Utilization of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Focal Liver Lesions.

: Focal liver lesions (FLL) are one of the most common indications for hepatology and hepatobiliary surgery consultation. In this retrospective study, we aim to assess if contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can address diagnostic dilemmas in the evaluation of indeterminate liver lesions by identifying characteristics of indeterminate FLL on CEUS and correlating these with cross-sectional imaging and pathology findings. : We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent CEUS evaluation for liver lesions over a 28-month period (Oct 2020 to Jan 2023) at the University of Kentucky.

Drug induced autoimmune hepatitis: An unfortunate case of herbal toxicity from Skullcap supplement: A case report.

Background: The surge in traditional herbal dietary supplement (HDS) popularity has led to increased drug-induced liver injuries (DILI). Despite lacking evidence of efficacy and being prohibited from making medical claims, their acceptance has risen over sevenfold in the last two decades, with roughly 25% of United States (US) adults using these supplements monthly. An estimated 23000 emergency room visits annually in the US are linked to HDS side effects.

Needle-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (nCLE) for Evaluation of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Given the variable diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs), novel imaging techniques including needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) have been devised. The aim of this study was to perform a structured systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance and safety of nCLE for the diagnosis of PCLs.

Methods: Individualized search strategies were developed in accordance with PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines and meta-analysis analyzed according to the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy working group methodology.

Midnight Report: A Novel Faculty-Guided Night Curriculum to Enhance Resident Nighttime Education.

Objectives: A large discrepancy exists in resident educational activities between daytime and nighttime medical rotations. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour regulations led to the increased adoption of the dedicated nighttime rotation called night float. Nighttime education has largely been negatively perceived by night float medical residents.

Addition of [ F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography With Computed Tomography to Cross-Sectional Imaging Improves Staging and Alters Management in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

In this work, we characterize the value of positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) in combination with cross-sectional imaging for staging and prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. In this retrospective cohort study, HCC patients underwent PET-CT after initial staging with contrast-enhanced CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The benefit of PET-CT was measured by the identification of new HCC lesions, and potential harm was quantified by the number of false positives and subsequent diagnostic evaluation.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Demonstrates Heterogeneous Growth Patterns in a Multicenter Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: There are limited data on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth patterns, particularly in Western cohorts, despite implications for surveillance, prognosis, and treatment. Our study's aim was to quantify tumor doubling time (TDT) and identify correlates associated with indolent and rapid growth.

Approach And Results: We performed a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with cirrhosis diagnosed with HCC from 2008 to 2017 at six US and European health systems with two or more contrast-enhanced imaging studies performed ≥ 30 days apart prior to HCC treatment.

Use of Telehealth Expedites Evaluation and Listing of Patients Referred for Liver Transplantation.

Background & Aims: Liver transplantation is the only treatment that increases survival times of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Patients who live farther away from a transplant center are disadvantaged. Health care delivery via telehealth is an effective way to manage patients with decompensated cirrhosis remotely.

Recipient But Not Donor Adiponectin Polymorphisms Are Associated With Early Posttransplant Hepatic Steatosis in Patients Transplanted for Non-Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Indications.

Objectives: De novo steatosis after liver transplant is common and can occur in up to one-third of patients who are transplanted for liver disease other than for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Genetic factors may influence posttransplant steatosis; in a posttransplant setting, donor or recipient genetic factors could also play roles. Genetic polymorphisms in the adiponectin gene have been associated with metabolic syndrome in the pretransplant setting.

A Case of Familial Mediterranean Fever with Extensive Lymphadenopathy and Complex Heterozygous Genotype Presenting in the Fourth Decade.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited disease caused by loss of function mutations in the gene encoding pyrin, a negative regulator of interleukin-1. The disease is characterized by recurrent fever and self-limited attacks of joint, chest, and abdominal pain but lymphadenopathy is an infrequent manifestation. While mesenteric lymphadenopathy has been described in several cases in the literature; hilar, paratracheal, axillary, pelvic, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy are extremely rare and have been reported separately in very few individuals.

Telehealth-Based Evaluation Identifies Patients Who Are Not Candidates for Liver Transplantation.

The burden of chronic liver disease has increased exponentially, driving more patients toward orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) evaluation. Because of limited access to transplant centers, patients often travel long distances to be evaluated for OLT. Liver transplantation in the VA system is offered at 6 Veterans Affairs transplant centers (VATCs) across the United States, including Richmond.

Primary Pancreatic Burkitt's Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is of very rare occurrence as an extra nodal site of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). It represents less than 1% of NHL. Out of which Burkitt lymphoma of pancreas is of a rare presentation.

Interaction Between Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatitis C Eradication With Direct-acting Antiviral Therapy.

Purpose Of Review: The approval of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has revolutionized hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. However, the publication of a study from Barcelona in 2016 raised concern for an increased risk of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after potentially curative therapy in patients receiving DAAs. This article reviews the current literature on the interaction between HCC and hepatitis C eradication with DAAs.

Disseminated mycobacterium avium complex as protein-losing enteropathy in a non-HIV patient.

Disseminated mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) causing protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) due to intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) in a non-HIV immunocompromised state is extremely rare. We present a case of 56-year-old male who was evaluated for worsening dyspnea and found to have right-sided chylous pleural effusion as well as worsening abdominal and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. He had a history of psoriasis for which hewas on etanercept and alefacept which were stopped two years prior to the presentation.

Prognosis of Patients With Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma Versus Conventional Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Emerging data suggest that the fibrolamellar variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) differs in clinical course and prognosis from conventional (nonfibrolamellar) HCC (NFL-HCC). Although FL-HCC is believed to have a better prognosis than NFL-HCC, data comparing the prognoses of the two types of HCC remain lacking. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the prognosis of FL- vs.

The curious case of a Klatskin tumor.

Klatskin tumors are the most common type of cholangiocarcinomas. They are perihilar tumors usually found at the bifurcation of right and left hepatic ducts. The absence of early symptoms leads to the diagnosis of most Klatskin tumors at an advanced incurable stage.