Claudio Tombazzi

Granular Cell Tumor of the Esophagus: Report of Five Cases and Review of the Literature

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is an uncommon esophageal neoplasm. It commonly presents as a nonspecific painless mass. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience with 5 patients newly diagnosed with GCT at VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee from February 2001 to June 2005. Clinical manifestation, endoscopic appearance, histology, different modalities of treatment and prognosis are discussed. Based on this experience, we conclude that GCTs are relatively rare in occurrence. They usually present as a firm to hard submucosal nodule on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Diagnosis can be made by endoscopic biopsy in most cases. Treatment options include endoscopic surveillance, endoscopic resection, or surgery. The usual course of GCTs is benign.

Biliary Strictures After Liver Transplantation. Predictive Factors for Response to Endoscopic Management and Long-term Outcome

Background:Biliary strictures after liver transplantation are frequent. The long-term prognosis and predictive factors of response to endoscopic treatment are not well known. Methods:The aim of this study was to demonstrate the role of endoscopic treatment, predictive factors of response, and outcome in patients with biliary stricture after liver transplantation. We performed a retrospective review of medical records of all consecutive post-liver transplantation patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in our center during the period from October 2001 to October 2006. Results:Twenty-five of 43 patients referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiography had biliary stricture. Eighteen had stricture at the area of the anastomosis alone, 2 patients had a stricture at the area of the anastomosis and also another area, and 5 had nonanastomotic biliary strictures. Twenty-one patients had a single stricture and 4 had more than 1 stricture. Initially 19 of 24 patients (79%) responded to endoscopic management with normalization of liver enzymes. Four patients (16%) did not respond clinically despite a successful endoscopic approach. All patients who did not respond to endoscopic dilation had more than 1 area of stricture. There was a significantly better response to endoscopic treatment in patients with an anastomotic stricture versus patients with nonanastomotic strictures 17/19 versus 2/5 (P = 0.042). Conclusions:In our experience, endoscopic treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures is highly effective with a good long-term outcome. The presence of nonanastomotic and multiple strictures should be considered a factor associated with poor response to endoscopic management.

Sedation for upper endoscopy: Comparison of midazolam versus fentanyl plus midazolam

Background: The benefit of using one or two drugs for conscious sedation in upper endoscopy remains unproven. This study evaluates the adequacy of conscious sedation during upper endoscopy using midazolam alone compared with midazolam plus fentanyl. Methods: Patients older than 18 years of age who underwent elective, outpatient upper endoscopy were included. They were randomized to receive either a combination of midazolam/fentanyl or midazolam alone. The adequacy of sedation obtained was assessed using a questionnaire answered by the physician at the end of the procedure, and by the patient 24 to 72 hours after endoscopy. Results: From the endoscopists perspective, following an intention-to-treat analysis, patients had better tolerance in the combination group (78.3% excellent/good tolerance M/F group versus 55.8% M group) (P = 0.043) (Table 2). Per patients assessment excellent/good tolerance was found in 93% of M group and 94% in F/M group (P = 1.0). No difference in duration of the procedure was found between the two groups. No complications during endoscopies were reported. Table 2. Tolerance: midazolam versus midazolam plus fentanyl Conclusions: In diagnostic upper endoscopy, an adequate level of sedation can be obtained safely either by midazolam or midazolam plus fentanyl. From an endoscopists perspective, the combination is significantly better.

Schistosomiasis mansoni in low transmission areas: abdominal ultrasound

In endemic areas with low prevalence and low intensity of infection, the diagnosis of hepatic pathology due to the Schistosoma mansoni infection is very difficult. In order to establish the hepatic morbidity, a double-blind study was achieved in Venezuelan endemic areas, with one group of patients with schistosomiasis and the other one of non-infected people, that were evaluated clinically and by abdominal ultrasound using the Cairo classification. Schistosomiasis diagnosis was established based on parasitologic and serological tests. The increase of the hepatic size at midclavicular and midsternal lines (in hepatometry) and the hard liver consistency were the clinical parameters able to differentiate infected persons from non infected ones, as well as the presence of left lobe hepatomegaly detected by abdominal ultrasound. The periportal thickening, especially the mild form, was frequent in all age groups in both infected and uninfected patients. There was not correlation between the intensity of infection and ultrasound under the current circumstances. Our data suggest that in Venezuela, a low endemic area of transmission of schistosomiasis, the hepatic morbidity is mild and uncommon. The Cairo classification seems to overestimate the prevalence of periportal pathology. The specificity of the method must be improved, especially for the recognition of precocious pathology. Other causes of hepatopathies must be investigated.

Ischemic gastropathy: an unusual cause of abdominal pain and gastric ulcers.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia classically presents as “intestinal angina” with generalized postprandial abdominal pain lasting up to 3 hours. Over time, these episodes can become much more intense and ultimately lead to sitophobia with significant weight loss. Symptoms are not specific and often mistakenly attributed to other gastrointestinal etiologies such as peptic ulcer disease. Gastric ulcerations as a direct result of mesenteric ischemia have been reported but are relatively rare because of the rich collateral blood supply to the stomach. Therefore, a diagnosis of ischemic gastropathy is seldom entertained in patients presenting with abdominal pain and gastric ulcers.

Neuropsychiatric complications after liver transplantation: role of immunosuppression and hepatitis C.

Neuropsychiatric complications are an important source of morbidity following orthotopic liver transplantation. Etiology of liver disease and type of immunosuppression are possible related factors. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of neuropsychiatric complications after liver transplantation, the role of immunosuppression, and the association between these and specific liver diseases such as hepatitis C. One hundred twenty-eight patients with liver transplants were studied. Tacrolimus was the primary immunosuppressant in 101 patients and cyclosporine in 27 patients. Seventy-five complications in 49 patients (38.2%) were reported. In 43 patients, the etiology was associated with immunosuppression: 36 on tacrolimus and 7 on cyclosporine (P = 0.34). Seventeen and four-tenths percent of patients with hepatitis C and 4.6% of patients without hepatitis C developed depression (P = 0.02). There is no difference between types of primary immunosuppression and neuropsychiatric complications. There is a significantly greater incidence of depression in patients transplanted for hepatitis C.

Psychiatric complications after liver transplantation.

One hundred twenty-six liver and 2 combined liver/kidney transplants were included in data analysis. In 101 patients the primary immunosuppression was tacrolimus (TAC) and in 27 it was cyclosporine (CsA). A total of 32 psychiatric complications were seen in 27 patients (21%). There were 22 male and 5 female patients with a mean age of 47 (range 21 to 65). In 21 (62.8%) cases the onset was within the first 3 months. Types of complications included depression, 14 (44%); insomnia, 5 (16%); anxiety, 4 (13%); psychosis, 3 (9%); drug seeking behavior, 2 (6%); conduct changes, 2 (6%); mood swings, 1 (3%); and anorexia 1 (3%). Although 11 out of 63 patients with hepatitis C as the etiology of liver disease developed depression (17.4%), the number of patients developing depression was 3 out of 65 (4.6%) in the group of patients whose etiology was not hepatitis C (P .02). Twenty-two out of 101 patients (21.7%) receiving TAC and 5 out of 27 (18.5%) patients receiving CsA as the primary immunosuppressant developed psychiatric complications (P .7). CONCLUSIONS

A meta-analysis of endoscopic ultrasound–fine-needle aspiration compared to endoscopic ultrasound–fine-needle biopsy: diagnostic yield and the value of onsite cytopathological assessment

Background The diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is variable, and partly dependent upon rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) by a cytopathologist. Second generation fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles are being increasingly used to obtain core histological tissue samples. Aims Studies comparing the diagnostic yield of EUS guided FNA versus FNB have reached conflicting conclusions. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the diagnostic yield of FNA with FNB, and specifically evaluating the diagnostic value of ROSE while comparing the two types of needles. Methods We searched several databases from inception to 10 April 2016 to identify studies comparing diagnostic yield of second generation FNB needles with standard FNA needles. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated for categorical outcomes of interest (diagnostic adequacy, diagnostic accuracy, and optimal quality histological cores obtained). Standard mean difference (SMD) was calculated for continuous variables (number of passes required for diagnosis). These were pooled using random effects model of meta-analysis to account for heterogeneity. Meta-regression was conducted to evaluate the effect of ROSE on various outcomes of interest. Results Fifteen studies with a total of 1024 patients were included in the analysis. We found no significant difference in diagnostic adequacy [RR 0.98 (0.91, 1.06), (I 2 = 51 %)]. Although not statistically significant (P = 0.06), by meta-regression, in the absence of ROSE, FNB showed a relatively better diagnostic adequacy. For solid pancreatic lesions only, there was no difference in diagnostic adequacy [RR 0.96 (0.86, 1.09), (I 2 = 66 %)]. By meta-regression, in the absence of ROSE, FNB was associated with better diagnostic adequacy (P = 0.02). There was no difference in diagnostic accuracy [RR 0.99 (0.95, 1.03), (I 2 = 27 %)] or optimal quality core histological sample procurement [RR 0.97 (0.89, 1.05), (I 2 = 9.6 %)]. However, FNB established diagnosis with fewer passes [SMD 0.93 (0.45, 1.42), (I 2 = 84 %)]. The absence of ROSE was associated with a higher SMD, i. e., in the presence of an onsite pathologist, FNA required relatively fewer passes to establish the diagnosis than in the absence of an onsite pathologist. Conclusions There is no significant difference in the diagnostic yield between FNA and FNB, when FNA is accompanied by ROSE. However, in the absence of ROSE, FNB is associated with a relatively better diagnostic adequacy in solid pancreatic lesions. Also, FNB requires fewer passes to establish the diagnosis.

Bronchobiliary Fistula in a Cirrhotic Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Bronchobiliary fistula is defined as the passage of bile in the bronchi. The presence of bronchobiliary fistula in patient with cirrhosis is extremely rare. Management of these fistulas is often very difficult and can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. We are presenting a patient with ethanol related cirrhosis and biliptysis in whom a diagnosis of bronchobiliary fistula was made. A review of the literature including diagnosis and management is performed.

Liver disease in cystic fibrosis

Because of improved survival in the past two decades, liver disease has assumed greater importance in patients with cystic fibrosis. Clinical detection has been difficult thus far. In recent years, advances in our understanding of pathogenesis as well as increasing experience in therapeutic modalities have been accomplished. For these reasons, it is relevant to review this topic.