Urgent computed tomography for determining the optimal timing of colonoscopy in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: We evaluated the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) as an initial radiologic test for assessing the optimal timing of colonoscopy in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) and investigated the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced (CE) CT for detecting colonic diverticular bleeding.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 1,604 consecutive patients who visited or were referred to St. Marianna University Hospital due to acute LGIB and underwent colonoscopy within three months after presentation between September 2004 and December 2012.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography using an anterior oblique-viewing endoscope in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is technically more challenging in patients who have undergone gastrointestinal (GI) reconstruction.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the anterior oblique-viewing endoscope (AOE) for ERCP in patients with a retained major duodenal papilla after GI reconstruction.

Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 40 patients (50 procedures) with a retained papilla after GI reconstruction who underwent ERCP using AOE.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor presenting with prominent calcification.

We present a rare case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the stomach with prominent calcification at presentation. A 61-year-old woman visited our hospital because of epigastric discomfort. A spherical calcified lesion with a diameter of about 30 mm was incidentally shown in the left upper quadrant on an abdominal X-ray.

Evaluation of magnifying colonoscopy in the diagnosis of serrated polyps.

Aim: To elucidate the colonoscopic features of serrated lesions of the colorectum using magnifying colonoscopy.

Methods: Broad division of serrated lesions of the colorectum into hyperplastic polyps (HPs), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), and sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps) has been proposed on the basis of recent molecular biological studies. However, few reports have examined the colonoscopic features of these divisions, including magnified colonoscopic findings.

Obstructive jaundice caused by secondary pancreatic tumor from malignant solitary fibrous tumor of pleura: a case report.

A 77-year-old man on systemic chemotherapy against postoperative bilateral multiple lung metastases of malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura suffered from pruritus and jaundice. Blood examination showed elevated levels of hepatobiliary enzymes. Abdominal computed tomography showed a tumor with peripheral enhancement in the pancreatic head, accompanied with the dilatation of intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts.