EUS-guided celiac plexus interventions in pancreatic cancer pain: An update and controversies for the endosonographer.

Patients with pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC]) can develop abdominal pain that can be debilitating. Celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) is a chemical ablation of the celiac plexus that can be used to treat pain caused by pancreatic malignancy. It can be performed by an anterior or posterior approach, and also can be done percutaneously or under guidance of transabdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, intra-operatively or most recently under linear endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance (EUS-CPN).

Applications of endoscopic ultrasound in pancreatic cancer.

Since the introduction of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), EUS has assumed a growing role in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The objective of this review is to discuss the various applications of EUS and EUS-FNA in PDAC. Initially, its use for detection, diagnosis and staging will be described.

Pyomyositis mimicking leptospirosis: two cases in a Brazilian tertiary care hospital in a non-tropical area.

Pyomyositis is a subacute, deep suppurative bacterial infection of skeletal muscle not arising from contiguous infection. It is presumably haematogenous in origin, and characterized by muscle pain and swelling. We report on two patients who presented with pyomyositis in a tertiary care hospital in temperate region located in southern Brazil with a clinical presentation, which was initially suggestive of leptospirosis.