Primary gastric tuberculosis mimicking a submucosal tumor

Gastric tuberculosis is very rare and is usually associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Endoscopically, it usually resembles peptic ulcer disease or malignancy. We present a 28-year-old female who had a submucosal lesion in the body of the stomach that mimicked a submucosal tumor. Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration yielded caseous material, and the cytological examination confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Sarcoidosis presenting as acute pancreatitis

Hypercalcemic states may result in acute pancreatitis. Sarcoidosis has been rarely reported as a cause of acute pancreatitis. A 42-year-old female came with abdominal pain and was found to have acute pancreatitis. Evaluation revealed hypercalcemia and evidence of pulmonary infiltrates and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed noncaseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. In conclusion, sarcoidosis may result in acute pancreatitis by causing hypercalcemia.

Involvement of mediastinal/intra.abdominal lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and left adrenal in presumed isolated pancreatic tuberculosis: An endoscopic ultrasound study

Background: Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis is very rare and closely mimics pancreatic cancer. Extra pancreatic involvement is very rare and has been rarely reported. Aim: Study the involvement of mediastinal/intra-abdominal lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and left adrenal in patients of isolated pancreatic tuberculosis using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of the records of 16 patients (12 males; mean age 37.8 ± 9.3 years) with pancreatic tuberculosis seen over last 4 years was done. Results: All 16 patients had a well-defined predominantly hypoechoic mass lesion in the pancreatic head and 7/16 (43%) patient had isolated pancreatic tuberculosis with no lymphadenopathy or extrapancreatic involvement. Nine (57%) patients had involvement of the peripancreatic lymph nodes and 6 (38%), 3 (19%), and 2 (13%) patients had celiac, periportal, and mediastinal nodes involvement, respectively. The diameter of the lymph nodes ranged from 1.2 cm to 2.6 cm with celiac lymph nodes being the largest. The left adrenal had normal morphology on EUS in all patients. The spleen and left lobe of the liver were also normal on EUS. Conclusions: Extra pancreatic involvement is seen in up to one-third of patients with presumed isolated pancreatic tuberculosis with involvement of peri-pancreatic and celiac lymph nodes being the commonest.

Endoscopic management of pancreatic fluid collections

Pancreatitis, both acute and chronic, can lead on to various types of fluid collections that include pseudocysts, organized or walled off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), and pancreatic abscess and these have been traditionally treated by surgery. The advancement in the endoscopic technology and instruments including the availability of therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has opened up an era of minimally invasive, safe and effective endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFC). Endoscopic drainage is to be done only in symptomatic patients and it can be accomplished either through the transpapillary, transmural, or using a combination of these two routes. The decision to use one approach over the other depends on the size of the PFC, its proximity to the stomach or duodenum, presence of solid necrotic debris and the ability to enter the pancreatic duct and/or reach the area of disruption. EUS guided drainage should be considered in patients with non-bulging fluid collections, high pretest probability of bleeding, prior failed transmural entry using non-EUS guided technique and, collections inaccessible by standard technique like those located at the tail end of the pancreas.

Double gastric dieulafoy′s lesion treated with endoscopic band ligation

Dieulafoy’s lesion is an uncommon cause of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. They are commonly seen in stomach and are usually single. Rarely, multiple DLs may cause clinically significant GI bleed. We report a rare case of upper GI bleed due to two DL along the lesser curvature of the stomach. Hemostasis was achieved by endoscopic band ligation. Patient did not have further recurrences and was asymptomatic after 2 years.

Percutaneous catheter drainage followed by endoscopic transluminal drainage/necrosectomy for treatment of infected pancreatic necrosis in early phase of illness

Background and Objectives:

Infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) in the early phase is treated with “step up approach” involving initial percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) followed by necrosectomy. There is a paucity of data on a combined approach of initial PCD followed by endoscopic drainage and necrosectomy. A retrospectively study on safety and efficacy of initial PCD followed by endoscopic transluminal drainage and necrosectomy in IPN.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of data of 23 patients with IPN who were treated with a combined approach. Patients were divided into two groups as follows: patients with central necrosis in whom PCD and endoscopic drainage were done in the same collection (n = 11) and patients with combined central and peripheral necrosis where PCD was placed in peripheral necrosis, and endoscopic drainage was done for central necrosis (n = 12).

Results:

Endoscopic drainage could be done successfully in all 23 patients with mean time for the resolution being 4.0 ± 0.9 weeks. Fifteen (65.2%) patients were successfully treated using multiple plastic stents while direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) was needed in 8 (34.8%) patients and fully covered self-expanding metal stent was inserted in 6 (26%) patients. The number of endoscopic sessions needed were 3 in 3 (13%), 4 in 9 (39%) patients, 5 in 5 (22%), 6 in 3 (13%), and 7 in 3 (13%) patients, respectively. Patients of central walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) with PCD catheter in situ needed more endoscopic sessions for resolution as well as more frequently needed DEN in comparison to patients with central WOPN with no PCD catheter.

Conclusion:

The combined approach of initial PCD followed by endoscopic drainage and necrosectomy is safe and effective treatment alternative for patients with IPN.

Simultaneous Occurrence of Varicella Zoster Virus-Induced Pancreatitis and Hepatitis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal complications are common after renal transplantation, including oral lesions, esophagitis, gastritis, diarrhea, and colon carcinoma. The differential diagnosis is difficult in this scenario because multiple factors such as drugs, infections, and preexisting gastrointestinal disease come into play.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of varicella zoster virus-induced pancreatitis and hepatitis in a renal transplant recipient. The patient underwent renal transplantation 3 years earlier and now presented with severe pain in the epigastrium radiating to his back and had raised serum lipase levels and skin lesions characteristic of varicella. Liver enzyme levels were also elevated. He was started on a regimen of acyclovir. His pain improved in 24 hours, and liver enzyme levels returned to normal in 48 hours.

DISCUSSION

There is a paucity of literature on the simultaneous occurrence of varicella zoster virus-induced hepatitis and pancreatitis in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Our case highlights the gastrointestinal complications of varicella infection in immunocompromised patients that may precede the characteristic dermatologic manifestations, and the fact that rarely both hepatitis and pancreatitis may be seen.

Prognostic significance of differentiating necrosis from fluid collection on endoscopic ultrasound in patients with presumed isolated extrapancreatic necrosis

Background

Extrapancreatic necrosis is diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) as extrapancreatic changes that are more than fat stranding; both fluid collections and necrosis would have a similar appearance. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of differentiating peripancreatic necrosis from fluid collection on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in patients with presumed isolated extrapancreatic necrosis.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 36 patients (25 males; age range 19-65 years) with acute pancreatitis (AP) and isolated extrapancreatic necrosis. On EUS, peripancreatic anechoic areas were labeled as peripancreatic fluid collections and peripancreatic heterogeneously echotextured areas as peripancreatic necrosis.

Results

The etiology of AP was alcohol in 16 (44.4%) patients, gallstone disease in 13 (36.1%), and other in 7 (19.4%). On EUS, 25 (69.4%) patients had peripancreatic necrosis and 11 (30.6%) patients had peripancreatic fluid collections. Compared with patients who had peripancreatic fluid collections, patients with peripancreatic necrosis had a significantly higher frequency of pleural effusion (88% vs. 55%; P=0.04), organ failure (OF) (68% vs. 27%; P=0.03), and persistent OF (48% vs. 9%; P=0.03). The patients with peripancreatic necrosis also had a higher frequency of ascites (20% vs. 9%), need for intervention (20% vs. nil), surgery (8% vs. nil) and mortality (8% vs. nil), but these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Isolated extrapancreatic necrosis on contrast-enhanced CT comprises a heterogeneous group, with patients who show peripancreatic fluid collections on EUS having a less severe disease course compared to patients with peripancreatic necrosis.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided transmural drainage of walled off pancreatic necrosis using a "step - up" approach: A single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Walled off necrosis (WON) can be treated endoscopically using multiple transmural plastic stents or fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS) and direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN). We evaluated the efficacy of "step-up" endoscopic transmural approach for treatment of WON.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of data of 86 patients with WON who were treated with attempted endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided "step up" transmural drainage during last 5 years was done. Initially multiple plastic stents were placed and patients not responding underwent FCSEMS placement and/or DEN.

RESULTS

Patients presented 10.8 ± 2.8 weeks after an acute attack of acute pancreatitis and mean size of WON was 10.7 ± 2.9 cm. EUS guided transmural drainage was technically successful in 85/86 (98.8%) patients and 70 (82.4%) were drained with multiple 7/10Fr plastic stents alone while DEN was needed in 9 (10.6%) and FCSEMS was inserted in 6 (7%) patients. All patients had successful outcome with none requiring surgery. The patients who needed DEN/FCSEMS presented earlier and had large size collection with more solid necrotic debris as compared to patients treated with multiple plastic stents alone. The complications were pneumoperitoneum (n = 1), bile leak following cholecystecomy (n = 1), development of external pancreatic fistula following percutaneous drainage (n = 1) and gastrointestinal bleed (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

"Step up" endoscopic transmural drainage using multiple plastic stents as an initial therapy is safe and effective treatment of WON and avoids more aggressive DEN in majority of patients. Large size WON with more necrotic debris may require DEN.

Imaging of esophageal tuberculosis: A review of 23 cases

Purpose: To evaluate the various radiological abnormalities in patients with proven esophageal tuberculosis.

Material and Methods: The case records of 23 patients with proven esophageal tuberculosis were evaluated retrospectively for various radiological abnormalities. Twenty-two patients had secondary involvement of esophagus in the form of direct extension of mediastinal and pulmonary tuberculosis or spinal tuberculosis. Only 1 patient had primary involvement of the esophagus with no evidence of disease elsewhere. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic and CT-guided biopsy/aspiration cytology in 7 and 6 cases, respectively. Diagnosis was made on the basis of surgical biopsy of lymph node and autopsy in 1 patient each. In the remaining 8 patients the diagnosis was based on radiological and endoscopic findings and the response to antituberculous treatment.

Results: Chest radiography (CXR) was abnormal in 65% patients. While the findings were non-conclusive for esophageal tuberculosis, characteristic lesions of tuberculosis in lungs or spine were suggestive of tuberculous etiology. In 15 patients, CT of the chest confirmed the corresponding CXR findings and also showed additional findings of mediastinal lymphadenopathy when CXR was normal. Fourteen patients showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy on CT of the chest. In all these patients, more than one group of lymph nodes was involved. The characteristic hypodense center of lymph nodes suggestive of tuberculosis was seen in 12 patients. Radiological abnormalities seen in barium swallow examination were extrinsic compression, traction diverticula, strictures, sinus/fistulous tracts, kinking and pseudotumor mass of esophagus in decreasing order of frequency. The middle third of the esophagus was found to be the most frequent site of involvement.

Extra-pancreatic necrosis alone: Contours of an emerging entity

Acute pancreatitis is of two morphologic types: interstitial edematous pancreatitis that is not associated with any tissue necrosis and necrotizing pancreatitis wherein the pancreatic parenchyma with or without varying amount of extra-pancreatic tissue/fat undergoes necrosis. Necrotizing pancreatitis has a worse outcome compared with interstitial pancreatitis because of increased severity related to a heightened systemic response and cytokine storm associated with tissue necrosis. Increasingly, an entity of extra-pancreatic necrosis (EPN) alone, wherein the pancreatic parenchyma is normal on an enhanced computed tomographic scan but the peri-pancreatic tissues undergo necrosis, is being recognized. Available data suggest that the outcomes in patients with EPN alone are between the excellent prognosis of patients with interstitial and adverse prognosis of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. The extent of EPN also seems to determine the outcome. This review summarizes the currently available literature on this entity and various radiological scores that have been suggested to determine the presence and stage of EPN.

Is pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in celiac disease related to structural alterations in pancreatic parenchyma?

BACKGROUND

Although exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) has been reported in a number of patients with celiac disease (CD), it is not clear if this is primarily a functional or a structural defect. We studied pancreatic structural abnormalities by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in adult CD patients with EPI.

METHODS

Pancreatic exocrine function was prospectively assessed in 36 recently diagnosed CD patients (mean age: 29.8 years) by measuring fecal elastase. Pancreatic structural changes were assessed in CD patients with EPI by EUS and elastography. Exocrine functions were reassessed after 3 months of gluten-free diet.

RESULTS

Of the 36 CD patients included, 30 (83%) had anemia, 21 (58%) diarrhea, and 7 (19%) hypothyroidism. Ten (28%) patients had EPI with mean elastase levels of 141.6 μg/g of stool, of whom only one had a history of recurrent acute pancreatitis while the rest 9 patients had no history of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Of these 10 patients, 8 (80%) had diarrhea, 8 (80%) anemia, and 2 (20%) hypothyroidism. EUS was done in 8 patients which showed: normal pancreas in 5 (50%), hyperechoic strands in 3 (30%), and hyperechoic foci without shadowing in 2 (20%) patients. None had lobularity or parenchymal calcification. All patients except the patient with recurrent pancreatitis had normal strain ratio. Follow-up fecal elastase was within normal range in 6 of 7 (86%) patients.

CONCLUSION

EPI, assessed by fecal elastase levels in adult CD patients, possibly does not relate to structural alterations in the pancreatic parenchyma and may be reversible by following a gluten-free diet.

Hypocalcemic tetany: a simple bedside marker of poor outcome in acute pancreatitis

Background

Hypocalcemia is a marker of poor prognosis in acute pancreatitis (AP) but the prognostic significance of hypocalcemic tetany in patients with AP has not been studied. We aimed to determine the prognostic significance of hypocalcemic tetany in patients with AP.

Methods

Consecutive patients of AP who presented within 7 days of symptoms were included. Serum calcium levels were measured on admission and the patients were divided into two groups based on the presence (group 1) or absence of hypocalcemia (group 2). Chvostek and Trousseau signs were sought in all patients with hypocalcemia and the outcome measures were compared between patients with normocalcemia, asymptomatic and symptomatic hypocalcemia (tetany). The outcome parameters assessed were persistent organ failure (POF), need for intervention, and mortality.

Results

Of 105 patients (53 male; mean age 37.34±12.62 years), 37 (35.2%) had hypocalcemia (group 1) and 68 (64.8%) had normal corrected serum calcium levels (group 2). Patients with hypocalcemia had significantly higher frequency of POF, mortality and need for intervention (P<0.05). Twelve of 37 (32.4%) patients with hypocalcemia had tetany. Patients with tetany had significantly lower serum corrected calcium and ionized calcium levels compared with patients with asymptomatic hypocalcemia (P<0.05). Patients with tetany had significantly higher mortality rates compared with patients with asymptomatic hypocalcemia (100% vs. 8%; P=0.00001) as well as POF (100% vs. 32%; P=0.000006).

Conclusion

Presence of hypocalcemic tetany in AP patients bears a poor prognosis and is associated with increased mortality.

Pancreatic tuberculosis

Pancreatic tuberculosis is very rare, but recently, there has been a spurt in the number of reports on pancreatic involvement by tuberculosis. It closely mimics pancreatic cancer, and before the advent of better imaging modalities it was often detected as a histological surprise in patients resected for a presumed pancreatic malignancy. The usual presentation involves abdominal pain, loss of appetite and weight, jaundice which can be associated with cholestasis, fever and night sweats, palpable abdominal lump, and peripheral lymphadenopathy. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen is an important tool for evaluation of patients with pancreatic tuberculosis. This CT imaging yields valuable information about the size and nature of tubercular lesions along with the presence of ascites and lymphadenopathy. However, there are no distinctive features on CT that distinguish it from pancreatic carcinoma. Endoscopic ultrasound provides high resolution images of the pancreatic lesions as well as an opportunity to sample these lesions for cytological confirmation. The presence of granulomas is the most common finding on histological/cytological examination with the presence of acid fast bacilli being observed only in minority of patients. As there are no randomized or comparative studies on treatment of pancreatic tuberculosis it is usually treated like other forms of tuberculosis. Excellent cure rates are reported with standard anti tubercular therapy given for 6-12 months.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in acute pancreatitis: etiology, clinical features, risk factors and outcome

BACKGROUND

There is paucity of data on the effect of interventions on risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

Retrospective study of records of patients with AP and GIB.

RESULTS

16 (3.7%) patients (14 males; mean age 39.3 ± 12.8 years) had gastrointestinal bleeding. Two patients had peptic ulcer disease related GIB. The cause of GIB in remaining patients was: pseudoaneurysms in 5, gastrointestinal fistulization in 4, and no identifiable lesion in 5. Two patients with pseudoaneurysms were treated with angioembolisation whereas 3 needed surgery. The patients with gastrointestinal fistula had complicated course and 3 of these 4 patients died due to sepsis and multi organ failure. Rest 5 patients with no identifiable lesion were managed conservatively and there was no recurrence of GIB. Of the 14 patients with AP related GIB, a previous intervention had been done in 11(79%) patients. Fifty-three patients (12.7%) without GIB died whereas 5 (31.2%) patients with GIB succumbed to the illness (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of our patients of AP with GIB had antecedent history of interventions. The mortality was higher in patients with GIB, which was not due to hemorrhage but to sepsis and related complications.