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Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) are precursors of pancreatic cancer, and the rate of their incidental detection has gradually increased recently with a reported prevalence from 2.4 to 13.5%. However, accurate diagnosis can be challenging because PCNs have morphologies ranging from benign to malignant disease, and as for other cancers, precise and timely management of premalignant PCN is essential to prevent malignant transformation. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a useful tool for the differential diagnosis PCN and treatment decision-making because its imaging features predict malignant transformation. However, its performance is suboptimal, and its accuracy for differentiating mucinous pancreatic cysts and other PCNs is only 65-75%, which has increased interest in the application of artificial intelligence (AI). AI has already provided tools that have improved diagnostic accuracies for many cancers, including colon, lung, and breast cancer, and recent studies have shown AI has the potential to differentiate mucinous and non-mucinous tumors and stratify the malignant potentials of PCNs. This article provides a review of the literature on EUS-based AI studies of PCNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided intervention has gradually become a standard treatment for peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs). However, it is difficult to popularize the procedure in Korea because of restrictions on insurance claims regarding the use of endoscopic accessories, as well as the lack of standardized Korean clinical practice guidelines. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (appointed a Task Force to develope medical guidelines by referring to the manual for clinical practice guidelines development prepared by the National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency. Previous studies on PFCs were searched, and certain studies were selected with the help of experts. Then, a set of key questions was selected, and treatment guidelines were systematically reviewed. Answers to these questions and recommendations were selected via peer review. This guideline discusses endoscopic management of PFCs and makes recommendations on indication for the procedure, pre-procedural preparations, optimal approach for drainage, procedural considerations (e.g., types of stent, advantages and disadvantages of plastic and metal stents, and accessories), adverse events of endoscopic intervention, and procedural quality issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This will be revised as necessary to address advances and changes in technology and evidence obtained in clinical practice and future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinomycosis is a chronic, slowly progressive, and suppurative disease caused by filamentous anaerobic bacteria Actinomyces, which results in characteristic sulfur granules. Clinically, actinomycosis can present with a mass-like lesion, and this bacterial nidus has been frequently mistaken for a malignancy. For that reason many patients undergo surgical resection before the correct diagnosis is established. We report a case of a 63-year-old man with a solitary, asymptomatic pancreatic actinomycosis that masqueraded as pancreatic cancer. He did not have any other concurrently infected organs and did not have any signs or symptoms of infection. All radiologic images of the patient favored a malignancy to a great extent rather than an inflammatory mass. He was finally diagnosed with actinomycosis by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy without surgery. After one month of treatment with antibiotics, the pancreatic head mass was completely resolved on the follow-up computed tomography (CT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mirizzi's syndrome (MS) caused by the retention of a stone in the cystic duct stump after cholecystectomy is rare. Most cases of MS are treated by surgical intervention. However, developments of endoscopic accessories and techniques have resulted in the recent introduction of endoscopic treatments for MS. Furthermore, in view of the postoperative morbidity caused by post-operative scarring, the endoscopic approach should be preferred to the surgical approach. In the described case, the authors were able to remove a remnant cystic duct stone endoscopically because the cystic duct stump was wide and non-tortuous. This case shows endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with mechanical lithotripsy can be utilized in suitable cases of type I MS development after cholecystectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]