Takefumi Niguma

Metallic stent insertion with double-balloon endoscopy for malignant afferent loop obstruction

Progress in double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) has allowed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease in the postoperative bowel. For example, a short DBE, which has a 2.8 mm working channel and 152 cm working length, is useful for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in bowel disease patients. However, afferent loop and Roux-limb obstruction, though rare, is caused by postoperative recurrence of biliary tract cancer with intractable complications. Most of the clinical findings involving these complications are relatively nonspecific and include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and obstructive jaundice. Treatments by surgery, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, percutaneous enteral stent insertion, and endoscopic therapy have been reported. The general conditions of patients with these complications are poor due to cancer progression; therefore, a less invasive treatment is better. We report on the usefulness of metallic stent insertion using an overtube for afferent loop and Roux-limb obstruction caused by postoperative recurrence of biliary tract cancer under short DBE in two patients with complexly reconstructed intestines.

A case of follicular cholangitis mimicking hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AbstractFollicular cholangitis is a sclerosing cholangitis with hilar biliary stricture that must be differentiated from both immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. This disorder is extremely rare and difficult to distinguish from hilar biliary cholangiocarcinoma. We report here a case of a Japanese female patient in her 60s with this disease. The patient visited a family doctor for itching and general fatigue. Blood examination showed elevated hepatobiliary enzyme levels. Various imaging studies showed dilation of the bilateral intrahepatic bile duct and wide stenosis from the proximal bile duct to the right and left hepatic duct. They also showed the enlargement of multiple lymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament, periaorta, and mesocolon. Based on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-directed brush cytology, we diagnosed this patient with hilar cholangiocarcinoma and performed left trisegmentectomy of the liver. The pathology results showed that the wall from the bilateral hepatic duct to the proximal bile duct had thickened irregularly with dense fibrosis and a marked formation of lymph follicles. The mucosal epithelia did not have malignant findings. The diagnosis was follicular cholangitis. This case indicates that follicular cholangitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of hilar biliary stricture.

A solid pseudopapillary neoplasm without cysts that occurred in a patient diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration: a case report

IntroductionSolid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm that has been reported to account for between 0.17% and 2.7% of all non-endocrine tumors of the pancreas. It is usually seen in young women. Because solid pseudopapillary neoplasms are rarely aggressive and have low-grade malignant potential and an excellent prognosis after complete resection, it is an ideal pancreatic tumor for treatment by minimally invasive surgery. Therefore, making an accurate pre-operative diagnosis is very important.Case presentationA 24-year-old Japanese man who had been found to have mild transaminase elevations at a medical check-up visited our hospital for further examination. Abdominal computed tomography showed a 40mm-diameter tumor in the pancreatic tail and mild fatty liver. He was admitted to our hospital for additional examination. The abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan taken at our institution showed an increasingly enhanced mass of 40mm diameter in the pancreatic tail. Ultrasonography showed a low-level echoic mass of 35mm diameter in the pancreatic tail. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed low signal intensity in the tail of the pancreas. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed high signal intensity there. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging showed high signal intensity. An endoscopic ultrasound yielded the same results as the abdominal ultrasonogram. In addition, [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed abnormal accumulation (maximum standardized uptake value, 6.53). This finding raised our suspicion of a pancreatic malignant tumor. However, the patient could not be confidently diagnosed solely on the basis of imaging. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed, which led us to a diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm. On that basis, we performed minimally invasive surgery (spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy).ConclusionAtypical solid pseudopapillary neoplasm without cysts should be considered when diagnosing pancreatic tumors. A definitive pre-operative diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm made on the basis of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration can guide the surgical approach used.

Modified Blumgart anastomosis with the “complete packing method” reduces the incidence of pancreatic fistula and complications after resection of the head of the pancreas

BACKGROUND Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and its complications remain problems. This study evaluated combination treatment with modified Blumgart anastomosis and an original infection control method (complete packing method) following pancreatic head resection. METHODS This study included 374 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic head resection: 103 patients underwent Cattell-Warren anastomosis (CWA); 170 patients underwent modified Kakita anastomosis (KA); and 101 patients underwent modified Blumgart anastomosis with the complete packing method (BAC). The outcomes of the KA and BAC groups were compared statistically. RESULTS The POPF rate was significantly lower in the BAC group than in the KA group (28.8% vs 2.97%; p < 0.01). The overall postoperative complication rate, including SSI and postoperative hemorrhage, was significantly lower in the BAC group. CONCLUSIONS The combination of modified Blumgart anastomosis and the complete packing method is a simple and useful method for reducing the incidence of POPF and postoperative complications.

Intra-Aortic Balloon Occlusion (IABO) may be useful for the management of secondary aortoduodenal fistula (SADF): A case report

Highlights • Secondary aortoduodenal fistula is one of life-threatening complication after surgical treatment for abdominal arterial aneurysm.• The most important factor for acute management is controlling the bleeding from the fistula.• Intra-aortic balloon occlusion may be one option for management of secondary aortoduodenal fistula.

Hereditary Spherocytosis in a Middle-aged Man Complicated with Common Bile Duct Stones

Hereditary spherocytosis is the most common form of hemolytic anemia and is characterized by spherical, osmotically fragile erythrocytes that are selectively trapped by the spleen. Hereditary spherocytosis is typically diagnosed in childhood. We herein experienced a rare case of hereditary spherocytosis diagnosed in middle age. The patient presented with cholelithiasis and hyperbilirubinemia. He had no anemia and was asymptomatic with mild splenomegaly. In the differential diagnosis of these symptoms, the possibility of hereditary spherocytosis should be considered, even in patients who are middle-aged and lack anemia.