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Background and Study Aims: Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas are rare, low-grade, epithelial neoplasms that are usually discovered incidentally in young women. Distinguishing solid pseudopapillary tumors from other pancreatic tumors, especially pancreatic endocrine tumors, can be challenging. The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in this context remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to describe the endoscopic ultrasound features of solid pseudopapillary tumors and the role of EUS-FNA in the preoperative diagnosis of these tumors. Patients and Methods: Patients from five tertiary referral centers with surgically confirmed solid pseudopapillary tumors who had undergone preoperative EUS-FNA were included. The endoscopic ultrasound findings, cytologic descriptions, immunostaining results, operative records, surgical pathology, and results of the most recent clinical follow-up were reviewed. Results: A total of 28 patients were identified (four men [14 %], 24 women [86 %], mean age +/- standard deviation [SD] 35 +/- 10 years). Solid pseudopapillary tumors had been found as incidental findings on cross-sectional imaging in 50 % of cases. The mean tumor size +/- SD was 42 +/- 19.5 mm and the majority were located in the pancreatic body and tail. The endoscopic ultrasound report described a well-defined, echo-poor mass in 86 %; the tumors were solid in 14 patients (50 %), mixed solid and cystic in 11 patients (39 %), and cystic in three patients (11 %). A preoperative diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor was made in 21 patients (75 %) on the basis of EUS-FNA cytology. Surgical resection was performed in all cases. Laparoscopic resection was performed in eight of these patients (29 %). Conclusions: A solid pseudopapillary tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis of any well-demarcated, echo-poor, solid or mixed solid/cystic pancreatic lesion seen during endoscopic ultrasound, particularly in young women. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA for solid pseudopapillary tumors was 75 % in this study. A definitive preoperative diagnosis can guide the surgical approach in selected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physician recommendation is a major determinant of colorectal cancer screening. The purpose of this study was to examine physician attitudes and self-reported colorectal cancer patient screening. In a physician survey, perceived patient barriers included preparation for the tests and patient dislike of the blood stool test. Physician semistructured interviews revealed that perception of patient barriers included cost, time off from work, and transportation. Most physicians reported low knowledge of insurance coverage for screening, and self-reported screening rates among physicians themselves were not optimal. Evidence-based interventions to increase physician recommendations for screening, such as reminder and tracking systems, may be of value. Interventions that target physician knowledge of insurance coverage and encourage physicians to adopt screening themselves could also be considered. (Am J Med Qual 2009;24:116-122). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In approximately 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis, a cause is not established by history, physical examination, routine laboratory testing, and abdominal imaging. For those with a single unexplained attack, the role of invasive evaluation with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is unsettled but has been generally limited to those patients with suspected bile duct stones or malignancy. Recent studies suggest that microlithiasis is causative in up to 75% of patients with an unexplained attack and gallbladder in situ, whereas sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is most prevalent in those with recurrent attacks who have previously undergone cholecystectomy. EUS has been shown to be highly accurate for the identification of gallbladder sludge, common bile duct stones, and pancreatic diseases. Given this apparent diagnostic utility, an EUS-based strategy may be a reasonable approach to evaluate patients with a single idiopathic attack. ERCP and sphincter of Oddi manometry should generally be reserved for patients with multiple unexplained attacks and negative EUS results, especially for those patients who have previously undergone cholecystectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barrett's oesophagus is a premalignant complication that occurs in approximately 10% of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). In patients with Barrett's oesophagus, the risk of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus approaches 0.5% per patient-years. Therefore, practice guidelines have been developed that suggest screening patients with GORD, particularly those with long-standing symptoms and those aged > or =50 years for the presence of Barrett's metaplasia. These guidelines also suggest performing surveillance endoscopy for the development of dysplasia and/or cancer in patients found to harbour Barrett's oesophagus at initial screening with the frequency of subsequent endoscopies dictated by the presence and grade of dysplasia. In patients with high-grade dysplasia and/or early adenocarcinoma, oesophagectomy is curative. Given the important clinical and economic implications of GORD complicated by Barrett's oesophagus, we review the costs associated with screening, surveillance and treatment for this condition. Although the majority of physicians recommend and/or perform surveillance for dysplasia in the setting of Barrett's oesophagus, differences in endoscopic technique, surveillance intervals and cancer perception among practitioners influence total costs. In the US, it is estimated that a population-wide surveillance program could potentially result in a total cost of 289.9 million US dollars. The outpatient management of Barrett's oesophagus is estimated to cost 1241 US dollars per year with medication use alone accounting for over half of the total costs. Cost-effectiveness analyses have been performed to evaluate the economic impact and benefit of surveillance for dysplasia and/or cancer. Studies to date have utilised several outcome measures such as life-years gained, quality-adjusted life-years and cases of cancer detected. Therefore, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios reported have varied greatly and are particularly sensitive to the prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus in patients with GORD and the incidence of adenocarcinoma. Further epidemiological and clinical studies are likely to further define the economic impact of Barrett's oesophagus as a complication of GORD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mohamad Khalife,1 Mohamad A Eloubeidi,2 Maen Aboul Hosn11Department of Surgery, 2Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonAbstract: McKittrick–Wheelock syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a large hypersecretory rectosigmoid villous adenoma resulting in persistent large volume diarrhea, electrolyte abnormalities, and renal dysfunction. We report an unusual presentation of this syndrome in a patient who developed persistent diarrhea along with dermatomyositis and rectal prolapse and was later discovered to have a large rectal villous adenoma along with a smaller sigmoid tubulovillous adenoma. In our literature review, we were able to find one case report of a dermatomyositis occurring in conjunction with a tubulovillous adenoma and few case reports of rectal prolapse in the setting of a secretory villous adenoma. However, there were no reports on both occurring in association with McKittrick–Wheelock syndrome. This report highlights the variable manifestations of colorectal adenomas and the importance of searching for an underlying neoplastic entity in patients with new onset dermatomyositis or rectal prolapse or both.Keywords: villous adenoma, McKittrick–Wheelock syndrome, dermatomyositis, rectal prolapse, secretory adenoma, rectal polyps

Background: Mediastinal lymphadenopathy (ML) poses a great diagnostic challenge. Objective: To investigate the predictors of malignancy in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of ML in patients without known lung cancer. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Methods: One hundred eight patients without known lung cancer who underwent EUS guided-FNA for ML between 2000 and 2007. All subjects underwent EUS-guided FNA. Data was collected on patients′ demographics, and lymph node (LN) characteristics. Diagnosis of LN malignancy was based on FNA findings and clinical follow-up. Results: One hundred eight patients were analyzed; 58 (54%) were men and 87 (79%) were Caucasian. Mean age was 55 years. Prior malignancy was present in 48 (43%) patients. A total of 126 FNA samples from 126 distinct LNs were performed. Twenty-five (20%) LNs were positive for malignancy. Mean short and long-axis for LNs were 13 and 29 mms respectively. Round shape and sharp borders were found in 29 (15%) and 25 (22%) LNs, correspondingly. Independent predictors of a malignant FNA were: Prior cancer (OR 13.10; 95% CI 2.7-63.32; P = 0.001), short axis (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.00-1.22; P = 0.041) and sharp LN borders (OR 5.47; 95% CI 1.01-29.51; P = 0.048). Age, race, gender, long axis, round shape were not associated with cancer in our cohort. Limitations: Retrospective design and lack of surgical gold standard. Conclusions: Increased risk of malignancy was associated with prior history of cancer, larger LN short axis and presence of LN sharp borders. These predictors may help guide endoscopists perform FNA in malignant LNs, increasing the overall efficiency of EUS-FNA for ML.