The Association of Radiologists under the umbrella of the Hokkaido Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Health and Welfare (Hokkaido Koseiren) set up in 2003 a committee with the aim of improving the accuracy of mass health examinations. Recently, the committee reviewed the results of abdominal examinations by sonography performed at the eight hospitals affiliated with the Koseiren during fiscal 2006 that ended March 31, 2007. Of those individuals who underwent thorough health checkups, 91.3% had their abdomen examined by ultrasound. Something anomalous was detected in 68.1% of the examinees and 4.5% needed to undergo closer checkups, the rate of response to which was 74.5%. The detection ratio of cancer by ultrasonography was worked out at 0.048%. The ratio of patients requiring a closer exam to the total and the cancer detection ratio varied widely from hospital to hospital. The wide dispersion was ascribable to the difference in the standard of judgment for indicating closer examinations and the difference in the number of examinees so far as the cancer detection ratio was concerned, from hospital to hospital. A look at the primary findings of anomalies revealed that fatty liver topped the list accounting for 27.4% followed by cholelithiasis with 3.6%. From this, we realized that the abdominal examinations by sonography served to detect cancer and lifestyle-induced health problems as well. Organ-wise, the cancer cases found during the period from 1998 to 2009 broke down as follows: kidney (79 cases), liver (40 cases), pancreas (30 cases), gall bladder (24 cases), others (8 cases) and spleen (none). The cancer detection ratio per year ranged from 0.03 to 0.05% during the period.

Background/Aims: Advanced pancreatic and biliary tract cancers can invade the duodenum and cause duodenal hemorrhagic stenosis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of covered self-expandable metal stents in the treatment of cancer-related duodenal hemorrhage with stenosis. Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, metal stents were placed in 51 patients with duodenal stenosis. Among these patients, a self-expandable covered metal stent was endoscopically placed in 10 patients with hemorrhagic duodenal stenosis caused by pancreatobiliary cancer progression. We retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of the stents by evaluating the technical and clinical success rates based on successful stent placement, degree of oral intake, hemostasis, stent patency, and overall survival. Results: The technical and clinical success rates were 100%. All 10 patients achieved a gastric outlet obstruction scoring system score of three within two weeks after the procedure and had no recurrence of melena. The median stent patency duration and overall survival after stent placement were 52 days (range, 20–220 days) and 66.5 days (range, 31–220 days), respectively. Conclusions Endoscopic placement of a covered metal stent for hemorrhagic duodenal stenosis associated with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer resulted in duodenal hemostasis, recanalization, and improved quality of life.

Background/Aims: To date, only thinner-diameter metal stents have been evaluated for unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (UR-MDBO). This study investigated the outcomes and optimal cohorts for a 6-mm-diameter fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) compared with those for a 10-mm-diameter FCSEMS. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent initial transpapillary metal stenting for UR-MDBO. Propensity score matching (1:1) analysis was performed. Results: Of 133/68 patients who underwent 6-mm/10-mm-diameter FCSEMS deployment, 59 in each group were selected. The median time to recurrent biliary obstruction was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.46). In contrast, use of the 6-mm-diameter FCSEMS resulted in a significantly reduced incidence of stent-related adverse events (AEs) (p=0.016), especially cholecystitis (p=0.032), and patients aged <70 years were particularly affected by this significant reduction. Among the patients in the end-stage cohort who were unable to continue chemotherapy after FCSEMS deployment, the free rate of stent-related events, including recurrent biliary obstruction and stent-related AEs, was significantly higher in the 6-mm group (p=0.027). Conclusions For UR-MDBO, a 6-mm-diameter FCSEMS can be an optimal and safe option in the younger cohort with a relatively high risk of AEs and in the end-stage cohort requiring safer drainage without interference from stent-related events during times of poor prognosis.

Background/Aims: To date, only thinner-diameter metal stents have been evaluated for unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (UR-MDBO). This study investigated the outcomes and optimal cohorts for a 6-mm-diameter fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) compared with those for a 10-mm-diameter FCSEMS. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent initial transpapillary metal stenting for UR-MDBO. Propensity score matching (1:1) analysis was performed. Results: Of 133/68 patients who underwent 6-mm/10-mm-diameter FCSEMS deployment, 59 in each group were selected. The median time to recurrent biliary obstruction was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.46). In contrast, use of the 6-mm-diameter FCSEMS resulted in a significantly reduced incidence of stent-related adverse events (AEs) (p=0.016), especially cholecystitis (p=0.032), and patients aged <70 years were particularly affected by this significant reduction. Among the patients in the end-stage cohort who were unable to continue chemotherapy after FCSEMS deployment, the free rate of stent-related events, including recurrent biliary obstruction and stent-related AEs, was significantly higher in the 6-mm group (p=0.027). Conclusions For UR-MDBO, a 6-mm-diameter FCSEMS can be an optimal and safe option in the younger cohort with a relatively high risk of AEs and in the end-stage cohort requiring safer drainage without interference from stent-related events during times of poor prognosis.

Background/Aims: To date, only thinner-diameter metal stents have been evaluated for unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (UR-MDBO). This study investigated the outcomes and optimal cohorts for a 6-mm-diameter fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) compared with those for a 10-mm-diameter FCSEMS. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent initial transpapillary metal stenting for UR-MDBO. Propensity score matching (1:1) analysis was performed. Results: Of 133/68 patients who underwent 6-mm/10-mm-diameter FCSEMS deployment, 59 in each group were selected. The median time to recurrent biliary obstruction was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.46). In contrast, use of the 6-mm-diameter FCSEMS resulted in a significantly reduced incidence of stent-related adverse events (AEs) (p=0.016), especially cholecystitis (p=0.032), and patients aged <70 years were particularly affected by this significant reduction. Among the patients in the end-stage cohort who were unable to continue chemotherapy after FCSEMS deployment, the free rate of stent-related events, including recurrent biliary obstruction and stent-related AEs, was significantly higher in the 6-mm group (p=0.027). Conclusions For UR-MDBO, a 6-mm-diameter FCSEMS can be an optimal and safe option in the younger cohort with a relatively high risk of AEs and in the end-stage cohort requiring safer drainage without interference from stent-related events during times of poor prognosis.