Evaluating the Minimal Specimens From Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration in Pancreatic Masses.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has become one of the most useful diagnostic modalities for the diagnosis of pancreatic mass. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of analyzing the minimal specimens obtained by EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of solid masses of pancreas.This study consisted of retrospective and prospective analyses.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of 29 invasive carcinomas arising in 178 pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms with ovarian-type stroma: implications for management and prognosis.

Information on the clinicopathologic characteristics of invasive carcinomas arising from mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) is limited, because in many early studies they were lumped and analyzed together with noninvasive MCNs. Even more importantly, many of the largest prior studies did not require ovarian-type stroma (OTS) for diagnosis. We analyzed 178 MCNs, all strictly defined by the presence of OTS, 98% of which occurred in perimenopausal women (mean age, 47 y) and arose in the distal pancreas.

Prognostic significance of ATM and cyclin B1 in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) and cyclin B1 are involved in cell cycle control. The prognostic significance of both molecules has not yet been investigated in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of ATM and cyclin B1 in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

A prospective comparison of liquid-based cytology and traditional smear cytology in pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration.

Objective: To compare results of liquid-based cytology (LBC) and the conventional smear method (SMEAR) when performing endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for lesions of suspected pancreatic malignancy without an on-site cytopathologist.

Study Design: Fifty-eight patients were prospectively enrolled between July and December 2009. Aspirates obtained from the first needle pass were randomized either to SMEAR or LBC.

Oncogenic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation in neuroblastomas and other pediatric tumors.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common malignant pediatric tumors that show aggressive behavior. Most advanced-stage NBs have proven refractory to many treatment modalities, and a fundamental alternative therapy, such as inhibition of biological pathways, is now being explored. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has recently been identified as an activation mutation in familial or high-risk sporadic NBs.

Preoperative evaluation of the longitudinal extent of borderline resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma by intraductal ultrasonography.

Background And Aim: In patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC), longitudinal tumor extent is important for curative resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal extents of HC using transpapillary intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) for optimal surgical planning.

Methods: From July 2006 to April 2010, a total of 42 patients with borderline resectable HC were enrolled at Samsung Medical Center, a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea.

Prognostic relevance of pathologic subtypes and minimal invasion in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are classified into the following four histopathologic subtypes: gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, and oncocytic. However, the clinicopathologic characteristics of IPMN subtypes have not been fully clarified. Recently, a subgroup classification of minimally invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinomas (MI-IPMCs) was suggested in contrast to overt invasive carcinoma from IPMCs (IC-IPMCs).