Long-term Outcomes of Symptomatic Gallbladder Sludge

Layering hyperintensity in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging predicts gallbladder sludge: a retrospective cohort and diagnostic accuracy study in patients with significant liver disease

BACKGROUND

Layering hyperintensity in the gallbladder is frequently observed on T1-weighted (T1w) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but its association with hepatobiliary disorders is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T1w layering in the gallbladder and its correlation with ultrasound (US) findings and patient characteristics in a cohort with significant liver disease.

METHODS

A single-center study from 2015 to 2022 included patients who underwent MRI and abdominal US within one week. Exclusion criteria were poor imaging quality and prior cholecystectomy. MRI findings were correlated with US and analyzed against patient characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 415 patients (mean age 58.3 ± 14.8 years; mean BMI 28.0 ± 4.5 kg/m²), 67% had abnormal liver function tests, with high prevalences of cirrhosis (n = 260), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) (n = 233), and choledocholithiasis (n = 106). T1w layering was observed in 56% (n = 232) and associated with higher BMI (p = 0.001) and with cholecystolithiasis (p < 0.001), but not with age, sex, or liver disease indicators. T1w layering was predictive of gallbladder sludge on US (odds ratio 17.2, 95% confidence interval 9.87-31.44, p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 92.7% but moderate specificity (57.9%).

CONCLUSION

T1w layering on MRI strongly predicts gallbladder sludge detected on US and is associated with increased BMI in this cohort of patients with liver disease. However, the moderate specificity requires cautious interpretation, and our findings suggest that T1w layering may serve as a complementary diagnostic tool.

Severity of Gallstone-, Sludge-, or Microlithiasis-Induced Pancreatitis-All of the Same?

BACKGROUND/AIM

Severity of microlithiasis- and sludge-induced pancreatitis in comparison to gallstone-induced pancreatitis has never been studied for a lack of definition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 263 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis treated at a tertiary care center from 2005 to 2021 were stratified according to the recent consensus definition for microlithiasis and sludge. The gallstone-pancreatitis cohort was compared to microlithiasis, sludge, and suspected stone passage pancreatitis cohorts in terms of pancreatitis outcome, liver function, and endosonography/endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography results using one-way analysis of variance and χ 2 test. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to correct for bias.

RESULTS

Microlithiasis- and sludge-induced pancreatitis, classified according to the revised Atlanta classification, did not present with a milder course than gallstone-induced pancreatitis ( P = 0.62). Microlithiasis and sludge showed an increase in bilirubin on the day of admission to hospital, which was not significantly different from gallstone-induced pancreatitis ( P = 0.36). The likelihood of detecting biliary disease on endosonography resulting in bile duct clearance was highest on the day of admission and day 1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Microlithiasis and sludge induce gallstone-equivalent impaired liver function tests and induce pancreatitis with similar severity compared with gallstone-induced acute biliary pancreatitis.

Machine learning-based decision tool for selecting patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis for endosonography to exclude a biliary aetiology

BACKGROUND

Biliary microlithiasis/sludge is detected in approximately 30% of patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP). As recurrent biliary pancreatitis can be prevented, the underlying aetiology of IAP should be established.

AIM

To develop a machine learning (ML) based decision tool for the use of endosonography (EUS) in pancreatitis patients to detect sludge and microlithiasis.

METHODS

We retrospectively used routinely recorded clinical and laboratory parameters of 218 consecutive patients with confirmed AP admitted to our tertiary care hospital between 2015 and 2020. Patients who did not receive EUS as part of the diagnostic work-up and whose pancreatitis episode could be adequately explained by other causes than biliary sludge and microlithiasis were excluded. We trained supervised ML classifiers using H2O.ai automatically selecting the best suitable predictor model to predict microlithiasis/sludge. The predictor model was further validated in two independent retrospective cohorts from two tertiary care centers (117 patients).

RESULTS

Twenty-eight categorized patients' variables recorded at admission were identified to compute the predictor model with an accuracy of 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.791-0.9185], positive predictive value of 0.84, and negative predictive value of 0.80 in the identification cohort (218 patients). In the validation cohort, the robustness of the prediction model was confirmed with an accuracy of 0.76 (95%CI: 0.673-0.8347), positive predictive value of 0.76, and negative predictive value of 0.78 (117 patients).

CONCLUSION

We present a robust and validated ML-based predictor model consisting of routinely recorded parameters at admission that can predict biliary sludge and microlithiasis as the cause of AP.

Does "Sludge" Require Cholecystectomy?

Biliary sludge is a subjective, ill-defined term. Surgery is often consulted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, regarded as a low risk procedure.After IRB approval, a word search was used to identify "sludge" in all ultrasounds performed in 2016. The number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy, complications, pathologic findings, and risk factors were identified. Non-operative patients were evaluated for subsequent symptoms and studies or procedures related to biliary pathology.2769 patients underwent RUQ US; 253 patients were found to have sludge. Of 48 (19%) cholecystectomy patients, 9 had cholelithiasis. No deaths occurred in the cholecystectomy group. Two surgical complications occurred. Fifty (24.4%) of the 205 non-operative patients underwent subsequent US imaging: 44% residual sludge, 28% normal, 18% stones, and 10% other.Sludge may resolve 28% of the time. Repeat ultrasound is prudent before proceeding with cholecystectomy. If an abnormality is seen on repeat imaging and risk factors persist, cholecystectomy may be reasonable.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders. Overlap syndrome Clinical guidelines of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterological Scientific Society of Russia

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Restrictive strategy versus usual care for cholecystectomy in patients with gallstones and abdominal pain (SECURE): a multicentre, randomised, parallel-arm, non-inferiority trial

BACKGROUND

International guidelines advise laparoscopic cholecystectomy to treat symptomatic, uncomplicated gallstones. Usual care regarding cholecystectomy is associated with practice variation and persistent post-cholecystectomy pain in 10-41% of patients. We aimed to compare the non-inferiority of a restrictive strategy with stepwise selection with usual care to assess (in)efficient use of cholecystectomy.

METHODS

We did a multicentre, randomised, parallel-arm, non-inferiority study in 24 academic and non-academic hospitals in the Netherlands. We enrolled patients aged 18-95 years with abdominal pain and ultrasound-proven gallstones or sludge. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either usual care in which selection for cholecystectomy was left to the discretion of the surgeon, or a restrictive strategy with stepwise selection for cholecystectomy. For the restrictive strategy, cholecystectomy was advised for patients who fulfilled all five pre-specified criteria of the triage instrument: 1) severe pain attacks, 2) pain lasting 15-30 min or longer, 3) pain located in epigastrium or right upper quadrant, 4) pain radiating to the back, and 5) a positive pain response to simple analgesics. Randomisation was done with an online program, implemented into a web-based application using blocks of variable sizes, and stratified for centre (academic versus non-academic and a high vs low number of patients), sex, and body-mass index. Physicians and patients were masked for study-arm allocation until after completion of the triage instrument. The primary, non-inferiority, patient-reported endpoint was the proportion of patients who were pain-free at 12 months' follow-up, analysed by intention to treat and per protocol. A 5% non-inferiority margin was chosen, based on the estimated clinically relevant difference. Safety analyses were also done in the intention-to treat population. This trial is registered at the Netherlands National Trial Register, number NTR4022.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 5, 2014, and April 25, 2017, we included 1067 patients for analysis: 537 assigned to usual care and 530 to the restrictive strategy. At 12 months' follow-up 298 patients (56%; 95% CI, 52·0-60·4) were pain-free in the restrictive strategy group, compared with 321 patients (60%, 55·6-63·8) in usual care. Non-inferiority was not shown (difference 3·6%; one-sided 95% lower CI -8·6%; p_{non-inferiority}=0·316). According to a secondary endpoint analysis, the restrictive strategy resulted in significantly fewer cholecystectomies than usual care (358 [68%] of 529 vs 404 [75%] of 536; p=0·01). There were no between-group differences in trial-related gallstone complications (40 patients [8%] of 529 in usual care vs 38 [7%] of 536 in restrictive strategy; p=0·16) and surgical complications (74 [21%] of 358 vs 88 [22%] of 404, p=0·77), or in non-trial-related serious adverse events (27 [5%] of 529 vs 29 [5%] of 526).

INTERPRETATION

Suboptimal pain reduction in patients with gallstones and abdominal pain was noted with both usual care and following a restrictive strategy for selection for cholecystectomy. However, the restrictive strategy was associated with fewer cholecystectomies. The findings should encourage physicians involved in the care of patients with gallstones to rethink cholecystectomy, and to be more careful in advising a surgical approach in patients with gallstones and abdominal symptoms.

FUNDING

The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, and CZ healthcare insurance.

Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis in Hospitalized Patients With Hematologic Malignancies and Prognostic Importance of Gallbladder Ultrasound Findings

OBJECTIVES

Patients with hematologic malignancies, especially those with acute disease or those receiving intense chemotherapy, are known to develop acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of the established ultrasound (US) diagnostic criteria for AAC in patients with acute hematologic malignancies who were clinically suspected to have AAC.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the US findings of the gallbladder in patients with hematologic malignancies and correlated these findings with the duration of clinical symptoms, complications, and gallbladder-specific mortality. The major criteria were a 3.5-mm or thicker wall, pericholecystic fluid, intramural gas, and a sloughed mucosal membrane. The minor criteria were echogenic bile and hydrops (gallbladder distension > 4 cm). Ultrasound findings were considered positive if they included 2 major criteria or 1 major and 2 minor criteria.

RESULTS

Ninety-four (25.5%) of 368 patients with hematologic malignancies had clinical signs of AAC during their acute phase of illness or during intense chemotherapy. Forty-three (45.7%) of these 94 patients had AAC-positive test results based on US criteria. The mean duration of symptoms was significantly longer (7.8 days) in this group than among the patients with negative test results (3.9 days; P < .001). Patients with positive test results had a higher rate of complications or mortality (20.9%) than those with negative test results (0%; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Symptomatic patients who meet the US criteria for the diagnosis of AAC have a poor prognosis. Other patients require a close follow-up US examination within 1 week to detect early progression.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder lesion

AIM

To describe contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features and evaluate differential diagnosis value of CEUS and conventional ultrasound for patients with benign and malignant gallbladder lesions.

METHODS

This study included 105 gallbladder lesions. Before surgical resection and pathological examination, conventional ultrasound and CEUS were performed to examine for lesions. Then, all the lesions were diagnosed as (1) benign, (2) probably benign, (3) probably malignant or (4) malignant using both conventional ultrasound and CEUS. The CEUS features of these gallbladder lesions were analyzed and diagnostic efficiency between conventional ultrasound and CEUS was compared.

RESULTS

There were total 17 cases of gallbladder cancer and 88 cases of benign lesion. Some gallbladder lesions had typical characteristics on CEUS (e.g., gallbladder adenomyomatosis had typical characteristics of small nonenhanced areas on CEUS). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of CEUS were 94.1%, 95.5%, 80.0%, 98.8% and 95.2%, respectively. These were significantly higher than conventional ultrasound (82.4%, 89.8%, 60.9%, 96.3% and 88.6%, respectively). CEUS had an accuracy of 100% for gallbladder sludge and CEUS helped in differential diagnosis among gallbladder polyps, gallbladder adenoma and gallbladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

CEUS may provide more useful information and improve the diagnosis efficiency for the diagnosis of gallbladder lesions than conventional ultrasound.

Comparison of acute cholangitis with or without common bile duct dilatation

To improve the management of patients with acute cholangitis, the present study compared laboratory test variables between acute cholangitis patients with or without common bile duct (CBD) dilatation [CBDdil(+) and CBDdil(-), respectively]. The medical records of patients diagnosed with acute cholangitis and subjected to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between February 2008 and May 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The present study consisted of 40 men (aged 69.4±8.8 years) and 37 women (aged 68.8±11.6 years). It was observed that CBDdil(-) patients were slightly younger than CBDdil(+) patients (P=0.0976), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in CBDdil(-) patients than in CBDdil(+) patients (P=0.0392). In addition, logistic regression analysis indicated that CRP levels were associated with the presence of CBD dilatation (P=0.0392). These data indicate that patients with acute cholangitis without CBD dilatation tend to be younger and have higher levels of CRP. Thus, in acute cholangitis patients without CBD dilatation, diagnosis should be determined using clinical symptoms and laboratory data.