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Unlabelled: Endoscopic resection (EMR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) form part of the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus (BO), dysplasia, superficial adenocarcinoma (OAC) associated with BO., Patients and Methods: Between June 2008 and April 2011, 34 patients underwent treatment with RFA (HALO system(®)), in a tertiary centre. For the study, patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (16 patients of average 60 years old; 14 men, two women) received EMR and RFA. Group 2 (18 patients averaging 59 years age; 14 men, four women) received RFA without EMR in the year preceding the RFA., Results: In group 1, high grade dysplasia (HGD) was eradicated in 12 cases (92%), low grade dysplasia (LGD) in three cases (100%). Complete response occurred in nine cases (56%), partial response in 100% of cases. Mean follow-up was 15 months. In group 2, HGD was eradicated in one patient (100%), LGD in three patients (64%). A complete response was achieved in eight patients, partial response in four cases (77%). Mean follow-up was 10 months. The complication rate for groups 1 and 2 was of 18% and 10% respectively. No complication prevented completion of treatment or continued monitoring. Recurrence was evaluated to 5% in both groups., Conclusion: RFA associated with EMR is feasible, offering probably better results and a very important advantage: a more complete histology before follow-up. Our results show effective treatment of BO and associated dysplasia with a low rate of complication. Nevertheless, when new techniques of BO ablation are used, the need to obtain histology before treatment should not be forgotten., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has been confirmed. Chemo-radiotherpay (CRT) induces tumor changes which can limit the accuracy of EUS. The aim of our study was to analyze the efficacy of EUS following neoadjuvant CRT comparing findings with the pathology results., Patients and Methods: From November 1996 to October 2003, 45 patients with histologically proven and EUS-staged PDA were treated with neo-adjuvant CRT and radical surgery. All were restaged before surgery using both EUS and computed tomography. Fifteen patients were found to have developed distant metastases. Thirty patients finally underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (N=24) or distal pancreatectomy (N=6)., Results: Following CRT, tumor stage was correctly assessed in 12 patients (40%). The most frequent misinterpretation was overestimation of tumor size (N=13, 43.3%). Locoregional vascular invasion of veins was suspected by EUS in 13 patients (43.3%) but surgical findings and the histological examination were both negative. Node status was correctly assessed in 27 patients (90%) but nodal involvement was found on the histological specimen in only 3 patients., Conclusion: Preoperative EUS after neoadjuvant CRT for PDA does not enable reliable definitive selection of patients for surgery, probably due to radiation-induced pancreatic changes.

Objectives: The objective of this work was to study the reporting of resected colonic carcinomas and to compare them with Consensus Guidelines published in January 1998., Methods: The study included 535 colonic carcinomas collected in 8 French registries in 1995, and chosen by drawing lots. For each report, the presence of the information requested by the Guidelines was looked for. Three synthetic variables were built: 2 scores and one qualitative at 2 classes. The influence of patients, tumour and health care system's characteristics was analysed on the 3 dependent variables., Results: Some important variations were observed for information's percents in reporting. In monovariate analysis, scores were significantly influenced by cancer's sub-location, area of patient's residence, surgical center, type of laboratories and pathologist case volume. In multivariate analysis, significant heterogeneity in practices remained between geographical areas. Types of laboratories and pathologist case volume affected differently dependent variables., Conclusion: This study shows the necessity to assess the practices before consensus because of the impact of pathological forms in therapeutic decisions and variations observed.

Objectives: Chromosomal deletions are the most frequent genetic alterations observed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 4q has been observed in 40% of hepatocellular carcinomas suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene which has not yet been identified., Methodology: We developed a semi-automated quantitative genotyping method which allowed us to characterize 119 hepatocellular carcinomas with 22 fluorescent microsatellite markers distributed on chromosome 4q., Results: 4q loss was observed in 40% of cases. Among these deletions, 19 cases of partial or interstitial loss made it possible to define two common minimal regions of deletion of 25.1 and 37.6 centimorgans localized between markers D4S414 and D4S430 and between markers D4S3033 and D4S408, respectively., Conclusion: This work represents the first step towards the identification and characterization of new genes involved in hepatic carcinogenesis.

Recurrent allelic losses on chromosome 22q have been reported in colorectal cancer, distal to the NF2 gene, suggesting that another tumor suppressor gene might be involved. We report here the typing of 256 sporadic colorectal tumors and 18 colonic cancer cell lines using a set of chromosome 22 polymorphisms, ranging from 20 to 45. A panel of somatic cell hybrids, that allows to distinguish 11 bins in the 22q13 region, was used to localize 19 of the 45 selected markers and the putative tumor suppressor gene BZRP. Allelic-loss was observed in 43% of tumors. The minimal region of deletion that could be determined, telomeric to locus D22S270, refines significantly the position of the gene. The localization of the BZRP gene in this region led to a systematic screening for somatic point mutation. Direct sequencing of its coding sequence in 36 tumors hemizygous for chromosome 22 allowed the identification of three polymorphisms but failed to detect somatic mutation.

We report a case of metastasis to the uterine corpus revealing a primary gastric adenocarcinoma. A 26-year-old woman suffered from weight loss, vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain. An endometrial curettage showed apparently metastatic adenocarcinoma. The primary site of the tumour was gastric. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an ulcus and aspect of linitis plastica in the fundus. Biopsies showed diffuse type adenocarcinoma. Because of extensive disease, laparotomy was not performed and exclusive palliative chemotherapy was started. The patient died 10 months after the diagnosis. Metastasis from primary gastric cancer to the female genital tract are rare and are usually observed in young premenopausal women with diffuse type gastric adenocarcinoma. This case report underlines the interest, for those patients of careful gynaecologic examination at the initial staging and after treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the expression of protein p53, EGF receptors (EGR-R), cell proliferation antigen (Ki67) and DNA analysis by flow cytometry on per-endoscopic biopsies as well as the ability of these factors to predict response to concomitant chemoradiation in patients with squamous cell oesophageal carcinoma., Methods: Sixty-two patients with squamous cell oesophageal carcinoma were prospectively included in this study. For 58 patients (51 men, 7 women; mean age: 59.1 +/- 9.3 years), clinical response to chemoradiation was correlated with the findings of flow cytometry (ploidy, % of cells in S-phase) and immunohistochemistry (p53, EGF-R, Ki67). There were 4 patients in stage I, 14 in stage II, 27 in stage III, and 13 in stage IV. Chemoradiation (2 cycles associating continuous 5FU 800 mg/m2/24 h from D1 to 5 and from D22 to 26, Cisplatyl 70 mg/m2 on D1 and D22; 15 Gy/5d from D1 to 5 and from D22 to 26), was performed prior to surgery in 19 patients (group I) and as the only treatment in 39 patients (group II), with a third cycle from D43. Clinical response was defined as complete or incomplete, ascertained by endoscopy and biopsy, 2 to 3 weeks after the end of chemoradiation., Results: Mean survival in all 58 patients was 13.0 months. Survival was significantly longer in responders than in non responders (14.7 vs 9.6 months; P = 0.03). Among M0 patients, survival was not different in case of exclusive chemoradiation therapy or chemoradiation therapy followed by surgical excision (17.6 vs 13.0 months; NS). Monofactorial analysis showed that, in addition to response, the variables related to survival were stage, non-metastatic status, and absence of p53 surexpression. After multifactorial analysis according to the Cox model, the remaining variables were non-metastatic status, and absence of p53 surexpression. A complete response with negative biopsies was observed in 39 out of 58 patients, i.e. 67.3 +/- 12.1 % (group I: 12 out of 19; group II: 27 out of 39; NS). According to monofactorial analysis, 3 factors were predictive of complete response, i.e. non surexpression of p53 (P < 0.05) and tumour diameter (P = 0.04). After step-by-step logistic regression, non surexpression of p53 and tumour diameter continued to be predictive. The relative risk of a non-complete response was 5.46 if p53 was detected and 1.84 for each cm of added tumour diameter. These two factors were independent., Conclusions: In this study the predictors of complete response were absence of p53 surexpression and tumour diameter ascertained by CT-scan. Flow cytometry and Ki67 antigen had no prognostic value and were not predictors of response.

The diagnosis of submucosal tumors, extrinsic lesions of gastrointestinal tract and mediastinal or celiac masses can be made by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) but histological confirmation (benign or malignant lesion) is still required. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a new method, enabling EUS (curved array transducer)--guided fine needle aspiration of deep lesions. From October 1991 to August 1992, EUS-guided fine needle aspiration was performed in 26 patients in whom a mediastinal mass (6 cases), mediastinal lymph nodes (4 cases), submucosal tumor (5 cases), extrinsic masses (4 cases) and large fold gastric disease with negative endoscopic biopsy (7 cases) was detected by EUS. Diagnostic results were obtained in 19 of 26 patients (73.1%). A malignant tumor was detected in 21 of 26 patients. The EUS-guided fine needle aspiration was positive in 16 cases. The sensitivity for diagnosis of malignancy was 76.2% while specificity was 100%. The development of this new technique in the future needs further study.

Increased basal serum gastrin level has been described in patients presenting with colorectal cancer. The aim of this work was to study the evolution of serum gastrin levels after cancer treatment. We measured basal serum gastrin levels before and 1 to 2 months after treatment in 15 patients (7 men, 8 women; mean age: 61.6 years). There were 3 malignant polyps, 4 Dukes A, 3 Dukes B, 4 Dukes C and 1 Dukes D colonic cancers. Treatment included 3 endoscopic polypectomies, 2 laser photodestructions, and 10 surgical resections, Mean basal gastrin level after treatment (49.07 +/- 12.65 mIU/l) was significantly lower (P less than 0.002) than before treatment (104.47 +/- 26.98 mIU/l). In the 2 patients treated by laser therapy, recurrences were associated with reincreasing serum gastrin levels. These results suggest an "autocrine" secretion of gastrin.

In spite of the development of upper digestive tract fiberoptic endoscopy (FE) within the last 10 years, early detection of esophageal carcinoma (EC) is rare except in certain high-risk groups such as patients with head and neck cancers. The aim of this study was to assess the value of a meticulous histoendoscopic examination with vital toluidine blue (TB) staining in all alcohol and tobacco abusers undergoing FE for any reason except dysphagia. In 18 months, 100 patients (90 men, 10 women) who were over 40 years old and who consumed more than 80 g of alcohol and 20 g of tobacco per day underwent FE. No patient had a history of head and neck or esophageal cancer. FE was decided in 48 patients for epigastric pain, in 28 for esophageal varices, in 8 for weight loss, in 8 for anemia, in 7 for peptic disease, and in 1 for diarrhea. Staining with TB was carried out at the end of the examination and two routine biopsies were obtained 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Specimens were obtained from each abnormal area (TB + or TB -). Clinical ENT examination was recommended for all patients. Two esophageal carcinomas (1 microinvasive, 1 in situ) and 15 cases of dysplasia were detected. Dysplasia was classified as severe in 1 case, moderate in 9 cases, and mild in 5 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We report the case of a 68-year-old man with adenomyoma of the distal common bile duct, fortuitously discovered on a surgical specimen of a Whipple procedure. To our knowledge, three similar cases have been reported; all patients were operated on with the diagnosis of malignancy: adenomyoma was always discovered on the surgical specimen. Adenomyomas are rare tumors and their origin is discussed. Adenomyoma of the distal common hile duct should be considered as enteropancreatic heterotopia.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the frequency of gastroduodenal involvement during initial staging of extradigestive non Hodgkin's lymphoma. One hundred and one patients (64 men and 37 women; mean age 57.7; range 22-77 years) underwent an upper digestive endoscopy with multiple biopsies before any treatment. The origin of lymphoma was nodal in 76 cases and extranodal in 25 cases. Biopsy specimens were taken from all gross lesions; when the mucosa was considered as normal, biopsy specimens were obtained from the corpus, the antrum, and the duodenum. Endoscopy was normal in 37 patients; nevertheless in 4/37 patients, biopsies revealed lymphoma infiltration. In 64 patients, endoscopy showed macroscopic anomalies: biopsies were negative in 47 patients and showed lymphoma involvement in 17 patients. The involvement site was the corpus of the stomach (11 cases), the antrum (9 cases), and the duodenum (9 cases); lesions were multifocal in 10/21 patients. The association of several types of lesions was noticed in 5 patients. Lesions included volcano-like craters (8 cases), large folds of brain-like appearance (4 cases), tumors greater than 3 cm (3 cases), gastric ulcers (3 cases), erosive gastritis (3 cases), and erythematous duodenitis (2 cases). Overall, 21 of 101 patients (20.8 percent) had positive biopsies, 17 with endoscopic lesions and 4 without. Only 5/21 patients presented upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Staging of the lymphoma changed to Stage IV in 11 patients (4 stage I, 4 stage II and 3 stage III) (10.9 percent) after gastrointestinal involvement was documented. Gastroduodenal involvement is not related to initial site (nodal or extranodal), stage of extension or grade of malignancy of the lymphoma.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of fine needle aspiration (22 G) with large caliber needle biopsy (18 G) in patients suspected of having abdominal malignancy. From November 1988 to December 1989, 73 patients aged 32 to 78 years (mean 66 years), suspected sonographically of having hepatic malignancy (66 cases) or extrahepatic tumors (7 cases), underwent ultrasonography guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration (22 G) and biopsy with a large caliber needle (18 G). There were no complications. Overall sensitivity for diagnosis of malignancy was significantly better (p less than 0.01) with 18 G needle biopsies (91.2 percent) than with fine needle cytology (71.4 percent). Specificity was 100 percent. The distinction between primary and secondary malignant tumor was possible in 87.5 percent with the large caliber needle and in only 42.9 percent with the fine needle (p less than 0.001). Histological findings were adequate hepatic metastases in 86.5 percent with the 18 gauge needle and in 51.4 percent with the 22 gauge needle (p less than 0.001). In the 7 extra-hepatic tumors, the 18 G biopsy was always positive whereas fine needle cytology was positive in only 5 out of 7 cases. Correct diagnosis for benign diseases was possible in 7 out of 10 cases with the large caliber needle whereas the fine needle cytology was always negative. These results show the superiority of large caliber needle (18 G) compared to fine needle (22 G) guided punction for both diagnosis of malignancy and origin of the tumor. Complications did not occur more frequently than with fine caliber needles.

The authors report the case of a patient with ajmaline hepatitis. The clinical presentation suggested angiocholitis; serum bilirubin concentration and the activity of alkaline phosphatase were markedly increased; serum transaminase activity was moderately increased; the prothrombin time remained normal. After interruption of the drug, the outcome was favorable, with complete recovery within 2 months. Histologic examination of a liver specimen obtained early after the onset of jaundice showed inflammatory cells in the portal tracts and mild hepatocytic lesions. Electron microscopy disclosed dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum. The microfilamentous network of the hepatocytes was reduced and disorganized. Biliary canaliculi were enlarged with absent or blunted microvilli. There was evidence for passage of bile products from the biliary caniculi into the space of Disse. These aspects are reminiscent of those observed in animals after the administration of cytochalasin B. It is suggested that ajmaline may, in some patients, trigger an immune response which then alters the microfilamentous network of the hepatocytes, and may, thereby, produce cholestasis.

The authors report a case of papillary cystic tumor which is a rare form of pancreatic tumor of exocrine origin. A young woman presenting with a painful abdominal mass was operated on for a tumor of the head of the pancreas. Gross and microscopic examination revealed a papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas. Tests for histologic markers found progesterone receptors. A review of the literature found approximately 100 cases of papillary cystic tumors of the pancreas. This type of tumor is seen mainly in young women presenting with an abdominal mass. After complete resection of the tumor, these patients usually make an uneventful recovery. Since regrowth of the tumor may occur these patients should be submitted to prolonged follow-up.