Current trends of liver cirrhosis in Mexico: Similitudes and differences with other world regions.

AIM: To investigate the main current etiologies of cirrhosis in Mexico. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional retrospective multicenter study that included eight hospitals in different areas of Mexico. These hospitals provide health care to people of diverse social classes. The inclusion criteria were a histological, clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, or imaging diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. Data were obtained during a 5-year period (January 2012-December 2017). RESULTS: A total of 1210 patients were included. The mean age was 62.5 years (SD = 12.1), and the percentages of men and women were similar (52.0% vs 48.0%). The most frequent causes of liver cirrhosis were hepatitis C virus (HCV) (36.2%), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (31.2%), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (23.2%), and the least frequent were hepatitis B virus (1.1%), autoimmune disorders (7.3%), and other conditions (1.0%). CONCLUSION: HCV and ALD are the most frequent causes of cirrhosis in Mexico. However, we note that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as an etiology of cirrhosis increased by 100% compared with the rate noted previously. We conclude that NAFLD will soon become one of the most frequent etiologies of liver cirrhosis in Mexico.

Higher adenoma detection rate with the endocuff: a randomized trial.

Background and study aim Different techniques have been introduced to improve the endoscopist's view and enhance the detection of polyps. The endocuff is a polymer sleeve cap that is connected to the tip of the colonoscope in order to improve visualization of the mucosa during colonoscopy. The aim of the study was to compare adenoma detection rates (ADR) of endocuff-assisted colonoscopy and conventional colonoscopy. Patients and methods Patients 50 years or older were randomized into two groups: an endocuff-assisted colonoscopy group and a conventional colonoscopy group without the endocuff. Results A total of 337 patients were included: 174 in the endocuff group and 163 in the conventional group. The median age was 61 years (interquartile range 55 - 70 years), and 74 % were women. The ADR was higher in the endocuff group than in the conventional group (22.4 % vs. 13.5 %; P = 0.02). The mean number of adenomas was 0.30 (SD 0.25) in the endocuff group and 0.21 (SD 0.26) in the conventional group (P â€Š= 0.02). The rate of ileal intubation was lower in the endocuff group (73 % vs. 87 %; P < 0.001). No serious adverse events occurred with the use of the endocuff. Conclusions Endocuff colonoscopy achieved a greater ADR than conventional colonoscopy.Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NTC02387593).

[Therapeutic options for portal hypertensive biliopathy: case series and literature review]. / Opciones terapéuticas de la biliopatía por hipertensión portal: serie de casos y revisión de la bibliografía.

BACKGROUND: Portal hypertensive biliopathy is an underdiagnosed condition because only some patients have symptoms. The major clinical manifestations include cholestasis and cholangitis. The aim of this study is to present a series of cases evaluated, treated and followed at a tertiary-care public institution. CLINICAL CASE: Four patients with portal hypertensive biliopathy were exposed to different therapeutic approaches focused on the management of portal hypertension and biliary decompression. They were followed for ~5 years. Three cases achieved a favorable outcome with symptom remission, but one patient died while attempting dilatation of the bile duct. Finally, we carried out a literature review about actual portal hypertensive biliopathy therapeutics. CONCLUSIONS: There is currently no consensus on the optimal treatment for this condition. The goal is to decompress the biliary tree. Each case should be individually evaluated to choose the best treatment option.

Antecedentes: la biliopatía por hipertensión portal es poco diagnosticada debido a que sólo algunos pacientes experimentan síntomas. Las manifestaciones clínicas más importantes son la colestasis y la colangitis. Objetivo: comunicar una serie de casos evaluados, tratados y seguidos en una institución pública de tercer nivel. Casos clínicos: cuatro pacientes con biliopatía por hipertensión portal se expusieron a diferentes métodos para tratar la hipertensión portal y la descompresión de la vía biliar. Se realizó seguimiento durante casi cinco años. Tres casos mostraron adecuada evolución, con remisión de los síntomas; un paciente falleció al intentar dilatarle la vía biliar. Finalmente, se revisa la bibliografía en relación con la terapéutica de la biliopatía por hipertensión portal. Conclusiones: no existe consenso para el tratamiento óptimo de este padecimiento, aunque el objetivo es descomprimir la vía biliar; cada caso plantea particularidades que guían el tratamiento.

[Relevance of nuclear medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant paraganglioma]. / Relevancia de la medicina nuclear en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del paraganglioma maligno.

BACKGROUND: Paragangliomas are neoplasms of the chromaffin tissue characterized by the synthesis and/or secretion of catecholamines. Their treatment depends on the extension and functional characteristics of the tumor. In this pathology, the anatomic and functional diagnostic evaluations provided by nuclear medicine imaging studies have significant usefulness. CLINICAL CASE: A 34-year-old male was diagnosed with a paraganglioma at the level of the aortic bifurcation by means of laboratory tests, imaging studies and nuclear medicine studies. Nuclear medicine was carried out with a scintigraphy with a norepinephrine analog, radioactive meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (131I-MIBG), which demonstrates functionally and specifically the presence of neoplastic adrenergic tissue and extratumoral extension. In addition, a positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography with a radioactive analog of glucose locates the extratumoral activity at bone level. Nuclear medicine studies allow the diagnosis of a malignant paraganglioma with presence of bone metastasis. The therapy includes surgical removal of the tumor and ablation of residual malignant tissue and metastatic lesions by radiotherapy with 131I-MIBG. Radiotherapeutic treatment was possible due to the capacity of the tumor to uptake and to concentrate the radioactive hormonal analog. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of paraganglioma, in addition to the localization of the tumor and the evaluation of biochemical alterations, it is indispensable to obtain anatomic and functional evaluation provided by nuclear medicine studies in order to achieve appropriate diagnoses and treatment.

Relevancia de la medicina nuclear en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del paraganglioma maligno / Relevance of nuclear medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant paraganglioma

Introducción: Los paragangliomas son tumores del tejido cromafín caracterizados por la síntesis o secreción de catecolaminas, en los que el tratamiento depende de su extensión y características funcionales. Dentro de la evaluación diagnóstica anatómica y funcional de este padecimiento, los métodos de imagen de medicina nuclear sobresalen por su utilidad. Caso clínico: Paciente con paraganglioma a nivel de la bifurcación de la aorta en quien el diagnóstico se realizó por estudios de laboratorio, imagenología y medicina nuclear. Se llevó a cabo centelleografía con un análogo de norepinefrina, la metayodobencilguanidina marcada radiactivamente (131I-MIBG), que demostró funcional y específicamente la presencia de tejido adrenérgico neoplásico y su extensión extratumoral. Complementariamente se efectuó tomografía por emisión de positrones fusionada con tomografía computarizada, utilizando un análogo radiactivo de la glucosa que localizó la actividad extratumoral a nivel óseo. Los estudios de medicina nuclear permitieron concluir que se trataba de un paraganglioma maligno con metástasis óseas. El tratamiento incluyó resección quirúrgica del tumor y ablación del tejido tumoral residual y de los focos metastásicos con radioterapia interna mediante 131I-MIBG. El tratamiento radioterapéutico fue posible dada la capacidad del tumor y las metástasis de concentrar el análogo hormonal radiactivo. Conclusiones: Ante casos de paragangliomas, además de la localización del tumor y la evaluación de las alteraciones bioquímicas, es indispensable la evaluación funcional que brinda la medicina nuclear para la realización de un diagnóstico y tratamiento adecuados.

BACKGROUND: Paragangliomas are neoplasms of the chromaffin tissue characterized by the synthesis and/or secretion of catecholamines. Their treatment depends on the extension and functional characteristics of the tumor. In this pathology, the anatomic and functional diagnostic evaluations provided by nuclear medicine imaging studies have significant usefulness. CLINICAL CASE: A 34-year-old male was diagnosed with a paraganglioma at the level of the aortic bifurcation by means of laboratory tests, imaging studies and nuclear medicine studies. Nuclear medicine was carried out with a scintigraphy with a norepinephrine analog, radioactive meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (131I-MIBG), which demonstrates functionally and specifically the presence of neoplastic adrenergic tissue and extratumoral extension. In addition, a positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomography with a radioactive analog of glucose locates the extratumoral activity at bone level. Nuclear medicine studies allow the diagnosis of a malignant paraganglioma with presence of bone metastasis. The therapy includes surgical removal of the tumor and ablation of residual malignant tissue and metastatic lesions by radiotherapy with 131I-MIBG. Radiotherapeutic treatment was possible due to the capacity of the tumor to uptake and to concentrate the radioactive hormonal analog. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of paraganglioma, in addition to the localization of the tumor and the evaluation of biochemical alterations, it is indispensable to obtain anatomic and functional evaluation provided by nuclear medicine studies in order to achieve appropriate diagnoses and treatment.