Lanthanum deposition in the gastric mucosa in a patient undergoing hemodialysis

Lanthanum Carbonate Opacities—A Systematic Review

Background: Lanthanum carbonate is a phosphate binder used in advanced kidney disease. Its radiopaque appearance has been described in many case studies and case series. Misinterpretation of this phenomenon leads to unnecessary diagnostic tests and procedures. The objectives of this study were to summarize the literature on lanthanum carbonate opacities and present a visual overview. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. We included all types of studies, including case reports/studies, describing radiological findings of lanthanum carbonate opacities in patients with chronic kidney disease. No filter for time was set. Results: A total of 36 articles were eligible for data extraction, and 33 articles were included in the narrative synthesis. Lanthanum carbonate opacities were most commonly reported in the intestines (26 studies, 73%), stomach (8 studies, 21%), and the aerodigestive tract (2 studies, 6%). The opacities in the intestine were most frequently described as multiple, scattered radiopaque densities, compared with the aerodigestive tract, where the opacities were described as a single, round foreign body. Suspicion of contrast medium or foreign bodies was the most common differential diagnosis. LC opacities in patients with CKD are commonly misinterpreted as foreign bodies or suspect contrast media. Conclusions: CKD patients treated with LC may have opacities throughout the digestive tract that can vary in appearance. Stopping LC treatment or changing to an alternative phosphate binder prior to planned image studies can avoid diagnostic confusion. If this is not an option, knowledge of the presentation of LC opacities is important.

Gastric lanthanosis (lanthanum deposition) in an immunosuppressed patient that discontinued lanthanum carbonate seven years ago

A 72-year-old female patient used the oral phosphate binder lanthanum carbonate for 6 years, before discontinuing it after receiving a pancreas and kidney transplant. Now, 7 years after discontinuation, the patient developed bilious emesis. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed an unspecific gastritis. Biopsies showed subepithelial crystalline deposits consistent with gastric lanthanosis.

Quantitative Visualization of Lanthanum Accumulation in Lanthanum Carbonate-Administered Human Stomach Tissues Using Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Platinum, a transition metal that is widely used in anti-cancer agents, also results in the development of nephropathy due to severe adverse reactions caused by platinum-induced nephrotoxicity. Reports on imaging with metals other than platinum remain are limited, even in preclinical studies. Furthermore, most of these are case reports, and the relationship between the distribution of the metal and clinical observations in human samples is not well understood. Here we report on visualizing lanthanum (¹³⁹La), a component of Fosrenol, which is usually used for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia. Gastric inflammation, also known as hemorrhagic gastritis, is the main adverse event caused by Fosrenol. To conduct this study, ¹³⁹La was visualized in gastric biopsy samples obtained from a patient using quantitative laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We also compared the distribution of ¹³⁹La in tissue and histochemical results. The areas where ¹³⁹La accumulated corresponded to the macrophage-positive areas observed in immunohistochemistry studies using an anti-CD68 antibody. In contrast, we observed a debris-like crystal morphology in hematoxylin and eosin staining tissues. The debris was also associated with ¹³⁹La accumulation. The abnormal accumulation of ¹³⁹La crystals caused the observed inflammation. This phenomenon was previously characterized, but this is the first report in which ¹³⁹La distribution and histochemical results are compared using LA-ICP-MS.

Frequent Involvement of the Duodenum with Lanthanum Deposition: A Retrospective Observational Study

Objective This study aimed to investigate the endoscopic features of lanthanum-associated duodenal lesions and the prevalence of duodenal involvement among patients with pathologically proven lanthanum deposition in the gastrointestinal tract. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients with pathologically proven lanthanum deposition in the gastrointestinal tract. Patients were subdivided into three groups: Group A, patients with pathologically-proven lanthanum deposition in the duodenum; Group B, patients without lanthanum deposition in the duodenum; and Group C, patients without a biopsy of the duodenum. Results A biopsy examination of the duodenum was performed in 19 patients, and lanthanum deposition was detected in 17 patients (17/19, 89.5%). In group A (n=17), whitish duodenal villi were detected in 15 patients during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (15/17, 88.2%). While the other two patients showed no whitish villi, a biopsy of the duodenal mucosa revealed lanthanum deposition. The deposition of a white substance showing a clear margin was visible within multiple villi under magnified observation in some patients of group A. Group B patients (n=2) also showed whitish villi. However, the whitish color was faint in one case and sparse in the other case. Conclusion Lanthanum deposits in the duodenum may resemble white villi. However, in some cases, these deposits may be unrecognizable during esophagogastroduodenoscopy due to the subtle degree of deposition. Endoscopists should biopsy the duodenum as well as the stomach, regardless of the presence or absence of white villi, for an accurate determination of lanthanum deposition in the gastrointestinal tract.

Lanthanum deposition corresponds to white lesions in the stomach

OBJECTIVE

Although lanthanum deposition in the stomach has been most frequently reported to occur as white lesions, no study has investigated whether the white lesions observed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy are truly lanthanum-related. Here, we retrospectively investigated the amount of lanthanum in endoscopic biopsy specimens.

METHODS

We reviewed four patients showing gastric white spots or annular whitish mucosa in the gastric white lesions (Bw) and peripheral mucosa where the white substance was not endoscopically observed (Bp) during biopsy. We also reviewed three patients with diffuse whitish mucosa and three patients with no whitish lesions. We performed scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry to quantify the lanthanum elements (wt%) in the biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

The amount of lanthanum in the Bw ranged from 0.15-0.31 wt%, whereas that of Bp was 0.00-0.13 wt%. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The amount of lanthanum in the Bw, endoscopically presented with white spots or annular whitish mucosa, was significantly higher than that of no whitish lesions (0.05-0.14 wt%, P < 0.05). The amount of lanthanum was also higher in the diffuse whitish mucosa (0.21-0.23 wt%) compared with no whitish lesions (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to reveal that pathological lanthanum deposition corresponds to the endoscopically observed white lesions in the gastric mucosa. Therefore, during esophagogastroduodenoscopy, physicians should pay attention to possible presence of white lesions in patients treated with oral lanthanum carbonate to ensure prompt identification of associated issues.