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Rationale, aims, and objectives: The aim of this observational study is to identify factors by which some pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) were undetectable at transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as reference standard. Methods: The database for 781 consecutive subjects who underwent a health checkup including fat computed tomography and upper abdominal MRI as option was searched. The presence of fatty liver and fatty pancreas was diagnosed by TAUS, and atrophic pancreas was determined by reevaluating the image of the pancreas in the chest computed tomography for screening. Subjects with PCL detected and those undetected at TAUS were statistically compared in clinical characteristics. Results: The prevalence of PCL detected at MRI was 17.8% in the general population. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fatty liver, body mass index, and the size of PCL were significantly associated with the factors influencing the visualization of PCL at TAUS (odds ratio [OR]: 0.337, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.154‐0.734, P = 0.006; OR: 0.852, 95% CI: 0.737‐0.985, P = 0.030; OR:1.120, 95% CI: 1.045‐1.200, P =.001). Thirty‐six PCLs (64.3%) in a total of 56 PCLs were undermeasured by TAUS. Additionally, nine (56%) out of 16 PCLs (≥ 15 mm) were undermeasured by 5 mm or more by TAUS, although a significantly higher detection rate was observed for PCLs (≥ 15 mm) in comparison with that for PCLs (< 15 mm) (80% vs 33.6%, P =.000). Conclusions: It should be noted that coexisting fatty liver may lower the detection of PCL, and its size may be underestimated by TAUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body mass index (BMI) and obesity are reportedly associated with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of metabolic disorders including obesity on the levels of functional gastroesophageal reflux by videoesophagography. Methods: Twenty-one patients with GERD-associated symptoms were examined by videoesophagography. On their initial visit, all patients completed the Japanese version of the Carlsson-Dent self-administered questionnaire (QUEST). The findings of videoesophagography were evaluated by the X-ray severity scores for gastroesophageal reflux (XRSS), which were defined for the total diagnosis of functional gastroesophageal reflux. Correlation between XRSS scores and physical or metabolic markers was evaluated. Results: The mean XRSS in the QUEST-positive group (4.7 ± 0.6) was significantly higher than that in the QUEST-negative group (3.3 ± 0.5, P < 0.05). XRSS correlated positively with BMI ( P < 0.05) and waist circumference ( P < 0.05), but negatively with high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol ( P < 0.05), serum adiponectin ( P < 0.05) and active ghrelin ( P < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, serum adiponectin level, BMI and triglyceride independently affected the XRSS. Conclusion: Videoesophagography is a useful diagnostic modality for the evaluation of patients with GERD symptoms. Functional gastroesophageal reflux is seen in obese patients, especially with decreased levels of adiponectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraoperative detection of sentinel nodes (SNs) has been used clinically to predict regional lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with breast cancer and malignant melanoma. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and SN biopsy can potentially be combined with minimally invasive surgery. However, few reports have demonstrated the validity of SN biopsy during laparoscopic gastrectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of laparoscopic lymphatic mapping in predicting LN status in patients with gastric cancer. A total of 35 patients with gastric cancer diagnosed preoperatively as T1, N0 were enrolled. Endoscopic injection of technetium-99m-radiolabeled tin colloid was completed 16 hours before surgery, and radioactive SNs were identified with a gamma probe intraoperatively. Isosulfan blue dye was injected endoscopically during the operation. Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy with LN dissection was performed. All resected LNs were evaluated by routine pathology examination. SNs were detected in 33 (94.3%) of 35 patients. The mean number of SNs was 3.9, and the diagnostic accuracy according to SN status was 97.0% (32/33), as one patient with a false-negative result was observed. The patient with the false-negative specimen was finally diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer with invasion into the proper muscular layer and severe lymphatic vessel invasion, causing destruction of normal lymphatic flow by the tumor. Radio-guided SN mapping during laparoscopic gastrectomy is an accurate diagnostic tool for detecting lymph node metastasis in patients with early-stage gastric cancer. Validation of this method requires further studies on technical issues, including indications, tracers, methods of lymph node retrieval, and diagnostic modalities of metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]