Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of direct celiac ganglion irradiation with 125I seeds for pain relief secondary to advanced pancreatic carcinoma (PC).Methods This study enrolled 23 consecutive patients who had moderate to severe pain resulting from advanced PC.All patients underwent EUS-guided direct celiac ganglion irradiation with 125I seeds.Follow-up was conducted at least once weekly until death.Blood parameters,Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score,mean analgesic consumption,and complications were evaluated during follow-up.Results All patients successfully underwent implantation at one attempt.The mean number of seeds implanted in the celiac ganglion per patient was 4 (range 2-6).Immediately after the procedure,pain relief and analgesic consumption showed no significant changes compared with preoperative values.Six patients (26％) reported pain exacerbation.Two weeks later,the VAS score and mean analgesic consumption were significantly less than preoperative values.No procedure-related deaths or major complications occurred.Conclusion EUS-guided direct celiac ganglion irradiation with 125I seeds can reduce the VAS score and analgesic drug consumption in patients with unresectable PC.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (CH-EUS)for pancreatic cancer.Methods Patients with pancreatic occupying lesion underwent CH-EUS with ultrasonic contrast medium Sonovue.Pathological diagnoses by EUS-FNA or surgery and the follow-up results were made as the final diagnosis to evaluate the accuracy of CH-EUS for pancreatic cancer.Character-istics of CH-EUS in different pancreatic tumors were analysed.Results A total of 76 patients were en-rolled,with an average age of 53. 1 ±14. 2.Thirty-five were finally diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer, 21 local mass-type pancreatitis,10 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor,6 cystadenoma,4 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.Tumor diameter was 3. 4 ±1. 4 cm and there were 18 less than 2 cm.The sensitivity and specificity,positive and negative predictive value of CH-EUS for pancreatic cancer was 97. 1%, 92. 9%,91. 7% and 97. 5% respectively.The sensitivity was 100% combined with FNA.Conclusion CH-EUS is safe,convenient for pancreatic cancer with high accuracy and can be used as an additional diag-nostic method to EUS-FNA.

Objective To explore the feasibility of establishing porcine model for training of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided celiac plexus paracentesis.Methods A total of 6 healthy pigs were sedated with an intramuscular injection of Ketamin at 10 mg/kg,followed by intravenous injection of 3% pentobarbital at 0.8 ml/kg.EUS was then performed and empty seeds were implanted into celiac plexus.Enhanced CT scan was performed to confirm the location of the implanted seeds.Results No animal died after the procedure.All seeds were accurately distributed on both sides of the celiac trunk except in one pig the seed was found in stomach by CT scan and was re-implanted another day.Conclusion Pigs are similar to human in anatomic structure and they can be excellent models for beginner endoscopy physicians to acquire the skill of EUS guided celiac plexus paracentesis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)in treatment of patients with early gastric cancer(EGC).Methods A total of 4 3 consecutive patients with EGC were treated with ESD at Changhai Hospital from July 2007 to July 2008.The data referred to one-piece resection,histologically complete resection,operation time,complications,the post-ESD ulcer-healing and local recurrance were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsEn bloc resection was achieved in 97.7 0A(4 2/43)lesions in one-piece resection.The histologically complete resection rate was 95.3%(41/43).Only one patient had acute minor bleeding during the ESD procedure(2.3%,1/43)and one patient had delayed bleeding(2.3%,1/43).Post-ESD epigastric pain was found in 2 2 patients(51.2%).There was no complications such as acute major bleeding,perforation,requiring surgical treatment and death.The median operation time was 60.4 miutes.The post-ESD ulcer-healing was achieved in 100%(42/42)8 weeks after esomeprazole treatment.During follow-uP of 10.3 months(ranged from 8 to 1 8 months),no residual or local recurrence of EGC was seen.Conclusion ESD has the advantages of increasing one-piece resection and histologically curative resection rates.It is a safe and effective procedure in treatment of EGC.

Objective To compare the yield of endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspira-tion (EUS-FNA) with 3 different sample processing methods. Methods The clinical data of 118 patients, who underwent EUS-FNA performed by one physician from February 2005 to September 2008, were retrospectively analyzed. The FNA sample processing methods included liquid-based cytology, on-site cytology and smear method. The pathological diagnosis was classified as definite, suspicious malignancy, dissatisfying sampling and indefinite. Results The success rate of obtaining samples through on-site cytological procedure was 95.2% (40/42), which was significantly higher than that of conventional smear (32/47, 68%, P <0. 05), and was higher than that of liquid-based cytological method (26/29, 89. 7% ), but without significant differ-ence (P>0.05). The yield of definite diagnosis with liquid-based cytology and on-site cytology were 82.8% (24/29) and 78. 6% (33/42), respectively, which were both significantly higher than that of smear method (57. 4%, 27/47, P <0. 05). The sensitivity and accuracy of on-site cytology were higher than those of smear method and liquid-based cytology, but without significant differences (P >0. 05). Conclusion Compared with conventional smear method, an-site cytology and liquid-based cytology yield more results from EUS-FNA.

Objective To evaluate the influence of brachytherapy with 125Ⅰ seeds on celiac ganglia in porcine models. Methods Twelve pigs were randomly assigned into 3 groups to accept celiac plexus block by bilateral injection with 2 non-radioactive seeds in group A (n = 4), 0.4 mCi seeds in Group B (n = 4) and 0.8 mCi seeds in Group C (n = 4), respectively. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered postoperatively. Enhanced CT and three-dimensional reconstruction of blood vessels were performed to confirm the proper placement of the seeds. The animals were sacrificed 14 days and 60 days after the procedure, and TUNEL assay was employed to study neuron apoptosis in ediac ganglia. Results The procedure was succossfully performed in,10 pigs(83.3%)and failed in two others. The rescue procedure was performed on the day after and succeeded in both pigs. Apoptosis of neurons significantly increased in brachytherapy groups than in the control group and it was positively correlated with dose and time of radiation. Conclusion Brachytherapy can cause apoptosis of neurons of celiac ganglion, which could be the basis of its clinical application.

ObjectiveEndoscopic suhmucosal dissection (ESD) is a new diagnostic and therapeutical technique for early gastric cancer (EGC).The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD for EGG.MethodsThe data of patients who underwent ESD for EGCs from July 2007 to December 2007 were analyzed retrospectively.One-piece resection rate,histologically complete resection rate (the lateral and vertical margins were free of cancer),operation time,complications,post-ESD ulcer-healing rates and local recurrence were assessed.ResultsA total of 21 EGCs in 20 consecutive patients were treated with ESD.The median age was 56.4 years (range 37-75 years) and the male/female ratio was 1.9(13/7).Out of 21 lesions,20 (95.2%) were resected in one piece.The rate for one-piece resection with tumor-free margins was 90.5% (19/21).Acute minor bleeding during the ESD procedure occurred in 4.8% (1/21).Post-ESD epigastric pain rate was 76.2%(16/21).No acute major bleeding, delayed bleeding and perforation occurred.The median operation time was 50.4 min (range 45-200 min).The pest-ESD ulcer-healing rates was 100% after 8 weeks of oral esomeprazole.After a follow-up with median time of 9.2 months (range 8-12 months),none of the patients experienced residual/local recurrence of early gastric cancer.Conclusion ESD has the advantage of increasing one-piece resection rate and histologically curative resection rates.ESD is a safe and effective treatment for EGC.

ObjectiveTo assess the safety of celiac plexus brachytherapy with 125Ⅰseeds placementguided by endoscopic ultrasound in porcine model, and to evaluate its effect on surrounding vessels and organs.MethodsFourteen pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups to accept celiac plexus block by bilateral injection with 2 non-radioactive seeds in group A (n=4),0.4 mCi seeds in Group B (n=4),0.8 mCi seeds in Group C (n=4) and one lateral injection with 5 ml dehydrated alcohol,respectively.Abdominal X-ray,Enhanced CT and three-dimensional reconstruction of blood vessels were performed to confirm the proper placement of the seeds in group A,B and C.Routine blood test,liver and renal function,serum amylase and CD4+/CD8+ratio were examined preoperatively and at the end of the follow-up in all groups.Animals were euthanized in batch to observe the position of the implanted seeds.Tissues and organs around the seeds were dissected for pathological examination.ResultsThe procedure succeeded in 12 pigs (85.7%)and failed in two others (1 in group A,and 1 in C) due to inappropriate position.Rescue procedures were performed on another day and succeeded.No significant difference was found in routine blood test,liver and renal func-tion,serum amylase and CD4+/CD8+ratio,except WBC elevation and small abcesses were found 7 days after the procedure in one pig of group C.In the radiated area, there was degeneration,necrosis and mild in-flammation at the outer membrane of blood vessels,with fibrosis around,which was positively correlated with the radiation dosage and duration.There was no change at the muscular layer and the innermost membrane of blood vessels,and no thrombosis was found.In group D,the celiac trunk became slightly brown and wider with obvious hemorrhage,necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the outer membrane of blood vessles and connective tissues around.ConclusionBrachytherapy has little negative effect on the organs a-round. It does not harm immunnity but induces lesions in blood vessels. Compared with dehydrated alcohol,this negative effect is limited.Therefore,celiac plexus brachytherapy with125Ⅰseeds guided by endoscopic ultrasound is safe.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and salty of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN) in the treatment of pain due to pancreatic cancer and celiac metastatic carcinoma.Methods Thirty-three patients with celiac carcinoma were selected for EUS-CPN. Among whom 15 pateints were received chemotherapy before procedure . Using endoscopic ultrasounography,transgastric injection of the celiac plexus with bupivacaine and 98% dehydrated absolute alcohol was accomplished.The abdominal pain was evaluated by the numeric pain intensity scale before and at 24,48,72 hours and one week after the precedure.The successful rate of precedure,the complication and the relief of the pain were observed. Results All procedures were performed successfully . No serious complications such as pancreatitis by trauma,pancreatic fistula,bleeding and celiac infection was found.Compared with baseline,pain was significantly relieved at 12,24,72 hours and 1 week after EUS-CPN (100%,98%,90% and 88%,respectively).The pain remission at 24,48,72 hours and one week in patients who received chemotherapy before procedure were 100%,100%,980% and 98%,respectively,while in those who had not treated chemically were 100%,98%,95% and 90%,respectively.The complete%relief of pain in chemotherapy group was significantly higher than that in nonchemotherapy group (75 % vs 56 %,P%0.05).Conclusions EUS CPN is a safe and effective method for relieving pain with low complications.It can raise the quality life of the patients and chemical therapy may be helpful in pain control.

Objective To assess the safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)of pancreatic lesions.Methods Patients who underwent EUS-FNA of a pancreatic lesion between January 2005 and June 2007were studied retrospectively.Possible risk factors were assessed by using logistic analysis.Results In 119 patients who underwent pancreatic EUS-FNA,mild acute pancreatitis were observed in 1(0.84%)patient after the operation.No complication occurred in 12 patients with regional portal vein hypertension.Nine patients(7.6%)showed hyperamylasemia 3 h after the procedure,rangeing from 197 to 835 U/L,with an average of(327±200)U/L.Blood amylase level kept increasing 24 h postoperatively in 6 cases of the 9.Logistic regression analysis showed past history of acute pancreatitis,gender,needle size,number of puncture,cystic foci,preoperative blood amylase level and location of foci would not possibly be the risk factors of hyperamylasemia.Conclusion Incidence of complications after EUS-FNA is 0.84%,and the occurrence rate of hyperamylasemia is 7.6%,indicating,EUS-FNA is a safe procedure.