[A case of locally recurrent breast cancer difficult to differentiate from nodular fasciitis].

Breast-conserving surgery was performed on a 78-year-old woman for left breast cancer 5 years previously (invasive ductal carcinoma, T1cN2M0, stage IIIA, ER[+], PR[-], HER2[-]). Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy were administered. A left subclavian tumor was detected, and an excisional biopsy was performed. Histological examination showed spindle cells, different from primary breast cancer histology, and nodular fasciitis was diagnosed negative cytokeratin and vimentin immunostaining results. After 12 months, a mass had developed in the same region, and reoperation was performed for resection. Similar spindle cells were observed, but they tested positive for cytokeratin. Carcinoma was diagnosed and thought to be locally recurrent breast cancer. Despite postoperative chemotherapy, the patient experienced bone and lung metastasis and a third local recurrence. She died 13 months following the last surgery. Recurrent breast cancer sometimes displays different histology from the initial cancer, and mimics stromal tumors in certain cases.

Differentiation of autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer by diffusion-weighted MRI.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify the clinical utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for differentiating autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Thirteen AIP patients underwent DWI before therapy, and six of them underwent DWI after steroid therapy. The extent and shape of high-intensity areas were compared with those of 40 pancreatic cancer patients. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated in the AIP area before and after steroid therapy in pancreatic cancer patients and in a normal pancreatic body. RESULTS: On DWI, AIP and pancreatic cancer were detected as high-signal intensity areas. The high-intensity areas were diffuse (n=4), solitary (n=6), and multiple (n=3) in AIP patients, but all pancreatic cancer patients showed solitary areas (P<0.001). A nodular shape was significantly more frequent in pancreatic cancer, and a longitudinal shape was more frequently found in AIP (P=0.005). ADC values were significantly lower in AIP (1.012+/-0.112 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) than in pancreatic cancer (1.249+/-0.113 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) and normal pancreas (1.491+/-0.162 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded an optimal ADC cutoff value of 1.075 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s to distinguish AIP from pancreatic cancer. After steroid therapy, high-intensity areas on DWI disappeared or were markedly decreased, and the ADC values of the reduced pancreatic lesions increased almost to the values of normal pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: DWI is useful for detecting AIP and for evaluating the effect of steroid therapy. ADC values were significantly lower in AIP than in pancreatic cancer. An ADC cutoff value may be useful for distinguishing AIP from pancreatic cancer.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is a congenital anomaly defined as a junction of the pancreatic and bile ducts located outside the duodenal wall, usually forming a markedly long common channel. In PBM patients, this anomaly allows regurgitation between the pancreatobiliary and biliopancreatic tract. Since hydrostatic pressure within the pancreatic duct is usually higher than that in the common bile duct, pancreatic juice frequently refluxes into the bile duct. As a result, pancreatic enzyme levels are generally very high in the bile and there is a related high incidence of biliary cancer. PBM can be divided into PBM with biliary dilatation (congenital choledochal cyst [CCC]) and PBM without biliary dilatation (maximal diameter of the bile duct

Biliopancreatic reflux-pathophysiology and clinical implications.

The common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct open into the duodenum, where they frequently form a common channel. The sphincter of Oddi is located at the distal end of the pancreatic and bile ducts; it regulates the outflow of bile and pancreatic juice. In patients with a pancreaticobiliary maljunction, the action of the sphincter does not functionally affect the junction. Therefore, in these patients, two-way regurgitation (pancreatobiliary and biliopancreatic reflux) occurs. This results in various pathological conditions of the biliary tract and the pancreas. Biliopancreatic reflux could be confirmed by: operative or postoperative T-tube cholangiography; CT combined with drip infusion cholangiography; histological detection of gallbladder cancer cells in the main pancreatic duct; and reflux of bile on the cut surface of the pancreas. Biliopancreatic reflux occurs frequently in patients with a long common channel. Although the true prevalence, degree, and pathophysiology of biliopancreatic reflux remain unclear, biliopancreatic reflux is related to the occurrence of acute pancreatitis. Obstruction of a long common channel easily causes bile flow into the pancreas. Even if no obstruction is present, biliopancreatic reflux can still result in acute pancreatitis in some cases.

Endocrine cells in ampullary carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: As ampullary carcinoma originates from four anatomical regions, it may have different behaviors depending on its origin. We documented the presence of endocrine cells found in ampullary carcinoma, and we studied the clinicopathological implications of their presence. METHODS: We immunohistochemically examined the presence of an endocrine component in 62 surgically resected specimens of ampullary carcinoma, and we studied the clinicopathological differences between endocrine component-positive cases and endocrine component-negative cases. RESULTS: Endocrine cells were detected in 16 cases (26%); 11 cases had many endocrine cells, and five cases had scattered endocrine cells. Serotonin-positive cells were detected in all 16 cases, in which six cases had many positive cells. Several somatostatin-positive cells were detected in three cases. Endocrine cells were detected in ampulloduodenal polypoid lesions (two cases) and ampullopancreaticobiliary ducts (14 cases). The histology of 15 of the 16 endocrine component-positive ampullary carcinomas was the intestinal type. Pancreatic invasion and lymph node involvement were observed less frequently in endocrine component-positive cases (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences with respect to immunoreactivity for carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19.9, carcinembryonic antigen (CEA), and p53 overexpression, and K-ras mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Endocrine component-positive ampullary carcinoma seemed to be derived from the ampullopancreaticobiliary common duct or the ampulloduodenum, and to behave less aggressively than endocrine component-negative carcinoma.

Biliary lesions associated with autoimmune pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Characteristic radiological features of biliary lesions in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not yet been identified. METHODOLOGY: Bile duct lesions and their relationships to other clinical findings were assessed in 43 AIP patients. RESULTS: Of the 43 AIP patients, 34 (79%) had bile duct stenosis. In all the 34 patients, the lower bile duct was involved; in 21 of these, only the lower bile duct was involved, and in 13 patients, there was widespread wall thickening of the middle and upper bile duct where stenosis was not obvious on cholangiography. Furthermore, 4 patients with extensive bile duct involvement also had stenosis of the intrahepatic bile duct. All patients with bile duct involvement had involvement of the head portion of the main pancreatic duct. None of the 6 patients with involvement of only the body and/or tail portion of the main pancreatic duct had bile duct involvement. Gallbladder wall thickening was more frequently noted in patients with extensive bile duct involvement (p < 0.01). Serum IgG4 levels were significantly more elevated in patients with extensive bile duct involvement (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AIP patients with extensive bile duct involvement characterized by widespread wall thickening of the bile duct may have more active disease.

A new diagnostic endoscopic tool for autoimmune pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a type of pancreatitis that is presumed to have an autoimmune etiology, and is currently diagnosed based on a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging studies. Although it is of utmost importance that AIP be differentiated from pancreatic cancer, AIP is sometimes difficult to differentiate from locally advanced pancreatic cancer. OBJECTIVE: To find a useful new method to diagnose AIP. DESIGN: Prospective study from June 2004 to September 2007. SETTING: Single public hospital. PATIENTS: Ten AIP patients, 10 patients with pancreatic cancer, and 10 patients with papillitis. INTERVENTIONS: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-immunostaining of biopsy specimens obtained from the major duodenal papilla. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Number of immunohistochemically identified cells per high-power field (HPF) in each specimen were counted. RESULTS: Significant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells (> or = 10/HPF) was observed in the major duodenal papilla of all 8 AIP patients with pancreatic head involvement. Moderate infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells (4-9/HPF) was detected in 1 patient with pancreatic head cancer, but there were rare (< or = 3/HPF) IgG4-positive plasma cells infiltrating the major duodenal papilla in 2 AIP patients who only had pancreatic body and/or tail involvement, 9 patients with pancreatic cancer, and 10 patients with papillitis. In the 3 AIP patients in whom biopsy specimens were retaken after steroid therapy, the number of IgG4-positive plasma cells decreased from significant to moderate in 2 patients and to < or = 3/HPF in 1 patient. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size. Endoscopists were not blinded to clinical information. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4 immunostaining of biopsy specimens obtained from the major duodenal papilla may be useful for supporting a diagnosis of AIP with pancreatic head involvement.

Diagnosis and clinical implications of pancreatobiliary reflux.

The sphincter of Oddi is located at the distal end of the pancreatic and bile ducts and regulates the outflow of bile and pancreatic juice. A common channel can be so long that the junction of the pancreatic and bile ducts is located outside of the duodenal wall, as occurs in pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM); in such cases, sphincter action does not functionally affect the junction. As the hydropressure within the pancreatic duct is usually greater than in the bile duct, pancreatic juice frequently refluxes into the biliary duct (pancreatobiliary reflux) in PBM, resulting in carcinogenetic conditions in the biliary tract. Pancreatobiliary reflux can be diagnosed from elevated amylase level in the bile, secretin-stimulated dynamic magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and pancreatography via the minor duodenal papilla. Recently, it has become obvious that pancreatobiliary reflux can occur in individuals without PBM. Pancreatobiliary reflux might be related to biliary carcinogenesis even in some individuals without PBM. Since few systemic studies exist with respect to clinical relevance and implications of the pancreatobiliary reflux in individuals with normal pancreaticobiliary junction, further prospective clinical studies including appropriate management should be performed.

Sex-based differences in gallbladder cancer associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gallbladder cancer predominantly affects women; this sex-based difference is influenced by factors such as gallstones, sex hormone and genetic susceptibility. Gallbladder cancer is also frequently associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) without biliary dilatation. We examined sex-based differences in gallbladder cancer associated with PBM. METHODOLOGY: With a particular focus on gender differences, we retrospectively compared clinicopathological findings between 44 patients (9 men, 35 women) with PBM without biliary dilatation and 232 patients (60 men, 172 women) with gallbladder cancer that was not associated with PBM. RESULTS: Gallbladder cancer was detected in 75% of patients with PBM without biliary dilatation. Among PBM patients, gallbladder cancer was significantly more common in women than in men [29/35 (83%) us. 4/9 (44%), p<0.05]. Both men and women with gallbladder cancer associated with PBM were significantly younger at the time of diagnosis than patients with gallbladder cancer without PBM (p<0.01). Gallstones were detected in only 10% of women with gallbladder cancer with PBM, while gallstones were detected in 63% of women with gallbladder cancer without PBM (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder cancer occurs very frequently in patients with PBM without biliary dilatation, and women appear to be at a significantly higher risk than men.

Pancreas divisum in pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) and pancreas divisum (PD) are congenital anomalies that develop in the embryo at an early stage. They are possibly the result of bile and pancreatic duct misarrangement. We investigated the configuration of the pancreatic duct in patients with PBM and its clinical implications. METHODOLOGY: In 84 PBM patients, the configuration of the pancreatic duct and the presence of biliary cancer were documented. Patency of Santorini's duct was determined fluoroscopically or by dye-injection endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. Bile amylase levels were measured in 10 patients. RESULTS: Incomplete PD was detected in 8 (9.5%) of the 84 PBM patients. All of the 8 patients had a patent Santorini's duct, and only 1 patient had gallbladder cancer. The frequency of associated gallbladder cancer and the bile amylase level were significantly lower in PBM patients with a patent Santorini's duct than in PBM patients with a nonpatent Santorini's duct. CONCLUSIONS: PBM is sometimes associated with incomplete PD. In PBM patients with an incomplete PD, the incidence of cancer of the biliary tract may be lower, since pancreatic juice reflux into the bile duct might be reduced by the flow of pancreatic juice into the duodenum through Santorini's duct.

Carcinoma arising in congenital choledochal cysts.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Congenital choledochal cyst is almost always associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction and is sometimes associated with biliary carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and surgical treatment of choledochal cyst associated with carcinoma arising in the cyst wall. METHODOLOGY: Relationship of the clinicopathological findings and surgical treatment of 8 patients with histologically proven carcinoma that had developed in the choledochal cyst wall were examined to determine mode of tumor spread, multicentric tumor origins, and coincidence with other neoplastic lesions. RESULTS: Papillary adenocarcinoma (n = 5) had different clinicopathological features than tubular adenocarcinoma (n = 3). Radiologically, papillary adenocarcinoma presented as an eccentrically located polypoid mass in the cyst, while with tubular adenocarcinoma, there was evidence of bile duct stenosis with irregular thickening of the bile duct wall. Papillary adenocarcinoma was associated with extensive superficial spread (n = 1), synchronous (n = 2), or metachronous (n = 2) multicentric tumors. Pancreatoduodenectomy with (n = 1) or without (n = 1) hepatic lobectomy, and repeated resection by hepatic lobectomy (n = 2) were performed for these circumstances of tumors. Extensive or repeated resections allowed 3 patients to live longer than 2 years. Tubular adenocarcinoma was associated with scirrhously infiltrative spread and a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Papillary adenocarcinoma frequently occurs in the choledochal cyst wall. Since aggressive resection offers survival benefits in papillary adenocarcinoma arising in the choledochal cyst wall, the presence of superficial spread and multicentric tumors should be identified and taken into account when planning surgery. Patients require close monitoring so that recurrent carcinoma of the remnant bile duct can be identified early.

The incidence of pancreatic and extrapancreatic cancers in Japanese patients with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although an association between chronic pancreatitis and malignancies has been reported in the Western literature, in Japan there have been few reports that have dealt with this issue. We investigated the incidence of pancreatic and extrapancreatic cancers in Japanese patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODOLOGY: We studied 170 Japanese patients with definite chronic pancreatitis with respect to the occurrence of pancreatic and extrapancreatic cancers during follow-up and compared the incidence with that reported in the Western literature. RESULTS: The patients developed 29 cancers including 5 pancreatic cancers. Four patients had two different types of cancer. The extrapancreatic cancer incidence (24/170: 14.1%) was significantly higher than in the West (8.3%, p < 0.01). The major organs in which cancer developed were stomach (n=9), pancreas (n=5), esophagus (n=4), colon (n=3), lung (n=2) and hemopoietic tissue (n=2). The overall incidence (8.2%) of associated cancers of the digestive system including, stomach, intestine, liver, biliary duct, and gallbladder, was significantly higher than in the West (1.3%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of extrapancreatic cancers during the course of chronic pancreatitis is significantly increased in Japan than in Western countries. In particular, cancers of the digestive system are frequently associated with chronic pancreatitis in Japan.

Involvement of pancreatic and bile ducts in autoimmune pancreatitis.

AIM: To examine the involvement of the pancreatic and bile ducts in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis. METHODS: Clinical and cholangiopancreatographic findings of 28 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis were evaluated. For the purposes of this study, the pancreatic duct system was divided into three portions: the ventral pancreatic duct; the head portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct; and the body and tail of the dorsal pancreatic duct. RESULTS: Both the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts were involved in 24 patients, while in 4 patients only the dorsal pancreatic duct was involved. Marked stricture of the bile duct was detected in 20 patients and their initial symptom was obstructive jaundice. Six patients showed moderate stenosis to 30%-40% of the normal diameter, and the other two patients showed no stenosis of the bile duct. Although marked stricture of the bile duct was detected in 83% (20/24) of patients who showed narrowing of both the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts, it was not observed in the 4 patients who showed involvement of the dorsal pancreatic duct alone (P=0.0034). CONCLUSION: Both the ventral and dorsal pancreatic and bile ducts are involved in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis.

Usefulness of biopsying the major duodenal papilla to diagnose autoimmune pancreatitis: a prospective study using IgG4-immunostaining.

AIM: To examine the histological and immunohistochemical findings of biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) patients. METHODS: The major duodenal papilla in the resected pancreas of 3 patients with AIP and of 5 control patients [pancreatic carcinoma (n = 3) and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (n = 2)] was immunostained using anti-CD4-T cell, CD8-T cell and IgG4 antibodies. Forceps biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla of 2 patients with AIP and 5 control patients with suspected papillitis were prospectively taken during duodenoscopy and immunohistochemically examined. RESULTS: Moderate or severe lymphoplasmacytic infiltration including many CD4-positive or CD8-positive T lymphocytes and IgG4-positive plasma cells (>or=10/HPF), was observed in the major duodenal papilla of all 3 patients with AIP. The same findings were also detected in the biopsy specimens taken from the major duodenal papilla of 2 patients with AIP, but in controls, there were only a few (

Sclerosing cholecystitis associated with autoimmune pancreatitis.

AIM: To evaluate the histopathological and radiological findings of the gallbladder in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). METHODS: The radiological findings of the gallbladder of 19 AIP patients were retrospectively reviewed. Resected gallbladders of 8 AIP patients were examined histologically and were immunostained with anti-IgG4 antibody. Controls consisted of gallbladders resected for symptomatic gallstones (n = 10) and those removed during pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic carcinoma (n = 10), as well as extrahepatic bile ducts and pancreases removed by pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic carcinoma (n = 10). RESULTS: Thickening of the gallbladder wall was detected by ultrasound and/or computed tomography in 10 patients with AIP (3 severe and 7 moderate); in these patients severe stenosis of the extrahepatic bile duct was also noted. Histologically, thickening of the gallbladder was detected in 6 of 8 (75%) patients with AIP; 4 cases had transmural lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with fibrosis, and 2 cases had mucosal-based lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Considerable transmural thickening of the extrahepatic bile duct wall with dense fibrosis and diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was detected in 7 patients. Immunohistochemically, severe or moderate infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells was detected in the gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas of all 8 patients, but was not detected in controls. CONCLUSION: Gallbladder wall thickening with fibrosis and abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells is frequently detected in patients with AIP. We propose the use of a new term, sclerosing cholecystitis, for these cases that are induced by the same mechanism as sclerosing pancreatitis or sclerosing cholangitis in AIP.

Pancreatic cancer with a high serum IgG4 concentration.

Differentiation between autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer is sometimes difficult. It has been reported that serum IgG4 concentrations are significantly elevated and particularly high (>135 mg/dL) in autoimmune pancreatitis. Measurement of serum IgG4 has become a useful tool for differentiating between autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. However, we present a 74-year-old female with a markedly elevated serum IgG4 (433 mg/dL) who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. Elevated serum IgG4 levels continued after the resection. On histology, adenocarcinoma of the pancreas accompanied with moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltration infiltrated the lower bile duct and duodenum, but there were no findings of autoimmune pancreatitis. Although a small metastasis was detected in one parapancreatic lymph node, regional lymph nodes were swollen. Abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells infiltrated the cancerous areas of the pancreas, but only a few IgG4-positive plasma cells were detected in the noncancerous areas. Pancreatic cancer cells were not immunoreactive for IgG4. An abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells was detected in the swollen regional lymph nodes and in the duodenal mucosa. We believe that the serum IgG4 level was elevated in this patient with pancreatic cancer as the result of an IgG4-related systemic disease that had no clinical manifestations other than lymphadenopathy.

MRCP and MRI findings in 9 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis.

AIM: To evaluate magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) findings in conjunction with magnetic resonance (MR) images in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) patients. METHODS: Nine patients with AIP underwent MRI, MRCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), computed tomography, and ultrasonography. The MRCP and MR images taken before and after steroid therapy were reviewed and compared with other imaging modalities. The MRCP findings of the AIP cases were compared to those of 10 cases with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. RESULTS: On MRCP, the narrowed portion of the main pancreatic duct noted on ERCP was not visualized, while the non-involved segments of the main pancreatic duct were visualized. The degree of upstream dilatation of the proximal main pancreatic duct was milder than that seen in cases of pancreatic carcinoma. Stenosis or obstruction of the lower bile duct was detected in 8 patients. MR images showed enlargement of the pancreas with decreased signal intensity on T1-weighted MR images, increased signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images, and, in 3 patients, a hypointense capsule-like rim. After steroid therapy, the previously not visualized portion of the main pancreatic duct was seen, along with improvement of the bile duct stenosis. Pancreatic enlargement decreased, and the abnormal signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted MR images became isointense. CONCLUSION: MRCP cannot differentiate irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct seen with AIP from stenosis of the main pancreatic duct seen with pancreatic carcinoma. However, MRCP findings in conjunction with MR imaging of pancreatic enlargement that shows abnormal signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted MR images are useful in supporting a diagnosis of AIP.

Clinical implications of incomplete pancreas divisum.

CONTEXT: Incomplete pancreas divisum is a pancreatic anomaly that results in an inadequate communication between the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts. Although the relationship between complete pancreas divisum and pancreatitis has been contentious, clinical implications of incomplete pancreas divisum have not been noted. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the clinical significance of incomplete pancreas divisum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the anatomy of the pancreatic duct system in 3,220 cases using endoscopic retrograde pancreatography; 44 cases had complete pancreas divisum, and 41 had incomplete pancreas divisum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence of chronic and acute pancreatitis associated with complete or incomplete pancreas divisum was compared with that of cases with neither complete nor incomplete pancreas divisum (controls). RESULTS: All of the patients with complete or incomplete pancreas divisum who abused alcohol had chronic or acute pancreatitis. The prevalence of chronic pancreatitis in patients with complete or incomplete pancreas divisum was significantly higher than in controls (P<0.001 and P=0.001, respectively), but acute pancreatitis occurred more frequently only in patients with complete pancreas divisum (P=0.010). When we considered pancreatic-type pain as a pancreatitis-like disease, complete and incomplete pancreas divisum were suspected as the cause of pancreatitis-like disease in 39% (15/38: chronic dorsal pancreatitis, n=5; acute pancreatitis, n=7; pancreatic-type pain, n=3) and 30% (10/33: chronic dorsal pancreatitis, n=2; acute relapsing pancreatitis, n=1; pancreatic-type pain, n=7) of patients who did not abuse alcohol, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the precise pathophysiology may differ, patients with complete pancreas divisum and patients with incomplete pancreas divisum may have similar presentations and a similar prevalence. The clinical implications of incomplete pancreas divisum may be similar to those of complete pancreas divisum.

Digestion and absorption of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In patients with autoimmune pancreatitis, radiological, serological and pancreatic functional abnormalities usually improve with steroid therapy. However, no studies have specifically focused on digestion and absorption in such patients. This study aims to investigate digestion and absorption, in addition to pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function, and their responses to steroid therapy in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis. METHODOLOGY: Ideal body weight index, levels of serum albumin, total cholesterol and glucose, or glycosylated hemoglobin values were investigated in 22 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis. N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-paraminobenzoic acid excretion test was performed in 9 patients. In 10 patients treated with steroids, these factors were examined again about 2 months after medication. RESULTS: Levels of serum albumin decreased, while ideal body weight index and levels of serum albumin and cholesterol significantly increased after steroid therapy. Eleven (50%) patients showed evidence of diabetes mellitus, but this improved in 6 of 8 patients treated with steroids. Pancreatic exocrine function was reduced in 88% of patients. Impaired pancreatic exocrine function improved after steroid therapy in 3 of 7 patients treated. CONCLUSIONS: Mild malnutrition as well as impaired pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function were frequently detected in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis. Steroid therapy was occasionally effective for these conditions.

Biliary carcinoma risk in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction and the degree of extrahepatic bile duct dilatation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) carries a high risk of biliary carcinoma. This study aimed to examine the biliary complications of patients with PBM in relation to the degree of extra-hepatic bile duct dilatation. METHODOLOGY: Ninety-eight cases of PBM could be divided into 5 groups according to the maximum diameter of the extrahepatic bile duct: < or = 10mm, 11-15mm, 16-20mm, 21-30mm, > or = 31mm. The clinicopathological findings of biliary carcinomas associated with PBM were compared with 232 cases of gallbladder carcinoma and 159 cases of bile duct carcinoma that were not associated with PBM. RESULTS: Gallbladder carcinoma occurred in 36 of 65 patients (55%) with PBM whose maximum diameter of the extrahepatic bile duct was < or = 30mm, but no gallbladder carcinoma occurred in patients with PBM whose diameter was > or = 31mm. Bile duct carcinoma occurred in 6 of 52 patients (12%) with PBM whose diameter was > or = 21mm, but no bile duct carcinoma occurred in patients with PBM whose diameter was < or = 20mm. The age at diagnosis of the patients with gallbladder or bile duct carcinoma associated with PBM was significantly younger than those without PBM (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PBM with an extrahepatic bile duct diameter < or = 30mm is associated with a high risk of gallbladder carcinoma. PBM with an extrahepatic bile duct diameter > or = 21mm is associated with a high risk of bile duct carcinoma. Prophylactic cholecystectomy is recommended for patients with PBM without biliary dilatation.