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Background Emerging evidence demonstrates that surveillance of individuals at high-risk (HRIs) of developing pancreatic adenocarcinoma allows for identification and treatment of resectable tumors with improved survival. Population-based data suggest that hyperglycemia may be present up to three years before the development of pancreatic cancer. We investigated whether elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is associated with the development of pancreatic cysts in a pancreatic surveillance program. Methods We performed a retrospective study of HRIs who underwent pancreatic surveillance at a single institution between May 2013 and March 2019, according to published criteria. We collected demographic information, clinical data including HbA1c, and imaging results. We compared data using univariable and multivariable analyses. Our primary outcome was the presence of pancreatic cysts on initial surveillance in patients with elevated HbA1c. Results Ninety-eight patients underwent surveillance imaging via EUS or MRCP and seventy-four patients met inclusion criteria. Thirty patients were found to have cysts on initial imaging. Older age ( p  < 0.01) and HbA1c in the prediabetic range or higher ( p  = 0.01) were associated with the presence of cysts or solid lesions on univariable analysis. After controlling for confounders, age (aOR 9.08, 95% CI 2.29–36.10), and HbA1c > 5.7% (aOR 5.82, 95% CI 1.50–22.54) remained associated with presence of cysts and solid lesions in HRIs. In patients with cysts or solid lesions there was a strong association between increased age and elevated HbA1c ( p  < 0.01). Conclusion HRIs with elevated HbA1c were more likely to have pancreatic cysts compared to individuals with lower HbA1c on initial imaging in a pancreatic surveillance program. These findings may help tailor the surveillance protocols for those at increased risk of developing pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background Peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) occur in up to 30 % of patients following partial pancreatic resections. Traditionally, postoperative PFCs are managed via percutaneous drainage (PD). EUS-guided transgastric drainage has been shown to be effective for the management of PFCs secondary to acute pancreatitis. However, there are limited data on the use of EUS-guided drainage (EUSD) for the management of postoperative PFCs. Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of PD versus EUSD of PFCs in patients who have undergone partial pancreatic resections. Design Retrospective analysis of patients with symptomatic PFCs following pancreatic enucleation or distal pancreatectomy at MSKCC between January 2008 and December 2010. Patients were identified using an electronic medical records query in addition to a prospectively maintained pancreatic surgery complications database. Setting Single, academic, tertiary referral center. Patients Twenty-three patients with symptomatic PFCs following pancreatic enucleation or distal pancreatectomy were retrospectively identified. Interventions CT-guided PD versus endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage (EUSD) Main outcome measures Outcomes included technical success, clinical success, number of interventions, and complications. Technical success was defined as successful localization of the PFC by fine-needle aspiration and placement of a drainage catheter or stent. Clinical success was defined as radiographic resolution of the PFC and removal of the drain or stent, without the need for an alternative drainage procedure or surgery. Results PD was initially performed in 14 patients and EUSD initially in 9 patients. Three patients with initial PD had recurrence of PFC after removal of the external drain and underwent subsequent EUSD. The mean size of the fluid collections was 10.0 cm in the PD group and 8.9 cm in the EUSD group. Technical success was achieved in all patients in both groups. Clinical success was achieved in 11 of 14 (79 %) patients in the PD group compared with 11 of 11 (100 %) in the EUSD group, with one patient in the EUSD group lost to follow-up. One patient with initial PD required two additional percutaneous procedures before complete PFC resolution. Five EUSD patients required repeat endoscopy for stent revision or necrosectomy. The median number of interventions was two [range 1–5] in the PD group and two [range 1–5] in the EUSD group. The median number of days the drainage catheters were in place was 44.5 [range 2–87] in the PD group versus 57 [range 32–217] in the EUSD group. There were no procedure-related complications in either group. Adverse events in the PD group included splenic artery stump bleeding, pleural effusion, cysto-colonic and cysto-cutaneous fistulae, and persistent catheter site pain. One patient in the EUSD group developed a small-bowel obstruction and bleeding gastric ulcer. Limitations Retrospective, nonrandomized study and small numbers. Conclusions EUSD of postoperative PFCs appears to be safe and technically feasible. This technique appears to be as successful as PD for the management of PFCs with the advantage of not requiring an external drainage apparatus and should be considered as a therapeutic option in this group of patients. Further evaluation, with analysis of cost and quality of life, should be considered in a prospective, randomized trial.

Endoscopic necrosectomy has emerged as the preferred treatment modality for walled-off pancreatic necrosis. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of direct endoscopic necrosectomy with and without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) lavage. Retrospective chart reviews were performed for all patients undergoing endoscopic transmural management of walled-off pancreatic necrosis at 9 major medical centers from November 2011 to August 2018. Clinical success was defined as the resolution of the collection by imaging within 6 months, without requiring non-endoscopic procedures or surgery. Of 293 patients, 204 met the inclusion criteria. Technical and clinical success rates were 100% (204/204) and 81% (166/189), respectively. For patients, 122 (59.8%) patients had at least one H2O2 necrosectomy (H2O2 group) and 82 (40.2%) patients had standard endoscopic necrosectomy. Clinical success was higher in the H2O2 group: 106/113 (93.8%) vs 60/76 (78.9%), P = 0.002. On a multivariate analysis, the use of H2O2 was associated with higher clinical success rate (odds ratio 3.30, P = 0.033) and earlier resolution (odds ratio 2.27, P < 0.001). During a mean follow-up of 274 days, 27 complications occurred. Comparing procedures performed with and without H2O2 (n = 250 vs 183), there was no difference in post-procedure bleeding (7 vs 9, P = 0.25), perforation (2 vs 3, P = 0.66), infection (1 vs 2, P = 0.58), or overall complication rate (n = 13 [5.2%] vs 14 [7.7%], P = 0.30). H2O2-assisted endoscopic necrosectomy had a higher clinical success rate and a shorter time to resolution with equivalent complication rates relative to standard necrosectomy.See the visual abstract at http://links.lww.com/AJG/B714.(Equation is included in full-text article.).

Introduction: Current radiologic and endoscopic studies for pancreatic cystic lesions have known poor sensitivity and accuracy for distinguishing any particular cystic lesion. The current case describes the use of two novel EUS-guided tools for the diagnosis and management of a large, symptomatic pancreatic cyst. Case Description: 30 year old female with prior history of pancreatitis presented with left upper quadrant abdominal pain. MRCP revealed a large 28 mm x 39 mm unilocular cyst in the tail of the pancreas. Based on the history, the possibility of a pancreatic pseudocyst was raised. However, given the patient's young age and female gender, as well as the cyst morphology and location, a clinical suspicion was raised for a possible mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN). Given the diagnostic uncertainty, and the vast differences in management of these lesions, the decision was made to perform further diagnostic testing to help guide management. EUS evaluation with multimodality sampling was performed. nCLE imaging revealed multiple thickened epithelial bands lining the cyst wall. Four biopsies were then obtained using the MFB. Following this, FNA was performed. Seventeen ml of dark brown watery fluid was obtained. Cyst fluid analysis demonstrated glucose 1,500 ng/ml, amylase 11,859 u/L. Cytology revealed foamy macrophages and a few clusters of bland glandular cells. MFB pathology yielded tissue with ovarian-like stroma with mucinproducing epithelial lining consistent with an MCN. The patient was referred for a distal pancreatectomy. Final surgical pathology revealed the cyst wall to be lined by flat cuboidal epithelium and ovarian-type stroma without cytologic atypia, papillary architecture or epithelial proliferation. Final diagnosis favored an endometrial cyst of the pancreas over an atypical MCN. The patient had resolution of her symptoms following surgery. Discussion: Standard EUS-FNA and cyst fluid analysis are suboptimal in their ability to make a cytopathologic diagnosis of a pancreatic cyst. In the current case, standard biochemical fluid analysis produced conflicting results showing both an elevated cyst fluid CEA and amylase, and thus unable to distinguish an inflammatory pseudocyst from a neoplastic or non-inflammatory cystic lesion. Cyst fluid cytology was similarly non-diagnostic. However, the combined use of EUS-guided nCLE and MFB produced highly detailed diagnostic information allowing for appropriate management. Watch the video: https://goo.gl/XkPkfy

Introduction: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with an incidence range of 5-20%. Patients with BE are at increased risk for progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The rate of progression to EAC is relatively low, ranging from 0.3 to 0.6% per patient per year. Identification of additional factors that predict progression to EAC would be useful in the management of BE. A major European study found aberrant p53 expression in esophageal biopsies was associated with increased risk for progression to EAC, but the results have not been confirmed. The aim of this study is to assess the association between aberrant p53 expression and the risk of neoplastic progression of BE in a large American cohort. Methods: Electronic medical records of patients with BE diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 at Mount Sinai Hospital were reviewed. Patients were included if they had at least 2 EGDs performed at least 1 year apart with p53 immunohistochemistry performed on biopsies from the initial endoscopy. Demographic information, length of BE, histology of BE, and p53 expression were recorded. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate association between aberrant tissue expression of p53 and progression from non-dysplastic BE (NDBE) and low grade dysplasia (LGD) to advanced neoplasia, high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or EAC. Results: A total of 186 patients were identified that met the inclusion criteria, comprised of 136 (73.1%), with an overall mean age of 59.5 ± 10.6 years at diagnosis, and the mean duration of follow-up was 4.05 ± 2.55 years. Of the patients with a recorded length of BE (82/186; 44.1%), the median length of BE was 2 cm (range 1-10 cm). Out of the 7 patients (3.8%) that demonstrated progression to HGD/EAC, 4 patients (57.1%) had abnormal p53 expression. Of the 179 patients (96.2%) without progression to HGD/EAC, 14 patients (7.8%) had abnormal p53 expression. Of the 18 patients with abnormal p53 expression, 4 patients (22.2%) exhibited progression to HGD/EAC, compared to only 3 patients (1.8%; 3/168) with wildtype p53 (OR 15.7 [95% CI 3.2-77.3], p = 0.0007). Conclusion: In patients with BE, aberrant tissue expression of p53 is associated with a statistically significant increased risk of progression to advanced neoplasia (HGD or EAC). Consideration should be given to the routine use of p53 immunohistochemistry to aid in the risk stratification of patients with BE.

Background and aimsBiliary drainage using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS-BD) has been developed as a novel technique to obtain biliary access and drainage when ERCP fails. Numerous studies have demonstrated its safety and efficacy specifically pertaining to those with malignant distal biliary obstruction or altered foregut anatomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-BD in benign indications in patients with normal foregut anatomy.MethodsWe performed a retrospective comparative study from 5 academic medical centers (2008–2018) involving patients with benign biliary obstruction and native foregut anatomy who had an initial failed ERCP with subsequent attempt at biliary decompression via EUS-BD or by repeating ERCP.Results36 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 2.2, 38.9% female) who underwent attempted EUS-BD following initial failed ERCP were compared to 50 patients (mean age 62.7 ± 2.3, 73.5% female) who underwent repeat ERCP following an initial failed cannulation. EUS-BD was technically successful in 28 (77.8%) patients with rendezvous being the most common approach (86.1%). A higher level of pre-procedural bilirubin was found to be associated with technical success of EUS-BD (3.65 ± 0.63 versus 1.1 ± 0.4, p value 0.04). Success of repeat ERCP following failed cannulation was 86%. Adverse events were significantly more frequent in the EUS-BD cohort when compared to the repeat ERCP (10 (27.8%) versus 4 (8.0%), p = 0.02, OR 4.32.ConclusionsEUS-BD remains a viable therapeutic option in the setting of benign biliary disease, with success rates of 77.8%. Adverse events were significantly more common with EUS-BD vs. repeat ERCP, emphasizing the need to perform in expert centers with appropriate multidisciplinary support and to strongly consider the urgency of biliary decompression before considering same session EUS-BD after failed initial biliary access.