Kunihiko Tsutsui

Contribution of whole body FDG-PET to the detection of distant metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

Objective: Accurate baseline staging is necessary to appropriately treat pancreatic cancer. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical contribution of whole body FDG-PET to the detection of distant metastasis in pancreatic cancer.Methods: A total of consecutive 42 patients with previously untreated pancreatic cancer were examined. Whole body FDG-PET imaging for initial staging was performed with a 3D acquisition and iterative reconstruction on Siemens ECAT HR+ scanner at 1 hour post 185-200 MBq18F-FDG injection. PET findings were correlated with clinical and radiological data to determine the impact of PET on staging.Results: In 16 patients, there were one or more sites of metastasis based on clinical data. FDG-PET correctly identified the presence of metastasis in 13 of 16 patients and its absence in 23 of the remaining 26 patients. Thus, FDG-PET missed 4 metastatic sites in 4 patients (liver and lung metastasis). FDG-PET correctly identified 8 metastatic sites in 7 patients (peritoneal dissemination and liver, bone and supracla-vicular lymph node metastasis), which were missed on CT imaging. Based on whole body FDG-PET, the clinical stage was changed in 5 of 42 patients (11.9%).Conclusions: These results suggest that FDG-PET and CT appear to have a complementary role in the detection of distant metastasis in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Evaluation of delayed additional FDG PET imaging in patients with pancreatic tumour.

AimTo evaluate whether delayed fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is more helpful in differentiating between malignant and benign lesions and whether delayed FDG PET imaging can identify more lesions in patients in whom pancreatic cancer is suspected. MethodsThe study evaluated 86 patients who were suspected of having pancreatic tumours. FDG PET imaging (whole body) was performed at 1 h (early) post-injection and repeated 2 h (delayed) after injection only in the abdominal region. Qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation was performed. The semi-quantitative analysis was performed using the standardized uptake value (SUV), obtained from early and delayed images (SUVearly and SUVdelayed, respectively). Retention index (RI) was calculated according to the equation: (SUVdelayed–SUVearly)×100/SUVearly. ResultsThe final diagnosis was pancreatic cancer in 55 and benign disease in 31 patients. On visual and semi-quantitative analysis, the diagnostic accuracy of RI was the highest (88%). The differences between the SUVearly, SUVdelayed and RI value in both pancreatic cancer and benign disease were significant (P<0.01). The mean value of SUVdelayed was significantly higher than that of SUVearly (P<0.01) in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, new foci of metastasis were seen in the liver in two patients and in the lymph node in one patient only on delayed images. ConclusionsThe RI values obtained using early and delayed FDG PET may help in evaluating pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, addition of delayed FDG PET imaging is helpful to identify more lesions in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Utility of pancreatic duct brushing for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of pancreatic duct brushing for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.MethodsBrush cytology was attempted in 58 patients suspected of having pancreatic malignancy because of stricture of the main pancreatic duct, confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Thirty-eight patients were finally diagnosed by an operation or the clinical course as having pancreatic carcinoma, and the remaining 20 patients as having chronic pancreatitis. The usefulness of brush cytology for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was estimated. We interpreted failures of pancreatic duct brushing to be false negatives when the lesion was malignant.ResultsIn 48 of 58 patients (82.8%), brushing was successfully performed and satisfactory specimens were obtained. Brush cytology was positive in 25 of 38 patients with pancreatic carcinoma (sensitivity 65.8%) and negative in all patients without malignancy (specificity 100%). Overall accuracy was 76.4%. During 2001–2005, the number of back-and-forth motions of the brush was increased to more than 30 times. The sensitivity significantly improved from 43.8% in 1997–2000 to 81.8% in 2001–2005 (P < 0.05). The increased success rate of brushing by improvement of skill in manipulating the guidewire and increased number of cells smeared on glass slides by increased back-and-forth motion of the brush may account for this improvement over time. Moreover, the sensitivity in 2001–2005 was 85.7% if failures of brushing with pancreatic carcinoma are excluded. No major complications occurred, except for two patients with a moderate grade of acute pancreatitis.ConclusionsAlthough further studies with a large number of patients are needed, our results suggest that with recent improvements of the brushing technique, pancreatic duct brushing is a useful and safe method for the differential diagnosis of malignancy from benign diseases of the pancreas.

Usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration for the treatment of acute cholecystitis

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration (PTGBA) for the treatment of acute cholecystitis.MethodsPTGBA was performed in patients with acute cholecystitis who showed no improvement after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. PTGBA was carried out at bedside. When the bile was too thick to be aspirated through a 21-gauge needle, an 18-gauge needle was used. Aspiration of the gallbladder contents and injection of antibiotics into the gallbladder were performed without the placement of a drainage catheter. When improvement was not observed after the first attempt, PTGBA was repeated.ResultsSingle PTGBA achieved improvement in 32 of 45 patients. In 11 of the remaining 13 patients, the second PTGBA was effective. In the remaining two patients, repetitive PTGBA was not carried out because of advanced cancer. In two of 45 patients, 18-gauge needles were necessary for PTGBA because of the high viscosity of the bile. PTGBA was carried out in three patients with blockage of the cystic duct by a stent, and it was effective in all three. Two patients whose conditions improved with a single PTGBA experienced a recurrence at 4 and 31 months, respectively, after PTGBA. No other severe complications related to PTGBA were observed in any patients.ConclusionsFor the treatment of acute cholecystitis that does not react to conservative therapies, PTGBA is a safe, simple, and effective treatment modality that can be performed at bedside without any severe complications.

Estimation of the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi against malignant bile duct obstruction

BackgroundIn endoscopic biliary stenting against malignant biliary obstruction, stent blockage remains as an important problem. Stent blockage occurs as a result of bacterial adherence to the inner wall of the stent. We evaluated the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi to retain the function of the sphincter of Oddi as a bacteriological barrier.MethodsSixteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction were assessed as the patients with the stent above the intact sphincter of Oddi. Sixteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction were assessed as the patients with the conventional stent placement across the sphincter of Oddi. Tannenbaum 10-Fr. stents were used in both the groups.ResultsThe median patency periods of the stent were 255 days (25th to 75th percentiles, 212–454 days; range, 39–454 days) for the group of the stents placed above the sphincter of Oddi and 82 days (25th to 75th percentiles, 48–131 days; range, 22–196 days) for the group of the stents placed across the sphincter of Oddi, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.0001). The occlusion rates of stents placed above and across the sphincter of Oddi were 37.5% and 93.8%, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.0008). The dislocation rates of the stent were 0% and 6.3%, respectively (not significant).ConclusionsPlacement of the stent above the intact sphincter of Oddi was associated with longer stent patency and lower occlusion rate.

Concomitant colitis associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Between 1985 and 2001, seven Japanese patients (four males and three females) were diagnosed as having primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in our hospital. All seven patients received total colonoscopy with distal ileoscopy. All four male patients were diagnosed as having colitis by colonoscopy, while none of the three female patients had colitis. The four patients with colitis did not have any symptoms attributable to colitis, such as diarrhea or hematochezia. In three of the four patients, unclassified colitis was the most suitable diagnosis, because there were no typical findings of ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. The remaining patient was diagnosed as having eosinophilic colitis. By colonoscopic visualization, the right-sided colon, including the terminal ileum, was mainly involved, but the lesions were not severe. The main findings were redness, erosion, stenosis, and insufficiency of haustral formation. Histologically, these lesions were nonspecific inflammatory changes in the three patients with unclassified colitis. In the patient with eosinophilic colitis, remarkable infiltration of eosinophils was observed. Thus, unclassified colitis appeared to be the main complication in these patients with PSC. Males predominated in regard to concomitant colitis, and they had no symptoms of the colitis. Colonoscopic examination revealed that the lesions were not severe. The main lesions were found in the right-sided colon, with nonspecific inflammatory changes. These results suggest that colonoscopic surveillance of patients with PSC should be performed even if they do not have any colitis symptoms.

Findings for current marks: Histopathological examination and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of three cases

We describe herein three cases of electrocution. As most deaths caused by electricity are due to cardiac arrhythmia or paralysis of the respiratory muscles, autopsy findings in electrocution cases are generally non-specific, with the exception of the presence of current marks. We detected metallization by histological examination and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis in tissues of typical or atypical current marks. In addition, myofiber break-up was observed in one case. One patient was hospitalized before death and revealed patchy contraction band necrosis, along with infiltration of leucocytes and vacuolation in the diaphragm. The presence of current marks is the hallmark for forensic diagnosis of electrocution. Although specific findings are lacking at autopsy in cases of electrocution, detailed histological examination and EDX analysis provide useful information for forensic diagnosis.

Combination of assay of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA and cytology using bile obtained by endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder for diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma

OBJECTIVES:It is difficult to make accurate diagnoses of polypoid lesions in the gallbladder. To increase the diagnostic accuracy, we have developed an endoscopic technique to obtain gallbladder bile, termed endoscopic transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder (ETCG). We evaluated the usefulness of a molecular biological approach to the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma, in which gallbladder bile obtained by the ETCG technique is used.METHODS:Twenty patients undergoing an operation because of suspicion of gallbladder carcinoma were enrolled. Twelve patients were confirmed to have gallbladder carcinoma, and four were found to have chronic cholecystitis. Two patients with polypoid lesion were diagnosed as having an inflammatory polyp and a hyperplastic polyp, respectively. The remaining two patients with polypoid lesions were diagnosed as having a cholesterol polyp. Gallbladder bile collected by the ETCG technique was evaluated cytologically and also analyzed for telomerase activity and mRNA for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the catalytic subunit of telomerase. In 14 patients, hTERT mRNA in resected specimens (fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin) was also examined.RESULTS:Cytology of gallbladder bile was positive in eight of 11 examined patients (72.7%) with gallbladder carcinoma. hTERT mRNA was detectable in gallbladder bile as well as in resected neoplastic tissues in four of 12 patients (33.3%) with carcinoma. Conversely, telomerase activity was negative in all eight examined patients with carcinoma. Overall, either cytology or hTERT mRNA of gallbladder bile was positive in 10 of 12 patients (83.3%) with gallbladder carcinoma. Cytology, hTERT mRNA, and telomerase activity were negative in eight patients with benign disease.CONCLUSIONS:The combination of cytology and hTERT mRNA analysis of gallbladder bile might be helpful for the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma.

Pre-cutting using a noseless papillotome with independent lumens for contrast material and guidewire

Background:  The technical success of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) depends on selective cannulation into the bile duct. We have developed a new type of precut papillotome for selective cannulation.

Analysis of the amount of tissue sample necessary for mitotic count and Ki-67 index in gastrointestinal stromal tumor sampling

There are no established opinions concerning whether the amount of tissue affects the accuracy of histological analyses in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the appropriate amount of tissue sample needed for mitotic count based on the risk classification of GISTs and the Ki-67 index using the following three methods: endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA), a novel sampling method called tunneling bloc biopsy (TBB), and biopsy forceps followed by TBB (Bf). Forty-three samples (12 FNA, 17 TBB and 14 Bf) diagnosed as GISTs by immunohistological analysis were utilized. The major and minor axes and overlay area of one piece of specimen (OPS) from the three sampling methods were measured using digital imaging software and were analyzed comparatively regarding the acquisition of histological data. The mean major and minor axes (mm) and overlay areas (mm2) were in the order of TBB > Bf > FNA. The evaluable rates by mitotic count and Ki-67 were, respectively, 75% (9/12) and 83.3% (10/12) for FNA samples, 100% (17/17) and 100% (17/17) for TBB samples, and 100% (14/14) and 100% (14/14) for Bf samples (P>0.05). Three FNA samples were judged unevaluable due to too small specimens in overall diagnosis including mitotic count and Ki-67, calculating the cut-off value for the overlay area of OPS as 0.17 mm2. Comparing the concordance rates between the pre- and post-operative samples, TBB samples was significantly better than FNA (P<0.05). Conclusively, while the amounts of tissues obtained by TBB and Bf are unnecessary for the histological assessment of mitotic count and Ki-67 index, developments of the FNA method are needed to minimize sample error. Considering the technical aspects, as well as the size of the specimens, could help to guide therapeutic planning and improve diagnostic yield for GI subepithelial tumors.