Pancreatic mass as an initial presentation of severe Wegener's granulomatosis.

Acute pancreatitis or a pancreatic mass is a very rare initial presentation of Wegener's granu-lomatosis. A 62-year-old woman presented with tumor-like pancreatitis and otitis media Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance suggested the presence of pancreatic tumor. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was negative. Distal pancreatic resection and splenectomy were performed and histopathology proved Wegener's vasculitis of the pancreas and spleen. Azathioprine and steroids were subsequently started and six months later the patient was asymptomatic. Involvement of the pancreas could be considered as a presenting symptom of Wegener's vasculitis.

Efficacy and safety of PAIR for cystic echinococcosis: experience on a large series of patients from Bulgaria.

We report our experience with puncture, aspiration, injection, and reaspiration (PAIR) for the treatment of cystic echinococcosis in Bulgaria. PAIR was performed in 230 patients with 348 echinococcal cysts. At 12-month follow-up, 77.6% of the cysts, all cystic echinococcosis (CE) 1 and CE3a cysts according to the World Health Organization Informal Working Group classification, showed various degrees of obliteration. In 11.5% of cysts, all of which were > 10 cm-type CE1, a significant amount of fluid persisted, and they were punctured again. Of those, 16 (4.6%) contained protoscolices and were treated by a second PAIR. The remaining 24 (6.9%) cysts were treated by simple aspiration or drainage. No significant reduction in size and no changes in the structure were observed in 10.9% of cysts, all of which were classified as CE2 or CE3b. Complications developed in 25.2% of patients, including severe anaphylactic reaction in two (0.9%) patients. Our experience confirms that PAIR is a successful first-choice treatment when a stage-specific approach is taken.