Comparison of the dynamics of bile emptying by quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy before and after cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease

Gallstone, cholecystectomy and risk of gastric cancer

Backgrounds/Aims

The aim of this retrospective study is to compare stomach cancer incidence, characteristics between gallstones, cholecystectomy and control groups. It also aims to investigate key variables' potential effects on overall survival.

Methods

A total of 99 patients, diagnosed with stomach cancers between April 1994 and December 2015, were identified. We excluded stomach cancer patients, accrued during the first year of follow-up in both the gallstones and cholecystectomy groups, assuming that they missed cancers. The main analyses addressing the objective were a chi-square analysis and a survival analysis.

Results

The incidence of stomach cancers was increased in both the gallstone and cholecystectomy groups, compared with the control group (p=0.003). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the overall survival in gallstones, cholecystectomy group patients as compared with those in the control group decreased (HR=6.66, 95 CI: 1.94–22.80, p=0.003). Also, T-stage was found to statistically affect the rate of overall survival (HR=9.85, 95% CI: 3.09–31.39, p=.000). The stomach cancer showed the worse survival at the posterior, greater curvature location than anterior, lesser curvature of the stomach. (HR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.11–0.80, p=0.017).

Conclusions

We provided an awareness of the possible increased risks of stomach cancer in gallstone and cholecystectomy group patients, which might be induced by duodenogastric bile reflux. Also, the survival rate was poor (p<0.000). Therefore, close follow-up strategies for early detection are recommended for such patients.

Characterization of the peak at 2.06 ppm in (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human liver: phosphoenolpyruvate or phosphatidylcholine?

High field MR scanners can resolve a metabolite resonating at 2.06 ppm in the in vivo proton-decoupled liver (31) P MR spectrum. Traditionally this peak has been assigned to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), the key metabolite for gluconeogenesis. However, recent evidence supported the assignment to biliary phosphatidylcholine (PtdCh), which is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. To elucidate the respective contributions of PtdCh and PEP to the in vivo resonance at 2.06 ppm (PEP-PtdCh), we made phantom measurements that confirmed that both biliary PtdCh and PEP resonate approximately at 2 ppm. The absolute quantification of PEP-PtdCh yielded concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 mmol/l, with mean coefficients of variation of 4.8% for intraday and 7.2% for interday reproducibility in healthy volunteers. The T1 relaxation time of PEP-PtdCh was 0.97 ± 0.30 s in the liver and 0.44 ± 0.11 s in the gallbladder. Ingestion of a mixed meal decreased the concentration of PtdCh-PEP by approximately 12%. In the retrospective analysis, PEP-PtdCh was 68% higher in the liver of subjects with gallbladder infiltration of the volume of interest (VOI) compared with those without gallbladder infiltration. PEP-PtdCh was also significantly higher in the liver of cholecystectomy patients compared with volunteers without gallbladder infiltration, which suggests increased intrahepatic bile fluid as a compensation for gall bladder removal. These results show that liver PtdCh is the major component of the resonance at 2.06 ppm and that careful VOI positioning is mandatory to avoid interference from the gallbladder.

Cholecystectomy and the risk of alimentary tract cancers: A systematic review

AIM: To investigate the association between cholecystectomy and gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) cancers.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. A MEDLINE search was performed with predefined search criteria for English Language articles on the association between cholecystectomy and GIT cancers. Additional articles were retrieved by manual search of references. All relevant articles were accessed in full text. Data on study type; cases; controls; country; effect estimate; adjustments for confounders and quality of publication were extracted. The quality of the publications were scored by adherence to the STROBE checklist. The data for each part of the GIT were presented in separate tables.

RESULTS: Seventy-five studies and 5 meta-analyses satisfied the predefined criteria for inclusion and were included in this review. There were inconsistent reports and no strong evidence of an association between cholecystectomy and cancers of the oesophagus (Adenocarcinoma), pancreas, small bowel and right-sided colon cancers. In squamous cancer of the oesophagus, cancers of the stomach, liver, bile ducts, small bowel and left sided colon cancers, good quality studies suggested a lack of association with cholecystectomy. Equally, distal colon and rectal cancers were found not to be associated with cholecystectomy. Several mechanisms for carcinogenesis/promotion of carcinogensis have been proposed. These have focused on a role for bile salts in carcinogenesis with several potential mutagenic molecular events and gut metabolic hormones signaling cell proliferation or initiation of carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSION: This is a comprehensive review of the association between GIT cancers and cholecystectomy. This review found no clear association between cholecystectomy and GIT cancers.

[The effect of endoscopic sphincterotomy on the motility of the gallbladder and of the sphincter of Oddi in patients with acalculous biliary pain syndrome]

INTRODUCTION

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction usually occurs after cholecystectomy, but it can sometimes be detected in patients with intact gallbladder too. The diagnostic value of the non-invasive functional tests is not established in this group of patients and the effects of sphincterotomy on transpapillary bile outflow and gallbladder motility are unknown.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of endoscopic sphincterotomy on the gallbladder ejection fraction, transpapillary bile outflow and the clinical symptoms of patients with acalculous biliary pain syndrome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

36 patients with acalculous biliary pain syndrome underwent quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy, and all of them had decreased cholecytokinin-induced gallbladder ejection fraction. The endoscopic manometry of the sphincter of Oddi showed abnormal sphincter function in 26 patients who were enrolled the study. Before and after endoscopic sphincterotomy all patients had ultrasonographic measurement of cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder ejection fraction with and without nitroglycerin pretreatment and scintigraphy was repeated as well. The effects of sphincterotomy on gallbladder ejection fraction and transpapillary biliary outflow were evaluated. In addition, changes in biliary pain score with a previously validated questionnaire were also determined.

RESULTS

All 26 patients had decreased gallbladder ejection fraction before sphincterotomy measured with scintigraphy (19+18%) and ultrasound (16+9.7%), which was improved after nitroglycerin pretreatment (48.2+17%; p<0.005). Detected with both methods, the ejection fraction was in the normal range after sphincterotomy (52+37% and 40.8+16.5%), but nitroglycerin pretreatment failed to produce further improvement (48.67+22.2%, NS). Based on scintigraphic examination sphincterotomy significantly improved transpapillary biliary outflow (common bile duct half time 63±33 min vs. 37±17 min; p<0.05). According to results obtained from questionneries, 22 of the 26 patients gave an account of significant symptom improvement after sphincterotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic sphincterotomy improves cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder ejection fraction, transpapillary biliary outflow as well as biliary symptoms in patients with acalculous biliary pain syndrome and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder ejection fraction with nitroglycerin pretreatment, measured with ultrasonography can be useful to select a subgroup of patients who can benefit from sphincterotomy.

Postcholecystectomy sphincter of oddi dyskinesia--a diagnostic dilemma--role of noninvasive nuclear and invasive manometric and endoscopic aspects

BACKGROUND

Persistent abdominal pain after cholecystectomy is not uncommon. Sphincter of oddi dysfunction (SOD) is one of the causes for this entity. However, diagnosing SOD is often difficult. Sphincter of oddi manometry (SOM) is the gold standard. Because it is invasive and needs experienced person to perform, simple noninvasive imaging techniques are needed. Other invasive endoscopic methods also play an important role in difficult cases and before therapeutic intervention.

METHODS

Retrospective review of the charts of postcholecystectomy patients who presented with persistent abdominal pain and underwent quantitative hepatobiliary studies (QHBS) as per Sostre et al scoring protocol and simultaneous endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with SOM between 2003 and 2004. Additional 6 studies with SOM data that had routine nonscoring hepatobiliary study (HBS) were later identified and were included in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 24 HBS studies (22 patients) were identified, 19 performed with scoring (Sostre) and 5 with nonscoring methods. ERCP results were available for 16 patients. SOM results were available for 10 patients. Of the 19 who had Sostre's QHBS, 3 were positive and 16 were negative. All 3 QHBS positive patents also had ERCP with SOM findings of SOD. Of the 16 negative Sostre's QHBS, 8 had ERCP with SOM of which 6 had SOD, 1 had no SOD, and 1 was inconclusive. Eight patients who had negative QHBS/ HBS did not undergo further invasive gastrointestinal procedures and were followed conservatively. The rest of 5 patients with negative HBS had ERCP with SOM findings of biliary and pancreatic SOD.

CONCLUSIONS

From our limited retrospective review, when QHBS by Sostre's is positive there is good correlation to ERCP with SOM. When negative, the agreement with ERCP with SOM is less. However, correlation of Sostre's QHBS is slightly better than nonscoring HBS. Hence, QHBS by Sostre protocol is a simple, noninvasive, and easy to use initial procedure in the management of postcholecystectomy pain syndromes and when positive can guide the gastrointestinal physicians to proceed to invasive ERCP with SOM with confidence.

Evaluation of the biliary tract in patients with functional biliary symptoms

The aim of this paper was to describe functional biliary syndromes and methods for evaluation of the biliary tract in these patients. Functional biliary symptoms can be defined as biliary symptoms without demonstrable organic substrate. Two main syndromes exist: Gallbladder dysfunction and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. The most important investigative tools are cholescintigraphy and endoscopic sphincter of Oddi manometry. In gallbladder dysfunction a scintigraphic gallbladder ejection fraction below 35% can select patients who will benefit from cholecystectomy. Endoscopic sphincter of Oddi manometry is considered the gold standard in sphincter of Oddi dysfunction but recent development in scintigraphic methods is about to change this. Thus, calculation of hilum-to-duodenum transit time and duodenal appearance time on cholescintigraphy have proven useful in these patients. In conclusion, ambient methods can diagnose functional biliary syndromes. However, there are still a number of issues where further knowledge is needed. Probably the next step forward will be in the area of sensory testing and impedance planimetric methods.