Simultaneous and sequential combination of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers for the presence of high-grade dysplasia in patients with pancreatic cyst: Discovery in cyst fluid and test in pancreatic juice.

Background/objectives: Screening patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) has the primary goal of identifying potentially curable noninvasive precursors. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic impact of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in the presence of noninvasive precursors.

Methods: Mutated KRAS/GNAS and methylated SOX17/TBX15/BMP3/TFPI2 DNA were assessed by droplet digital PCR in a discovery cohort of 70 surgically aspirated cyst fluids, and diagnostic performances for differentiating high-grade dysplasia (HGD) from low-grade dysplasia (LGD) was evaluated.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy following total occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery: a case report and literature review.

Background: Patients with chronic occlusion of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are often asymptomatic, and occlusion may be caused by arteriosclerosis or median arcuate ligament compression. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is occasionally performed for patients with celiac artery occlusion; however, reports on patients with SMA occlusion are rare. We report a patient with cholangiocarcinoma and total atherosclerotic occlusion of the SMA without preoperative stenting or bypass.

Massive retroperitoneal hematoma following colonoscopy: A case report.

Rationale: Colonoscopy has been used for screening and treatment of diseases worldwide. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has many major complications such as colon perforation and bleeding. However, cases of minor complications have also been reported.

Incidentally detected splenogonadal fusion in a laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair operation: A case report.

Introduction: Splenogonadal fusion (SGF) is a rare congenital malformation in which the spleen is connected to the gonad. Few SGF cases have been reported in the English scientific literature, and we are unaware of any previous case reports of SGF with inguinal hernia by laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP). Here, we report a case of SGF that was incidentally detected during a TAPP procedure, with an uneventful postoperative course without complications.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of pancreatic cancer and inflammation: Prognostic significance of pancreatic inflammation in pancreatic cancer patients.

Background: Pancreatic cancer often accompanies chronic obstructive pancreatitis (COP) due to obstruction of the main pancreatic duct, and the inflammatory environment may enhance cancer progression. The purpose of this study is to evaluate COP using the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value measured by diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI), and to assess its prognostic significance in pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients (16 men, 12 women; mean age 67.

Is it possible to define early distal cholangiocarcinoma?

Purpose: The feasibility of defining early cholangiocarcinoma has not been adequately evaluated. The surgical outcomes of patients who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for pathological T1 (pT1) distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) were evaluated to determine whether it is possible to define early DCC.

Methods: The clinicopathological data of 18 patients with pT1 DCC who had undergone PD were reviewed retrospectively.

Biweekly gemcitabine plus S-1 for locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer: a preliminary feasibility study.

Background: Chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer should not only prolong survival but maintain quality of life, considering its limited life expectancy. To achieve these goals, biweekly gemcitabine plus S-1 was assessed in the clinical practice setting.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with either locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who received biweekly gemcitabine plus S-1 as a first-line anti-cancer treatment were included in this study.

Evaluation of portal vein invasion of distal cholangiocarcinoma as borderline resectability.

Background: The concept of borderline resectability has not yet been introduced for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). In this study, the surgical results of ECC patients were analyzed to clarify the implications of surgery for distal ECC with portal vein (PV) invasion as a preliminary step for the introduction of the concept of borderline resectability.

Methods: The clinicopathological data of 129 patients who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy of distal ECC were reviewed retrospectively.

Long-term surgical outcomes of patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis.

Background: Although pancreatectomy has sometimes been performed for patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) presenting atypical radiologic findings under the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary malignancy, the long-term surgical outcome of these patients had not yet been fully elucidated.

Methods: The long-term surgical outcomes of 13 patients with pathologically diagnosed type 1 AIP with immunohistochemical staining for immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) were retrospectively compared with those of 34 patients with conventional chronic pancreatitis to evaluate the residual pancreatic function.

Results: A definite relapse of AIP in terms of the clinical manifestations and diagnostic imaging was not found in any of the patients, although one patient experienced an attack of acute pancreatitis caused by pancreatic stones, and stricture of the hepaticojejunostomy occurred in one patient.

Whereabouts of an internal short stent placed across the pancreaticojejunostomy following pancreatoduodenectomy.

Background/purpose: It is generally thought that an internal short stent placed across the pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) usually passes spontaneously through the rectum thereafter; however, we experienced some patients who presented with pancreatitis and cholangitis owing to delayed defecation of the stent. The purpose of this study was to clarify when the stent eventually became detached from the PJ and how it passed through the body until it was finally defecated. In addition, we also investigated the factors that may prevent such detachment and defecation.

Correlation of apparent diffusion coefficient measured by diffusion-weighted MRI and clinicopathologic features in pancreatic cancer patients.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in patients with pancreatic cancer by comparing the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value with clinicopathologic features.

Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients (12 men, 10 women; mean age 64.4 years) with pancreatic cancer underwent DWI before surgery.

Portal vein resection in pancreaticoduodenectomy (with video).

Superior mesenteric vein (SMV) resection during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic cancer was first reported by Moore in 1951. In Japan, utilization of portal vein resection (PVR) became popular beginning in the late 1970s and has resulted in an improved resection rate for pancreatic cancer. Outcomes of PVR differ according to the reported year and institution.

Small nodules which could indicate the early phase of autoimmune pancreatitis.

We present a case with small pancreatic nodules, which could indicate the early phase of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). A 68-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further diagnostic evaluation of a pancreatic mass detected on abdominal ultrasonography screening for epigastric discomfort. Abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a low echoic lesion measuring approximately 1 cm with an irregular margin in the body of the pancreas.

Arterio-biliary fistula as rare complication of chemoradiation therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Significant hemobilia due to arterio-biliary fistula is a very rare complication of chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Here we report a case of arterio-biliary fistula after CRT for unresectable ICC demonstrated by angiographic examinations. This fistula was successfully treated by endovascular embolization.

New prognostic factor influencing long-term survival of patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma.

Background: Although the safety of operations has generally improved in recent years, the mortality of extended operations for advanced gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) remains high, and the outcomes of patients with advanced GBC requiring major surgery are poor. In this study, a newly formulated original stage classification of advanced GBC was evaluated to clarify prognostic factors affecting long-term survival.

Methods: A total of 149 patients with resected GBC infiltrating beyond the propria muscle layer were analyzed retrospectively.

Cutting-edge information for the management of acute pancreatitis.

Considering that the Japanese (JPN) guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis were published in Takada et al. (J HepatoBiliary Pancreat Surg 13:2-6, 2006), doubts will be cast as to the reason for publishing a revised edition of the Guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis: the JPN guidelines 2010, at this time. The rationale for this is that new criteria for the severity assessment of acute pancreatitis were made public on the basis of a summary of activities and reports of shared studies that were conducted in 2008.

Changes in management of acute pancreatitis before and after the publication of evidence-based practice guidelines in 2003.

Background: The Japanese Guidelines for the Management of Acute Pancreatitis was published in 2003. However, the impact of the guidelines on physicians' practice patterns has not been well known.

Methods: To examine the current clinical practices in the management of acute pancreatitis, we conducted a questionnaire survey with members of three societies involved in the treatment of pancreatic diseases and abdominal emergency medical care.

Fundamental and intensive care of acute pancreatitis.

Patients who have been diagnosed as having acute pancreatitis should be, on principle, hospitalized. Crucial fundamental management is required soon after a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis has been made and includes monitoring of the conscious state, the respiratory and cardiovascular system, the urinary output, adequate fluid replacement and pain control. Along with such management, etiologic diagnosis and severity assessment should be conducted.

Therapeutic intervention and surgery of acute pancreatitis.

The clinical course of acute pancreatitis varies from mild to severe. Assessment of severity and etiology of acute pancreatitis is important to determine the strategy of management for acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is classified according to its morphology into edematous pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis.

Assessment of severity of acute pancreatitis according to new prognostic factors and CT grading.

The assessment of severity at the initial medical examination plays an important role in introducing adequate early treatment and the transfer of patients to a medical facility that can cope with severe acute pancreatitis. Under these circumstances, "criteria for severity assessment" have been prepared in various countries, including Japan, and these criteria are now being evaluated. The criteria for severity assessment of acute pancreatitis in Japan were determined in 1990 (of which a partial revision was made in 1999).

Health insurance and payment systems for severe acute pancreatitis.

The medical insurance system of Japan is based on the Universal Medical Care System guaranteed by the provision of the Article 25 of the Constitution of Japan, which states that "All the people shall have the right to live a healthy, cultural and minimum standard of life." The health insurance system of Japan comprises the medical insurance system and the health care system for the long-lived. Medical care insurance includes the employees' health insurance (Social Insurance) that covers employees of private companies and their families and community insurance (National Health Insurance) that covers the self-employed.