Comparison of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition Using a 20-Gauge Menghini Needle with a Lateral Forward Bevel and a 22-Gauge Franseen Needle: A Single-Center Large Cohort Study.

Background/aims: Several fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles are available for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition. However, there is disagreement on which type of needle has the best diagnostic yield. The aim of this study was to compare the performance and safety of two commonly used EUS-FNB needles.

Ki-67 Labeling Index Variability Between Surgically Resected Primary and Metastatic Hepatic Lesions of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

. A higher Ki-67 labeling index is associated with a poorer prognosis in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. It has also been proposed that the Ki-67 labeling index may increase during disease progression from the primary site to metastatic sites.

Prospective study of EUS-guided tissue acquisition with a 20G core biopsy needle with a forward bevel for solid pancreatic mass.

There is a growing need for tissue collection for immunostaining and genetic testing. Recently, several fine-needle biopsy needles are commercially available for endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition.This prospective historical controlled study evaluates a 20G core biopsy needle with a forward bevel for solid pancreatic masses larger than 15 mm in diameter.

Erratum: Diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for small solid pancreatic lesions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-1230-3555.].

The safety and efficacy of self-expandable metallic stent placement for malignant biliary obstruction with surgically altered anatomy.

Background: Single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (SBE-ERCP) has been increasingly performed for the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA), however evidence is scarce. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement using a short type SBE.

Methods: We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with SAA who received initial SEMS for MBO at our institution between February 2016 and February 2019.

Novel risk factors for recurrent biliary obstruction and pancreatitis after metallic stent placement in pancreatic cancer.

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) are now widely used even for patients with borderline resectable (BR) pancreatic cancer (PC), as neoadjuvant therapy has become common. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate safety of SEMS placement in the population including BR PC and to explore risk factors for recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), pancreatitis, and cholecystitis. We retrospectively investigated consecutive patients with PC who received initial SEMS between January 2015 and March 2019.

Two case reports of brain metastases in patients with pancreatobiliary neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Brain metastases are extremely rare in patients with pancreatobiliary neuroendocrine caricnoma (PB-NEC). In this case report, we report two rare cases of brain metastases in patients with PB-NEC. Each patient was diagnosed with brain metastases five and ten months after the initial diagnosis of PB-NEC.

Diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for small solid pancreatic lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition is sometimes required to diagnose small solid pancreatic lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EUS-guided tissue acquisition for small solid pancreatic lesions and the differences in diagnostic yield among different needles. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who had undergone EUS-guided tissue acquisition for solid pancreatic lesions less than 2 cm between November 2012 and June 2019.

Comprehensive comparison of clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer according to tumor location.

Background: The prognosis of borderline resectable (BR) pancreatic cancer (PC) has improved by multidisciplinary therapy. However, the differences in clinical course between pancreatic head (Ph) and pancreatic body and tail (Pbt) cancer has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the clinical course of BR PC patients according to tumor location.

Modified FOLFIRINOX as a second-line therapy following gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Background: There is no established second-line treatment after failure of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) as a second-line therapy for MPC and to investigate prognostic factors for survival.

Methods: From 2015 to 2019, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients receiving mFFX for MPC after failure of GnP therapy.

Improvement of Treatment Outcomes for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Real-world Data Analysis.

Background/aim: FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, oxaliplatin) and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel therapy have recently been introduced for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Herein, overall treatment outcomes of metastatic pancreatic cancer after introduction of FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel therapy were evaluated, in daily practice.

Patients And Methods: Metastatic pancreatic cancer patients (n=321) who started systemic chemotherapy between January 2011 and December 2016 were included and were divided into two groups: group A (2011-2013) and group B (2014-2016).

Needle fracture during endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration using a needle with a side hole.

 Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is widely performed to obtain pathological evidence from several parts of the body. Major complications of EUS-FNA are bleeding, pancreatitis, and abdominal pain. Needle fracture is a rare complication of EUS-FNA and only a few relevant reports are available.

Efficacy of combined balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration and simultaneous endoscopic injection sclerotherapy.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) performed using absolute ethanol with iodized oil (ET+LPD) and simultaneous endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) with cyanoacrylate (CA) for gastric varices (GVs).

Methods: A total of 16 patients with endoscopically proven high-risk GVs treated using combined B-RTO with ET+LPD and EIS with CA between January 2007 and July 2012 were enrolled.

Results: Twelve cases included GVs involving both the cardia and fundus, two cases included fundal varices and two cases included cardiac varices.

Successful treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with lung metastasis using hepatic and bronchial artery infusion chemotherapy.

We herein report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with lung metastasis that was successfully treated with transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy via the hepatic and bronchial arteries. A 64-year-old man diagnosed with HCC in 2003 was treated with locoregional therapy followed by sorafenib for recurrent HCC. Tumor thrombosis and lung metastasis were noted in April 2012.

A chronic subdural hematoma in a patient receiving combination therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.

A 70-year-old man who suffered from chronic hepatitis C was infected with HCV genotype 1 and exhibited a high viral load. He had hypertension and had consumed the equivalent of 50 g of ethanol per day. He was treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.