Incidence of tumoral pathology according to study using capsule endoscopy for patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Capsule endoscopy has involved a significant advance in techniques for imaging of the small bowel. Its most frequent indication is for studying patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Small bowel tumors are infrequent, representing only 1% to 3% of all malignant gastrointestinal tumors. This study aimed to assess retrospectively the occurrence and characteristics of tumoral pathology diagnosed by means of capsule endoscopy in patients with OGIB. METHODS: A retrospective review analyzed the first 320 patients submitted to capsule endoscopy because of OGIB (166 with obscure overt bleeding and 154 with obscure occult bleeding) at a single center. The patients with a tumor diagnosis were analyzed in terms of incidence, characteristics, and treatment of OGIB pathology. RESULTS: Tumor incidence was of 7.18% (23/320), with 65.2% of the cases supported with histologic confirmation (15/23). Obscure overt bleeding was the most frequent form of presentation, with the jejunum as the most frequent location (65.2%). For 16 patients, an intervention was conducted with a healing intent. Capsule endoscopy allowed the diagnosis of two cecal adenocarcinomas missed by colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Small bowel tumors are not an infrequent cause of OGIB. Capsule endoscopy, even if it does not allow determination of the benign or malignant nature or the histologic type of the tumor, is a useful tool for the diagnosis and early management of these tumors.

[Lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver]. / Pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático linfoplasmocítico.

We present the case of a middle-aged woman with antecedents of cholecystectomy and several episodes of resi-dual coledocolitiasis resolved endoscopically. She attended Emergency Services due to a new clinical picture of abdo-minal pain and alteration of hepatic enzymes. Image tests showed lesions that suggested hepatic abscesses without ruling out a malign origin. Given this doubt it was decided to carry out a thick needle biopsy obtaining a diagnosis of an inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver related to IgG4-related disease. This is an infrequent entity but must be taken into consideration because - unlike malign pathology, which is the main differential diagnosis - its behaviour is benign, with a good evolution with medical treatment. That is why a suitable diagnosis is vital to avoid aggressive, diagnostic-therapeutic procedures.

Tuberculosis in Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-treated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients After the Implementation of Preventive Measures: Compliance With Recommendations and Safety of Retreatment.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite having adopted preventive measures, tuberculosis (TB) may still occur in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF). Data on the causes and characteristics of TB cases in this scenario are lacking. Our aim was to describe the characteristics of TB in anti-TNF-treated IBD patients after the publication of the Spanish TB prevention guidelines in IBD patients and to evaluate the safety of restarting anti-TNF after a TB diagnosis. METHODS: In this multicentre, retrospective, descriptive study, TB cases from Spanish hospitals were collected. Continuous variables were reported as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range. Categorical variables were described as absolute and relative frequencies and their confidence intervals when necessary. RESULTS: We collected 50 TB cases in anti-TNF-treated IBD patients, 60% male, median age 37.3 years (interquartile range [IQR] 30.4-47). Median latency between anti-TNF initiation and first TB symptoms was 155.5 days (IQR 88-301); 34% of TB cases were disseminated and 26% extrapulmonary. In 30 patients (60%), TB cases developed despite compliance with recommended preventive measures; *not performing 2-step TST (tuberculin skin test) was the main failure in compliance with recommendations. In 17 patients (34%) anti-TNF was restarted after a median of 13 months (IQR 7.1-17.3) and there were no cases of TB reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis could still occur in anti-TNF-treated IBD patients despite compliance with recommended preventive measures. A significant number of cases developed when these recommendations were not followed. Restarting anti-TNF treatment in these patients seems to be safe.

Jejunal leiomyosarcoma, a rare cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is a relatively frequent disorder and may account for as many as 5% of all cases of gastrointestinal bleeding. The etiology of these hemorrhages may be attributed to lesions in the small intestine, which may not show up in radiologic studies, located in areas inaccessible to conventional endoscopy. The case of a 50-year-old patient admitted to the hospital on two occasions for gastrointestinal bleeding requiring blood transfusions is reported. On the first occasion, the bleeding was thought to be caused by a duodenal ulcer because no other lesions prone to bleeding were found. At the next admission for recurrent bleeding, the ulcer was found to have healed and thus was ruled out as the cause. Wireless capsule endoscopy detected an ulcerated tumor invading the submucosa of the jejunum. The pathologic diagnosis was low-grade leiomyosarcoma. Wireless capsule endoscopy has proved to be far superior to other radiologic and endoscopic techniques for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and pathologies of the small intestine in general.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy for prevention of the recurrence of acute biliary pancreatitis in patients with gallbladder in situ: long-term follow-up of 88 patients.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy without cholecystectomy is a therapeutic option in selected patients after acute biliary pancreatitis. We conducted a prospective evaluation of the long-term effects of sphincterotomy in terms of the need for of subsequent cholecystectomy and the recurrence of gallstone pancreatitis. METHODS: We studied 88 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and an intact gallbladder who, underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy either because they were high-risk candidates for surgery or because they had refused of cholecystectomy. The median follow-up was 51 months (range, 5-86). RESULTS: Only two patients (2.2%) experienced recurrent pancreatitis. Subsequent cholecystectomy was performed in 10 patients because of acute cholecystitis in eight cases and biliary colic in two cases. Sixty-six patients (75%) remained asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe and acceptable alternative to cholecystectomy for the prevention of recurring attacks of gallstone pancreatitis. As a result of this procedure, 75% of patients remained free of symptoms in the long term.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a complication of radiation enteritis diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is a common disorder and may account for as many as 5% of all gastrointestinal hemorrhages. It is often caused by lesions in the small intestine, which were very complicated to examine prior to the advent of wireless capsule endoscopy. Here we present the case of a 31-year-old woman with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding as a complication of radiation enteritis, which was diagnosed only after she underwent an examination with wireless capsule endoscopy. This technique has proven to be far superior to other radiographic and endoscopic methods in diagnosing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and pathologies of the small intestine in general.

Liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: factors implicated in tumor relapse.

INTRODUCTION: Liver segmental resection and liver transplantation are both treatments intended for healing liver cancer. An adequate selection of patients eligible for transplantation is crucial, since organs available for transplants are usually scarce. For this reason, awareness of the prognostic factors of relapse is of great importance. We present a comprehensive review of our series in order to better understand these prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We revised the cases of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent liver transplantation during the period 1994-2000, and present a detailed analysis of a series of variables which may be probably implicated in the appearance of relapse and which have an effect on survival. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 33 months, the mortality rate was 27.5% and relapse occurred in 18.75% of cases. No history of alcohol abuse, the number and size of the nodules, the presence of macro and microscopic vascular invasion, and pTNM stage T4 were all factors associated with a significantly increased risk of relapse (p<0.05). These factors and positive HCV were associated to decreased survival. After a multivariate analysis, the size of the nodules and the presence of macroscopic vascular invasion were considered the only independent risk factors for tumor relapse and post-transplantation relapse and mortality, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Macroscopic vascular invasion and tumor nodules larger than 5 cm are both independent risk factors of tumor relapse after transplantation. Nevertheless, only macroscopic vascular invasion seems to have a significant effect on survival.

Indication and results of endoscopic management of sigmoid volvulus.

INTRODUCTIONS: sigmoid volvulus is a relatively common cause of intestinal obstruction, particularly in the elderly and in patients with debilitating conditions. As the risks associated with surgical treatment of the sigmoid volvulus are in many cases too high, conservative (endoscopic) management is an option to be considered. MATERIAL AND METHODS: all emergency lower gastrointestinal endoscopies performed between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2001 were review and, among these, the cases of diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus were selected. The results of the endoscopic management, percentage of recurrence, mortality rate, complications, surgical procedures etc were evaluated in the select cases. RESULTS: lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was diagnostic in all cases. Endoscopic management showed and overall efficacy of 87.5%. recurrence appeared in approximately 57% of the cases. Successful treatment was accomplished for the first episode in 25% of the cases. In case of recurrence, endoscopic management could be performed again with similar efficacy and safety. CONCLUSIONS: endoscopic reduction is a safe and successful technique for the management of emergency sigmoid volvulus, provided vascular compromise in the intestinal wall is ruled out. As recurrence is frequent, elective definitive surgery could be a treatment to consider. Endoscopic management could be the only choice treatment in the case of patients not it for surgery due to the very important risks associated with it their cases.

Pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático linfoplasmocítico / Lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver

Presentamos el caso de una mujer de mediana edad con antecedentes de colecistectomía y varios episodios de coledocolitiasis residual resueltos endoscópicamente. Acude al servicio de Urgencias por un nuevo cuadro de dolor abdominal y alteración de enzimas hepáticas, apreciándose en las pruebas de imagen lesiones sugestivas de abscesos hepáticos sin poder descartarse un origen maligno. Dada esta duda se decide realizar una biopsia con aguja gruesa llegando al diagnóstico de pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático relacionada con la enfermedad por IgG4. Ésta es una entidad infrecuente pero que debe ser tenida en cuenta debido a que, a diferencia de la patología maligna, que es el principal diagnóstico diferencial, su comportamiento es benigno, con buena evolución con tratamiento médico. Por ello es vital un adecuado diagnóstico para evitar procedimientos diagnóstico-terapéuticos agresivos (AU)

We present the case of a middle-aged woman with antecedents of cholecystectomy and several episodes of residual coledocolitiasis resolved endoscopically. She attended Emergency Services due to a new clinical picture of abdominal pain and alteration of hepatic enzymes. Image tests showed lesions that suggested hepatic abscesses without ruling out a malign origin. Given this doubt it was decided to carry out a thick needle biopsy obtaining a diagnosis of an inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver related to IgG4-related disease. This is an infrequent entity but must be taken into consideration because - unlike malign pathology, which is the main differential diagnosis - its behaviour is benign, with a good evolution with medical treatment. That is why a suitable diagnosis is vital to avoid aggressive, diagnostic-therapeutic procedures (AU)

Achalasia: the usefulness of manometry for evaluation of treatment.

Although manometry is used with increasing frequency to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for achalasia, the criteria for a successful manometric response have not been well defined. Manometric responses were collected before and after 43 treatments in 35 patients with achalasia in order to determine manometric changes after different clinical outcomes: 15 unsuccessful outcomes and 28 successful outcomes were reported. In the latter, resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter decreased to 12.8 mm Hg, whereas in unsuccessful outcomes this was significantly higher (28.2 mm Hg). A decrease of lower esophageal sphincter pressure below 17 mm Hg or more than 40% of the pretreatment level was associated with successful outcomes. Our data suggest that manometry is a good indicator of therapeutic effectiveness and we propose that it be used systematically for objective evaluation of achalasia treatment.

Treatment of achalasia with the Witzel dilator: a prospective randomized study of two methods.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several studies have shown that the use of the Witzel dilator is an effective and safe treatment for achalasia. However, the optimal values for pressure, number of dilations, and duration of application have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to determine these three parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 43 patients with a diagnosis of achalasia (based on clinical, radiological, manometric and endoscopic evaluation) were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. Patients in group A (n=21) underwent three consecutive 1-minute dilations per session at 1-minute intervals, at 200 mmHg for the first dilation and 300 mmHg for the second and third. In group B patients (n=22) only one dilation was done, at 200 mmHg for 2 minutes. Before and after treatment, the clinical score, the maximum esophageal diameter (obtained using barium contrast studies) and the basal pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter were evaluated in each patient. The need for further treatment and the presence of complications were also determined. RESULTS: Both methods led to clinical, radiological, and manometric benefits. No differences were observed between the methods (satisfactory results in 86%; one perforation in each group). Six patients underwent operation; five for an incomplete response and one for a perforation. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between the two groups investigated, suggesting that only one 2-minute dilation at 200 mmHg is sufficient.

Mean pressure obtained by modified rapid pull-through technique used to assess lower esophageal sphincter function.

Lower esophageal sphincter pressure, length of sphincter, and contraction of the crural diaphragm are determinants of esophageal function. Mean pressure manometrics in modified rapid pull-through reflects these three factors. Reproducibility and interobserver variability were studied to assess this method's efficacy and were compared with the maximum expiratory pressure in station pull-through in 44 individuals divided into three groups: achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux, and healthy volunteers. Mean pressure in rapid pull-through showed high reproducibility, no significant differences (14.4 +/- 8.4 vs 12.6 +/- 8.2 mm Hg) between two measurements, and a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.9). Interobserver variability was lower than that seen for maximum expiratory pressure (P < 0.001). Mean pressure was lower than maximum expiratory pressure in patients with achalasia (21.1 +/- 7 vs 30.7 +/- 8.6 mm Hg). Both methods showed identical sensitivity to establish a hypotensive sphincter in patients with reflux (73%). We think that mean pressure obtained by rapid pull-through is a good methodology to assess lower esophageal sphincter competence. It is rapid, simple, shows good reproducibility and low interobserver variability, and is clinically valid.