Manpreet Singh Gulati

Endoscopic or percutaneous biliary drainage for gallbladder cancer: a randomized trial and quality of life assessment.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder (GBC) and obstructive jaundice are usually not amenable to curative resection. Effective palliation by biliary decompression is the goal of treatment. Endoscopic stenting (ES) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) can provide biliary decompression. We compared unilateral PTBD and ES in patients with a hilar block caused by GBC and assessed their quality of life (QOL). METHODS Consecutive patients with GBC not suitable for curative resection with Bismuth type 2 or 3 block were randomized to either PTBD or ES with a 10F plastic stent. Technical success, successful drainage, early cholangitis, complications, procedure-related mortality, 30-day mortality, survival, and QOL before and 1 and 3 months after stenting were compared between the 2 groups. All patients were followed up until death. RESULTS Fifty-four patients were randomized to PTBD or ES (27 each). Successful drainage was better in the PTBD group (89% vs 41%; P < .001). Early cholangitis was significantly higher in the ES group (48% vs 11%; P = .002). Procedure-related (4% vs 8%) and 30-day mortality (4% vs 8%) and median survival were similar (60 days in both; P = .71). Although the World Health Organization-Quality of Life 1- and 3-month physical and psychological scores were better after PTBD, the difference was not significant. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-Quality of Life Questionnaire 30 global health status at 3 months was significantly better after PTBD (75 vs 30.5, P = .02). The EORTC symptom scores improved in both groups, but only fatigue was significantly better after PTBD. CONCLUSIONS PTBD provides better biliary drainage and has lower complication rates in patients with GBC and hilar block.

Randomised comparison of the FerX Ella antireflux stent and the ultraflex stent: proton pump inhibitor combination for prevention of post-stent reflux in patients with esophageal carcinoma involving the esophago-gastric junction

Background and Aim:  Metal stents placed across the gastroesophageal junction in patients with malignant dysphagia frequently present with reflux symptoms. We compared an antireflux stent with a standard open stent used in combination with proton pump inhibitor medication.

CT Appearances in abdominal tuberculosis: A pictorial essay

Abdominal tuberculosis continues to be endemic in the developing world and has shown a resurgence in the West. Computed tomography (CT) evaluation is singularly informative as it demonstrates involvement of the bowel, peritoneum, lymph nodes, and solid organs in a single examination. A spectrum of CT findings in an immunocompetent population is presented, ranging from subtle to advanced and common to rare. Genitourinary tuberculosis and tuberculosis in AIDS are excluded as they merit separate discussions.

Evaluating Patients with Cirrhosis for Hepatocellular Carcinoma : Value of Clinical Symptomatology, Imaging and Alpha-Fetoprotein

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the value of clinical symptomatology, abdominal ultrasound (US), triple-phase CT (TPCT) and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) estimation in predicting presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Child’s A/B cirrhosis patients were subjected to clinical evaluation, US, TPCT and serum AFP estimation. Sensitivity and specificity of clinical symptoms and of AFP at different cut-off levels were determined. Detection rate of HCC and agreement between US and TPCT was estimated. Results: A high proportion of enrolled subjects had HCC at first presentation (40.7%). Significantly higher prevalence of abdominal pain, weight loss, and anorexia was seen in patients with cirrhosis with HCC compared to those without HCC. Sensitivity and specificity of any of these symptoms was 73 and 79%, respectively (positive and negative predictive values of 65 and 85%, respectively). A 100% agreement between TPCT and US was observed for diagnosing HCC cases. However, TPCT detected a greater number of smaller HCCs. Sensitivity of AFP at 400 ng/ml cut-off was only 25.7%, too low to be useful. Best mix of sensitivity (77.2%) and specificity (78.1%) of AFP was found to be at 10.7 ng/ml cut-off which falls within the conventional limits of normalcy. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of symptomatology of weight loss, abdominal pain or anorexia as markers for HCC in patients with cirrhosis. AFP was not found to be a useful screening test. TPCT should be undertaken in all cirrhotics presenting to the hospital for the first time.

Three-dimensional helical computed tomography cholangiography with minimum intensity projection in gallbladder carcinoma patients with obstructive jaundice: comparison with magnetic resonance cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.

Objective:  Computed tomography (CT) is traditionally used for evaluation and staging of gallbladder carcinoma (GC). However, in the subgroup of patients with obstructive jaundice, magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is generally required to assess the level of biliary obstruction. The present study was  undertaken  to  evaluate  the  diagnostic potential of three‐dimensional helical CT cholangiography (3‐D CTC) with minimum intensity projection (minIP), to determine the presence and level of biliary obstruction.

Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with unresectable Hepatocellular carcinoma: Experience from a tertiary care centre in India.

Aims: To evaluate the outcome following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and to identify the predictors of survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and Methods: HCC patients reporting to our hospital (2001-2007) were subjected to clinical, biochemical, and radiological examination. TACE was performed in those who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Follow-up assessment was done with multiphase CT scan of the liver at 1, 3, and 6 months. Tumor response and survival rate were estimated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done for determinants of survival. Results: A total of 73 patients (69 males, 4 females; mean age 49±13.4 years) were subjected to 123 sessions of TACE. The Childs classification was: A – 56 patients and B – 17 patients. Barcelona Clinic staging was: A – 20 patients, B – 38 patients, and C – 15 patients. Tumor size was ≤5cm in 28 (38%) patients, >5–10 cm in 28 (38%) patients, and >10 cm in 17 (23%) patients. Median follow-up was for 12 months (range: 1–77 months). No significant postprocedure complications were encountered. Overall survival rate was 66%, 47%, and 36.4% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Tumor size emerged as an important predictor of survival. Conclusion: TACE offers a reasonable palliative therapy for HCC. Initial tumor size is an independent predictor of survival.

Sarcoidosis Manifesting as Massive Splenomegaly: A Rare Occurrence

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin occurring worldwide and affecting people of all races and ages. This disease manifests most frequently with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltrates, and skin and ocular lesions. Granulomatous inflammation of the spleen is common in patients with sarcoidosis, but splenic enlargement is unusual and massive splenomegaly quite rare. Splenomegaly is usually homogeneous, but multiple low-attenuating nodular lesions are occasionally seen and easily mistaken for lymphoma, metastases, or infections such as tuberculosis. We describe an unusual case of sarcoidosis in a woman who presented with massive splenomegaly with extensive nodularity that cleared completely with corticosteroid therapy.

Uterine arteriovenous malformations: the role of intravenous ‘dual-phase’ CT angiography

The authors describe the use of dual-phase intravenous CT angiography of the pelvis in two female patients, who presented with ongoing excessive vaginal bleeding, to demonstrate large adnexal and uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Power Doppler was used as the initial modality to diagnose the AVMs. CT angiography, along with 3-D rendering in the form of maximum intensity projections and shaded surface display, were especially useful for anatomical conceptualization to the gynecologist. This greatly helped in the subsequent management in the form of therapeutic embolization in both patients by reducing the time, radiation dose, and contrast required for the procedure. Subsequent surgery, which was required in both patients (due to failed embolization), was also greatly aided by the demonstration of the exact extent of the AVMs on axial CT images. Thus, CT angiography emerged as an impressive non-invasive imaging modality for the complete evaluation and management of the uterine AVMs.

Esophageal and gastric vasculature in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension Evaluation by intravenous CT portography

PURPOSE To compare the findings related to esophageal/gastric varices and congestive gastropathy on intravenous computed tomography (CT) portography (CTP) and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHO) presented with hematemesis. METHODS/MATERIALS Fifty pediatric patients (age < 15 years) with EHO (initially diagnosed on abdominal ultrasound) presented with hematemesis and underwent UGIE and intravenous CTP using a helical CT scanner. Axial sections of 2 mm each were obtained with a collimation of 2 mm and a table feed of 3 mm. CTP findings on these axial sections were compared with UGIE (gold standard). RESULTS The sensitivity of CTP for detection of esophageal varices, gastric varices, and gastropathy was 32/33 (97%), 38/40 (95%), and 30/32 (93%), respectively. CTP showed false positivity as well, which was 5/17 (29%), 2/10 (20%), and 13/17 (76%) for esophageal varices, gastric varices, and gastropathy, respectively. On follow-up UGIE, the endoscopic features appeared in 14/19 (74%) of false positive patients. Therefore, false positivity for all the parameters on CTP when compared to the initial UGIE represented the changes in vasculature before they were endoscopically manifest. CONCLUSIONS CTP was likely to pick up changes in esophageal and gastric vasculature earlier than UGIE in children with EHO presented with hematemesis.

Fibrous dysplasia localized to spine: a diagnostic dilemma

Fibrous dysplasia of the spine is uncommon, especially in monostotic form. Isolated vertebral involvement in polyostotic form is very rare. We report a case of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia with lesions localized to dorso-lumbar spine in a 45-year-old rheumatoid arthritis patient. No associated appendicular lesions, cutaneous manifestations or endocrinopathies were seen. The extreme rarity of this type of lesion can pose a diagnostic dilemma, and biopsy is required for diagnosis. The association with rheumatoid arthritis in our case seems to be a chance occurrence.