Performance of bile aspiration plus brushing to diagnose malignant biliary strictures during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background And Study Aims: Endobiliary brushing during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the main technique used to diagnose a malignant stricture, but has a poor sensitivity. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of bile aspiration associated with biliary brushing during ERCP to diagnose a malignant stricture, compared to brushing alone.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2012, all consecutive patients undergoing ERCP to treat a biliary stricture were included.

Fixed-dose rate gemcitabine in elderly patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: an observational study.

Pancreatic cancer represents one of the most lethal cancers and treatment of advanced disease remains palliative. Age-related physiologic changes can increase chemotherapy's toxicity but the use of gemcitabine in elderly patients has not been properly evaluated. This observational prospective study evaluated patients aged 70 years and over, receiving gemcitabine for an advanced pancreatic carcinoma.

[An uncommon use of argon plasma coagulation: endoscopic transection of self-expanding metallic stents].

Migration, distal malposition or fracture of self-expanding metallic biliary or esophageal stents rarely occur but may lead to stent dysfunction, mucosal trauma secondary to impaction or friction on the digestive wall. We report our experience of using argon plasma to endoscopically cut three metallic biliary and esophageal self-expanding stents to restore permeability or to treat impaction of the stent after migration, malposition or fracture.

Frequent and rapid progression of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in gastric mucosa of patients with MALT lymphoma.

Objectives: Association of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) low-grade lymphoma and adenocarcinoma has repeatedly been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and the spreading of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in gastric mucosa of patients with gastric MALT lymphoma followed after conservative treatment.

Methods: Forty-five patients (mean age 45 +/- 2.

[Carcinomatous mediastinitis secondary to carcinoma of the bladder].

Introduction: This is the first reported case of a histologically-proved mediastinal metastatic site of a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Case: A 61-year-old woman who had undergone a total cystectomy 3 years earlier for transitional cell carcinoma was hospitalized for dysphagia. Endoscopy showed impassable stenosis beginning 25 cm below the dental arch, without any developing endoluminal lesion.

Multimodal therapy with intravenous biweekly leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan combined with hepatic arterial infusion pirarubicin in non-resectable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer (a European Association for Research in Oncology trial).

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of combining i.v. irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of pirarubicin in non-resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Gastroduodenal ulcer and erosions are related to portal hypertensive gastropathy and recent alcohol intake in cirrhotic patients.

Gastroduodenal ulcers and gastroduodenal erosions are particularly frequent in cirrhotic patients, but their precise cause is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify pathogenic factors associated with ulcers and erosions in patients with cirrhosis. We studied 64 consecutive patients with cirrhosis referred for gastroscopy.

Endoscopic palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction using self-expandable metallic stents: results of a multicenter study.

Background And Study Aims: Gastric outlet obstruction is a late event in the natural history of biliopancreatic tumours. Metallic self-expanding stents inserted under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance can be used for palliation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and complications of endoscopic duodenal stenting in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Secondary pancreatic involvement by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis: treatment and outcome.

We report the case of a 33-year-old man who presented with a large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis. Abdominal CT showed diffuse swelling of the pancreas, with two distinct masses in the corpus and the tail. Thoracic CT showed a markedly enlarged mediastinum, with a voluminous mass in the middle mediastinum.

Discrimination of three mutational events that result in a disruption of the R122 primary autolysis site of the human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography.

Background: R122, the primary autolysis site of the human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1), constitutes an important "self-destruct" or "fail-safe" defensive mechanism against premature trypsin activation within the pancreas. Disruption of this site by a missense mutation, R122H, was found to cause hereditary pancreatitis. In addition to a c.

A comparison of Ultraflex Diamond stents and Wallstents for palliation of distal malignant biliary strictures.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the Ultraflex Diamond stent and the Wallstent for the drainage of distal malignant biliary strictures.

Methods: The results obtained in 23 consecutive patients in whom the insertion of a Ultraflex Diamond stent had been attempted were compared with those obtained in 23 patients matched for age, gender, serum bilirubin, and diagnosis who had been treated with Wallstents.

Results: Biliary drainage was obtained in 100% of cases.

[Comparison of push-type endoscopy and barium transit study of the small intestine in digestive bleeding and unexplained iron-deficiency anemia].

Objectives: A radiological examination of the small bowel is often performed in case of gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin. More recently, push-type enteroscopy has been reported as a valuable tool in this indication. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnosis efficiency of these two procedures.

[Comparison of quantifying Helicobacter pylori gastric infection by culture, histology and C13 urea breath test].

Objectives: In Helicobacter pylori infection, the bacterial burden may play a role in the pathogenesis of gastric or duodenal ulcerated lesions. It could also influence the results of antimicrobial therapy. No simple test has been validated to quantify Helicobacter pylori density.

Symptomatic hepatic cysts: treatment with single-shot injection of minocycline hydrochloride.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous minocycline hydrochloride sclerotherapy in symptomatic hepatic cysts.

Materials And Methods: From November 1992 to June 1994, seven of eight consecutive adults with large symptomatic hepatic cysts (diameter, 55-130 mm) were treated with a single intracystic injection of minocycline hydrochloride in an ambulatory procedure. Five patients had a solitary cyst, and two had polycystic liver disease.

Terlipressin may influence the outcome of hepatorenal syndrome complicating alcoholic hepatitis.

Hepatorenal syndrome is a frequent complication associated with extremely short survival in cirrhotic patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Vasopressin analogs have been reported to induce transient regression of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis. However, treatment withdrawal was followed by early recurrences in every case.