Clinical application of intraductal ultrasound during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Intraductal ultrasound (IDUS) used during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can facilitate reliable evaluation of biliary and pancreatic disorders. The smaller diameter, flexibility, and the image quality offered by IDUS devices makes them ideal for evaluating a variety of difficult biliary and pancreatic diseases, especially in undefined strictures, luminal filling defects, and ampullary neoplasms. This article examines the numerous possible roles for IDUS in the evaluation of biliary and pancreatic conditions, as well as in ampullary neoplasms.

Evaluation by 18F-FDG-PET of patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma.

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is a rare cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, representing less than 5% of the digestive malignancies. The cytological and/or histological confirmation of a suspected lesion should be followed by a complete imaging evaluation to determine the extent of disease. We are presenting our experience with (18)F-FDG PET in ASCC.

Comparison of carcinoembryonic antigen and molecular analysis in pancreatic cyst fluid.

Background: Pancreatic-cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and molecular analysis are useful diagnostic tests in differentiating mucinous from nonmucinous cysts.

Objective: To assess agreement between CEA and molecular analysis for differentiating mucinous from nonmucinous cysts.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

High-grade dysplastic adenoma-like mass lesions are not an indication for colectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: The management of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in polypoid lesions in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical course of patients with HGD in adenoma-like dysplasia-associated lesion or masses (DALMs) in the absence of any synchronous flat dysplasia. We hypothesize that colectomy is not warranted in patients who undergo complete excision of adenoma-like DALMs with HGD in UC.

Is dysplasia visible during surveillance colonoscopy in patients with ulcerative colitis?

Objective: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. It was widely believed that dysplastic lesions are invisible on colonoscopy and can only be detected by random biopsies, as 95% of dysplastic lesions occur in flat colonic mucosa indistinct from surrounding tissue. The aim of this study was to determine whether dysplasia is visible during routine surveillance colonoscopy by evaluating only patients who had dysplasia without overt carcinoma.

Association of 6-thioguanine nucleotide levels and inflammatory bowel disease activity: a meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: 6-Thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) levels have been proposed to correlate with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity among patients treated with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). Previous studies, most with small sample sizes, yielded conflicting conclusions. Our aim was to pool the available data to provide a more precise estimate of the association between 6-TGN levels and IBD activity.