A case of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct suspected to be of peribiliary glands origin.

Peribiliary glands are complex lobular structures containing mucus and serous glands, distributed along the extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts. In this report, we describe a case of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct suspected to be of peribiliary glands origin. The patient was an 80-year-old man who was referred to our hospital for a hepatic mass. On further examination, a 38 × 34 mm cystic lesion with papillary growth was found in S1/4. Because the lesion was extensively bordered by both hepatic ducts and the connection was unclear, it was difficult to determine the extent of hepatic resection. To confirm the location, a peroral cholangioscopy was performed. The connection with the cyst was detected in the right hepatic duct and a villous tumor mucosa protruded through the conduit lumen. Since we found that the lesion communicated with the right hepatic duct, a right hepatectomy was subsequently performed. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the blie duct with associated invasive carcinoma. The postoperative course was good, and the patient experienced no recurrence.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography-Related Procedures for the Differential Diagnosis of Isolated Immunoglobin G4-Related Sclerosing Cholangitis and Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Differential diagnosis of isolated immunoglobin (Ig)G4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) and cholangiocarcinoma is challenging. We aimed to clarify the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP)-related procedures in the differential diagnosis of isolated IgG4-SC and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC). METHODS: Seven patients with hilar-type isolated IgG4-SC diagnosed at Hiroshima University Hospital and sixty-five patients with surgically resected invasive PHCC were enrolled, and the diagnostic yields of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), peroral cholangioscopy (POCS), and pathological examinations were determined. RESULTS: In six of seven (86%) patients with isolated IgG4-SC, the stricture was in the perihilar bile duct. IDUS showed that symmetrical wall thickening (40% vs. 5%, p = 0.04), homogeneous internal echo (80% vs. 5%, p < 0.001), and smooth outer margins (80% vs. 6%, p < 0.001) were more frequent in isolated IgG4-SC than in PHCC. POCS showed a smooth mucosal surface more frequent in isolated IgG4-SC (75% vs. 7%, p = 0.006). Only one patient had two pathological findings characteristic of IgG4-SC. The sensitivity for diagnosing PHCC was 81% using two or more combined sampling methods. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological examinations have limitations in the differential diagnosis of isolated-IgG4-SC and PHCC, and a diagnostic strategy that combines multiple ERCP-related procedures, including IDUS and POCS, is recommended.

Multiple intraductal papillary neoplasms of bile duct diagnosed based on endoscopic ultrasonography and peroral cholangioscopy findings.

A man in his 30s was referred to our department for evaluation of bile duct stricture and removal of an intrahepatic bile duct stone. Five years before his presentation, he underwent left hepatectomy for a giant hepatic hemangioma. There were no abnormalities in blood biochemical tests. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed one 5 mm oval defect in region B6 and two 8 mm semicircular defects in the hilar bile duct. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a 3.5 mm hypoechoic focal raised lesion in the hilar bile duct. Oral cholangioscopy revealed his two lesions in the hilar bile duct as white papillary elevations with mucus production. The pathological diagnosis of intraductal papillary neoplasm was determined (low-grade dysplasia, type 1, gastric type). After 1 and a half years, no expansion of the bile duct lesion was observed. Initially, it was thought to be a benign stenosis after liver resection, but based on the results of endoscopic ultrasound, we suspected a tumorous lesion, and we were able to make an accurate diagnosis, including histological type, using transoral cholangioscopy.

A Case of High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy Under Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) represents a relatively nascent pathological entity, recognized as a precancerous condition within the spectrum of cholangiocarcinoma. Surgical intervention is advocated for all patients with IPNB due to their susceptibility toward obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, and the heightened likelihood of malignant transformation. Nonetheless, the efficacy of radiation therapy for IPNB cases that are either inoperable or refractory remains inadequately substantiated. Herein, we present a case study of an IPNB patient who declined surgery, and a commendable local control was accomplished solely through the implementation of brachytherapy utilizing Ir-192. A septuagenarian Japanese man presented at our medical institution with the chief complaint of jaundice and was subsequently diagnosed with IPNB. The IPNB lesion extensively spanned from the lower intrapancreatic bile duct to the right (extending to B5/B8) and left bile ducts (up to just before B4). The patient underwent weekly endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sessions. The prescribed treatment regimen encompassed 36 Gy/6 Fr high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) administered once per week during ERCP, with each treatment session adhering to a timeframe not exceeding two hours. Two months following the initiation of treatment, a biliary endoscopy demonstrated complete resolution of the tumor lesion and amelioration of jaundice. The only observed acute adverse event was grade 2 hepatic dysfunctions. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first documented instance of HDR-BT employed in IPNB management, suggesting its potential as a viable alternative for inoperable or refractory IPNB cases.

Usefulness of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using a Multibending Ultraslim Endoscope for the Management of Intrahepatic Bile Duct Lesions (with Videos).

Background/Aims: : Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) has been used to assess intrahepatic duct (IHD) lesions but with a limited role. A new multibending (MB) ultraslim endoscope has been designed to improve POC performance. We evaluated the usefulness of POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for the management of IHD lesions. Methods: : Between March 2017 and March 2020, 22 patients underwent direct POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for IHD lesions documented by previous imaging or cholangiopancreatography. The primary outcome was technical success of POC, and secondary outcomes were technical success of POC-guided interventions, median procedure time, and POC-related adverse events. Results: : The technical success rate for POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope for IHD lesions was 95.5% (21/22). Free-hand insertion was successful in 95.2% (20/21). The overall technical success rate for POC-guided intervention was 100% (21/21), including nine diagnostic and 12 therapeutic procedures (eight direct stone removal and four intraductal lithotripsies). The median procedure time was 29 minutes (range, 9 to 79 minutes). There were no procedure-related adverse events. Conclusions: : Direct POC using the MB ultraslim endoscope allows direct visualization of IHD lesions and may be useful for diagnosis and therapeutic management in selected patients.

Peroral cholangioscopy for the evaluation of bile duct stricture in hepatocellular carcinoma on a preoperative examination.

Objective: Bile duct tumor thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a relatively rare event with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, bile duct tumor thrombus in HCC may be misdiagnosed when only imaging modalities are used. The efficiency of peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) in evaluating bile duct lesions has been reported. Patients: We present three cases of HCC with bile duct strictures in which POCS was performed as a preoperative evaluation. Results: In these three cases, diagnosing whether the lesion was a bile duct tumor thrombus on CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was difficult. We performed POCS in three cases and were able to diagnose the presence of bile duct tumor thrombus of HCC, including differentiation from extrinsic compression of the bile duct. Conclusion: POCS for HCC with bile duct features is useful for the preoperative diagnosis of bile duct tumor thrombus, especially in cases where the surgical procedure depends on the presence of bile duct tumor thrombus.

Feasibility of gallbladder lesion visualization using a novel ultrafine peroral cholangioscopy: A preliminary investigation.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic visualization of gallbladder lesions by the traditional peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) during the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography process is challenging. In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of a newly designed POCS with an ultrafine outer diameter that facilitates gallbladder visualization. METHODS: The novel POCS was designed and manufactured with an outer diameter of 7 French and achieved extremely high performance. The feasibility of this novel POCS for gallbladder observation was assessed in our center between April 2022 and January 2023. The primary outcome was technical success. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients (64.6 ± 18.1 years, 9 males) who underwent novel ultrafine POCS inspection for gallbladder visualization were included. Technical success was achieved in 14 of 16 cases (87.5%); the main reasons for the two unsuccessful inspections were the presence of cystic duct strictures. A total of 1 adverse event occurred, for an overall rate of 6.3%, and there were no serious adverse events during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that endoscopic visualization of the gallbladder using the novel ultrafine POCS is feasible. The device is expected to provide a new direction for the management of gallbladder disorders in the future.

[Endoscopic treatment of obstructive jaundice in patients with Klatskin tumor]. / Endoskopicheskoe lechenie patsientov s mekhanicheskoi zheltukhoi pri opukholi Klatskina.

OBJECTIVE: To improve treatment outcomes in patients with Klatskin tumor and obstructive jaundice by using of endoscopic bilioduodenal stenting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 1904 transpapillary interventions between August 2017 and February 2022. Endoscopic bilioduodenal stenting was performed in 250 patients including 25 (10%) ones with Klatskin tumor. RESULTS: Bilioduodenal plastic and self-expanding stents were installed in 19 (76%) and 6 (24%) patients, respectively. In Klatskin tumor type I, 11 patients (44%) underwent bilioduodenal stenting of common hepatic duct with plastic stent; 5 (20%) patients with Klatskin tumor type II received self-expanding stents. In case of tumor type IIIA, 3 (12%) patients underwent stenting of the right lobar duct with plastic stent. Four (16%) patients with Klatskin tumor type III B underwent stenting of the left lobar duct. Two 2 (8%) patients with Klatskin tumor type IV underwent bilateral bilioduodenal stenting with plastic and bifurcation self-expanding stents. Peroral cholangioscopy using the SpyGlass DS system was performed in 4 (16%) patients. No intraoperative complications were identified. One (4%) patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding in 2 postoperative days after retrograde intervention that did not require surgery. Moreover, 1 (4%) patient with distal dislocation of plastic bilioduodenal stent required redo bilioduodenal stenting. Three (12%) patients died from multiple organ failure despite adequate biliary decompression, and 22 (88%) patients were discharged in 8±5 days after retrograde intervention. CONCLUSION: Bilioduodenal stenting as minimally invasive and physiological method was highly effective for obstructive jaundice in patients with Klatskin tumor. Peroral cholangioscopy using the SpyGlass system provides effective and safe direct visualization of the biliary tract, as well as biopsy for morphological verification and prescription of chemotherapy in patients with intraductal growth of tumor.

The Role of Cholangioscopy in Biliary Diseases.

Endoscopy plays a central role in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to biliary disease in both benign and malignant conditions. A cholangioscope is an endoscopic instrument that allows for the direct exploration of the biliary tree. Over the years, technology has improved endoscopic image quality and allowed for the development of an operative procedure that can be performed during cholangioscopy. Different types of instruments are available in this context, and they can be used in different anatomical access points according to the most appropriate clinical indication. The direct visualization of biliary mucosa is essential in the presence of biliary strictures of unknown significance, allowing for the appropriate allocation of patients to surgery or conservative treatments. Cholangioscopy has demonstrated excellent performance in discriminating malignant conditions (such as colangiocarcinoma) from benign inflammatory strictures, and more recent advances (e.g., artificial intelligence and confocal laser endomicroscopy) could further increase its diagnostic accuracy. Cholangioscopy also plays a primary role in the treatment of benign conditions such as difficult bile stones (DBSs). In this case, it may not be possible to achieve complete biliary drainage using standard ERCP. Therapeutic cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy allows for stone fragmentation and complete biliary drainage. Indeed, other complex clinical situations, such as patients with intra-hepatic lithiasis and patients with an altered anatomy, could benefit from the therapeutic role of cholangioscopy. The aim of the present review is to explore the most recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances in the roles of cholangioscopy in the management of biliary diseases.

Type I Mirizzi syndrome treated by electrohydraulic lithotripsy under the direct view of SpyGlass: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Mirizzi syndrome is an uncommon clinical complication for which the available treatment options mainly include open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and laser lithotripsy. Here, a patient diagnosed with type I Mirizzi syndrome was treated with electrohydraulic lithotripsy under SpyGlass direct visualization, which may provide a reference to explore new treatments for Mirizzi syndrome. CASE SUMMARY: This paper describes a middle-aged female patient with suspected choledocholithiasis who complained for over 1 mo of intermittent abdominal pain, dark yellow urine, jaundice, and was proposed to undergo ERCP lithotomy. Mirizzi syndrome was found during the operation and confirmed by SpyGlass. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy was performed under the direct vision of SpyGlass. After the lithotripsy, the stones were extracted using the stone extraction basket and balloon. After the operation, the patient developed transient hyperamylasemia. Through a series of symptomatic treatments (such as fasting, fluids and anti-inflammation medications), the symptoms of the patient improved. Finally, laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open cholecystectomy was performed after a half-year post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Direct visualization-guided laser or electrohydraulic lithotripsy with SpyGlass is feasible and minimally invasive for type I Mirizzi syndrome without apparent unsafe outcomes.

Gallbladder perforation following peroral cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy: A case report.

Peroral cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy is highly effective in clearing difficult bile duct stones. It can cause adverse events, such as cholangitis and pancreatitis; however, gallbladder perforation is extremely rare. Herein, we describe the case of a 77-year-old woman who developed gallbladder perforation following peroral cholangioscopy -guided lithotripsy. She was referred to our hospital to treat multiple large bile duct stones. She underwent peroral cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy because of conventional lithotripsy failure. After a cholangioscope was advanced into the bile duct, saline irrigation was used for visualization. Electronic hydraulic lithotripsy was performed, but it took time for fragmentation because the calculus was hard. The 2-h endoscopic procedure did not completely remove the stone, and treatment was discontinued after placing a biliary plastic stent and nasobiliary tube. After the endoscopic procedure, she started experiencing right hypochondrial pain, which worsened the next day. Computed tomography showed a gallbladder wall defect in the gallbladder fundus with pericholecystic fluid. She was diagnosed with gallbladder perforation and underwent emergency surgery. A perforation site was found at the gallbladder fundus. Open cholecystectomy, choledochotomy, and extraction of residual bile duct stones were performed. The patient was discharged 9 days post-surgery without any complications. The saline irrigation used for visualization may have caused a surge in intra-gallbladder pressure, resulting in gallbladder perforation. Therefore, endoscopists may need to conserve irrigation water during peroral cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy.

Direct peroral cholangioscopy with red dichromatic imaging 3 detected the perihilar margin of superficial papillary extension in a patient with intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNB) are a tumor derived from bile duct epithelium that tends to spread laterally and non-invasively. Surgery is the first-choice treatment for IPNB. It is extremely important to accurately diagnose the extent of lateral tumor extension. Although peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) is a potentially useful modality for detecting tumor range with direct observation, poor image quality is a limitation of POCS. Recently, a new-generation endoscopy system (EVIS X1) was equipped with functions such as red dichromatic imaging to improve image quality. A 75-year-old man with cholangitis was referred to our department. Various imaging studies showed a mass in the middle to lower bile duct and dilatation of the common bile duct and the intrahepatic bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed. A biopsy of the main tumor in the lower common bile duct revealed IPNB. It was difficult to determine the extent of superficial tumor extension with modalities such as contrast-enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasonography but the detailed evaluation was possible using POCS with red dichromatic imaging 3. The patient underwent hepatopancreatoduodenectomy. This case suggests the usefulness of direct observation using POCS with red dichromatic imaging 3 to determine the range of IPNB.

Identification of bleeding points after bile duct biopsy using red dichromatic imaging during peroral cholangioscopy: A case report.

Red dichromatic imaging is a new image-enhancement technology that clarifies the differences in blood concentrations and improves the visibility of the bleeding point. A 71-year-old man was presented with a common bile duct stone, which was completely removed using electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy with peroral cholangioscopy. During peroral cholangioscopy, a nodular lesion was found at the confluence of the cystic duct, and a forceps biopsy was performed. It was difficult to confirm the bleeding point using white-light imaging because of the pooling of blood. After switching to red dichromatic imaging mode 2 and washing the bile duct with saline solution, the bleeding point was observed in darker yellow than the surrounding blood, allowing the identification of the bleeding point. Red dichromatic imaging can be used in the future to maintain hemostasis during peroral cholangioscopy.

The interventional direct peroral cholangioscopy toolbox for endoscopic snare resection of a high-grade biliary intraductal neoplasia.

Video 1Demonstration of techniques for performing direct peroral cholangioscopy.

A rare case of inflammatory polyp in the common bile duct with cholangitis.

The diagnosis of bile duct tumors can be difficult at times. A transpapillary bile duct biopsy findings with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sometimes contradict diagnostic imaging findings. In bile duct tumors, inflammatory polyps in the extrahepatic bile duct are relatively rare with extrahepatic cholangitis. The disease's clinical relevance, including its natural history and prognosis, is not always clear. We show here a rare case of an inflammatory polyp in the common bile duct. A 69-year-old woman with abdominal pain was diagnosed with cholangitis. The findings of contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography suggested that she had extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The examination and therapy of cholangitis were performed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The cholangiography revealed a suspected tumor in the hilar bile duct with some common bile duct stones. Then, after endoscopic sphincterotomy to remove tiny common bile duct stones, further detailed examinations were performed at the same time using an oral cholangioscope revealed a papillary raised lesion with a somewhat white surface in the bile duct; a biopsy was conducted on the same spot, and epithelial cells with mild atypia appeared in the shape of a papilla. Since the malignant tumor or the intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct could not be ruled out, extrahepatic bile duct resection was conducted with the patient's informed consent. Bile duct inflammatory polyp was the histopathological diagnosis.

Peroral cholangioscopy for the evaluation of bile duct stricture in hepatocellular carcinoma on a preoperative examination / Journal of Rural Medicine

Objective: Bile duct tumor thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a relatively rare event with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, bile duct tumor thrombus in HCC may be misdiagnosed when only imaging modalities are used. The efficiency of peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) in evaluating bile duct lesions has been reported.Patients: We present three cases of HCC with bile duct strictures in which POCS was performed as a preoperative evaluation.Results: In these three cases, diagnosing whether the lesion was a bile duct tumor thrombus on CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was difficult. We performed POCS in three cases and were able to diagnose the presence of bile duct tumor thrombus of HCC, including differentiation from extrinsic compression of the bile duct.Conclusion: POCS for HCC with bile duct features is useful for the preoperative diagnosis of bile duct tumor thrombus, especially in cases where the surgical procedure depends on the presence of bile duct tumor thrombus.

The Double-Max method: a novel method for gallbladder epithelial biopsy.

Video 1A novel biopsy method for gallbladder epithelial biopsy.

Peroral cholangioscopy: Update on the state-of-the-art.

Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) is an endoscopic procedure that allows direct intraductal visualization of the biliary tract. POC has emerged as a vital tool for indeterminate biliary stricture evaluation and treatment of difficult biliary stones. Over several generations of devices, POC has fulfilled additional clinical needs where other diagnostic or therapeutic modalities have been inadequate. With adverse event rates comparable to standard endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy and unique technical attributes, the role of POC is likely to continue expand. In this frontiers article, we highlight the existing and growing clinical applications of POC as well as areas of ongoing research.