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.

An international, multi-institution survey of the use of EUS in the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Background And Objectives: Currently, pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are recognized with increasing frequency and have become a more common finding in clinical practice. EUS is challenging in the diagnosis of PCLs and evidence-based decisions are lacking in its application. This study aimed to develop strong recommendations for the use of EUS in the diagnosis of PCLs, based on the experience of experts in the field.

A multi-institutional consensus on how to perform endoscopic ultrasound-guided peri-pancreatic fluid collection drainage and endoscopic necrosectomy.

There is a lack of consensus on how endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pseudocyst drainage and endoscopic necrosectomy should be performed. This survey was carried out amongst members of the EUS Journal Editorial Board to describe their practices in performing this procedure. This was a worldwide multi-institutional survey amongst members of the EUS Journal Editorial Board in May 2017.

Argon plasma coagulation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in chronic radiation proctopathy, effectiveness and impact on tissue toxicity.

Background: chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP) is associated with recurrent rectal bleeding and transfusional requirements. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT) have been shown to be effective in the control of CRP. No prospective comparisons have been reported between these treatments.

Loss of expression of DNA mismatch repair proteins in aberrant crypt foci identified in vivo by magnifying colonoscopy in subjects with hereditary nonpolyposic and sporadic colon rectal cancer.

Purpose: The aims of this study are to characterize the frequency, density, and distribution of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and its histological features and to determine the frequency of loss of expression of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins of subjects with hereditary nonpolyposic colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and sporadic colon rectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Patients with HNPCC, first-degree relatives of subjects with HNPCC, sporadic CRC, and average risk subjects of sporadic CRC were included prospectively. Total colonoscopy with chromoendoscopy using methylene blue 0.

The differential broadens. EUS FNA appearance and cytological findings of pancreatic angiomyolipoma.

Context: Angiomyolipoma is a rare tumor characterized histologically by a mixture of spindle cells, adipose tissue, epithelioid cells, and vascular tissue. It usually involves the kidney followed by the liver whereby the majority of affected patients are female, and many cases arise in the setting of tuberous sclerosis.

Case Report: We report a case of a 33-year-old female with an asymptomatic incidental right renal mass suggestive of an angiomyolipoma in conjunction with numerous pancreatic masses.

Evaluation of endoscopic approaches for deep gastric-muscle-wall biopsies: what works?

Background: A major barrier to furthering our understanding of the pathophysiology of neuromuscular GI diseases, including functional GI disorders, is the inability to obtain deep gastric-wall biopsy specimens that include both layers of the muscularis propria, which allows evaluation of specific cell types, including myenteric ganglia.

Objectives: The aims of this preclinical study were to (1) evaluate different endoscopic approaches for obtaining deep gastric-muscle-wall biopsy specimens and (2) determine if myenteric ganglia were present in the tissue samples.

Design And Interventions: This was a preclinical acute study by using a pig model.

Self-expanding plastic stents in treatment of benign esophageal conditions.

Background: Recently, self-expanding plastic stents (SEPSs) have been proposed for the treatment of benign esophageal disease.

Objectives: Our purpose was to review our experience with SEPSs in patients with benign esophageal conditions.

Design: This was a retrospective case review of patients who underwent SEPS placement for benign esophageal disease, including (1) benign stricture, including reflux disease, ischemia, and idiopathic, (2) radiation-induced strictures, (3) anastomotic strictures, and (4) esophageal leak/fistulae.

[Recent advances and practical clinical applications of endoscopic ultrasound].

The role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is in a constant state of evolution. Newer and more sophisticated imaging methods contrast very favorably to EUS and questions arise as to the real utility and even the existence of this method. Recent work has aimed to establish the actual role of EUS in this context and to establish its rightful place in the endoscopist's armamentarium.

Tissue anchors for transmural gut-wall apposition.

Background: With the development of NOTES (natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery) and efforts to advance gastric reduction surgery, alternatives for robust tissue apposition apart from suturing and current mucosal clipping devices may be valuable.

Objectives: We attempted to identify functional tissue anchors that could be deployed endoscopically, with the potential to provide transmural tissue apposition.

Design: Short-term animal-survival study.