Multi-center prospective survey of hepatocellular carcinoma in Kerala: More than 1,200 cases.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered uncommon in India. The aim of this study was to document the demographic characteristics and clinical aspects of HCC in Kerala, India. METHODS: A survey of HCC in Kerala was performed. All gastroenterologists in the region were invited. From May 2018 to April 2020, data was collected in a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-three doctors from 15 centers contributed the data. Total 1217 patients were analyzed. This is the largest state-wide survey of HCC in India. HCC was more common in men (90%) than in women (p < 0.01). The etiology of liver disease was hepatitis B virus (7%), hepatitis C virus (4%) and alcohol (40%). Diabetes mellitus was present in 64%, hypercholesterolemia in 17% and hypertension in 38%. Obesity was present in 33% and 15% were overweight. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with or without metabolic syndrome was present in 44%. Serum alpha-fetoprotein was > 400 ng/mL in 24%, total tumor diameter was > 5 cm in 59%, portal vein invasion was seen in 35% and distant metastasis was seen in 15%. Specific therapy was given to 52%. Treatments given included liver transplantation (n = 24), liver resection (n = 39) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, n = 184). Although the study was not designed to compare survival, patients who had liver transplantation had longer survival (median 69 months) compared to matched patients given only TACE (median 18 months) (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: HCC is common in Kerala, India. NAFLD has a predominant association with HCC in Kerala. Most of the patients report late when curative treatment is not possible.

Brodie's Abscess Following Radiofrequency Ablation of an Atypical Osteoid Osteoma.

A 15 years old boy presented with an atypical osteoid osteoma (OO) in distal femur. He underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) elsewhere. He presented to our centre a year later with persisting pain. MR scan showed incomplete ablation of the nidus as there was only a single pass of the RF probe for a 14 mm long linear lesion. We also found penumbra sign and wall enhancement on contrast MRI suggestive of a Brodie's abscess (BA). Under CT guidance the OO was drilled and BA was saucerised. Following this he was treated with culture sensitive antibiotics and his symptoms resolved. BA and OO are common differential diagnoses. RFA of OO leading to BA has not been reported in literature. Atypical linear OO requires multiple probe placements to ablate the long nidus. Diligent care should be taken to avoid intraoperative contamination in CT room which could lead to infection.

An Unusual Cause of Chylothorax after Esophagectomy.

Chylothorax due to inadvertent thoracic duct injury after esophagectomy is a well-known complication and requires careful postoperative management and timely intervention to prevent potential morbidity and mortality. We present a case of high-output chylothorax after esophagectomy where the source of chyle leak was not in the thorax.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided coil or glue injection in post-cyanoacrylate gastric variceal re-bleed.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: N-butyl-cyanoacrylate injection is recommended in bleeding/recently bled gastric varices. However, cyanoacrylate injection is associated with re-bleed in 25% to 50% of patients. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided coil application is an emerging treatment modality for bleeding gastric varices. The aim of this study was to compare EUS-guided coil application combined with or without cyanoacrylate glue injection to injection alone in post-glue gastric variceal re-bleed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed. Thirty patients who re-bled after cyanoacrylate injection and who had EUS-guided coil application to gastric varices were included. The comparison was done with data of 51 patients who had only repeat cyanoacrylate injection. Both groups had a follow up for 12 months. EUS-guided coil application was done under endosonographic guidance. A single coil was placed in 7, two coils in each of 13 patients, three in 5, four in 3, five in one, and 6 coils in one patient. In addition, cyanoacrylate glue injection was given in 15 patients. Eight patients had repeat EUS-guided coil application 1 month later. Re-bleed and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Coilng: Six out of 30 (20%) patients re-bled during follow up of 9 to 365 days. Three out of 30 (10%) died. One patient died 9 days after the procedure due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, one died 4 months after the procedure due to a re-bleed and one 5 months after the procedure due to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Glue only: 26/51 (51%) re-bled during follow up of 45 to 365 days. EUS-guided coil application resulted in significantly less re-bleed than glue-only (Kaplan-Meir survival analysis with log-rank test, z = 5.4, p < 0.001). Two out of 51 (4%) died 59 and 186 days after the procedure. CONCLUSION: EUS-guided coil application with/without cyanoacrylate injection for the obliteration of gastric varices is effective for post-cyanoacrylate gastric variceal re-bleed.

Bronchobiliary fistula treated successfully with endoscopic microcoils and glue.

A 29-year-old male developed bronchobiliary fistula after surgery for blunt abdominal trauma with liver laceration. Despite repeated endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) with stenting and surgeries, the fistula did not resolve. It was successfully sealed endoscopically, using microcoils and cynoacrylate glue. This is the first report of bronchobiliary fistula managed with ERCP using microcoils and cyanoacrylate glue.