BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are several methods for obtaining tissue samples to diagnose malignant biliary strictures during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, each method has only limited sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a combined triple-tissue sampling (TTS) method (on-site bile aspiration cytology, brush cytology, and forceps biopsy). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 168 patients with suspicious malignant biliary strictures who underwent double-tissue sampling (DTS; n=121) or TTS (n=47) via ERCP at our institution from 2004 to 2011. RESULTS: Among the 168 patients reviewed, 117 patients (69.6%) were eventually diagnosed with malignancies. The diagnostic sensitivity for cancer was significantly higher in the TTS group than the DTS group (85.0% vs 64.9%, respectively; p=0.022). Furthermore, the combination of brush cytology and forceps biopsy was superior to the other method combinations in the DTS group. With respect to cancer type (cholangiocarcinoma vs noncholangiocarcinoma), interestingly, the diagnostic sensitivity was higher for cholangiocarcinoma in the TTS group than the DTS group (100% vs 69.4%, respectively; p<0.001) but not for the non-cholangiocarcinoma patients (57.1% vs 57.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TTS can provide an improved diagnostic accuracy in suspicious malignant biliary strictures, particularly for cholangiocarcinoma.
Aged ; Ampulla of Vater/*pathology ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/*pathology ; Biopsy/*methods ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/*methods ; Cholestasis/etiology ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A case of hepatoma presenting as extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to hemobilia is reported. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed jaundice of the obstructive type after a history of B-viral hepatitis. On laparotomy, the liver revealed macronodular cirrhosis without any noticeable mass. A 4-cm sized friable tissue and blood clots were identified within the distended left hepatic duct. Pathologic examination of this tissue confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extended in the hepatic duct.
Bile Duct Obstruction, Extrahepatic/*etiology/pathology ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Hemobilia/*complications ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Age

A case of hepatoma presenting as extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to hemobilia is reported. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed jaundice of the obstructive type after a history of B-viral hepatitis. On laparotomy, the liver revealed macronodular cirrhosis without any noticeable mass. A 4-cm sized friable tissue and blood clots were identified within the distended left hepatic duct. Pathologic examination of this tissue confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extended in the hepatic duct.
Bile Duct Obstruction, Extrahepatic/*etiology/pathology ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Hemobilia/*complications ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Age

Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is often clinically challenging to diagnose. Even multidisciplinary approaches which include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography are unsatisfactory in some cases, especially with biliary stricture. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) with its direct visualization for biopsy appears to be a promising technique for detecting cholangiocarcinoma at an early stage. We report a case of adenocarcinoma in situ of the distal common bile duct (CBD) that was confirmed by PTCS. This case suggests the useful role of PTCS in the differential diagnosis of a distal CBD obstruction, particularly when other diagnostic modalities do not provide definitive information.
Carcinoma in Situ/complications/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Cholangiocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic/diagnosis/etiology ; Common Bile Duct/*pathology/surgery ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; *Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the findings of pancreaticobiliary duct dilation due to pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).

METHODSMRCP findings in 28 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and 42 cases of chronic pancreatitis were retrospectively analyzed. Both plain MR and MRCP examinations were performed in all the cases after oral Gd-DTPA dilution.

RESULTSMRCP in the patients with pancreatic carcinoma displayed dilated pancreatic duct with smooth and regular caliber (n=16, 72.7%), dilated common biliary duct with abrupt rupture in most cases (n=18, 90%) and intra- and extra-hepatic cholangiectasis (n=12, 42.8%), and the double-duct sign (n=19, 86.5%). In the patients with chronic pancreatitis, MRCP identified irregular dilation of the pancreatic duct across the whole segment of the lesion (n= 20, 60.6%), taper of the dilated common bile duct (n=8, 80%), stones within the pancreatic duct (n=5, 11.9%), and pancreatic pseudocsyt within the pancreatic duct (n=21, 50%).

CONCLUSIONCholangiopancreatographic findings of pancreaticobiliary duct dilation are of great value in distinguishing pancreatic carcinoma from chronic pancreatitis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; methods ; Chronic Disease ; Common Bile Duct ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Ducts ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is common in childhood and often self-limiting. There have been limited studies on elderly-onset HSP nephritis (HSPN). A 76-yr-old man was transferred to our hospital with a 1-month history of oliguria, abdominal pain, edema and palpable purpura in the legs. Three months ago, he was admitted to another hospital with jaundice, and consequently diagnosed with early common bile duct cancer. The patient underwent a Whipple's operation. Antibiotics were administrated because of leakage in the suture from the surgery. However, he showed progressive renal failure with edema and purpura in the legs. Laboratory investigations showed serum creatinine 6.4 mg/dL, 24-hr urine protein 8,141 mg/day, myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA) 1:40 and C3 below 64.89 mg/dL. Renal biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis, as well as mesangial and extracapillary Ig A deposition. We started steroid therapy and hemodialysis, but he progressed to end-stage renal failure and he has been under maintenance hemodialysis. We describe elderly onset HSPN with MPO-ANCA can be crescentic glomerulonephritis rapidly progressed to end stage renal failure.
Aged ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/*analysis ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/surgery ; Complement C3/analysis ; Creatinine/blood ; Edema/drug therapy ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glomerulonephritis/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency/etiology/pathology ; Steroids/therapeutic use