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AIM To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of endoscopic transpapillary bile duct biopsy for the diagnosis of biliary strictures. METHODS A total of 360 patients (241 men) who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for biliary strictures with biopsy from April 2012 to March 2016 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. This study was approved by our Institutional Review Board (No. 3516). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study. The biopsy specimens were obtained using a novel slim biopsy forceps (Radial Jaw 4P, Boston Scientific, Boston, MA, United States). RESULTS The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 69.6%, 100%, 100%, 59.1%, and 78.8%, respectively. The sensitivity was 75.6% in bile duct cancer, 64% in pancreatic cancer, 61.1% in gallbladder cancer, and 57.1% in metastasis. In bile duct cancer, a lower sensitivity was observed for perihilar bile duct stricture (68.7%) than for distal bile duct stricture (83.1%). In terms of the stricture lengths of pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, and metastasis, a longer stenosis resulted in a better sensitivity. In particular, there was a significant difference between pancreatic cancer and gallbladder cancer (P < 0.05). One major complication was perforation of the extrahepatic bile duct with bile leakage. CONCLUSION Endoscopic transpapillary biopsy alone using novel slim biopsy forceps is feasible and reliable, but restrictive. Biopsy should be performed in consideration of the stricture level, stricture length, and cancer type.

To evaluate the usefulness of real-time virtual sonography (RVS) in biliary and pancreatic diseases.This study included 15 patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases. RVS can be used to observe an ultrasound image in real time by merging the ultrasound image with a multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography (CT) image, using pre-scanned CT volume data. The ultrasound used was EUB-8500 with a convex probe EUP-C514. The RVS images were evaluated based on 3 levels, namely, excellent, good and poor, by the displacement in position.By combining the objectivity of CT with free scanning using RVS, it was possible to easily interpret the relationship between lesions and the surrounding organs as well as the position of vascular structures. The resulting evaluation levels of the RVS images were 12 excellent (pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer, cholecystolithiasis and cholangiocellular carcinoma) and 3 good (pancreatic cancer and gallbladder cancer). Compared with conventional B-mode ultrasonography and CT, RVS images achieved a rate of 80% superior visualization and 20% better visualization.RVS has potential usefulness in objective visualization and diagnosis in the field of biliary and pancreatic diseases.

Endoscopic therapy of pancreatic duct (PD) strictures using balloon dilation and pancreatic duct stent (PS) placement has been reported to improve the severity of abdominal pain in selected patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). However, some strictures are refractory and require frequent PS exchange to control symptoms. We describe two cases of successful endoscopic PD incision for difficult PD stricture using a wire-guided snare. The snare is partially opened within the strictured pancreatic duct while applying current, thus incising the duct. Although both cases were successful without complications we do not advocate that this method be used routinely because of the potential for severe complications, e.g. bleeding, ductal perforation or pancreatic parenchymal damage. In order to prevent these complications, we developed a wire-guided technique under fluoroscopic control. We think this procedure may be useful in patients with short, straight PD strictures. Although further study is required, this approach may have potential for selected patients with refractory PD strictures due to CP.

AIM: To examine the coexistence of metachronous and synchronous cancer in branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas (IPMN). METHODS: We reviewed the records of 145 patients with branch duct IPMN between January 1991 and April 2008 and assessed the relationship between IPMN and intra- or extra-pancreatic carcinoma and the outcome of IPMN. RESULTS: The mean observation period was 55.9 ± 45.3 mo. Among the 145 patients, the frequency of extra-pancreatic cancer was 29.0%. The frequency of gastric cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer were 25.5%, 15.7%, 13.7%, and 9.8%, respectively. Twenty (13.8%) of the patients died. The cause of death was extra-pancreatic carcinoma in 40%, pancreatic cancer in 25%, IPMN per se in 20%, and benign disease in 15% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The prognosis for IPMN depends not on the IPMN per se, but on the presence of intra- or extra-pancreatic cancer.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided biliary drainage was performed for treatment of patients who have obstructive jaundice in cases of failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In the present study, we introduced the feasibility and outcome of EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy in four patients who failed in ERCP. We performed the procedure in 2 papilla of Vater, including one resectable case, and 2 cases of cancer of the head of pancreas. Using a curved linear array echoendoscope, a 19 G needle or a needle knife was punctured transduodenally into the bile duct under EUS visualization. Using a biliary catheter for dilation, or papillary balloon dilator, a 7-Fr plastic stent was inserted through the choledochoduodenostomy site into the extrahepatic bile duct. In 3 (75%) of 4 cases, an indwelling plastic stent was placed, and in one case in which the stent could not be advanced into the bile duct, a naso-biliary drainage tube was placed instead. In all cases, the obstructive jaundice rapidly improved after the procedure. Focal peritonitis and bleeding not requiring blood transfusion was seen in one case. In this case, pancreatoduodenectomy was performed and the surgical findings revealed severe adhesion around the choledochoduodenostomy site. Although further studies and development of devices are mandatory, EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy appears to be an effective alternative to ERCP in selected cases.

We encountered a 65-year-old man with a carcinoid tumor of the minor duodenal papilla. Since he had liver cirrhosis and completely refused surgery, we performed an endoscopic snare papillectomy. The papillectomy was performed successfully without procedure-related complication. The specimens revealed a carcinoid tumor showing that the margin of the tumor was positive. One week later, upper GI endoscopy was performed and the biopsy specimens obtained from base of ulcer showed no neoplastic cells. We performed a duodenoscopy and CT 3, 6 and 18 mo later, and there was no macroscopic or microscopic evidence of tumor recurrence after more than 4 years.