Background: Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are frequently detected incidentally and vary from benign to malignant. Accurate differentiation between mucinous (M-PCLs) and non-mucinous PCLs (NM-PCLs) is essential for appropriate management. This study aims to validate the accuracy of on-site glucose measurement using a glucometer with a cut-off of 50 mg/dL for distinguishing M-PCLs from NM-PCLs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has dramatically spread and improved in the last two decades and is changing the paradigm of drainage in case of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). EUS-BD can be achieved from different routes, including the common bile duct (choledochoduodenostomy), intrahepatic bile ducts (hepaticogastrostomy), and gallbladder as a rescue (cholecystogastrostomy/cholecystoduodenostomy). EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is a valuable option for biliary drainage in MBO when ERCP fails or is not feasible.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided interventions on the liver such as diffuse biopsy and portal pressure gradient measurement are emerging as potential alternatives to percutaneous procedures. The purpose of this editorial was to address all the indications that could potentially make an EUS-guided approach a possible alternative to the percutaneous procedures with respect to the proce-dures that could join the EUS examination such as upper endoscopy for gastro-esophageal varices, pancreaticobiliary investigation with EUS, and other potential advantages in terms of patient safety. The issue of a holistic gastroenterologist approach was also discussed along with the potential for developing clinical research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) is a novel and effective procedure for the management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) with more durable results when compared to enteral stenting (ES). However, data comparing EUS-GE to ES in patients already treated with EUS-guided choledocoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) for distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) are lacking. We aimed to compare outcomes of EUS-GE and ES for the palliation of GOO in this specific population of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Surgery is the first-choice treatment for malignant intestinal obstruction (MIO); however, many patients are deemed unfit for surgery. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided entero-colostomy (EUS-EC) with a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) could represent a new treatment option.
Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing EUS-EC for MIO from November 2021 to September 2023 at four European tertiary referral centers were retrospectively enrolled.
Background: We assessed efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) vs. endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as first-line intervention in malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO).
Methods: PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched until 01 /12 /2023 for randomized controlled trials of EUS-BD vs.
Background: Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is an effective and safe technique for nonlifting colorectal lesions. Technical issues or failures with the full-thickness resection device (FTRD) system are reported, but there are no detailed data. The aim of our study was to quantify and classify FTRD technical failures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this 14th document in a series of papers entitled "" we discuss various aspects of EUS-guided biliary drainage that are debated in the literature and in practice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is still the reference technique for therapeutic biliary access, but EUS-guided techniques for biliary access and drainage have developed into safe and highly effective alternative options. However, EUS-guided biliary drainage techniques are technically demanding procedures for which few training models are currently available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmune atrophic gastritis (AAG) is a chronic condition characterized by the presence of atrophy in the oxyntic mucosa due to anti-parietal cell antibodies. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of autoimmune atrophic gastritis, reporting recent evidence on epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical presentation, risk of malignancies, and management. The prevalence of AAG has been estimated at between 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe optimal number of needle passes during endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is not yet established. We aimed to perform a per-pass analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNB of solid pancreatic lesions using a 22G Franseen needle. Consecutive patients with solid pancreatic lesions referred to 11 Italian centers were prospectively enrolled.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) has become one of the treatments of choice for acute cholecystitis (AC) in fragile patients, scant data are available on real-life settings and long-term outcomes.
Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study including EUS-guided GBD using LAMS for AC in 19 Italian centers from June 2014 to July 2020. The primary outcomes were technical and clinical success, and the secondary outcomes were the rate of adverse events (AE) and long-term follow-up.
To assess the outcomes of urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) performed with a single-use duodenoscope (SUD) in patients with moderate-to-severe cholangitis. Between 2021 and 2022 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe cholangitis were prospectively enrolled to undergo urgent ERCP with SUD. Technical success was defined as the completion of the planned procedure with SUD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagnostics (Basel)
December 2023
Due to their aspecific macroscopic appearance, uncommon pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are often misdiagnosed as mucinous lesions and improperly resected. We aimed to evaluate the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided through-the-needle biopsy (TTNB) capacity of the preoperative diagnosis of uncommon PCLs. Overall, 136 patients with PCLs who underwent EUS-TTNB between 2016 and 2022 were retrospectively identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) has recognized the need to formalize and enhance training in diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This manuscript represents the outcome of a formal Delphi process resulting in an official Position Statement of the ESGE and provides a framework to develop and maintain skills in diagnostic EUS. This curriculum is set out in terms of the prerequisites prior to training; the recommended steps of training to a defined syllabus; the quality of training; and how competence should be defined and evidenced before independent practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Repeated endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition represents the standard practice for solid pancreatic lesions after previous nondiagnostic or inconclusive results. Since data are lacking, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of repeated EUS fine-needle biopsy (rEUS-FNB) in this setting. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy; sample adequacy, sensitivity, specificity, and safety were secondary outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) has been constantly increasing, particularly in the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs). While emerging data in this field are accumulating, we aimed to assess the pooled efficacy and safety of EUS-RFA for pNENs.
Methods: The PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases search was conducted to identify studies reporting EUS-RFA of pNENs with outcomes of interest (efficacy and safety).
A definite pathologic diagnosis of intrapancreatic metastasis is crucial for the management decision, i.e., curative or palliative surgery versus chemotherapy or conservative/palliative therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is a paucity of evidence regarding whether biliary stents influence endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition using either fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) or fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), among patients with head of pancreas (HOP) lesions. We aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue sampling in patients with or without bile duct stents. A total of seven studies with 2458 patients were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) behavior assessment is a daily challenge for physicians. Modern PNET management varies from a watch-and-wait strategy to surgery depending on tumor aggressiveness. Therefore, the aggressiveness definition plays a pivotal role in the PNET work-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalignant biliary obstruction (MBO) is a challenging medical problem that often negatively impacts the patient's quality of life (QoL), postoperative complications, and survival rates. Endoscopic approaches to biliary drainage are generally performed by ERCP or, in selected cases, with a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Recent advances in therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allow drainage where previous methods have failed.
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