V. Santhi Swaroop

Diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice by bile cytology: Results improved by dilating the bile duct strictures ☆ ☆☆ ★ ★★ ♢

The disruption of malignant biliary strictures by dilation could enhance the results of bile cytology. To test this hypothesis, we studied the results of bile cytology in 64 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic biliary drainage for malignant biliary strictures. Patients included 36 men and 28 women, ages 29 to 79 years. In the control group (n = 15), bile was obtained by aspiration without dilating the biliary stricture. In the dilated group (n = 49), bile was aspirated after dilating the biliary stricture to 10F gauge. The bile was centrifuged, and smears were prepared, stained, and interpreted as malignant, suggestive of malignancy, or not malignant. The biliary obstruction was caused by gallbladder cancer in 33, primary bile duct cancer in 14, pancreatic cancer in 11, and metastasis in 6 patients. Forty patients had obstruction at the bifurcation of the hepatic duct. Malignancy was confirmed by surgery in 14, fine-needle aspiration cytology in 9, presence of metastasis in 19, and a combination of clinical and radiologic studies, endoscopic cholangiopancreatography findings, elevated tumor markers, and follow-up in 22 patients. Bile cytology was positive for malignancy in 4 (26.6%) and 31 (63.3%), suggestive in 1 (6.7%) and 6 (12.2%), and negative in 10 (66.7%) and 12 (24.5%) patients in the control group and the dilated group, respectively (p = 0.028, 95% CI 1.15 and 21.03). Cytology was positive in 73% of gallbladder cancers, 62.5% of bile duct cancers, 40% of pancreatic cancers, and 60% of metastasized cancers after dilation. Two patients had hemobilia, 8 had cholangitis, and 2 had pancreatitis after biliary drainage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dilation of esophageal strictures induced by radiation therapy for cancer of the esophagus.

During a 2-year period, 103 consecutive patients undergoing dilation of esophageal strictures induced by radiation therapy for cancer of the esophagus were prospectively studied. The length of the strictures ranged from 0.5 to 13.5 cm (median, 5 cm) and the luminal diameter from 1 to 11 mm (median, 6 mm). Patients were referred for dilation from 2 weeks to 5 years (median, 2 months) after completion of radiation therapy. The guide wire was placed using fluoroscopy in 21 patients, endoscopy in 61, and a combination of endoscopy and fluoroscopy in 21. At least one dilator larger than the stricture could be passed in 101 (98%) patients. Five strictures were dilated to 16 mm, 29 to 15 mm, 28 to 14 mm, 16 to 12.8 mm, and 23 to 12 mm or less during the initial procedure. Development of complications and severe resistance were the limiting factors for optimal dilation. Relief of dysphagia was adequate in 66% of patients. The duration of dysphagia relief was 3 to 84 weeks (median, 16 weeks). Complications included persistent pain in 7 patients, unexplained fever in 2, perforation in 2, and delayed tracheo-esophageal fistula in 1. Two patients died of treatment-related complications. Repeated dilation was required in 32 of the 75 patients on long-term follow-up. We conclude that adequate palliation of dysphagia can be achieved by dilation in two-thirds of patients with radiation therapy-induced strictures of the esophagus. Dilation of these strictures is relatively simple and safe if performed with care.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. Twenty cases seen at an oncology center.

A retrospective study of 20 cases of biopsy-proven solitary rectal ulcer syndrome seen at a large oncology hospital which highlight the clinicopathologic features is presented. Thirty five percent of patients were in their sixth decade and there was a male preponderance of 2.3∶1. All patients presented with anorectal symptoms. Eighty five percent had normal abdominal findings and seventy five percent had positive findings on rectal examinations. Fifty four percent had a diagnosis of carcinoma of the rectum on barium enema studies. On sigmoidoscopy, a solitary ulcer was found in 80 percent; 50 percent had lesions between 6 and 10 cm from the anal verge, and 40 percent had the lesion on the anterior rectal wall. All patients were treated conservatively and 35 percent were disease free at the end of five years, while 30 percent had persisting symptoms.