien consulta por dolor abdominal localizado en mesogastrio y deposiciones melénicas, evidenciándose una lesión gástrica, con resultado de biopsia que reporta carcinoma pobremente diferenciado con positividad focal para vimentina compatible con metástasis gástrica secundaria a carcinoma endometrial. Se indica manejo sistémico con quimioterapia, se documenta respuesta total de la lesión. DISCUSIÓN: las lesiones tumorales a nivel de estómago son primarios en su gran mayoría, una metástasis a este nivel es inusual. En el momento del diagnóstico de una metástasis gástrica, la mitad de las pacientes presentan concomitante compromiso de otros órganos. El carcinoma endometrial no está descrito dentro de los primarios que generan este compromiso. CONCLUSIÓN: el caso expuesto es un reto clínico, que representa un vacío en la evidencia actual; se comparte la experiencia de un manejo exitoso. Son necesarios más estudios para evaluar el pronóstico, opciones de tratamiento y definir la pertinencia de métodos de tamización para la detección temprana de estos casos.

INTRODUCTION: the endometrial carcinoma is the sixth cancer worldwide. Usually it is diagnosed in early stages. The sites of recurrence includes vaginal cuff and lymph nodes, however some metastasis have been described to vagina, peritoneum and lungs, among others. CASE REPORT: Elder female with history of an endometrial carcinoma 7 years ago, surgically treated. With histopathology that reported myometrial infiltration in a 95% without invasion to other organs and lymphadenectomy free of neoplasm (FIGO IB), who consult at the emergency room due to abdominal pain and black stool, with further studies that make evident a gastric lesion with biopsy reported as a poorly differentiated carcinoma, vimentin positive, compatible with gastric metastasis secondary to an endometrial carcinoma. Chemoterapy was indicated, documenting total posterior response of the lesion. DISCUSSION: Secondary lessions in stomach are rare. If they are present at the moment of diagnosis half of the patients concomitantly have metastasis in other organs. The endometrial carcinoma hasn't been described as a common localization that result in this compromise. CONCLUSION: the case exposed is a clinical challenge, a therapeutic success is shared. Limited evidence is available. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the prognosis, therapeutic options and to define the relevance of screening tests for early detection.

The role of conventional echoendoscopy (eus) in therapeutic decisions in patients with neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors / O papel da ecoendoscopia convencional nas decisões terapêuticas em pacientes com tumores neuroendócrinos gastrointestinais

ABSTRACT Background: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are rare, usually presented as subepithelial or polypoid tumors. Accurate diagnosis and indication of the type of resection are still challenging. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of echoendoscopy in determining the depth of the lesions (T) identified by endoscopy in order to evaluate surgical and/or endoscopic indication, and to evaluate the results of endoscopic removal in the medium term. Methods: Twenty-seven patients were included, all of whom underwent echoendoscopy for TN tumor staging and the evaluation of possible endoscopic resection. The parameters were: lesion size, origin layer, depth of involvement and identified perilesional adenopathies. The inclusion criteria for endoscopic resection were: 1) high surgical risk; 2) those with NET <2 cm; 3) absence of impairment of the muscle itself; and 4) absence of perilesional adenopathies in echoendoscopy and in others without distant metastases. Exclusion criteria were TNE> 2 cm; those with infiltration of the muscle itself; with perilesional adenopathies and distant metastases. The techniques used were: resection with polypectomy loop; mucosectomy with saline injection; and mucosectomy after ligation with an elastic band. The anatomopathological study of the specimens included evaluation of the margins and immunohistochemistry (chromogranin, synaptophysin and Ki 67) to characterize the tumor. Follow-up was done at 1, 6 and 12 months. Results: Resections with polypectomy loop were performed in 15 patients; mucosectomy in five; mucosectomy and ligation with elastic band in three and the remaining four were referred for surgery. The anatomopathological specimens and immunohistochemical analyzes showed positive chromogranin and synaptophysin, while Ki 67 was less than 5% among all cases. The medium-term follow-up revealed three recurrences. The average size of tumors in the stomach was 7.6 mm and in the duodenum 7.2 mm. Well-demarcated, hypoechoic, homogeneous lesions occurred in 75%; mucous layer in 80%; and the deep and submucosal mucosa in 70%. Conclusions: Echoendoscopy proved to be a good method for the study of subepithelial lesions, being able to identify the layer affected by the neoplasm, degree of invasion, echogenicity, heterogeneity, size of the lesion and perilesional lymph node involvement and better indicate the treatment option.

RESUMO Racional: Tumores neuroendócrinos gastrointestinais são raros geralmente apresentados como tumores subepiteliais ou polipoides. O diagnóstico preciso e a indicação do tipo de ressecção ainda são desafiadores. Objetivo: Determinar a eficácia da ecoendoscopia em determinar a profundidade das lesões (T) identificadas pela endoscopia com objetivo de avaliar indicação cirúrgica e/ou endoscópica, e avaliar os resultados da remoção endoscópica em seguimento em médio prazo. Métodos: Foram incluídos 27 pacientes todos submetidos à ecoendoscopia para estadiamento tumoral TN e à avaliação de possível ressecção endoscópica. Os parâmetros estudados foram: tamanho da lesão, camada de origem, profundidade do acometimento e adenopatias perilesionais identificadas. Os critérios de inclusão para ressecção endoscópica foram: 1) risco cirúrgico elevado; 2) aqueles com TNE <2 cm; 3) ausência de comprometimento da muscular própria; e 4) ausência de adenopatias perilesionais na ecoendoscopia e em outros sem metástases à distância. Os critérios de exclusão foram TNE >2 cm; os com infiltração da muscular própria; com adenopatias perilesionais e metástases à distância. As técnicas utilizadas foram: ressecção com alça de polipectomia; mucosectomia com injeção de solução salina; e mucosectomia após a ligadura com banda elástica. O estudo anatomopatológico dos espécimes incluiu avaliação das margens e imunoistoquímica (cromogranina, sinaptofisina e Ki 67) para caracterizar o tumor. O seguimento foi feito com 1, 6 e 12 meses. Resultados: Ressecções com alça de polipectomia foram realizadas em 15 pacientes; mucosectomia em cinco; mucosectomia e ligadura com banda elástica em três e os quatro restantes foram encaminhados para cirurgia. O anatomopatológico dos espécimes e as análises imunoistoquímicas mostraram cromogranina e sinaptofisina positivas, enquanto que o Ki 67 foi menor que 5% dentre todos os casos. O seguimento em médio prazo revelou três recidivas. A média de tamanho dos tumores no estômago foi de 7,6 mm e no duodeno 7,2 mm. As lesões bem demarcadas, hipoecóicas, homogêneas ocorreram em 75%; da camada mucosa em 80%; e da mucosa profunda e submucosa em 70%. Conclusões: A ecoendoscopia mostrou ser bom método para o estudo de lesões subepiteliais podendo identificar a camada acometida pela neoplasia, grau de invasão, ecogeneicidade, heterogeneidade, tamanho da lesão e acometimento linfonodal perilesional e melhor indicar a opção de tratamento.

EUS-guided tissue samples for the diagnosis of patients with a thickened gastric wall and prior negative endoscopic biopsies.

AIM: Evaluate the diagnostic yield of biopsies obtained by EUS guidance in patients with gastric wall thickening and prior negative endoscopic biopsies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data collected from October 2008 to January 2016 were analyzed in a retrospective manner. All included patients had undergone at least one endoscopy with a negative biopsy and showed evidence of gastric wall thickening by tomography, confirmed by endoscopy. All patients gave their written informed consent before the procedure. Demographics and baseline characteristics, including age, sex, number of previous endoscopies, and histopathological diagnosis were recorded. Follow-up data were obtained from a review of the electronic medical records. RESULT: In total, 22 patients with previous negative endoscopic biopsies and gastric wall thickening were included. Using EUSFNA/FNB, the diagnosis was made in the first procedure in 19/22 (86.30%) cases, while in 1/22 (4.5%) patients the diagnosis was made in the second EUS-FNA. A total of 18 (81.82%) patients with EUS-FNA were assessed using a standard Echo-tip, while the remaining four (18.18%) patients underwent EUS-FNB and using a ProCore needle. All patients with a final diagnosis of malignancy had a thickened gastric wall with impaired gastric distension and a loss of wall structure determined by EUS. Of patients with a benign final diagnosis, all (n=8) showed a thickened gastric wall by EUS but with preservation of the deep layers. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA/FNB is necessary in patients with a thickened gastric wall and prior negative biopsy on endoscopy. The procedure is safe and has a good diagnostic.

Laparoscopic resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) of the small intestine: a case report

Although gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a rare type of cancer, they are the commonest mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). GISTs can affect any segment of the GIT, but the usual location is the stomach, followed by the small intestine. Surgical resection of the tumor is the gold standard treatment for localized GISTs, and in patients with inoperable and metastatic disease, imatinib mesylate is the standard treatment. Pathological diagnosis is based on morphology and immunohistochemical findings. We report the case of a 55-year-old man with jejunal GIST presenting with endophytic and exophytic growth, located in the proximal jejunum. He had history of melena, anemia and one episode of enterorrhagia, and was treated with surgical resection of the lesion. (AU)

Tumores neuroendocrinos del tracto gastroenteropancreático. Estudio multicéntrico / Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic tract. A multicentric study

Introducción: Los tumores neuroendocrinos del tracto gastroenteropancreático constituyen un grupo infrecuente de neoplasias, de diagnóstico tardío y tratamiento complejo. Objetivo: Caracterizar clínica, macroscópica e histopatológicamente los tumores neuroendocrinos del tracto gastro enteropancreático. Material y Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, con 54 pacientes con diagnóstico histopatológico de estas neoplasias, confirmados por inmunohistoquímica, diagnosticados en el Instituto de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología y el Hospital Clínico-Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras, en el período 2008-2014. Resultados: El sexo femenino (66,7 por ciento y el grupo de edad de 50-69 años (48,1 por ciento), fueron los más frecuentes. La manifestación clínica más reportada fue el dolor abdominal (87 por ciento), seguido de las diarreas (16.7 por ciento), y del íctero (14.8 por ciento). Los tumores fueron más frecuentes en intestino delgado (31,5 por ciento) y páncreas (27,8 por ciento). La lesión endoscópica polipoidea se observó en 88,9% de los pacientes. La mayoría de los tumores midieron menos de 2 cm. Los tumores grado 1 y 2 tuvieron igual comportamiento en cuanto a frecuencia (40.7 por ciento). No hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la localización del tumor, el tamaño y el grado histológico. Conclusiones: Predominó el sexo femenino y el grupo de edad de 50-69 años, el síntoma clínico más frecuente fue el dolor abdominal, las lesiones se localizaron con mayor frecuencia en intestino delgado y páncreas, con un predominio de la forma polipoide como patrón endoscópico y menores de 2 cm. No hubo asociación entre la localización anatómica, el tamaño de la lesión y la clasificación histopatológica(AU)

Tumor de estroma gastrointestinal en intestino delgado / Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the small intestine

Aunque comprenden menos de 1 por ciento de todos los tumores gastrointestinales, los tumores de estroma gastrointestinal son los tumores mesenquimatosos más comunes del aparato digestivo. Son tumoraciones heterogéneas que varían en tamaño, morfología y conducta biológica. Se comportan virtualmente como tumores benignos hasta cánceres muy agresivos, muchas veces metastásicos. El tumor de estroma gastrointestinal puede producirse en cualquier punto del tracto gastrointestinal desde el esófago hasta el ano. Se presenta un caso de un hombre de 49 años que acude a consulta por molestias abdominales. Se realizan estudios que impresionan paquete ganglionar. En la videolaparoscopía se evidenció una tumoración a nivel de yeyuno que se reseca y extrae. El resultado de la biopsia informa un tumor fusocelular del estroma gastrointestinal tipo GIST de la pared del intestino delgado con diferenciación leiomatosa (leiomioma) de bajo grado, de posible comportamiento agresivo(AU)

Although they represent less than one percent of all the gastrointestinal tumors, the stromal tumors are the most common mesenchymal tumors in the digestive system. They are heterogeneous tumors that vary in size, morphology and biological behavior. Their virtual behavior ranges from benign tumors to very aggressive cancers, often metastatic. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor may appear in any point of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the anus. Here is a 49 years-old man who went to the doctor´s because of abdominal pains. The studies showed ganglionic package. Video-laparoscopy showed tumor at the jejunum that was excised and removed. The result of the biopsy revealed a fusocellular tumor of the gastrointestinal stroma of GIST type in the small intestine wall with low grade differentiation (leiomyoma) of possible aggressive behavior(AU)

Endoscopic resection of a cardia gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) after echoendoscopy.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) previously were thought to represent smooth muscle tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and were formerly classified as leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. GISTs are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and are of clinical relevance because in at least 10% to 30% of cases they are malignant. In the past, GISTs chemo and radio-resistance made treatment a challenging issue for physicians, while criteria for evaluation of the malignant potential of GISTs were lacking. Currently, identification of reliable prognostic factors and the development of molecular-targeted anticancer strategies for GIST have given new hope to these patients. The objective of the present work was to report a case of endoscopic resection of a cardia GIST.

Upper endoscopy versus endosonography in differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bulging.

CONTEXT: The identification of a bulging covered by normal epithelium is a common finding during an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the endoscopic and endosonography findings in the differential diagnosis of the gastrointestinal bulging (subepithelial tumor or extrinsic compression). METHOD: Patients referred by endosonography with bulging of upper gastrointestinal tract were studied retrospectively. The size, location, consistency and presumptive diagnosis were recorded at time of endoscopy and endosonography. Endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration was proposed in case of uncertain diagnose to increase diagnostic sensitivity. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six patients (93 women) and mean age 62.5 years (10-87). One hundred fifty-three had subepithelial tumor and 23 had extrinsic compression as a final diagnosis. Endosonography had sensitivity, specificity and accuracy higher than those found by endoscopy for both diagnosis subepithelial tumor and extrinsic compression. Endoscopy and endosonography showed poor concordance (K = 0.13) for subepithelial tumor diagnosis and unsuitable agreement for diagnosis in extrinsic compression (K = 0.01). The endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of 75%, 72.4%, 80.5%, 65.6% and 74%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopy has high sensitivity and low specificity for subepithelial tumor and both are low for the extrinsic compression. Endoscopy is a good tool for diagnosis of the subepithelial tumors, but not to determine the cause of an extrinsic compression. The endosonography identifies the layer from which subepithelial tumor comes, obtain histological samples, and increasing the diagnostic accuracy.

[99mTc-OCTREOTIDE in patients with neuroendocrine tumors from the GI tract]. / 99mTc-OCTREOTIDE en pacientes con tumores neuroendócrinos gastroenteropancreáticos.

INTRODUCTION: It has been demonstrated that scintigraphy with somatostatin analogues is useful for the diagnosis, staging and follow up of patients with neuroendocrine tumors from the gastrointestinal tract (NET-GIT). Some studies suggest that the use of 99mTc-Hydrazinonicotinyl-Tyr3-octreotide (99mTc-HYNIC-TOC) yields similar diagnostic results than the use of 111In-DTPA-octreotide. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical value of scintigraphy using 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC for the detection of primary and secondary lesions in patients with NET-GIT. METHODS: From September 2004 to May 2009, 32 patients (17 women, age range 18 to 82 years old) with histologically proven or clinically suspected NET-GIT underwent scintigraphy using 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC Patients underwent a whole body scan, with additional static images of abdomen and pelvis, followed by SPECT at 4-hrs post injection of 925 MBq of the tracer. Patients underwent clinical, imaging and histopathology follow-up during 3 to 18 months. RESULTS: Histopathology demonstrated carcinoid tumor in 20 patients, insulinoma in 2, gastrinoma in 2 and non-specific NET-GIT in 6. Total sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 87%, 100%, 100%, 89% and 94%, respectively. To detect the primary lesion, the values were 94%, 100% 100%, 94% and 97%, respectively and to detect secondary lesions, 79%, 100%, 100%, 86% and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC is a specific somatostatin analog, with high affinity to receptor subtype SST-2, widely available and affordable by Latin American countries. It has a good performance to be used for diagnosis, staging and follow-up of patients with NET-GIT.

[Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy: first experience in Mexico]. / Biopsia por aspiración con aguja delgada guiada por ultrasonido endoscópico: primera experiencia en México.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) -guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a recently described diagnostic method that has demonstrated its usefulness in certain clinical conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive and retrospective analysis of the initial experience with EUS-guided FNA at the Hospital General "Dr Manuel Gea González", during the period between March, 1998 and December, 1999. A Pentax FG 32UA linear echoendoscope was used for all cases, as well as two different types of needles. Procedures were performed under sedation and a cytopathologist was not present during the FNA. The biopsy site, quality of the material obtained, cytological as well as final diagnosis and complications are described. RESULTS: A total of 40 procedures were done. FNA was performed on the pancreas, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, mediastinum, rectum and lymph nodes. A diagnosis was obtained in 75%. In the remaining cases, the material obtained was either inadequate or insufficient for diagnosis. FNA results were confirmed histologically in all cases that underwent surgery. Complication presented in 2.5%, and consisted of one case of self-limited and clinically irrelevant bleeding. The best results were obtained in lymph nodes, mediastinum, liver and pancreatic tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the utility of EUS-guided FNA to obtain cytologic material for diagnosis in a high percentage of cases and with minimal complications. Some factors that could lead to better results were also identified.

[Recent advances and practical clinical applications of endoscopic ultrasound]. / Avances recientes y aplicación clínica práctica en ultrasonido endoscopico.

The role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is in a constant state of evolution. Newer and more sophisticated imaging methods contrast very favorably to EUS and questions arise as to the real utility and even the existence of this method. Recent work has aimed to establish the actual role of EUS in this context and to establish its rightful place in the endoscopist's armamentarium. Limited information about this method, the indications, contraindications, virtues and limitations is an obstacle against widespread adoption not only in our country. Furthermore, the cost of the equipment and the long learning curve conspire to slow the implementation of EUS. In this paper we review the most recent developments in equipment and procedures as well as analyze the established role of EUS in clinical practice from recent literature.

Hodgkin's disease of the gastrointestinal tract.

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. We report eight cases of GI HD. The patients, ages 16-64, all with stage IV disease of varied histologic subtypes and GI symptoms including pain, upper or lower GI bleeding and/or obstruction. There was diffuse gastric fold thickening in one case, a large submucosal mass along the proximal greater curvature in another case, and a large ulcerating mass along the lesser curvature in the third case. Two cases of jejunal disease manifested as either a short or long segment of luminal narrowing with prominent mucosal nodularity. Another case exhibited a short area of complete mucosal destruction, irregular cavitation and intraluminal filling defect. In one additional case there was diffuse jejunal nodularity. Colonic involvement (two cases) presented as a solitary polypoid mass in transverse colon in one patient and severe narrowing of the descending colon with adjacent mesenteric mass on CT in another. We conclude that although rare in Hodgkin's disease, GI involvement should be considered, particularly in patients with stage IV disease.