Long-Term Management of Recurrent Cholecystitis after Initial Conservative Treatment: Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Stenting.

Background: Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (ETGBS) is an effective procedure for treating high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis and severe comorbidities. However, the efficacy of ETGBS for recurrent cholecystitis (RC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore its efficacy in patients with RC for whom cholecystectomy is contraindicated because of its high surgical risk.

Esophageal anthracosis with tuberculous lymphadenitis confirmed on transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Esophageal anthracosis with tuberculous lymphadenitis is a very rare disease. Almost all reported cases are diagnosed using multiple endoscopic biopsies or thoracic esophagectomy. The present case report describes a case of esophageal anthracosis with tuberculous lymphadenitis that was diagnosed using transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) alone.

How many cytological examinations should be performed for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture via an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube?

Background And Aim: The sensitivity of bile cytology is recognized as being low. Repeating cytological sampling is likely to improve the sensitivity. The aim of this study is to determine the optimal number of repeated cytological sampling of bile obtained via an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) tube for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture.

Utility of pancreatic duct brushing for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of pancreatic duct brushing for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

Methods: Brush cytology was attempted in 58 patients suspected of having pancreatic malignancy because of stricture of the main pancreatic duct, confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Thirty-eight patients were finally diagnosed by an operation or the clinical course as having pancreatic carcinoma, and the remaining 20 patients as having chronic pancreatitis.

Usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration for the treatment of acute cholecystitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration (PTGBA) for the treatment of acute cholecystitis.

Methods: PTGBA was performed in patients with acute cholecystitis who showed no improvement after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. PTGBA was carried out at bedside.

Pre-cutting using a noseless papillotome with independent lumens for contrast material and guidewire.

Background: The technical success of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) depends on selective cannulation into the bile duct. We have developed a new type of precut papillotome for selective cannulation.

Methods: The newly developed precut papillotome has been equipped not only with a lumen for contrast materials but also with an independent lumen for the guidewire.

Estimation of the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi against malignant bile duct obstruction.

Background: In endoscopic biliary stenting against malignant biliary obstruction, stent blockage remains as an important problem. Stent blockage occurs as a result of bacterial adherence to the inner wall of the stent. We evaluated the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi to retain the function of the sphincter of Oddi as a bacteriological barrier.

Combination of assay of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA and cytology using bile obtained by endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder for diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma.

Objectives: It is difficult to make accurate diagnoses of polypoid lesions in the gallbladder. To increase the diagnostic accuracy, we have developed an endoscopic technique to obtain gallbladder bile, termed endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder (ETCG). We evaluated the usefulness of a molecular biological approach to the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma, in which gallbladder bile obtained by the ETCG technique is used.