Judy Wyatt

Observer variation in the assessment of chronic gastritis according to the Sydney system.

The main aims of the Sydney system for the classification of gastritis are to improve uniformity in histopathological reporting and to provide a flexible matrix of rules for grading the histological features. We sought to determine the level of interobserver agreement between pathologists in the application of the Sydney system. Three histopathologists independently examined H & E, alcian blue/PAS and modified Giemsa stained sections of two antral and two corpus gastric biopsies from 69 consecutive dyspeptic patients. After elimination of five unsuitable cases, each observer graded chronic inflammation, polymorph activity, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and Helicobacter pylori density in the antrum and corpus on a 0–3 scale according to the Sydney system criteria. The pairwise agreement on final diagnosis and the overall and conditional agreement on histological grades were examined by kappa statistics. Agreement on the final diagnosis ranged from 83–94% with kappa values of 0.699 (‘good’) to 0.887 (‘excellent’). Conditional probability of agreement on a diagnosis of H. pylori positive gastritis was 99%, but wider disagreements were apparent in the recognition of H. pylori negative gastritis, reactive gastritis and even normal biopsies. Overall agreement for grade ranged from 70% for antral atrophy to 94% for intestinal metaplasia in the corpus with ‘moderate’ or ‘good’ kappa values. We conclude that the diagnostic and grading criteria described in the Sydney system can be applied consistently by histopathologists. The findings underline its potential usefulness in routine practice.

Histopathology of gastroduodenal inflammation: the impact of Helicobacter pylori.

In this article the histological features of acute and chronic gastritis are reviewed. The histopathological gastric biopsy report can now encompass an aetiological, topographical (when antrum and corpus are sampled) and morphological comment on the gastric mucosa. The degree of detail included in the report (e.g. grading of the severity of inflammation, atrophy, density of Helicobacter pylori) will vary according to local requirement. However, the distinct recognisable patterns of inflammation categorised in the Sydney system provide a common terminology for a succinct diagnosis. The overall condition of the patients gastric mucosa assigns him/her to one of the H. pylori‐positive or negative categories of chronic gastritis. This may not only have relevance to current clinical management, but may be a valuable record if the patient returns with dyspeptic symptoms in the future. For example, duodenal ulcers are unlikely to develop except in patients with antrum predominant H. pylori‐associated gastritis. Knowledge of the natural history of different types of gastritis is rapidly evolving, and the biopsy provides a permanent ‘snapshot’ of the state of the gastric mucosa at the time of the endoscopy.

Sinusoidal Obstructive Syndrome Diagnosed With Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide–Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Chemotherapy-Treated Colorectal Liver Metastases

PURPOSE To assess the predictive value of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) -enhanced T2-weighted gradient echo (GRE) imaging to determine the presence and severity of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS). PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty hepatic resection patients with colorectal metastases treated with chemotherapy underwent unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by T2-weighted GRE sequences obtained after SPIO. The images were reviewed in consensus by two experienced observers who determined the presence and severity of linear and reticular hyperintensities, indicating SOS-type liver injury, using a 4-point ordinal scale. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) with 95% CIs for the detection of SOS were calculated. RESULTS Twenty-four of 60 patients had moderate to severe SOS on MRI. MRI achieved a sensitivity of 87% (95% CI, 66% to 97%), specificity of 89% (95% CI, 75% to 97%), PPV of 83% (95% CI, 63% to 95%), and NPV of 92% (95% CI, 77% to 98%). SOS was never found at surgery or histology in patients whose background liver parenchyma was normal on SPIO-enhanced MRI. CONCLUSION SOS is present in a significant proportion of patients with treated colorectal metastases and is effectively detected on SPIO-enhanced T2-weighted GRE images.

The pathology of acute hepatic disintegration in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Aims:  Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia is a rare inherited disease in which telangiectases affect skin, mucous membranes and the gastrointestinal tract. Hepatic involvement is common but usually asymptomatic. We report a case of acute hepatic disintegration in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, document the histopathological findings and present a hypothesis to explain them.

Gallbladder polyps in children: Classification and management

Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLG) are rare in childhood. The authors describe 2 additional cases. A 12 year-old-girl was found to have a 5-mm gallbladder polyp during an ultrasound examination for nonspecific abdominal pain. Investigation showed no other biliary tract abnormality. During the next 5 years, she was reviewed periodically with ultrasound scans and underwent cholecystectomy when the diameter of the polyp increased to 1 cm. Histology results showed a benign cholesterol polyp. A 12-year-old-boy was found to have an incidental gallbladder polyp, which 2 years later remained static in size for 10 months. The polyp had disappeared spontaneously. The authors suggest that PLGs in children may be either primary or secondary. Only 11 primary PLGs have been reported, and their histology is variable (adenoma, gastric heterotopia, and epithelial hyperplasia). Secondary PLGs may be found in association with metachromatic leukodystrophy, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, or pancreato-biliary malunion. The pathologic spectrum of PLGs in children appears to be different from that in adults. For primary PLGs, cholecystectomy is advisable if there are biliary symptoms or if the polyp is > or =1 cm in size. Asymptomatic cases should be maintained under ultrasound surveillance.

Does the extent of lymphadenectomy, number of lymph nodes, positive lymph node ratio and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio impact surgical outcome of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma?

Background Lymph node (LN) status is an important predictor of survival following resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCCA). Controversies still exist with regard to the prognostic value of optimum extent of lymphadenectomy, total number of nodes removed, LN ratio (LNR) and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) following PHCCA resection. Methods From 1994 to 2010, 84 PHCCAs were resected; 78 are included in this analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were studied using log-rank statistics to assess which variables affected OS and DFS. The variables that showed statistical significance (P<0.05) on Kaplan–Meier univariate analysis were subjected to multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model. Results Five-year OS for node-positive status (n=45) was 10%, whereas node-negative (n=33) OS was 41% (P<0.001). Similarly, 5-year DFS was worse in the node-positive group (8%) than in the node-negative group (36%, P=0.001). There was no difference in 5-year OS (31 vs. 12%, P=0.135) and DFS (22 vs. 16%, P=0.518) between those with regional lymphadenectomy and those who underwent regional plus para-aortic lymphadenectomy, respectively. On univariate analysis, patients with 20 or more LNs removed had worse 5-year OS (0%) when compared with those with less than 20 LNs removed (29%, P=0.047). Moderate/poor tumour differentiation, distant metastasis and LN involvement were independent predictors of OS. Positive LNR had no effect on OS. Vascular invasion and an LNR of at least 0.37 were independent predictors of DFS. NLR had no effect on OS and DFS. Conclusion Extended lymphadenectomy patients (≥20 LNs) had worse OS when compared with those with more limited (<20 LNs) resection. An LNR of at least 0.37 is an independent predictor of DFS.

Liver transplantation for a hilar inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

Abstract:  A 7‐yr‐old boy presented with obstructive jaundice secondary to an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor centered on the hepatic hilum and extending into the liver. The tumor was further complicated by portal vein phlebitis and occlusion. Attempted resection of the tumor with portal vein reconstruction and bilioenteric drainage was unsuccessful and he required urgent orthotopic liver transplantation. In contrast to more peripheral inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in the liver, hilar lesions are locally aggressive, causing occlusive portal phlebitis and biliary obstruction. Successful management may include the need for liver transplantation.

Primary Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis complicated by ascites with epstein-barr virus reactivation during primary cytomegalovirus infection.

The severity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection depends on the age of acquisition and immune status of the host. In early childhood, EBV infection is common and usually associated with few or no symptoms. Primary infection occurring in adolescence or early adulthood, however, is typically associated with acute infectious mononucleosis or ‘glandular fever’ (1). Infectious mononucleosis is characterized by fever in almost all cases, lymphadenopathy in 90%, splenomegaly in 50%, hepatomegaly in up to 20% and jaundice in 5% of cases. Although elevated aminotransferase enzymes (up to five times normal) are detected in up to 80% of cases, hepatitis is usually mild and complete recovery is usual (1,2). Ascites is an unusual complication of EBV hepatitis, and in previously reported cases other factors may have contributed to ascites (3–10). We report an unusual case of EBV hepatitis with ascites, and subsequent EBV reactivation during primary cytomegalovirus infection, and review the previously reported cases linking EBV with ascites.

Pre-liver transplant biopsy in hepatocellular carcinoma: a potential criterion for exclusion from transplantation?

BACKGROUND In cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), poor differentiation in pre-liver transplantation (LT) biopsy of the largest tumour is used as a criterion for exclusion from LT in some centres. The potential role of pre-LT biopsy at one centre was explored. METHODS A prospective database of patients undergoing orthotopic LT for radiologically diagnosed HCC at St Jamess University Hospital, Leeds during 2006-2011 was analysed. RESULTS A total of 60 predominantly male (85.0%) patients with viral hepatitis were identified. There were discrepancies between radiological and histopathological findings with respect to the number of tumours identified (in 27 patients, 45.0%) and their size (in 63 tumours, 64.3%). In four (6.7%) patients, the largest lesion, which would theoretically have been targeted for biopsy, was not the largest in the explant. Nine (31.0%) patients with multifocal HCC had tumours of differing grades. In two (6.9%) patients, the largest tumour was well differentiated, but smaller tumours in the explant were poorly differentiated. In one patient, the largest lesion was benign and smaller invasive tumours were confirmed histologically. CONCLUSIONS The need to optimize selection for LT in HCC remains. In the present series, the largest tumour was not always representative of overall tumour burden or biological aggression and its potential use to exclude patients from LT is questionable.

Histologic oddities at the porta hepatis in biliary atresia

PURPOSE Highly unusual histologic findings at the porta hepatis in 3 infants who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia are reported. METHODS Portoenterostomy was performed using a standard operative technique. Serial transverse sections of the excised portal plate were examined by light microscopy along with sections from the distal extrahepatic biliary remnants, gallbladder, and liver biopsy. RESULTS Of 61 consecutive infants who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia, 3 were found to have highly unusual histologic features at the porta hepatis. All had type 3 biliary atresia. Two had hilar biliary ductules lined in part by squamous epithelium, and the third had a focus of mature hyaline cartilage surrounded by perichondrium adjacent to biliary ductules. In each case, these unusual histologic features were localized to the porta hepatis in the region of the transected portal plate. CONCLUSIONS The presence of hyaline cartilage at the portal plate is likely to be an expression of defective morphogenesis, thus supporting the concept of disordered embryogenesis in the etiology of biliary atresia. Squamous epithelium within biliary ductules might also reflect a similar mechanism but could alternatively be an unusual metaplastic response to inflammation at this site.