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A 76-year-old man experienced abdominal pain 43 days after gastric cancer resection. Computed tomography revealed a gastric wall defect extending to the pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed a gastropancreatic fistula. Afterward, a nasopancreatic duct drainage tube was inserted. Seven days later, no leakage of the contrast medium from the duct was observed, and the patient was discharged 22 days after endoscopic nasopancreatic duct drainage. Endoscopic nasopancreatic duct drainage prevents pancreatic juice leakage and promotes gastric ulcer healing.

Background: /Objectives: A cystic lesion is common in the pancreas. Focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy (FPPA) has been reported as a sign of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia/carcinoma in situ (HGP/CIS). Some cystic lesions accompany FPPA. However, the relationship between a cystic lesion, FPPA, and the histopathological background of the pancreatic duct is unknown., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 98 patients with a cystic lesion who underwent serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE) because of accompanying FPPA, increased size of the cystic lesion, and pancreatic duct stricture at the base., Results: The clinical diagnosis of a cystic lesion was intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) and cysts in 72 (73.5%) and 26 (26.5%) patients, respectively. Ninety of the 98 patients (91.8%) had FPPA. Positive results (adenocarcinoma and suspicion) on SPACE were observed in 56 of all cases (57.1%), 48 of IPMN (66.7%), 8 of cysts (30.8%), and 54 of FPPA (59.3%), and were significantly associated with IPMN (p = 0.002) and the large FPPA (>269.79 mm 2, p = 0.0001); moreover, these disorders are considerably related (p = 0.0003). Fifty patients (51.0%) with positive results on SPACE underwent surgery, with the histopathological diagnosis of epithelial malignancy in 42 patients (42.9%, 42/50, 84%). Many cystic lesions clinically diagnosed as IPMN were dilated branches covered by pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia., Conclusions: Positive results on SPACE were significantly associated with the clinical diagnosis of IPMN and the large FPPA. Moreover, these disorders are significantly related. Surgery owing to positive results could lead to the histopathological diagnosis of HGP/CIS., (Copyright © 2023 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Radiological evidence of focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy (FPPA) may presage early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development. We aimed to clarify the incidence of FPPA and the clinicopathological features of PDAC with FPPA before diagnosis., Methods: Data on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsies and surgical samples from 170 patients with pancreatic cancer histologically diagnosed between 2014 and 2019 were extracted from the pathology database of Komagome Hospital and Juntendo University hospital and retrospectively evaluated together with 51 patients without PDAC., Results: FPPA was identified in 47/170 (28%) patients before PDAC diagnosis and in 2/51 (4%) patients in the control group (P < 0.01). The median duration from FPPA detection to diagnosis was 35 (interquartile range [IQR]:16-63) months. In 24/47 (51%) patients with FPPA, the atrophic area resolved. The lesion was in the head and body/tail in 7/40 and 67/56 of the patients with (n = 47) and without FPPA (n = 123), respectively (P < 0.001). Histopathologically confirmed non-invasive lesions in the main pancreatic duct and a positive surgical margin in the resected specimens occurred in 53% vs. 21% (P = 0.078) and 29% vs. 3% (P = 0.001) of the groups, respectively. The PDAC patients with FPPA accompanied by a malignant pancreatic resection margin had high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia., Conclusions: FPPA occurred in 28% of the PDAC group at 35 months prediagnosis. The FPPA area resolved before PDAC onset. Benchmarking previous images of the pancreas with the focus on FPPA may enable prediction of PDAC. PDAC with FPPA involves widespread high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia requiring a wide surgical margin for surgical excision., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.u, (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach incorporating neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S1 (S1-NACRT) for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma., Methods: The medical records of 132 patients who received S1-NACRT for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from 2010 to 2019 were reviewed. The S1-NACRT regimen consisted of S1 at a dose of 80-120 mg/body/day together with 1.8 Gy of radiation in 28 fractions. The patients were re-evaluated 4 weeks after S1-NACRT completion, and a pancreatectomy was then considered., Results: Adverse events of S1-NACRT ≥grade 3 occurred in 22.7% of the patients, and 1.5% discontinued therapy. Of the 112 patients who underwent a pancreatectomy, 109 underwent R0 resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy with relative dose intensity ≥50% was administered to 74.1% of the patients who underwent resection. The median overall survival of all patients was 47 months, and the median overall survival and recurrence-free survival of patients who underwent resection was 71 and 32 months, respectively. According to the multivariate analyses of prognostic factors for overall survival in patients who underwent resection, negative margin status (hazard ratio: 0.182; P  = 0.006) and relative dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy ≥50% (hazard ratio 0.294; P  < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of overall survival., Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach incorporating S1-NACRT for resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma demonstrated acceptable tolerability and good local control and resulted in comparable survival benefits., (© 2022 The Authors. Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.)

Understanding the pathogenesis and carcinogenesis of gallbladder adenocarcinoma is important. The fifth edition of the World Health Organization's tumor classification of the digestive system indicates three types of preinvasive neoplasm of the gallbladder: pyloric gland adenoma (PGA), biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN), and intracholecystic papillary neoplasm (ICPN). New terminologies have also been introduced, such as intracholecystic papillary-tubular neoplasm, gastric pyloric, simple mucinous type, and intracholecystic tubular non-mucinous neoplasm (ICTN). Pancreatobiliary maljunction (PBM) poses a markedly high risk for bile duct carcinoma, which was analyzed and investigated mainly by Asian researchers in the past; however, recent studies have clarified a similar significance of biliary carcinogenesis in Western countries as well. In this study, we reviewed and summarized information on three gallbladder neoplastic precursors, PGA, BilIN, and ICPN, and gallbladder lesions in patients with PBM.

Background: Endoscopic biliary drainage using metal stent (MSs) is an established palliative treatment for patients with unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO). However, a major drawback of MS is recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO). Uncovered MSs with a diameter of 14 mm (UMS-14) were developed to overcome this. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of UMS-14 with those of conventional covered MSs having a diameter of 10 mm (CMS-10)., Methods: Consecutive patients with MDBO caused by unresectable pancreatic cancer, who underwent UMS-14 or CMS-10 placement at two tertiary-care centers, were retrospectively examined according to the Tokyo Criteria 2014., Results: Two hundred and thirty-eight patients who underwent UMS-14 (the UMS-14 group, n = 80) or CMS-10 (the CMS-10 group, n = 158) over a 62-month period were included. The technical and clinical success rates were similar between the two groups. RBO occurred in 20 (25%) and 59 (37%) patients of the UMS-14 and CMS-10 groups, respectively (p = 0.06). Median time till RBO was significantly longer in the UMS-14 group than in the CMS-10 group (not reached vs. 290 days, p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed that CMS-10 placement was an independent risk factor for RBO (hazard ratio: 1.66, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-2.76). The incidence of early complications, including pancreatitis, and the overall survival (UMS-14 vs. CMS-10: 169 vs. 167 days, p = 0.83) were comparable between the two groups., Conclusions: UMS-14 stents were safe and effective for treating patients with MDBO secondary to unresectable pancreatic cancer. The insertion of UMS-14 is recommended, because it is less likely to get occluded as compared to CMS-10., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Gallbladder (GB) wall thickening sometimes occurs in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), a condition for which the name, IgG4-related cholecystitis, was proposed. We examined the radiological findings of the GB in patients with IgG4-related diseases and clinical features of patients with GB wall thickening and presented a hypothesis of its pathogenesis., Materials and Methods: GB wall thickening was defined by thickness ≥ 4 mm. GB wall thickness was examined in 258 patients with IgG4-related disease. Clinical and imaging findings of 200 patients with AIP with and without GB wall thickening were then compared., Results: GB wall thickening was detected in 58 patients (29%) with AIP and two patients with isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis. In the 60 GBs examined, wall thickening was diffuse, with the walls possessing a smooth inner surface. No GB wall thickening was detected among the 56 patients with IgG4-related disease without AIP or IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis. Bile duct stenosis was detected in 56 patients (97%) with AIP with GB wall thickening. Intraductal ultrasonography indicated cystic duct wall thickening connected to bile duct wall thickening in 11 of 14 (79%) patients with AIP or IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis with GB wall thickening. Forty-eight patients in whom IgG4-related cholecystitis was diagnosed experienced resolution of the GB wall thickening after receiving steroid therapy., Conclusions: Most cases of GB wall thickening in IgG4-related diseases are closely associated with IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis and may be a manifestation of IgG4-related disease throughout the biliary tract, including the bile duct, cystic duct, and GB.

A paraganglioma is a tumor originating in the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system. Its diagnosis may sometimes be confusing if it occurs in an atypical site. We described herein a case of a peripancreatic paraganglioma originating in the greater omentum. An asymptomatic, 61-year-old, female patient was referred to our hospital for detailed examination of a peripancreatic mass detected incidentally on computed tomography (CT). The differential diagnosis was a neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN), and a biopsy using EUS-FNA was performed. Histologically, the tumor cells showed proliferation in solid cell nests and were positive for CD56, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin. These findings and the hypervascularity of the tumor on imaging studies were compatible with NEN. Since the imaging studies did not clearly demonstrate the continuity of the tumor with the pancreas, laparoscopic tumor resection without a pancreatectomy and sampling of the enlarged peripancreatic lymph nodes were planned as treatment. The absence of continuity with the pancreas was later confirmed by intraoperative observation, and the resection was carried out as planned. The resected tumor was pathologically considered as NEN at first in agreement with the preoperative diagnosis. However, several histological findings (such as a zelleballen-like growth pattern, pseudo-inclusion, and strong nuclear atypia compared with the cells' proliferative ability) were atypical for NEN, and paraganglioma was included in the differential diagnosis. Additional immunostainings of S-100 and AE1/AE3 were performed, leading to the final diagnosis of paraganglioma. Paragangliomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of an intraperitoneal mass of uncertain identity with hypervascularity., (© 2021. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

An appropriate diagnosis is required to avoid unnecessary surgery for gallbladder cholesterol polyps (GChPs) and to appropriately treat pedunculated gallbladder carcinomas (GCs). Generally, polyps >10 mm are regarded as surgical candidates. We retrospectively evaluated plain and contrast-enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) findings and histopathological features of 11 early GCs and 10 GChPs sized 10-30 mm to differentiate between GC and GChP >10 mm and determine their histopathological background. Patient characteristics, including polyp size, did not significantly differ between groups. All GCs and GChPs were detected on CE-CT; GCs were detected more often than GChPs on plain CT (73% vs 9%; p < 0.01). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy for GCs were 73%, 90%, 89%, 75%, and 81%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, lesion detectability on plain CT was independently associated with GCs (odds ratio, 27.1; p = 0.044). Histopathologically, GChPs consisted of adipose tissue. Although larger vessel areas in GCs than in GChPs was not significant (52,737 μm 2 vs 31,906 μm 2 ; p = 0.51), cell densities were significantly greater in GCs (0.015/μm 2 vs 0.0080/μm 2 ; p < 0.01). Among GPs larger than 10 mm, plain CT could contribute to differentiating GCs from GChPs.

Background and study aims  Acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis (AOSPD) is a suppurative pancreatic duct infection with main pancreatic duct (MPD) or accessory pancreatic duct obstruction in the absence of a pancreatic pseudocyst or necrosis, which is experienced usually in chronic pancreatitis. The diagnosis is confirmed by the finding of pancreatic duct obstruction on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with evidence of infection, such as a positive pancreatic juice culture or drainage of purulent pancreatic juice. Patients and methods  We studied five patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and one with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), who suffered from AOSPD. Results  Of the 281 PDAC and 39 CML patients who we treated in the past 2 years in our hospital, five with PDAC (1.8 %) and one with CML (2.6 %) experienced AOSPD. Each patient had fever, abdominal pain, and increased blood C-reactive protein. Pancreatography found that each patient had a MPD stricture and an upstream dilatation. Four had a disruption of the MPD in the upper stream of the stricture. Nasopancreatic drainage was successfully performed in all patients. Pancreatic juice culture was positive for Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter agerogenes, or Enterococcus cloacae in four patients. Conclusion  AOSPD should be considered in pancreatic malignancy with fever and abdominal pain. Prompt diagnosis of AOSPD could avoid shortening of survival of patients with an already poor prognosis by infection., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Objectives: Diagnosing high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia without invasion, traditionally referred to as carcinoma in situ (CIS), is essential for improving prognosis. We examined the imaging findings of patients with and without CIS to identify significant aspects for the diagnosis of CIS., Methods: Forty-six patients strongly suspected of early pancreatic cancer without nodule on imaging (CIS group, n = 27; non-malignant group, n = 19) were retrospectively evaluated according to ten factors of computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) using hierarchical cluster and univariate analyses., Results: Two clusters were formed by hierarchical cluster analysis. One cluster consisted of 83.3% CIS cases with similar image findings such as focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy (FPPA) on CT/MRI, main pancreatic duct (MPD) stricture surrounded by hypoechoic areas on EUS, and MPD stricture with upstream MPD dilation on ERCP. On univariate analysis, the CIS and non-malignant groups had FPPA on CT/MRI in 15 (55.6%) and 3 (15.8%) cases (p = 0.013), and MPD stricture surrounded by hypoechoic areas on EUS in 20 (74.1%) and 4 (21.1%) cases (p = 0.001), respectively. MPD stricture surrounded by hypoechoic areas was observed in 80% (12/15) of CIS cases with FPPA on CT/MRI and correlated with FPPA. Moreover, FPPA and MPD stricture surrounded by hypoechoic areas had histopathologically observed fibrosis or fat replacement due to pancreatic parenchymal atrophy., Conclusions: FPPA and MPD stricture surrounded by hypoechoic areas are significant findings for the diagnosis of CIS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Source of funding. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and publication of this article., (Copyright © 2020 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE) by nasopancreatic tube placement can give us an opportunity to diagnose early-stage pancreatic cancer with higher sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional pancreatic cytology by one-time pancreatic juice aspiration or pancreatic duct brushing. We performed SPACE in a patient with persistent pancreatic duct stricture (PDS) with gradually advancing pancreatic parenchyma atrophy (PPA) in the pancreas tail. The result of SPACE was suggestive of pancreatic carcinoma, and distal pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed carcinoma in situ of the pancreas. The present case could indicate that any PDS becomes a candidate for SPACE especially in a patient with PPA, although the PDS remains unchanged for a long period.

Background: In pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), reflux of pancreatic juice and bile produces various pathological conditions in the biliary tract and pancreas. Clinical features according to the classification of PBM by confluence between the distal bile duct and the main pancreatic duct proposed in 2015 were evaluated in children., Methods: Clinical features and complicating diseases according to the PBM classification were evaluated in 168 adult PBM patients. Patency of Santorini duct and associated biliary carcinomas were evaluated in 123 patients., Results: Similar to children, there were significant differences in age (P < 0.01) and type of common bile duct (P < 0.01) between the groups of the classification. Unlike in children, there was no significant difference in the incidence of abdominal pain and hyperamylasemia. There were 87 associated biliary carcinomas (79 gallbladder carcinomas and eight cholangiocarcinomas). PBM patients with a cudgel-type Santorini duct, which is greater than 2 mm in diameter, did not develop biliary carcinomas, compared to 61.1% of those with other types of Santorini duct (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Clinical features according to the PBM classification in adults were different from those in children. Although biliary carcinomas were frequently seen in adult PBM patients, none of those with a cudgel-type Santorini duct developed biliary carcinoma., (© 2019 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

Objective: We clarified clinicopathological characteristics of acute pancreatitis in terminal patients., Methods: Pathological changes in the entire pancreas from serial autopsies (N = 183) classified lesions into the following 3 categories: focal neutrophil infiltration, focal necrotizing pancreatitis, and diffuse necrotizing pancreatitis. The former two are possible precursors of diffuse necrotizing pancreatitis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze pancreatic stellate cells and inflammatory cells., Results: There were pathologically acute pancreatitis in 45 patients (24.6%), and no patients were diagnosed with it before autopsy. Focal neutrophil infiltration was present in 22 cases, focal necrotizing pancreatitis in 18 cases, and diffuse necrotizing pancreatitis in 5 cases. Severe inflammatory disease and surgery were associated with acute pancreatitis. Sepsis due to viral or bacterial infection was the most common cause of acute pancreatitis. Patients with diffuse necrotizing pancreatitis showed low white blood cell counts, while amylase levels were not increased. Increase in α-smooth muscle actin and nestin-positive stellate cell numbers in acute pancreatitis was correlated to increase in numbers of CD34-positive vascular endothelium, CD68- or CD163-positive macrophages, CD138-positive plasmacytes, CD3-positive T lymphocytes, and myeloperoxidase-positive leucocytes., Conclusions: Necrotizing pancreatitis without typical clinical signs was frequently detected in autopsy samples. Clinicians must be mindful of necrotizing pancreatitis in terminal patients.

A family history of pancreatic cancer (PC) is a risk factor of PC, and risk levels increase as affected families grow in number and/or develop PC at younger ages. Familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) is defined as a client having at least two PC cases in a first degree relatives. In the narrow sense, FPC does not include some inherited cancer syndromes that are known to increase the risks of PC, such as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), hereditary pancreatitis (HP), hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), and so on. FPC accounts for 5%-10% of total PC diagnoses and is marked by several features in genetic, epidemiological, and clinicopathological findings that are similar to or distinct from conventional PC. Recent advances in genetic medicine have led to an increased ability to identify germline variants of cancer-associated genes. To date, high-risk individuals (HRIs) in many developed countries, including FPC kindreds and inherited cancer syndromes, are screened clinically to detect and treat early-stage PC. This article highlights the concept of FPC and the most recent data on its detection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Rupture of abdominal aneurysms associated with median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a serious condition and requires accurate diagnosis in a clinical setting. We examined three patients with this condition: two women aged 45 and 71 years, and a 61-year-old man. They complained of abdominal pain and had fluid collection around the duodenum. Plain computed tomography (CT) of the fluid collection revealed hyper density, which suggests the presence of blood. Moreover, contrast-enhanced CT revealed aneurysms in the pancreatic head area. Angiography revealed aneurysms of the branches of the gastroepiploic artery, which were treated by endovascular embolization in all patients. Thus, patients with abdominal pain and high-density fluid collection around the duodenum on plain CT may suffer from hemorrhage following rupture of MALS-associated aneurysms.

Purpose: To clarify the clinical characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD)., Patients and Methods: A total of 92 patients with AIP were divided into an IgG4-RKD-positive group (RKD-P group, n = 13) and an IgG4-RKD-negative group (RKD-N group, n = 79) on the basis of the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RKD. Clinical characteristics, including: age; sex; the presence of extrapancreatic lesions other than renal lesions, proteinuria, and hematuria; serum concentrations of IgG, IgG4, IgE, and creatinine; and urinary concentrations of liver-type fatty acid binding protein, α1-microglobulin, β2-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase were compared between the RKD-P and RKD-N groups. The clinical course of the RKD-P group was also characterized., Results: The prevalence of extrapancreatic lesions other than renal lesions was significantly higher in the RKD-P group (84.6% vs 43.0%,p < 0.01). Serum creatinine (1.19 mg/dl versus 0.74 mg/dl, p < 0.05), urinary β2-microglobulin (6609.8 μg/l vs 265.8 μg/l, p < 0.05), and the prevalence of proteinuria (30.7% vs 7.6%, p < 0.05) were significantly higher in the RKD-P group. Nine out of thirteen patients in the RKD-P group had multiple low-density renal lesions on enhanced computed tomography, 3 patients had multiple high-intensity lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images, and 1 patient had diffuse thickening of the renal wall, with a smooth intra-luminal surface., Conclusions: Patients who had AIP with IgG4-RKD were more likely to have extrapancreatic lesions other than those in the kidney, and their serum creatinine and urinary β2-microglobulin concentrations were significantly higher than in those without IgG4-RKD., (Copyright © 2018 Medical University of Bialystok. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease. PDAC is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and Japan based on epidemiological data. Early detection of PDAC is very important to improve the prognosis of PDAC. Early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) requires further examination after selecting cases with risk factors for the condition, such as family history, hereditary pancreatic carcinoma syndrome, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, or chronic pancreatitis. The Japan Study Group on the Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer has investigated and clarified the clinicopathological features for the early diagnosis of PDAC. In Japan, an algorithm for the early diagnosis of PDAC, which utilized the cooperation of local clinics and regional general hospitals, has been a breakthrough in the detection of early-stage PDAC. Further approaches for the early diagnosis of PDAC are warranted., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Backgrounds: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is used to observe the stricture of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) and in diagnosing pancreatic cancer (PC). We investigate the findings on EUS by referring to the histopathological findings of resected specimens., Materials and Methods: Six patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) and 30 patients with invasive carcinoma of 20 mm or less were included. The preoperative EUS findings were classified as follows. A1: Simple stricture type-no findings around the stricture; A2: Hypoecho stricture type-localized hypoechoic area without demarcation around the stricture; A3: Tumor stricture type-tumor on the stricture; B: Dilation type-the dilation of the pancreatic duct without a downstream stricture; C: Parenchymal tumor type-tumor located apart from the MPD., Results: Classes A1 and A2 consisted of 2 CISs, and 4 invasive carcinomas included two cases smaller than 5 mm in diameter. Most of the cancers classified as A3 or C were of invasive carcinoma larger than 5 mm in diameter. All cancers classified as B involved CIS. Serial pancreatic-juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE) was selected for all types of cases, with a sensitivity of 92.0%, while EUS-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNA) was only useful for invasive carcinoma, and its sensitivity was 66.7%., Conclusions: Stricture without a tumor could be a finding for invasive PC and pancreatic duct dilation without a downstream stricture could be a finding indicative of CIS. Carcinoma smaller than 5 mm in diameter could not be recognized by EUS. SPACE had a high sensitivity for diagnosing small PC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Five patients complaining of severe pain due to severe post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) underwent nasopancreatic drainage (NPD) placement. Pain relief was achieved on the second, fourth, and fifth day in three, one, and one patients, respectively. Four patients underwent pancreatic juice culture; all were positive. Our results suggest that NPD can relieve severe PEP with severe pain. Bacteria-induced protease-activated receptor-2 activation may be associated with PEP.

An 80-year-old woman with pancreatic cancer was admitted with fever and abdominal pain. Blood examinations showed an elevated CRP level. On computed tomography (CT), a pancreatic tumor with a dilated upstream main pancreatic duct (MPD) was seen. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed the strictured part of the MPD at the head of the pancreas with upstream dilatation. A nasopancreatic drainage tube was placed. Through the tube, purulent pancreatic juice was discharged and culture of the pancreatic juice grew Klebsiella pneumoniae. On the day after ERCP, the patient's condition and the laboratory results improved. The patient's disorder was diagnosed as acute obstructive suppurative pancreatitis with pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To examine thyroid function and clinical features of hypothyroidism in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) patients., Methods: We examined thyroid function in 77 patients with type 1 AIP (50 males, 27 females; median age 68 years, range 33-85) diagnosed according to the Japanese diagnostic criteria for AIP 2011. We compared clinical and serological findings between patients with and without various categories of hypothyroidism. The change in hypothyroidism after steroid therapy was also examined., Results: Eight patients (10%) had hypothyroidism of 6 patients had subclinical hypothyroidism with a normal serum free thyroxine (FT4) and high thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, and 2 patients had central hypothyroidism with low serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), FT4 and TSH levels. A significant goiter of the thyroid was not observed in any patient. There were no significant differences in age; male to female ratio; serum concentrations of IgG and IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD); presence of anti-thyroglobulin antibody, antinuclear antigen or rheumatoid factor; or presence of extrapancreatic lesions between the 6 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and patients with euthyroidism. After steroid therapy, both subclinical and central hypothyroidism improved with improvement of the AIP., Conclusion: Hypothyroidism was observed in 8 (10%) of 77 AIP patients and was subclinical in 6 patients and central in 2 patients. Further studies are necessary to clarify whether this subclinical hypothyroidism is another manifestation of IgG4-RD., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict-of-interest related to this article.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis due to delayed diagnosis. Early diagnosis is the most important factor for improving prognosis. For early diagnosis of PC, patients with clinical manifestations suggestive of PC and high risk for developing PC need to be selected for examinations for PC. Signs suggestive of PC (e.g., symptoms, diabetes mellitus, acute pancreatitis, or abnormal results of blood examinations) should not be missed, and the details of risks for PC (e.g., familial history of PC, intraductal mucin producing neoplasm, chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, or life habit) should be understood. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be performed for diagnosing PC, but the diagnostic ability of these examinations for PC is limited. Endoscopic diagnostic procedures, such as endoscopic ultrasonography, including fine-needle aspiration, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatocholangiography, including Serial Pancreatic-juice Aspiration Cytologic Examination (SPACE), could be recommended for a detailed examination to diagnose pancreatic carcinoma earlier., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Aim: To investigate whether an uncovered self-expandable metal stent (UCSEMS) with a large diameter could prevent recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO)., Methods: Thirty-eight patients with malignant biliary obstruction underwent treatment with an UCSEMS with a 14-mm diameter (Niti-S 14). Retrospectively, we evaluated technical and functional success rate, RBO rate, time to RBO, survival time, and adverse events in these patients., Results: Stent placement success and functional success were achieved in all patients. Two patients (5.3%) had RBO due to tumor ingrowth or overgrowth. The median time to RBO was 190 (range, 164-215) d. The median survival time was 120 (range, 18-502) d. The 6-mo non-RBO rate was 91%. Other adverse events other than RBO occurred as follows: Acute cholecystitis, post-ERCP pancreatitis, hemobilia, and fever without exacerbation of liver injury, and liver abscess in 4 (10.3%), 3 (7.9%), 2 (5.3%), 1 (2.6%), and 1 (2.6%), respectively. Migration of the stents was not observed., Conclusion: Niti-S 14 is considered to be a preferable metal stent because of a low rate of RBO with no migration., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: Authors declare no conflicts of interest for this article.

Background/objectives: The diagnosis of early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still challenging. We conducted a multicenter study to clarify the clinical features of early-stage PDAC in Japan., Methods: We collected patients with stage 0 and stage I PDAC according to the sixth edition of the Japanese Classification of Pancreatic Carcinoma. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical profiles including opportunities for medical examination, imaging modalities and findings, methods of cytological diagnosis, and prognosis according to the stages at diagnosis., Results: Two hundred cases with Stage 0 and stage I PDAC were reported from 14 institutions, which accounted for approximately 0.7% and 3% of all PDAC cases, respectively. Overall, 20% of the early-stage PDAC cases were symptomatic. Indirect imaging findings such as dilatation of the main pancreatic duct were useful to detect early-stage PDAC. In particular, local fatty changes may be specific to early-stage PDAC. For preoperative pathologic diagnosis, cytology during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was more commonly applied than endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration. Although the overall prognosis was favorable, new PDAC lesions developed in the remnant pancreas in 11.5% cases., Conclusions: This multicenter study revealed several key points concerning the diagnosis and management of early-stage PDAC, including screening of asymptomatic cases, importance of indirect imaging findings, application of cytology during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and the risk of carcinogenesis in the remnant pancreas., (Copyright © 2017 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A 59-year-old woman was admitted for acute pancreatitis. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a swollen pancreatic parenchyma with dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) of the pancreas tail, which was separated from the normal pancreas body side by a locally atrophic part of the pancreas. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed MPD stricture in the pancreas tail with dilatation of the upstream MPD. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed that the MPD stricture of the pancreas tail was surrounded by a blurred and hypoechoic area. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed for serial pancreatic-juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE). The result indicated adenocarcinoma. Distal pancreatectomy was performed, and the histopathological examination showed high-grade PanIN (carcinoma in situ of the pancreatic duct) of the pancreas tail with atrophy and fibrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma, and local fat replacement adjacent to the lesion. The final histopathological diagnosis was carcinoma in situ of the pancreatic duct of the pancreas tail. Acute pancreatitis and local fatty change of the pancreatic parenchyma with MPD stricture are important clinical manifestations of pancreatic carcinoma in situ (PCIS) and performing SPACE in cases of MPD stricture without a recognizable mass is preferable for a diagnosis of PCIS.

A 50-year-old man with advanced pancreatic cancer was admitted for intractable severe vomiting 5-6 times a day, continuing over a week. He had been treated for advanced pancreatic cancer with chemotherapy for 6 months, and had undergone self-expandable metalic stent placement for obstructive jaundice due to the pancreatic cancer 4 months before admission. No abnormal findings suggesting gastrointestinal obstruction or brain metastasis were revealed on diagnostic imaging. We performed endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac ganglia neurolysis twice by injecting ethanol into the celiac ganglion. After the treatments, the vomiting disappeared, and his eating habits gradually returned to normal. The patient died 7 months after treatment due to the advanced pancreatic cancer without recurrence of the vomiting.

Purpose: IgG4-related disease is a systemic disease that affects various organs of the body. Aim of this study is to elucidate the clinical characteristics of IgG4-related rhinosinusitis., Material and Methods: Clinical features, laboratory findings, radiological and endoscopic findings, associated disease, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively examined in 10 patients with IgG4-related rhinosinusitis., Results: The age was 59.1±11.3 years old and male-to-female ratio was 1:1. The chief nasal complaints were hyposmia (n=4), nasal obstruction (n=3), and nothing (n=3). Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in all patients and the value was 740.4±472.4mg/dl. Other IgG4-related diseases were associated in all 10 patients, including IgG4-related sialadenitis (n=6), IgG4-related dacryoadenitis (n=5), and autoimmune pancreatitis (n=5). Imaging findings on CT/MRI were obstruction of the way of elimination (n=10), thickening of the sinus mucous membrane (n=10), and fluid in the sinus (n=6). All of the cases had bilateral findings. Nasal endoscopic findings were chiefly deviated nasal septum (n=5), polyps (n=4), edema of the mucous membrane (n=3). Histologically, abundant infiltration of IgG4 positive plasma cell and lymphocyte and an elevated IgG4+/IgG+ cell ration was detected in all 8 patients and 5 patients, respectively. Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed in 8 patients. Eight patients were treated with steroid therapy for other associated IgG4-related diseases. Symptoms improved in all 6 patients after an initial treatment (endoscopic surgery (n=5) and steroids (n=1)), but one patient suffered relapse., Conclusions: IgG4-related rhinosinusitis is a distinct entity of IgG4-related disease, and is associated in patients with multiple IgG4-related diseases., (Copyright © 2017 Medical University of Bialystok. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We present a resected case of annular pancreas in which Wirsung's duct encircled the duodenum and continued directly to the main pancreatic duct in the body and tail. Furthermore, Wirsung's duct coursed along the right side of the lower bile duct near the major duodenal papilla. Histologically, the islets of Langerhans in the annular pancreas were irregular in shape and were characterized by a striking abundance of pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-positive cells. The PP-rich area that encircled the duodenum was fused with the PP-poor area in the head of the pancreas. The following embryological hypothesis is proposed. The tip of the ventral pancreatic anlage adhered to the duodenal wall and stretched to form a ring during clockwise rotation. The rotation was incomplete, and the pancreatic duct did not cross over the lower bile duct. Since there was adequate ventral anlage in the lower part of the head of the pancreas, fusion between the ducts of the ventral and dorsal anlagen did not occur. The tip of the ventral anlage overgrew and adhered to the dorsal anlage, and the annular duct fused with the main duct of the dorsal anlage.

A 66-year-old man was admitted for severe acute alcoholic pancreatitis with infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Abdominal computed tomography revealed an inflamed pancreatic head, a dilated main pancreatic duct (MPD), and a large cavity with heterogeneous fluid containing gas adjacent to the pancreatic head, and extending to the pelvis. The cavity was drained percutaneously near the pancreatic head on admission; another tube was inserted into the pelvic cavity on hospital day 3. The drained fluid contained pus with high amylase concentration. Nasopancreatic drainage tube placement was unsuccessfully attempted on hospital day 9. On hospital day 23, percutaneous puncture of the MPD and placement of a pancreatic duct drainage tube was performed. Pancreatography revealed major extravasation from the pancreatic head. The IPN cavity receded; the percutaneous IPN drainage tube was removed on hospital day 58. On hospital day 83, the pancreatic drainage was changed to a transpapillary pancreatic stent, and the patient was discharged. Measuring the amylase concentration of peripancreatic fluid collections can aid in the diagnosis of pancreatic duct disruption; moreover, dual percutaneous necrotic cavity drainage plus pancreatic duct drainage may be essential for treating IPN. If transpapillary drainage tube placement is difficult, percutaneous pancreatic duct drainage may be feasible.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is a congenital malformation in which the pancreatic and bile ducts join anatomically outside the duodenal wall, usually forming an abnormally long common channel. In PBM, since the long common channel defeats the effect of the sphincter of Oddi, pancreatobiliary reflux frequently occurs, resulting in high rates of biliary tract cancers. We present the case of a 68-year-old female with advanced gallbladder cancer concomitant with bile duct cancer associated with PBM without biliary dilatation that had an extremely rare configuration showing a connecting duct without a long common channel. Pancreatography in the selectively cannulated main pancreatic duct showed the terminal portion of the common bile duct via an abnormal connecting duct. Cholangiography in the selectively cannulated lower bile duct showed the main and accessory pancreatic ducts via the connecting duct. The bile amylase level was markedly elevated. This case of a rare configuration of PBM with a connecting duct without a long common channel is the first such reported case in the English literature.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is a congenital malformation in which the pancreatic and bile ducts join anatomically outside the duodenal wall. Because of the excessive length of the common channel in PBM, sphincter action does not directly affect the pancreaticobiliary junction, which allows pancreatic juice to reflux into the biliary tract. According to the results of a nationwide survey, bile duct and gallbladder cancers were found in 6.9 and 13.4 % of adult patients with congenital biliary dilatation, respectively, and in 3.1 and 37.4 % of those with PBM without biliary dilatation, respectively. Biliary tract cancers develop about 15-20 years earlier in patients with PBM than in individuals without PBM; they sometimes develop as double cancers. Carcinogenesis is strongly associated with stasis of bile intermingled with refluxed pancreatic juice. Epithelial cells in the biliary tract of PBM patients are under constant attack from activated pancreatic enzymes, increased secondary bile acids, or other mutagens. This can result in hyperplastic change with increased cell proliferation activity, and in turn, oncogene and/or tumor suppressor gene mutations in the epithelia, leading to the biliary tract carcinogenesis. The carcinogenesis of biliary tract cancer accompanying PBM is considered to involve a hyperplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence induced by chronic inflammation caused by the reflux of pancreatic juice into the biliary tract, which differs from the adenoma-carcinoma sequence or the de novo carcinogenesis associated with biliary tract cancers in the population without PBM. Patients with a relatively long common channel have a similar, albeit slightly lower, risk for gallbladder cancer compared with PBM patients.

Background and Study Aim: Pancreatic stones occasionally develop in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), often worsen endocrine and exocrine functions, and occasionally cause pain attacks. However, the risks of pancreatic stones in AIP have been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk factors associated with pancreatic stone formation in cases of AIP., Patients and Methods: In total, 50 patients with AIP (39 males, 11 females; mean age 64.0 years), followed up for at least a year, were analyzed for their demographic and clinical findings and pancreatic stone occurrence., Results: In total, 50 patients were followed up for an average of 59.7 (12 - 120) months, with steroid treatment in 44 patients (88 %); pancreatic stones occurred in 14 (28 %) patients after the diagnosis of AIP and endoscopic treatment was needed in one patient with pain attack. The pancreatic stones appeared only in patients with long follow-up period (P < 0.001, 83.9 months vs. 49.6 months), biliary stenting (odds ratio [OR]: 8.40, P = 0.010), relapse (OR: 6.20, P = 0.023), jaundice (OR: 5.40, P = 0.019), and swelling of the duodenal major papilla (OR: 4.67, P = 0.040). Biliary stenting was placed for an average of 9.9 months in 27 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association only with biliary stenting (P = 0.011). The stones appeared relatively earlier in patients with stones in the main pancreatic duct or Santorini duct (22.1 months) than in patients where pancreatic stones developed elsewhere (53.4 months) (P = 0.018)., Conclusions: The risk of pancreatic stone development should be taken into account when a biliary stent is placed in patients with AIP.

Background: The development of pancreatic fistula (PF) associated with pancreatic necrosis is of great concern in the management of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We expected that early recognition and intervention of PF combined with percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) for pancreatic infection may improve SAP outcomes., Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients with SAP were enrolled. Whenever feasible, fine-needle aspiration for fluid collection was performed to determine infection and amylase concentration. For infection and PF with amylase-rich fluid, PCD and transpapillary endotherapy (preferably naso-pancreatic drainage) were carried out as soon as possible. PCD was intensively managed by irrigating the sized-up and multiple large bore catheters., Results: Infected fluid collection and PF were both detected in 13 (86.7%) patients. Pancreatic duct (PD) disruption (n = 6) and organ failure (n = 5) occurred exclusively in patients with amylase-rich collection ≥10,000 U/L. The median timing of PCD and endotherapy was 15.5 and 16.5 days, respectively. No serious complications or mortality resulted from intervention procedures other than stent occlusion in one (6.7%) patient. Surgical intervention due to uncontrollable infection and visceral organ injury was avoided. Fistula closure was achieved in 12 (92.3%) of 13 PF patients with a median duration of 45 days. Disease-related mortality occurred in one (6.7%) patient., Conclusion: Amylase-rich fluid collection ≥10,000 U/L may be an indication for further endoscopic investigation of PD disruption. Early dual drainage combining pancreatic endotherapy and PCD is feasible and safe, and may improve treatment outcome., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aims. To investigate the effect of biliary stent placement without endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) on common bile duct stones (CBDS) disappearance and the contribution of preserving the duodenal papilla function to reduce recurrence of CBDS. Methods. Sixty-six patients admitted for acute obstructive cholangitis due to CBDS who underwent biliary stent placement without EST for 2 years from March 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. The second endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed for treatment of CBDS 3 to 4 months after the first ERCP. We estimated the rate of stone disappearance at the time of second ERCP. Results. CBDS disappearance was observed in 32 (48.5%) of 66 patients. The diameter of the bile ducts and the diameter of CBDS in patients with CBDS disappearance were significantly smaller than in those with CBDS requiring extraction (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001, resp.). Stone disappearance was evident when the diameter of bile ducts and that of CBDS were <10 and 7 mm, respectively (p = 0.002). Conclusions. Short-term stent placement without EST eliminates CBDS while preserving duodenal papilla function and may be suitable for treating CBDS in patients with nondilated bile ducts and small CBDS.

A 75-year-old man with vomiting and right abdominal pain was admitted to the Department of Surgery in our hospital. With a diagnosis of perforated duodenal ulcer, he was treated conservatively. On the day 8 of hospitalization, his general condition worsened and he underwent surgery. During operation, the perforated duodenal ulcer and paraduodenal fluid collection was observed, and percutaneous drainage was accordingly established. After this procedure, renal dysfunction was exacerbated and he was transferred to our department for endoscopic treatment. On day 28 of hospitalization, nasobiliary and nasopancreatic drainage was administered. Renal dysfunction gradually improved, and healing of the perforated duodenal ulcer was recognized on day 93. On day 112, the patient was discharged.

Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) enteroclysis or virtual enteroscopy is a novel technique to explore the entire small bowel using a modified protocol of virtual colonoscopy by inflating the small bowel with air. In our hospital, the procedure is performed routinely for cases with suspected gross lesions. We performed 3D CT enteroclysis for three cases with enteroenteric intussusception bowel. The lesions associated with intussusception were identified, single-incision laparoscopic surgery was performed, and diagnoses of lipoma and Peutz-Jeghers polyp were made in two cases. 3D CT enteroclysis did not reveal any associated lesion in the third case. This was followed by an intraoperative exploration during gastrectomy for stomach cancer, but no intestinal lesion was found. A diagnosis of idiopathic intussusception and its spontaneous release was made, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. 3D CT enteroclysis seems to be an appropriate modality for the evaluation of enteroenteric intussusception.

Objective: In patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery, we attempted to identify the histological characteristics of margin-exposed tumor components on intraoperative frozen section examinations that were predictive of residual tumor components in additionally resected specimens., Methods: Of 1835 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery, we identified 220 patients who had positive surgical margins determined by intraoperative frozen section examinations and who had undergone immediate additional resections. Two observers (M.K., H.T.) reviewed the slides of frozen sections and confirmed the presence of tumor components., Results: In additionally resected specimens, residual tumors were detected in 115 cases (52.3%) but not in 105 cases (47.7%). The primary tumor characteristics of extensive intraductal component (+), younger age, invasive lobular carcinoma and pathological T3 classification were significantly associated with the residual tumor components. The margin-exposed tumor components of the maximum diameter, number of positive margins and histological type were correlated with the residual tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that the maximum tumor diameter was an independent risk factor for residual tumors., Conclusions: Diagnosis of positive margins by intraoperative frozen section examinations was useful for predicting residual tumors, and three histological properties of the margin-exposed tumor components were correlated with the status of residual tumor components. Although it was impossible to clearly identify the single main factor for predicting patients for whom additional resections were not necessary, it may be possible to consider stratification of additional surgical therapy according to the characteristics of margin-exposed tumor components on intraoperative frozen section examinations., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the incidence of pancreatic cancer and the contributing factors for the diagnosis of tumors in patients with acute pancreatitis and to gain insight into how patients with acute pancreatitis should be followed up., Methods: Using the electronic medical database of Shizuoka General Hospital, 177 patients admitted for acute pancreatitis in the past 6 years were evaluated retrospectively for pancreatic cancer., Results: Twelve patients (6.8%) were newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During the first hospitalization, 5 patients (41.7%) with a detected pancreatic mass underwent surgical treatment: the final tumor stages were IA, IIA, and IIB in 1, 2, and 2 patients, respectively. In 7 patients (58.3%) without a detected pancreatic mass at the first admission, a pancreatic mass was recognized on follow-up computed tomography (CT) in 2 patients with main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation, and 1 patient with recurrent acute pancreatitis. The tumor stages were IA, IIA, and IA, respectively. Among the remaining 4 patients without follow-up, the tumor stage was IV. The patient gender, age, MPD dilatation, tumor marker, and serum amylase level were not significantly associated with pancreatic cancer. The detection of a pancreatic mass on CT led to the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer., Conclusion: Acute pancreatitis should be considered as a possible diagnostic indicator of pancreatic cancer. Various factors associated with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer were not predictive of a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Only the detection of a pancreatic mass led to the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Patients hospitalized for acute pancreatitis should be followed up with a diagnostic imaging modality.

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a serious disease associated with alcoholism and has a high mortality rate. Effective treatments have not been established., Methods: A 58-year-old man was admitted due to alcoholic SAP. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed pancreatic calculi at the pancreas head and a stricture in the pancreatic duct from the pancreas head to the body. Endoscopically, nasopancreatic drainage (NPD) was placed through the minor papilla to the pancreas tail beyond the stricture., Results: Pancreatic juice culture was positive for Streptococcus and Enterobacter. The day after NPD, upper abdominal pain was relieved. After changing NPD to a pancreatic stent, the patient was discharged on day 21 post-NPD., Conclusion: Alcoholic SAP may reflect aggravation of chronic pancreatitis. The possibility of acute bacterial inflammation should be considered in all cases of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis who present with severe features of inflammation, even in the early stages of an attack. Treatment of this subset of cases by drainage could be of great importance and NPD may be the preferred method., (Copyright © 2014 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)