Endoscopic ultrasound elastography strain histograms in the evaluation of patients with pancreatic masses.

AIM: To investigate the accuracy of the strain histogram endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-based method for the diagnostic differentiation of patients with pancreatic masses. METHODS: In a prospective single center study, 149 patients were analyzed, 105 with pancreatic masses and 44 controls. Elastography images were recorded using commercially available ultrasound equipment in combination with EUS linear probes. Strain histograms (SHs) were calculated by machine integrated software in regions of interest and mean values of the strain histograms were expressed as Mode 1 (over the mass) and Mode 2 (over an adjacent part of pancreatic tissue, representing the reference area). The ratio between Mode 2 and Mode 1 was calculated later, representing a new variable, the strain histogram ratio. After the final diagnosis was established, two groups of patients were formed: a pancreatic cancer group with positive cytology achieved by fine needle aspiration puncture or histology after surgery (58 patients), and a mass-forming pancreatitis group with negative cytology and follow-up after 3 and 6 mo (47 patients). All statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS 14.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States). RESULTS: Results were obtained with software for strain histograms with reversed hue scale (0 represents the hardest tissue structure and 255 the softest). Based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve coordinates, the cut-off point for Mode 1 was set at the value of 86. Values under the cut-off point indicated the presence of pancreatic malignancy. Mode 1 reached 100% sensitivity and 45% specificity with overall accuracy of 66% (95%CI: 61%-66%) in detection of pancreatic malignant tumors among the patients with pancreatic masses. The positive and negative predictive values were 54% and 100%, respectively. The cut-off for the new calculated variable, the SH ratio, was set at the value 1.153 based on the ROC curve coordinates. Values equal or above the cut-off value were indicative of pancreatic malignancy. The SH ratio reached 98% sensitivity, 50% specificity and an overall accuracy of 69% (95%CI: 63%-70%). The positive and negative predictive values were 92% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: SH showed high sensitivity in pancreatic malignant tumor detection but disappointingly low specificity. Slight improvements in specificity and accuracy were achieved using the SH ratio.

[Breast cancer metastases to the stomach and colon: two case reports]. / Metastaze karcinoma dojke u zeludac i debelo crijevo: prikaz dviju bolesnica.

Summary. Breast cancer has a high potential for metastasis, usually to the lungs, bones, liver and lymph nodes. Metastases in the holow organs of the digestive system are rare and mainly affectes the stomach and colon. They are characterized by very different clinical and radiological manifestations. We have warned that the initial unrecognized breast cancer can appear as a primary tumor of the stomach and colon, and onlya histopathological analysis reveales that it is a metastatic breast cancer. Metastases to the stomach or intestine involve deep layer of the mucosa and pathohistological findings of standard biopsy sample can be falsely negative, despite positive imaging technique (abdominal ultrasound and MSCT, endoscopic ultrasound) that indicate the tumor process. That's,why we emphasize the importance of endoscopic mucosal resection in the detection of malignant process of deeper layers of the gastric mucosa and deep intestinal mucosal biopsies with postoperative analysis of its walls.

[Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: case report and review of the literature]. / Intraduktalna papilarna mucinozna novotvorina gusterace: prikaz slucaja i pregled literature.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is a relatively rare clinical entity with a main characteristic being mucus production. Extension of IPMN along pancretic ducts and mucus production lead to ductal obstruction and dilatation, resulting in recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. Molecular background of IPMN-a comprises several aberrations, with the K-ras gene mutation being the likely trigger that initiates further genetic changes. Due to its indolent nature, IPMN is most commonly diagnosed in the 7th decade of life. Depending on the histology type, IPMN has a malignant potential. Therefore, surgical therapy remains a "gold standard" of treatment. Insidious, slow progression of the disease and absence of symptoms in a certain number of patients makes diagnostic approach to this entity difficult. In this paper we present a patient with IPMN of the pancreas, in whom the episodes of acute pancreatitis had been present for 22 years.

[Endoscopic mucosal resection of sessile polypoid colorectal lesions: a two-year retrospective study, technique description, indications and complications]. / Endoskopska mukozna resekcija sesilnih polipoidnih lezija debelog crijeva: dvogodisnja retrospektivna analiza, prikaz tehnike, indikacija i komplikacija.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a therapeutic method for removal of sesile premalignant lesions and intramucosal carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. No reports on EMR data in Croatia have been published yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients included in the study were managed at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb between December 2006 and December 2008. EMR was performed using strip technique with submucosal injection of epinephrine (dilution with saline 1:5000-10000). RESULTS: EMR of sessile polypoid colorectal lesions was performed in 95 patients. The most common localisation of the disease was rectum (52 pts - 54.7%). In most patient size of the lesion was between 16-25 mm (43 pts - 45%). En-bloc resection was performed in 75 patients and piecemeal resection in the rest. Bleeding occurred immediately during the EMR in 5 pts (5.3%). Patohistological diagnosis revealed tubulovillous adenoma in 67 pts (70%). Invasive carcinoma was observed in 6 pts (6.3%) and intramucosal carcinoma in 20 pts (21%). On follow up, 73 pts (77%) did not show and sign of disease recurrence. Surgery was needed in 6 pts (6.3%) due to the diagnosis of invasive carcinoma. CONCLUSION: EMR is safe and reliable method with low risk of serious complications and acceptable recurrence rate.

A pilot study of transrectal endoscopic ultrasound elastography in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Using standard diagnostic algorithms it is not always possible to establish the correct phenotype of inflammatory bowel disease which is essential for therapeutical decisions. Endoscopic ultrasound elastography is a new endoscopic procedure which can differentiate the stiffness of normal and pathological tissue by ultrasound. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of transrectal ultrasound elastography in distiction between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. METHODS: A total 30 Crohn's disease, 25 ulcerative colitis, and 28 non-inflammatory bowel disease controls were included. Transrectal ultrasound elastography was performed in all patients and controls. In all ulcerative coltis patients and 80% of Crohn's disease patients endoscopy was performed to assess disease activity in the rectum. RESULTS: Significant difference in rectal wall thickness and strain ratio was detected between patients with Crohn's disease and controls (p = 0.0001). CD patients with active disease had higher strain ratio than patients in remission (p = 0.02). In ulcerative colitis group a significant difference in rectal wall thickness was found between controls and patients with active disease (p = 0.03). A significant difference in rectal wall thickness (p = 0.02) and strain ratio (p = 0.0001) was detected between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patient group. Crohn's disease patients with active disease had a significantly higher strain ratio compared to ulcerative colitis patients with active disease (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Transrectal ultrasound elastography seems to be a promising new diagnostic tool in the field of inflammatory bowel disease. Further study on a larger cohort of patients is needed to definitely assess the role of transrectal ultrasound elastography in inflammatory bowel disease.

Endoscopic ultrasound elastography as a method for screening the patients with suspected primary sclerosing cholangitis.

OBJECTIVES: Currently, magnetic resonance cholangiography is being used for establishing the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis, whereas endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is reserved for therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the role of endoscopic ultrasound elastography in the detection of inflammatory and fibrotic lesions of the common bile duct. METHODS: Linear endoscopic ultrasound elastography of the common bile duct was performed in 41 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: disease group (20 patients with both, primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease) and control group (21 patients). Main outcome measurements were diameter, wall thickness and wall qualitative Elasto Score of the common bile duct. RESULTS: The disease group consisted of nine females and 11 males, whereas the control group consisted of 13 females and eight males, with no sex differences observed (chi = 0.6, d.f. = 1, P = 0.443). There was no significant difference in the diameter of common bile duct between the studied groups: 4.67+/-1.83 mm in the disease group and 5.88+/-2.47 mm in controls (t = -1.77, d.f. = 39, P = 0.085). Hard or mixed Elasto Score was found in 16 patients and four controls, being significantly different compared with the soft Elasto Score found in four patients and 17 controls (chi = 1.8, d.f. = 1, P<0.001). A significant difference was observed in the common bile duct wall thickness: 0.89+/-0.59 mm in the disease group and 0.39+/-0.14 mm in controls (t = 3.75, d.f. = 39, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic ultrasound elastography might be a useful noninvasive method in diagnosing primary sclerosing cholangitis.

[Interventional procedures in gastroenterology guided by endoscopic ultrasonography: status and perspectives]. / Intervencijski zahvati u gastroenterologiji vodeni endoskopskim ultrazvukom: stanje i perspektive.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was developed as a diagnostic tool, but has rapidly found various therapeutic applications. EUS has been used for drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts, treatment of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, EUS-guided cholangiopancreatography, localized therapy for pancreatic tumors, and treatment of subepithelial lesions and esophageal and gastric varices. Endosonography allows for safe drainage of fluid collections of various types accessible from the stomach, duodenum, or rectum. The largest experience has been acquired with drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts, whereas there are case reports that describe drainage of hepatic abscess, subphrenic abscesses, pelvic abscesses, bilomas and infected gallbladders. EUS permits precise targeting for delivery of various substances directly into the pancreas, liver, or subepithelial lesions. EUS-guided injection of therapeutic agents has been reported in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, insulinomas, hepatic metastases, esophageal cancer, cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis has been performed for over a decade now. The utility of EUS in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding has been evaluated in a few small series including esophageal and gastric varices. EUS-guided angiography is a potential alternative to the traditional percutaneous route for access to the vascular system. Despite the fact that the efficacy and safety of therapeutic EUS are evolving, at present therapeutic EUS should be limited to tertiary centers with experienced endoscopists-endosonographers.

[Endoscopic ultrasonography elastography in gastroenterology]. / Euz elastografija u gastroenterologiji.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) elastography is a new technique for detecting the elastic properties of examined tissues during real time ultrasonography. The method is a very valuable tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of pathologic processes affecting the gastrointestinal tract and its adjacent organs. It represents a major advance in the diagnosis and staging of gastrointestinal malignancies, especially pancreatic carcinoma. EUS also provides guidance for fine needle aspiration (FNA) of undiagnosed masses and lymph nodes. Establishing the diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is sometimes very difficult. When inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is confined to the colon, there is a lack of diagnostic tools for distinction between Crohn's colitis and ulcerative colitis, which is especially important in definitive phenotyping before surgical decision. Our ongoing studies emphasize the role of EUS elastography in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease phenotype and primary sclerosing cholangitis. As there are no literature data on this issue, we recommend further investigations in this promising new area of research.

[Pseudocysto-gastrostomy guided by endoscopic ultrasound---new approach to old therapeutic problem]. / Pseudocistogastrostomija vodena endoskopskim ultrazvukom--novi pristup starom terapijskom problemu.

It has been appreciated for a long time that surgery is the treatment of choice for pancreatic pseudocysts. Endoscopic internal drainage is an alternative to surgical intervention, but requires bulging of pseudocyst in gastric lumen and carries the risk of bleeding from gastric vessels. Endosonographically guided pseudocyst drainage, an elegant one-step method to connect gastric lumen with pseudocyst avoiding the risk of bleeding using EUS guidance and Doppler is described with review of literature. The procedure was for the first time successfully performed in Croatia.

Clinical analysis of propofol deep sedation for 1,104 patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures: a three year prospective study.

AIM: To analyze the hemodynamic and respiratory effects of propofol on patients undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy. METHODS: In this prospective study, conducted over a period of three years, 1,104 patients referred for a same day GI endoscopy procedure were analyzed. All patients were given a propofol bolus (0.5-1.5 mg/kg). Arterial blood pressure (BP) was monitored at 3 min intervals and heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded continuously by pulse oximetry. Analyzed data acquisition was carried out before, during, and after the procedure. RESULTS: A statistically significant reduction in mean arterial pressure was demonstrated (P < 0.001) when compared to pre-intervention values, but severe hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure below 60 mmHg, was noted in only 5 patients (0.5%). Oxygen saturation decreased from 96.5% to 94.4 % (P < 0.001). A critical decrease in oxygen saturation (< 90%) was documented in 27 patients (2.4%). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that propofol provided good sedation with excellent pain control, a short recovery time and no significant hemodynamic side effects if carefully titrated. All the patients (and especially ASA III group) require monitoring and care of an anesthesiologist.

Palliative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with percutaneous ethanol injection using tumor's feeding artery occlusion under the ultrasonic color Doppler guidance.

We evaluate the efficacy of PEIT in patients with HCC using duplex color Doppler US. The study included 27 HCC patients admitted to the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, between 1993 and 1997. PEIT was performed for ablation of tumor supplying vessels in HCCs of < 5 cm in diameter, and as a palliative measure for tumor feeding vessel obliteration in larger tumors. The efficacy of PEIT was evaluated with duplex color Doppler US, and controlled by dynamic CT scan (16 patients) or selective angiography of hepatic artery (11 patients). All patients had well vascularized tumors before PEIT, and after therapy 25 of them showed absent or minimal tumor vascularization. Recanalization of the tumor feeding vessel was detected with Doppler US within 9 months after therapy. Study results suggested that duplex color Doppler US should be the method of choice in the evaluation of PEIT as well as in the follow-up of HCC patients after PEIT.

[Endoscopic ultrasonography and diagnostic algorithms in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract]. / Endoskopski ultrazvuk i dijagnosticki algoritam u bolestima gastrointestinalnog sustava.

This article reviews the recent literature on the role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) as diagnostic and therapeutic tool, defines its place in the algorithm of diagnostic procedures and informs how to treat some patients evaluated by EUS. Endoscopic ultrasonography utilizes the technology of endoscopy to introduce high frequency ultrasound probes in the upper or lower part of gastrointestinal tract to visualize gastrointestinal wall and adjacent structures. This method has come out as an important modality for the diagnosis and staging of benign and malignant lesions of the gut wall and surrounding structures of the mediastinum, abdomen and pelvis. It is also used as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of submucosal masses of the upper gastrointestinal tract and the rectosigmoid, for locating pancreatic endocrine tumors, and for the assessment of vascular disease. Interventional applications, such as EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for obtaining tissue/fluid samples, for pseudocyst drainage, and also for delivery of local therapy will likely enhance the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of this imaging modality. The widest application of EUS is, however, in the diagnosis and staging of esophageal, gastric, rectal, and pancreaticobiliary carcinoma. EUS has been shown to change the approach to clinical management in a significant proportion of patients to a less costly, risky, or invasive strategy.

[Linear endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of diseases of the digestive system]. / Linearni endoskopski ultrazvuk u dijagnostici bolesti probavnog sustava.

This article reviews the recent literature on the role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) as diagnostic and therapeutic tool, defines it's place in the algorithm of diagnostic procedures and informs how to treat gastroenterologic patients evaluated by EUS. Endoscopic ultrasonography utilizes the technology of endoscopy to introduce high-frequency ultrasound probes in the upper or lower part of gastrointestinal tract to visualize gastrointestinal wall and adjacent structures. Longitudinal endoscopic probe is different, compared to radial probe, and advantage is use of Doppler technique. This method has came out as an important modality for the diagnosis and staging of benign and malignant lesions of the gut wall and surrounding structures of the mediastinum, abdomen and pelvis. It is also used as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of submucosal masses of the upper gastrointestinal tract and the rectosigmoid, for locating pancreatic endocrine tumors, and for the assessment of vascular disease. The widest application of EUS is, however, in the diagnosis and staging of esophageal, gastric, rectal, and pancreaticobiliary carcinoma. EUS has been shown to change the approach to clinical management in a significant proportion of patients to a less costly, risky, or invasive strategy.

[Liner interventional endoscopic ultrasound in diseases of the digestive system]. / Linearni intervencijski endoskopski ultrazvuk u bolestima probavnog sustava.

The evident advantages of the endoscopic ultrasound, upon the complementary imaging methods, as are transabdominal ultrasound, the spiral CT, the nuclear magnet resonance, potentioned by the development of the techniques for the taking of biopsies, and the possibilities of the microinvasive surgical approach to the environment organs and tissues. Besides the standard achievement of the material for the cytologic and pathohistologic analysis is opened the possibility of the therapeutic application of the medicaments, that is the drainage collection in the abdomen and by "stapler" technique of the establishing of the anastomoza.

[Primary sclerosing cholangitis: case report of a young patient with an atypical diagnostic process in complications of the disease]. / Primarni sklerozirajuci kolangitis: prikaz mladog bolesnika s atipicnim dijagnostickim tijekom uz komplikacije osnovne bolesti.

The primary sclerotic colangitis is the chronic disease of the liver which in its finish very often requires the liver transplantation. The disease gets diagnosed mainly in males of middle age and is often joined with the inflammation disease of the intestines. The course of the disease not rarely is complicated by the stenosis of the liver ducts or by the occurrence of the concrements. In the presented case it is the word about the young patient in which the is the diagnosis made with the atypical way primarily from the reason that the biopsy of the liver is performed too early and the patohystologic changes were non specific. Immediately after the graft is being developed the biliary peritonitis because of the injury of the gallbladder so is done the cholecystectomy. Only in the later course is performed the endoscopic retrograde colangiography, during which are getting the typical changes of the biliary trunk for the primary sclerotic colangitis. The underlying disease in the demonstrated patient is complicated by the recidivens occurrence of the concrements of the choledokus and stenoses of the bladder ducts primarily for the left slice what, up to new, always successfully was treated by the extraction of the concrements and the dilatation of the liver ducts by endoscopic way.

[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: 5-year experience at out center (1997-2002)]. / Perkutana endoskopska gastrostomija: petogodisnje iskustvo naseg centra (1997-2002).

Gauderer and Ponsky first described percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in 1979. It was introduced as a routine method in the Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Rebro, Zagreb, in 1995. Over the years the number of PEG insertions has increased significantly. We reviewed the available literature and compared the results with our experience according to indications, complications and efficacy of the procedure. We inserted PEG in 86 patients from January 1, 1997 until January 31, 2002. There were 40 females and 46 males. The most frequent indication for PEG insertion was a neurological condition (60/86). There were no deaths directly related to the procedure. One patient had a leakage of PEG feeding into the peritoneal cavity that caused severe peritonitis and required urgent laparatomy within 24 hours of the PEG insertion. Two patients had local infection and the tube had to be removed. The antibiotic prophylaxis has been given to 65 patients. Our experience confirms that PEG is a relatively safe and well tolerated procedure.