Peptic ulcer disease in India--a 16 year trend analysis.

Background And Aim: The incidence of peptic ulcer disease has steadily declined throughout the world. The influence of seasonal changes on the incidence of peptic ulcer disease is not well established. The aim of the study was to identify the changing trends in the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease from a tertiary referral center in south India and to study the seasonal Correspondence: variation in the occurrence of peptic ulcer.

Non-invasive predictors of esophageal varices.

Background/aim: Current guidelines recommend screening cirrhotic patients with an endoscopy to detect esophageal varices and to institute prophylactic measures in patients with large esophageal varices. In this study, we aimed at identifying non-endoscopic parameters that could predict the presence and grades of esophageal varices.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study, 229 newly diagnosed patients with liver cirrhosis, without a history of variceal bleeding, were included.

Distinguishing tuberculosis and Crohn's disease in developing countries: how certain can you be of the diagnosis?

Distinguishing tuberculosis and Crohn's disease in patients presenting with chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea is a huge diagnostic challenge, particularly in tuberculosis endemic countries. A large number of patients with Crohn's disease are initially misclassified as having Intestinal tuberculosis in places where tuberculosis is endemic before they are treated for Crohn's disease. Although a variety of endoscopic, radiological and histological criteria have been recommended for the differentiation, it often proves difficult in routine clinical practice.

Metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma to Virchow's node: have the tumor cells gone astray?

Background: Virchow's node is a common site for metastasis in cancers of the stomach and pancreas. It is rarely involved in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Method: We report on a patient with hepatoma who had metastasis to the left supraclavicular node at presentation.

Carcinoma of the esophagus in Tamil Nadu (South India): 16-year trends from a tertiary center.

Background: In the Western world, esophageal adenocarcinoma has surpassed in incidence squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To determine the trend changes in histology and site distribution of esophageal malignancy between 1989 and 2004 in a southern state of the Indian subcontinent.

Method: A retrospective study on 994 patient records with esophageal carcinoma esophagus.

Stomach carcinoma in the Indian subcontinent: a 16-year trend.

Background: Gastric malignancy is one of the most common causes for cancer-related deaths. Reports from the west have shown a paradigm shift in the site of occurrence with malignancies of the gastric cardium increasing in frequency, reports which are contrary to information from the Middle East and South Asia.

Aim: To determine trend changes in distribution of gastric malignancy between 1989 and 2004 in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India.

ERCP in acute pancreatitis.

Background: The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the management of acute pancreatitis has evolved over years since its introduction in 1968. Its importance in diagnosing the etiology of pancreatitis has steadily declined with the advent of less invasive diagnostic tools. The therapeutic implications of ERCP in acute pancreatitis are many fold and are directed towards management of known etiological factors or its related complications.

Peripancreatic tuberculous lymphadenopathy. An impostor posing diagnostic difficulty.

Context: Involvement of the peripancreatic lymph nodes by tuberculosis is rare and the clinical presentation varies. It can mimic cystic neoplasms of the pancreas.

Case Report: We report the case of a patient having peripancreatic tuberculosis who presented with fever, jaundice, supraclavicular lymphadenopathy and weight loss.