Impact of tertiary lymphoid structures on prognosis and therapeutic response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is known to have a heterogeneous desmoplastic tumour microenvironment (TME) with a large number of immunosuppressive cells. Recently, high B-cell infiltration in PDAC has received growing interest as a potential therapeutic target. METHODS: Our literature review summarises the characteristics of tumour-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and highlight the key studies exploring the clinical outcomes of TLSs in PDAC patients and the direct effect on the TME. RESULTS: The location, density and maturity stages of TLSs within tumours play a key role in determining the prognosis and is a new emerging target in cancer immunotherapy. DISCUSSION: TLS development is imperative to improve the prognosis of PDAC patients. In the future, studying the genetics and immune characteristics of tumour infiltrating B cells and TLSs may lead towards enhancing adaptive immunity in PDAC and designing personalised therapies.

Jejunal Diverticulosis Presenting With Small Bowel Obstruction: A Diagnostic Challenge.

We report the case of a woman presenting with small bowel obstruction secondary to an enterolith that formed within a jejunal diverticulum. Prior to this acute presentation, the patient had experienced regular abdominal pain albeit not as severe as the current episode. The CT scan on admission required review by two consultant radiologists before the cause of the small bowel obstruction was diagnosed. Successful surgical management was performed involving a laparotomy, small bowel enterotomy, and removal of the enterolith. Although complications secondary to jejunal diverticula are documented, there is minimal literature on the complexities of making the diagnosis and the best management approach that should be adopted.