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Background/Aims: Endoscopic self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement is currently the standard technique for treating unresectable malignant distal biliary obstructions (MDBO). Therefore, covered SEMS with longer stent patency and fewer migrations are required. This study aimed to assess the clinical performance of a novel, fully covered SEMS for unresectable MDBO. Methods: This was a multicenter single-arm prospective study. The primary outcome was a non-obstruction rate at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), time to RBO (TRBO), technical and clinical success, and adverse events. Results: A total of 73 patients were enrolled in this study. The non-obstruction rate at 6 months was 61%. The median OS and TRBO were 233 and 216 days, respectively. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 97%, respectively. Furthermore, the rate of occurrence of RBO and adverse events was 49% and 21%, respectively. The length of bile duct stenosis (<2.2 cm) was the only significant risk factor for stent migration. Conclusions: The non-obstruction rate of a novel fully covered SEMS for MDBO is comparable to that reported earlier but shorter than expected. Short bile duct stenosis is a significant risk factor for stent migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 Computed tomography images. a Two 10-mm stones in the common bile duct (arrowheads). b Most of the stomach had prolapsed into the thoracic cavity owing to the esophageal hiatal hernia (arrows). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is primarily performed to remove common bile duct (CBD) stones. We present a case in which a large-balloon anchor technique [1] was used during ERCP in a patient with a severe hiatal hernia. [Extracted from the article]

The survival times of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) have increased due to the introduction of chemotherapy involving irinotecan and cetuximab. However, further studies are required on the effective pretreatment methods for identifying patients with CRC who would respond to particular treatments. The aim of the present study was to identify biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of chemotherapy for CRC. A total of 123 serum samples were collected from 31 patients with CRC just prior to each of the first four rounds of chemotherapy. Serum metabolome analysis was performed using a multiplatform metabolomics system, and univariate Cox regression hazards analysis of the time to disease progression was conducted. Octanoic acid and 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol were identified as biomarker candidates. In addition, the serum level of octanoic acid was indicated to be significantly associated with the time to disease progression (hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.099–11.840; P=0.033). The serum levels of fatty acids, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids, tended to be downregulated in the partial response group. The findings of the present study suggest that the serum level of octanoic acid may serve as a useful predictor for the prognosis of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conclusion, small and solid schwannomas may resemble solid pseudopapillary neoplasms and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Contrast-enhanced EUS images of this tumor had a slightly delayed enhancement; therefore, a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm were considered as differential diagnoses [3]. Magnetic resonance imaging of the tumor revealed hypointensity on T1-weighted images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, and hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted images (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

A 79-year-old male patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a reddish lesion, 10mm in diameter, presenting as a surface recess in the angular incisure. He was diagnosed with gastric follicular lymphoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed metastasis to the mediastinal lymph node, although the tumor size was small. Hence, we did not administer any treatment and continued following up. After 8 months, multiple enlarged lymphoma lesions in the stomach and a mass with ulceration on the oral side of the duodenal papilla were observed. The tumor had transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; therefore, chemotherapy was initiated. The patient has remained recurrence-free for 55 months after treatment.

A 57-year-old man with fatigue was admitted to our hospital. Abdominal contrast computed tomography indicated the presence of a 35mm tumor in the pancreatic head and dilation of the main pancreatic duct from its body to the tail. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed that the tumor had infiltrated and occupied the main pancreatic duct, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography confirmed that the tumor was present in the main pancreatic duct. Tumor biopsy via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated the proliferation of spindle and pleomorphic cells. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma and underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histological analysis showed the prevalence of adenocarcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma cells in the pancreatic parenchyma and main pancreatic duct, respectively. Anaplastic carcinoma cells showed a decrease in E-cadherin staining. In conclusion, tumor cell proliferation and lack of cell adhesion may have caused the infiltration into the main pancreatic duct.

A 76-year-old man presented to our hospital with continuous abdominal pain and vomiting. The results of the computed tomography indicated a pancreatic head mass with multiple liver metastatic tumors. Multiple liver tumors progressed rapidly, and the patient died of the resulting acute hepatic failure approximately 1 month after the onset of symptoms. The results of the postmortem examination indicated anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma (pleomorphic type) with multiple liver metastases. The tumor cells in the primary pancreatic lesion and liver metastases were replaced with normal tissue, and they showed a decrease in stainability by E-cadherin staining. Overall, the pathological findings suggested that the inhibition of E-cadherin may be related to the proliferation and infiltration of anaplastic cancer cells.

A 73-year-old man visited our hospital for consultation regarding a pancreatic tumor. Abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasound scan (EUS) revealed tumor 2 cm in diameter located in the pancreatic tail. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) suggested pancreatic mixed acinar-endocrine carcinoma, and he underwent distal pancreatectomy. Few reports exist where preoperative EUS-FNA suggested pancreatic mixed acinar-endocrine carcinoma; thus, we report this case.

We describe a 69-year-old man with a history of multiple gastroduodenal ulcers, presenting with the onset of obstructive jaundice. Abdominal CT, MRI and EUS demonstrated a sheet-like mass in the pancreaticoduodenal groove. EUS-FNA did not reveal malignancy. Conservative treatment did not improve his clinical condition and repeated acute pancreatitis occurred during his treatment. Thus, pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Histopathological findings showed a duodenal ulcer penetrating the pancreas and infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrosis in the pancreaticoduodenal groove. The spread of inflammation associated with the duodenal ulcer may have been one of the causes of groove pancreatitis.