BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hilar cholangiocarcinomas have an extremely poor prognosis. Although endoscopic bilateral metal stenting with the "stent in stent" technique using a Y stent is currently employed to treat patients with an unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, this method has limited application in cases of tight strictures. Furthermore, insertion of stents into the Y stent side (first stent side) is problematic in cases of tumor recurrence. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of the use of endoscopic bilateral metal stenting with the Zilver stent. METHODS: Seven patients with an unresectable Bismuth type III or IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma were included in this study. For endoscopic bilateral metal stenting, we first inserted a Y stent with a central wide-open mesh. The Zilver stent was placed into the contralateral hepatic duct through the central portion of the Y stent. RESULTS: Both technical and functional success was achieved in seven patients (100%). The early complication rate was 0%, and late complications due to tumor recurrence occurred in 2 out of 7 (28.6%) patients. These patients were managed by the placement of additional stents or with the use of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a combination technique using Y and Zilver stents improves bilateral stenting for patients with advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma and facilitates stent reinsertion in cases of tumor recurrence.
Bismuth ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stents

BACKGROUND: The most widely utilized indexes of sinus node dysfunction are the sinus node recovery time (SNRT) and the corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT), which generally require catheterization. Adenosine has negative chronotropic effect on the sinoatrial node. Non-invasive and reliable sinus node function test with intravenous adenosine was investigated. METHODS AND RESULT: The clinical value of rapid intravenous injection of adenosine for assessing sinus node dysfunction was examined in 14 patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and 31 controls. After prophylactic insertion of a temporary pacemaker in the right ventricle, overdrive suppression test was conducted using the standard technique and CSNRT was measured to evaluate the sinus node function. Then, the CSNRT after administration of an intravenous bolus of adenosine (6 mg and 12 mg) was measured. Post-adenosine corrected sinus node recovery time (ADO: SNRT) was calculated by subtracting the basal sinus cycle length from the longest sinus cycle length. When ADO: SNRT over 550 msec was assumed as an indicator of sinus node dysfunction, intravenous injection of 6 mg of adenosine had a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 100%, and 12 mg of adenosine had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90% for detection of sick sinus syndrome. There were significant differences in ADO: SNRT between patient and control group (6 mg 1501+/-1081 msec vs 64+/-109 msec; 12 mg 4005+/-2055 msec vs 216+/-315 msec, respectively). CONCLUSION: he ADO: SNRT was a highly sensitive and specific index for diagnosing sick sinus syndrome, and should be considered as an alternative to invasive testing in patients with suspected sick sinus syndrome.
Adenosine* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sick Sinus Syndrome* ; Sinoatrial Node

Carcinoma of the cystic duct remnant is a rare disease. We report a case of a remnant cystic duct carcinoma in a male patient who had undergone cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis 20 years previously. A 53-yr-old man visited our hospital for the evaluation of a submucosal tumor on the duodenum. During the evaluation, we detected a mass in the cystic duct remnant by the use of endoscopic ultrasonography. Based on the pathology, the mass was confirmed as a carcinoma of the cystic duct remnant by intraductal ultrasonography and an intraductal biopsy.
Biopsy ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystolithiasis ; Cystic Duct ; Duodenum ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Male ; Rare Diseases

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm, in which a ventricular free wall rupture is locally contained by adherent pericardium, is a rare complication of myocardial infarction. Compared w'th a true left ventricular aneunsm, a pseudoaneurysm has a greater propensity to sudden rupture, with catastrophic sequelae. Pseudoaneurysm may be surgically curable, a prompt and accurate diagnosis is thus essential. Transthoracic echocardiography has been the procedure of choice in the diagnosis of pseu- doaneurysm. Transesophageal echocardiography can provide more accurate information than transthoracic echocardiography for the evaluation of ventricular pseudoaneurysm located in posterior and inferior wall. We experienced a case of pseudoaneurysm of left ventricle in a 75-year-old female who presented with dyspnea. A large pseudoaneurysm of left ventricle vith narrow neck was de- tected by transesophageal echocardiography.
Aged ; Aneurysm, False* ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Female ; Heart Rupture ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Neck ; Pericardium ; Rupture

Hepatic peribiliary cysts are characterized by multiple tiny cysts of peribiliary glands located in the hilum of the large portal tracts. A 54-year-old man was diagnosed as multiple peribiliary cysts by a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatogram. A course of observation was taken, since surgery due to misdiagnosis of peribiliary cysts as a malignancy is a possibility. The present case highlights the need for precise diagnosis and observation of peribiliary cysts.
Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Palliative endoscopic or percutaneous internal drainage is widely used for treating hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Yet unilateral biliary drainage does not completely improve jaundice and it can induce acute cholangitis by the undrained contrast media. To investigate this technique's technical and clinical effectiveness, a newly devised Y-configured dual stent was used for treating advanced hilar malignancies. METHODS: From May, 2005 to May, 2007, 20 hilar malignancies (men: women=9:11, age=70.5 yr) that were not suitable for surgical resection were included in this study. For bilateral metal stent placement, a biliary stent with a wide open central mesh was first inserted. After this, another stent without a hole was inserted into the contralateral hepatic duct through the open central mesh of the first stent. RESULTS: Bilateral metal stent insertion was done in 14 of 20 patients. Among the 14 patients in whom bilateral stents were successfully placed, the rate of functional success was 100%. There were no early complications. As a late complication, stent occlusion occurred in 4 of 14 patients (28.5%), and one of these patients had a plastic stent inserted. The other 3 patients were treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. The median stent patency period was 231 days. CONCLUSION: The bilateral metal stent method using the Y stent is safe and effective for bilateral biliary drainage in patients with unresectable hilar malignancies.
Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Contrast Media ; Drainage ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Plastics ; Stents

BACKGOUND/AIMS: Pancreatitis is the most common and important complication of an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for post ERCP-pancreatitis in patients pretreated with nafamostat mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor. METHODS: A total of 247 patients who underwent an ERCP were evaluated prospectively. Potential risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients pretreated with nafamostat mesilate were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (9.7%) and nine patients (3.6%) developed post-ERCP hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis, respectively. As determined by univariate analysis among the potential risk factors, we found a procedure time over 20 minutes, pancreatic duct cannulation over four times, prior post-ERCP pancreatitis and the absence of a common bile duct (CBD) stone as risk factors for post-ERCP hyperamylasemia. We also found a patient age under 60 years, a procedure time over 20 minutes, pancreatic duct cannulation over four times and the absence of a CBD stone as risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis (p<0.05). As determined by multivariate analysis, pancreatic cannulation over four times is independently associated with post-ERCP hyperamylasemia (p=0.038; OR, 5.165; 95% CI, 1.093~24.412) and post-ERCP pancreatitis (p=0.002; OR, 33.122; 95% CI, 3.526~311.138). CONCLUSIONS: A repeated pancreatic duct cannulation is the most important risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients pretreated with nafamostat mesilate.
Catheterization ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Guanidines ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Mesylates ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Prospective Studies ; Protease Inhibitors ; Risk Factors

Muinous gastric carcinoma (MGC) is a rare histological type that accounts for approximately 3~7% of all gastric carcinomas. The results of clinicopathological studies suggest that the overall survival rate for patients with MGC is worse than that for patients with non-mucinous tumors as MGC is more frequently diagnosed in the advanced stage. In this report, we preoperatively predicted the type of a tumor from its endoscopic finding. An endoscopic ultrasonographic examination showed a submucosal tumor like mass showing mucin waterfall on the gastric cardia. A total gastrectomy with splenectomy was performed. The pathology of the tumor identified the lesion as a mucinous adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Cardia ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Mucins ; Humans ; Mucins ; Splenectomy ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) is a safe and efficacious method for palliating malignant gastric outlet obstruction. However, few reports have assessed clinical outcome after the insertion of SEMS for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of uncovered SEMS in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer. METHODS: We evaluated 62 patients with gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer treated by the implantation of uncovered SEMS. A total of 62 patients (43 males, 19 females) were treated between August 2000 and March 2007. A scoring system was used to grade the ability to eat. RESULTS: Stent implantation was successful in 61 (98.4%) patients. Relief of obstructive symptoms was achieved in 49 (80.3%) patients. The mean survival duration was 143 days. The mean stent patency time was 103.5 days. An improvement in the ability to eat using the scoring system was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic placement of uncovered SEMS is a safe and effective treatment for the palliation of patients with inoperable malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer.
Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Humans ; Male ; Stents ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The catheter probe endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) system is widely used to evaluate upper gastrointestinal tract lesions. The depiction of the esophageal wall by probe EUS remains problematic due to the difficulty of the filling of water in the esophageal lumen. In addition, filling the esophagus with water can be associated with an increased risk of aspiration. To resolve such problems, we recently applied the use of probe EUS with the jelly-filled method for the evaluation of subepithelial lesions. The procedure is characterized by filling the esophageal lumen with jelly. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of probe EUS by using the jelly-filled method for esophageal subepithelial lesions. METHODS: We analyzed the records of the patients with suspected subepithelial lesions at the time of endoscopy that was performed from November 2005 to June 2007. Esophageal subepithelial lesions with both EUS findings and pathological reports were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: The study included 181 patients (96 males, 85 females), with an average age of 55.5 years (age range, 29~78 years). Sixty-eight patients had lesions in the upper esophagus, 60 patients had lesions in the middle esophagus and 53 patients had lesions in the lower esophagus. Secondary layers of esophageal lesions were predominant (91/181) in the cases. Pathological findings were available for 34 patients. Compared with the pathological findings, the diagnostic accuracy of EUS was 91.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Probe EUS by using the jelly-filled method is convenient and safe to perform and provides clear and full-circumferential imaging of a lesion. It is an alternative method to use in place of previously used probe-EUS procedures for the assessment of esophageal subepithelial lesions.
Catheters ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Retrospective Studies ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract