Dysphagia secondary to neuroendocrine carcinoma: a rare esophageal tumor.

We present two clinical cases, a 68-year-old male and a 55-year-old female, who are being studied for progressive solid food dysphagia. The initial gastroscopy revealed a polypoid lesion in the first case and a partially stenosing lesion in the second case. Both lesions were located in the mid-esophagus and presented a normal mucosa. Histological diagnosis confirmed an esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of large cell and small cell types, respectively.

Sarcina ventriculi in gastric biopsies of two patients with an underlying neoplasia.

We present the cases of two women aged 75 and 71 years under study for dyspepsia and weight loss. The initial gastroscopy of both patients showed a stomach full of food content, with thickened gastric folds that were hard on contact with the forceps. Gastric biopsies showed the presence of Sarcina ventriculi on active chronic gastritis, so antibiotic treatment was started (ciprofloxacin and metronidazole), without significant clinical improvement. In both patients, gastroscopy was repeated without showing macroscopic changes compared to the initial gastroscopy, which led to the suspicion of an underlying lesion.

Evolución clínica tras la suspensión de infliximab en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa en remisión profunda / Clinical outcome after discontinuation of infliximab in patients with ulcerative colitis in deep remission

INTRODUCCIÓN: Infliximab (IFX) es efectivo en la colitis ulcerosa (CU) y en obtener la curación de la mucosa (CM). Se conoce poco el papel que juega la CM en la evolución posterior de la enfermedad y qué ocurre una vez se interrumpe el tratamiento. OBJETIVOS: Conocer las características y evolución de pacientes con CU tratados con IFX, que, tras obtener remisión profunda, suspenden el tratamiento. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, de pacientes con CU moderada a grave, corticorresistente/corticodependiente, naïves a anti-TNF. Pauta de administración: IFX: 5mg/kg a 0-2-6 semanas y cada 8 después, hasta semana 54. En los pacientes que alcanzaron la CM, el tratamiento se interrumpió, con seguimiento posterior de al menos 20 meses. Remisión clínica (RC): puntuación Mayo < 2; respuesta clínica: disminución de 3 puntos; CM: puntuación Mayo 0-1. Remisión profunda: paciente con RC y CM. RESULTADOS: De los 21 pacientes incluidos, 19 completaron el estudio (colectomía = 1; no respondedor = 1). Edad media: 47,8 años. CU: grave (n = 13); moderada (n = 6), la mayoría, corticorresistentes (n = 11). Un 57,8% recibieron tratamiento combinado con inmunosupresores y en el 31,5% el tratamiento se intensificó. Semana 54: 16 pacientes (84,2%) presentaron respuesta clínica, 13 (68,4%) RC y 12 (63,2%) remisión profunda. De ellos, 6 (50%) tuvieron un nuevo episodio de CU y 3 (25%) fueron tratados de nuevo con IFX. Estos últimos, en las 12 primeras semanas de la retirada del fármaco y todos respondieron de nuevo. El 91,7% de los pacientes permanecían libres de IFX a las 8 semanas y el 75% a las 12, manteniéndose en esta situación durante el tiempo de seguimiento. Ninguno de los pacientes precisó ingreso ni cirugía durante el seguimiento. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes con CU que obtuvieron RM con IFX, tras suspender el tratamiento presentaron nuevo brote en la mitad de los casos y el 25% precisaron tratamiento de nuevo con IFX

INTRODUCTION: Infliximab (IFX) is effective in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) and in achieving mucosal healing (MH). Little is known about the role of mucosal healing (MH) in the subsequent evolution of the disease and the consequences of discontinuing treatment. AIMS: To evaluate the characteristics and evolution of patients with UC treated with IFX who discontinued treatment after disease remission. METHODS: Observational, prospective study of patients with moderate to severe UC, corticosteroid-resistant/corticosteroid-dependent, naïve to anti-TNF. IFX administration regimen: 5 mg/kg at 0-2-6 weeks and every 8 weeks thereafter until week 54. In patients achieving MH, IFX was discontinued and the patients were followed-up for at least 20 months. Clinical remission (CR): mayo score < 2; Clinical response: decrease in mayo score of 3 points; MH: mayo score 0-1; Deep remission: patient with CR and MH. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients enrolled, 19 completed the study (colectomy, n = 1; non-responder, n = 1). Mean age: 47.8 years. UC: severe (n = 13) and moderate (n = 6); most patients (n = 11) were steroid-resistant; 57.8% received combined treatment with immunosuppressants, and 31.5% intensified treatment. Week 54: 16 patients (84.2%) showed clinical response, 13 (68.4%) showed CR, and 12 (63.2%) deep remission. Of these, 6 (25%) presented a new episode of UC, and in 3 (25%) IFX was restarted within 12 weeks of discontinuation, with all patients responding. Of the total sample, 91.7% remained IFX-free at week 8, and 75% at week 12, with no remission during follow-up. None of the patients required hospitalization or surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Half of patients with deep remission of UC with IFX therapy presented a new episode after treatment discontinuation, and in 25% IFX therapy was restarted

[Clinical outcome after discontinuation of infliximab in patients with ulcerative colitis in deep remission]. / Evolución clínica tras la suspensión de infliximab en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa en remisión profunda.

INTRODUCTION: Infliximab (IFX) is effective in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) and in achieving mucosal healing (MH). Little is known about the role of mucosal healing (MH) in the subsequent evolution of the disease and the consequences of discontinuing treatment. AIMS: To evaluate the characteristics and evolution of patients with UC treated with IFX who discontinued treatment after disease remission. METHODS: Observational, prospective study of patients with moderate to severe UC, corticosteroid-resistant/corticosteroid-dependent, naïve to anti-TNF. IFX administration regimen: 5 mg/kg at 0-2-6 weeks and every 8 weeks thereafter until week 54. In patients achieving MH, IFX was discontinued and the patients were followed-up for at least 20 months. Clinical remission (CR): mayo score <2; Clinical response: decrease in mayo score of 3 points; MH: mayo score 0-1; Deep remission: patient with CR and MH. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients enrolled, 19 completed the study (colectomy, n = 1; non-responder, n = 1). Mean age: 47.8 years. UC: severe (n = 13) and moderate (n = 6); most patients (n = 11) were steroid-resistant; 57.8% received combined treatment with immunosuppressants, and 31.5% intensified treatment. Week 54: 16 patients (84.2%) showed clinical response, 13 (68.4%) showed CR, and 12 (63.2%) deep remission. Of these, 6 (25%) presented a new episode of UC, and in 3 (25%) IFX was restarted within 12 weeks of discontinuation, with all patients responding. Of the total sample, 91.7% remained IFX-free at week 8, and 75% at week 12, with no remission during follow-up. None of the patients required hospitalization or surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Half of patients with deep remission of UC with IFX therapy presented a new episode after treatment discontinuation, and in 25% IFX therapy was restarted.