EUS-guided tissue acquisition in patients with solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas.

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) has been the most common method used for the preoperative cytopathological diagnosis of solid tumors of the pancreas. There are only a few reported cases about the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) in the pre-operative diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EUS-TA,including endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) andEUS-FNB, in patients with SPN.

Comparing perspectives: frontal and oblique endoscopic ultrasound.

The oblique-view echoendoscope is currently the sole tool for ultrasound-guided endoscopic procedures (EUS) in most hospital centers, despite its limitations like a lack of forward vision, issues with needle angle, and restricted accessory device size due to channel angulation. However, our study revealed no significant differences between the oblique and frontal endoscopes, except for minor variations in specific regions. For routine diagnostic studies, interchangeability between the devices is feasible.

Mortality in patients with unresectable gastric cancer complicated with tumor bleeding.

Background: gastric cancer (GC) is a gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasia which often complicates with GI bleeding. It is uncertain if bleeding worsens mortality in this group of patients.

Aims: to compare 30- and 90-day mortality in patients with unresectable GC (uGC) and tumor bleeding versus patients with the same neoplasia without bleeding.

The role of gastrointestinal endoscopy in Kaposi sarcoma.

We are writing to make endoscopists aware of the paramount of a prompt diagnosis of gastrointestinal Kaposi sarcoma (GI-KS). Patients with GI involvement have a two to five times higher risk of death and will benefit from chemotherapy to improve their survival. However, current evidence found that one out of three patients might have a false negative result even with HHV-8 since other entities such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors, angiosarcoma, and lymphoma shared macroscopic and histopathological characteristics.

Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation in patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures.

Introduction: previous studies have shown that endoscopic radiofrequency ablation in unresectable biliary duct tumors prolongs survival.

Methods: this was an observational study of patients with an unresectable malignant stricture. The aim was to evaluate survival, stent patency and adverse events of radiofrequency compared with a matched control group.