Peribiliary cysts: a systematic review and proposal of a classification framework

ACG Clinical Guideline: Focal Liver Lesions

Focal liver lesions (FLLs) have become an increasingly common finding on abdominal imaging, especially asymptomatic and incidental liver lesions. Gastroenterologists and hepatologists often see these patients in consultation and make recommendations for management of multiple types of liver lesions, including hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hemangioma, and hepatic cystic lesions including polycystic liver disease. Malignancy is important to consider in the differential diagnosis of FLLs, and healthcare providers must be familiar with the diagnosis and management of FLLs. This American College of Gastroenterology practice guideline uses the best evidence available to make diagnosis and management recommendations for the most common FLLs.

Peribiliary cysts: uncommon mimickers of hepatic and biliary cystic lesions

Peribiliary cysts (PC) are dilatations of the extramural peribiliary glands, with a very characteristic imaging pattern in the contexts of hepatobiliary diseases, idiopathic portal hypertension, adult-type polycystic disease of the liver and kidneys, solitary nonparasitic cysts, and systemic infections. The clinical relevance of PC is related to the fact that their presence may indicate underlying pathologies (such as those mentioned above) and may be considered as a potential marker of liver disease progression. Although imaging findings are quite characteristic, recognizing their main differential diagnoses, including malignancies, can be challenging but are essential to avoiding diagnostic errors.

Peribiliary cysts masquerading as choledocholithiasis

Video 1The major papilla was cannulated with a sphincterotome over a straight wire. The polypoid saccular structures were identified by cholangioscopy.

Imaging Findings in Cirrhotic Liver: Pearls and Pitfalls for Diagnosis of Focal Benign and Malignant Lesions

Cirrhosis is the end stage of chronic liver disease and causes architectural distortion and perfusional anomalies. It is a major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Common disease entities in noncirrhotic livers, such as hemangiomas, can be rare in cirrhotic livers, and benign entities such as confluent hepatic fibrosis and focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions may mimic the appearance of malignancies,. HCC usually has typical imaging characteristics, such as the major features established by the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System. However, HCC can also have a spectrum of atypical or uncommon appearances, such as cystic HCC, hypovascular HCC, or macroscopic fat-containing HCC. HCCs with certain genetic mutations such as CTNNB-1-mutated HCC can harbor unique imaging features not seen in other types of HCC. In addition, malignancies that are less common than HCC, such as cholangiocarcinoma and metastases, which can be difficult to differentiate, can still occur in cirrhotic livers. Atypical imaging features of benign and malignant lesions can be challenging to accurately diagnose. Therefore, familiarity with these features and an understanding of the prevalence of disease entities in cirrhotic livers are key in the daily practice of radiologists for evaluation of cirrhotic livers. The authors illustrate the typical and atypical features of benign and malignant lesions in cirrhosis and discuss the technical pitfalls and unique advantages associated with various imaging modalities in assessing cirrhotic livers, including noncontrast and contrast-enhanced US, CT, and MRI. Work of the U.S. Government published under an exclusive license with the RSNA. Quiz questions for this article are available in the supplemental material.

Focal Liver Lesions other than Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhosis: Diagnostic Challenges

Liver cirrhosis is associated with regenerative nodules and an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, other benign and malignant liver lesions may also occur. Differentiating the other lesions from HCC is important for further therapeutic decisions. This review discusses the characteristics of non-HCC liver lesions in cirrhosis and their consequent appearance on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with consideration of other imaging. Knowledge of this data would be helpful in avoiding misdiagnoses.

Prevalence of benign focal liver lesions and non-hepatocellular carcinoma malignant lesions in liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, other benign and malignant liver lesions may co-exist or may be the only focal liver lesion (FLL) detected. Compared to HCC, comparatively little is known about the frequency and natural history of benign FLL in patients with established liver cirrhosis.

This review analyses the prevalence and frequency of benign and malignant FLL others than hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in liver cirrhosis including imaging and autopsy studies. Understanding these data should be helpful in avoiding misdiagnoses.

Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia Is a Late and Fatal Complication of Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome that has been reported in patients with gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). Clinical and prognostic features of MAHA in this setting have been poorly described.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review in 8 databases of gastric SRCC complicated by MAHA and performed a case-control study assessing factors associated with survival in patients with gastric SRCC and MAHA in our pooled cohort compared with age-, sex-, and stage-matched cases of gastric SRCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Descriptive analyses were performed and multivariable Cox-proportional hazards regression modeling was used to determine factors associated with overall survival.

RESULTS

All identified patients (n = 47) were symptomatic at index presentation, commonly with back/bone pain, and dyspnea. Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia was the first manifestation of gastric SRCC in 94% of patients. Laboratory studies were notable for anemia (median 7.7 g/dL), thrombocytopenia (median 45.5 × 103/μL), and hyperbilirubinemia (median 2.3 mg/dL). All patients with MAHA had metastatic disease at presentation, most often to the bone, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Median survival in patients with gastric SRCC and MAHA was significantly shorter than a matched SEER-derived cohort with metastatic gastric SRCC (7 weeks vs 28 weeks, P < .01). In multivariate analysis, patients with MAHA were at significantly increased risk of mortality (HR 3.28, 95% CI 2.11-5.12).

CONCLUSION

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia is a rare, late-stage complication of metastatic gastric SRCC and is associated with significantly decreased survival compared with metastatic gastric SRCC alone.

Cystic liver lesions: a pictorial review

Hepatic cysts (HC) are sac-like structures mainly filled with liquid and showing a distinct membrane. They are usually found incidentally through imaging. A wide spectrum of imaging patterns may be observed for common and uncommon, neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. While simple hepatic cysts occur frequently and do not require any treatment or follow-up, non-typical cysts should be carefully analysed to avoid misdiagnosing a lesion that would require appropriate management. Therefore, adequate knowledge of all the relevant imaging patterns is critical to secure an accurate diagnosis. The aim of this review is to describe the imaging features of the different types of hepatic cysts.

[Incidental and "leave me alone" findings of abdominal organs-part 1 : Liver, gall ducts and pancreas]

Incidentalomas of the parenchymal organs of the abdomen, i.e. radiological findings in these organs that are not the primary focus of the clinical question, are frequent in this region of the body. In particular, findings presumed to be unimportant, such as cystic masses in the liver, the bile duct system or the pancreas, initially appear to be irrelevant in the diagnosis. For the liver we define the mostly clearly diagnosable simple cysts and hemangiomas as leave me alone lesions. Otherwise, we recommend a classification of incidentalomas into the three major categories (<0.5 cm, 0.5-1.5 cm and >1.5 cm) as well as an assessment with respect to clearly benign and suspect imaging characteristics in the context of a classification of patients into three different risk groups.

Surgical management of upper limb lipoma arborescens: a systematic review

Background

Lipoma arborescens (LA) is a rare benign synovial tumour characterized by the proliferation of mature adipocytes within the synovial cells. Given its rarity, current evidence is mainly based on case reports and case series, and no guidelines are available. The present study investigated the current surgical management and related outcomes of LA in the upper limb.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library were accessed in September 2021. Clinical studies evaluating patients with LA undergoing surgical treatment were considered eligible for this systematic review. Only studies which reported data on LA located in the upper limb with histopathological confirmation were considered. Articles that reported data from nonsurgical management were not considered.

Results

A total of 21 studies reporting 22 lesions in 21 patients were assessed. The mean age of the patients was 48.48 years (range 22–77). Most studies evaluated the restoration of range of motion and symptom resolution for the functional outcome assessment. Open or arthroscopic excision and synovectomy were the most common surgical procedures for LA. The concomitant lesions were treated in a single-stage procedure. All patients had satisfactory outcomes after open or arthroscopic excision and synovectomy without recurrence at a mean follow-up of 21.14 months (range 2–60). One patient developed postoperative cellulitis (4.55%).

Conclusion

Open and arthroscopic excision combined with synovectomy should be considered the standard treatment option of upper limb LA. Concomitant pathologies can be addressed in a one-stage procedure. Although LA was recognized as a clinical entity decades ago, there is a lack of evidence based guidelines and long term outcome data are unavailable.

Liver chemistries in glycogenic hepatopathy associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and pooled analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) in type 1 diabetes-mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by hepatomegaly and perturbations of liver chemistries (LC) that have not been well studied. Furthermore, misdiagnosis with other hepatic complications of T1DM, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has been described. We perform a systematic review of biopsy-proven GH reports in T1DM patients to identify LC patterns.

METHODS

A systematic review identified reports of biopsy-proven GH in patients with T1DM. We excluded GH with other liver diseases, Mauriac syndrome, or GH without T1DM. Two reviewers screened and extracted studies and assessed their methodological quality. LC elevation magnitude, AST-to-ALT ratio, R-ratio to designate hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed pattern of hepatic injury, and evolution of transaminases after glycemic control were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 192 patients were included, with median age of 20 years, 73% adults, 66% females, median duration of T1DM before diagnosis 10 years, median adult body mass index 21 kg/m² , median HbA1c 12%, at least one episode of diabetic ketoacidosis 70%, and hepatomegaly 92%. ALT and AST showed moderate-to-severe elevation in 78% and 76%, respectively, AST/ALT >1 in 71% and hepatocellular to mixed pattern of hepatic injury in 81%. Transaminase improvement with glycemic control was the rule, regardless of other factors in multilinear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

GH tends to have AST-predominant elevation with a median of 13 times the upper normal limit and R-ratio >2, which may distinguish it from other etiologies of AST-predominant LC elevation, and in the appropriate clinical context, may obviate invasive tests.

Incidental Liver Findings on Cross-sectional Imaging

Hepatic incidental findings often are seen on cross-sectional imaging examinations of the chest, spine, pelvis, or other nondedicated hepatic imaging. Radiologists are tasked with appropriately triaging, which requires further evaluation, even in the setting of an otherwise limited evaluation. This article reviews common benign entities encountered on ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging, along with their characteristic imaging features. Imaging features that are suspicious for malignancy or suggest the need for further evaluation also are discussed. Two algorithms are proposed to guide radiologists in their recommendations based on patient risk factors, focal hepatic abnormality size, and available imaging features.

Obstetric Outcomes of Women Who Sustained Traumatic Spinal Injury during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Literature regarding pregnant women who sustained traumatic spinal injury during pregnancy is limited. Existing papers are mainly case reports, and this indicates a need for more high-quality research evidence in this area. Therefore, this study was designed to systematically review available literature that reported demographic information, clinical characteristics, and obstetric outcomes of women who sustained spinal injury during pregnancy. Studies published from the earliest record to January 2019, which reported traumatic spinal injury during pregnancy, were included. Studies that have reported pregnancy in patients with pre-existing spinal injury, review articles, commentaries, letter to editors, conference papers, and studies published in languages other than English were excluded. Sixteen studies reporting on 26 women were included. Their mean age was 26.7±5.5 years. Motor vehicle accidents were the main cause of spinal injury (n=15, 58%). Of the cases, four women sustained spinal injury during the 1st trimester of pregnancy, of which one had a spontaneous abortion, one delivered a baby with arthrogryposis multiplex congenital disorder, and the third one delivered a premature baby who died shortly after the delivery. Fifteen women sustained injury during their 2nd trimester, of which 14 delivered normal babies, while six sustained spinal injury during the 3rd trimester. Of these women, five delivered normal babies at term. Outcomes of pregnancy appear significantly affected if a spinal injury occurs during the 1st trimester of pregnancy; however, injuries sustained during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters can have good obstetric outcomes.

Imaging of Benign Hepatic lesions

As abdominal imaging volumes have increased, the incidence of incidentally identified benign hepatic lesions has substantially increased. Familiarity with imaging appearances of benign hepatic tumors, both common and less commonly encountered, allows the radiologist to give an informed differential diagnosis. In addition to clinical history, awareness of imaging findings of benign hepatic lesions on ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is useful in evaluating these lesions and avoiding unnecessary diagnostic interventions or imaging surveillance.

ST-segment elevation in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause a wide range of cardiovascular diseases, including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and STEMI-mimickers (such as myocarditis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, among others). We performed a systematic review to summarize the clinical features, management, and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who had ST-segment elevation. We searched electronic databases from inception to September 30, 2020 for studies that reported clinical data about COVID-19 patients with ST-segment elevation. Differences between patients with and without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary angiography were evaluated. Forty-two studies (35 case reports and seven case series) involving 161 patients were included. The mean age was 62.7 ± 13.6 years and 75% were men. The most frequent symptom was chest pain (78%). Eighty-three percent of patients had obstructive CAD. Patients with non-obstructive CAD had more diffuse ST-segment elevation (13% versus 1%, p = 0.03) and diffuse left ventricular wall-motion abnormality (23% versus 3%, p = 0.02) compared to obstructive CAD. In patients with previous coronary stent (n = 17), the 76% presented with stent thrombosis. In the majority of cases, the main reperfusion strategy was primary percutaneous coronary intervention instead of fibrinolysis. The in-hospital mortality was 30% without difference between patients with (30%) or without (31%) obstructive CAD. Our data suggest that a relatively high proportion of COVID-19 patients with ST-segment elevation had non-obstructive CAD. The prognosis was poor across groups. However, our findings are based on case reports and case series that should be confirmed in future studies.

Verrucous esophageal carcinoma is a unique indolent subtype of squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and individual patient regression analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Verrucous esophageal carcinoma (VEC) is a rare malignancy that presents a diagnostic challenge. We aim to characterize the clinical and genomic features, tumor behavior, and treatment outcomes of VEC to guide clinical practice.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the literature and identified additional cases from Massachusetts General Hospital records and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We obtained individual VEC patient data and analyzed publicly available clinicogenomic data from TCGA. We performed a regression analysis comparing cases of VEC to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to identify factors influencing survival.

RESULTS

A total of 135 patients were reported in 82 publications, and four unpublished cases from Massachusetts General Hospital (median age 65 years, 69% males, 48% smokers, 33% consumed alcohol). Symptoms were present at diagnosis in 95% of patients, most commonly dysphagia and weight loss. Median symptom onset to diagnosis time was 11.5 months with frequent misdiagnosis as Candida esophagitis. Among VEC cases with pathologic staging, lymph node metastases were rare (5%) compared to ESCC (40%). VEC was genomically characterized by enrichment of SMARCA4 missense mutations and a lack of pathogenic TP53 mutations. Despite its diagnostic elusiveness, in a multivariate regression analysis, VEC was detected at earlier stages (p =  < 0.001) compared to ESCC, and advanced stage was the only significant factor affecting survival (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

VEC is a rare, clinically and genomically distinct subtype of ESCC. Recognition and diagnosis of this lesion may allow the pursuit of curative and less morbid treatment strategies.

Efficacy and safety of combined endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous occlusion (BRTOcc) of gastrorenal shunts in patients with bleeding gastric fundal varices

Background

Endoscopic cyanoacrylate (glue) injection of fundal varices may result in life-threatening embolic adverse events through spontaneous gastrorenal shunts (GRSs). Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous occlusion (BRTOcc) of GRSs during cyanoacrylate injection may prevent serious systemic glue embolization through the shunt. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined endoscopic–interventional radiologic (BRTOcc) approach for the treatment of bleeding fundal varices.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed the data of patients who underwent the combined procedure for acutely bleeding fundal varices between January 2010 and April 2018. Data were extracted for patient demographics, clinical and endoscopic findings, technical details, and adverse events of the endoscopic–BRTOcc approach and patient outcomes.

Results

We identified 30 patients (13 [43.3%] women; median age 58 [range, 25–92] years) with gastroesophageal varices type 2 (53.3%, 16/30) and isolated gastric varices type 1 (46.7%, 14/30) per Sarin classification, and median clinical and endoscopic follow-up of 151 (range, 4–2,513) days and 98 (range, 3–2,373) days, respectively. The median volume of octyl-cyanoacrylate: Lipiodol injected was 7 (range, 4–22) mL. Procedure-related adverse events occurred in three (10.0%) patients, including transient fever, non-life-threatening pulmonary glue embolism, and an injection-site ulcer bleed. Complete gastric variceal obturation was achieved in 18 of 21 patients (85.7%) at endoscopic follow-up. Delayed variceal rebleeding was confirmed in one patient (3.3%) and suspected in two patients (6.7%). Although no procedure-related deaths occurred, the overall mortality rate was 46.7%, primarily from liver-disease progression and co-morbidities.

Conclusion

The combined endoscopic–BRTOcc procedure is a relatively safe and effective technique for bleeding fundal varices, with a high rate of variceal obturation and a low rate of serious adverse events.

Normal liver stiffness and influencing factors in healthy children: An individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although transient elastography (TE) is used to determine liver stiffness as a surrogate to hepatic fibrosis, the normal range in children is not well defined. We performed a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis to determine the range of liver stiffness in healthy children and evaluate the influence of important biological parameters.

METHODS

We pooled data from 10 studies that examined healthy children using TE. We divided 1702 children into two groups: ≥3 years (older group) and < 3 years of age (younger group). Univariate and multivariate linear regression models predicting liver stiffness were conducted.

RESULTS

After excluding children with obesity, diabetes, or abnormal liver tests, 652 children were analysed. Among older children, mean liver stiffness was 4.45 kPa (95% confidence interval 4.34-4.56), and increased liver stiffness was associated with age, sedation status, and S probe use. In the younger group, the mean liver stiffness was 4.79 kPa (95% confidence interval 4.46-5.12), and increased liver stiffness was associated with sedation status and Caucasian race. In a subgroup analysis, hepatic steatosis on ultrasound was significantly associated with increased liver stiffness. We define a reference range for normal liver stiffness in healthy children as 2.45-5.56 kPa.

CONCLUSIONS

We have established TE-derived liver stiffness ranges for healthy children and propose an upper limit of liver stiffness in healthy children to be 5.56 kPa. We have identified increasing age, use of sedation, probe size, and presence of steatosis on ultrasound as factors that can significantly increase liver stiffness.

Rapid enlargement of a hepatic hilar cyst leading to bile duct obstruction after acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B

A hepatic cyst is usually asymptomatic but, in some cases, can be associated with various complications. Here we report a rare case with rapid enlargement of a hepatic hilar cyst that induced bile duct obstruction after an acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B. The case is a 60-year old female who discontinued entecavir by herself. Hyperbilirubinemia was prolonged along with bile duct obstruction due to an enlarged cyst. After the administration of entecavir and steroid pulse therapy, biliary drainage and punctuation of the cyst were performed. There was no evidence of malignancy in the cyst. The therapies were not effective enough, probably due to the prior liver damage, and she died of acute on chronic liver failure. This case suggests that a hepatic hilar cyst in a patient with acute hepatitis or an acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis can become enlarged and may affect the clinical course of hepatitis. In such a case, the size of the cyst should be monitored frequently and bile duct obstruction should be treated early if it occurs.

A case of peribiliary hepatic cysts in a cirrhotic liver: A mimicker of Klatskin Tumor

Patients with end-stage liver disease may present to healthcare facilities with features of obstructive jaundice and a picture of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on radiological imaging. Careful observation and knowledge of the presence and higher prevalence of peribiliary hepatic cysts in a cirrhotic liver can aid in differentiating this benign entity from malignancy that may halt or delay the patients’ eligibility for receiving a liver transplant. We present a case of a patient with liver cirrhosis initially diagnosed as Klatskin tumor on imaging then as a simple case of multiple peribiliary hepatic cysts with the patient eventually undergoing successful liver transplantation.

An updated review of cystic hepatic lesions

Cystic hepatic lesions are commonly encountered in daily practice. The diagnosis of these lesions ranges from benign lesions of no clinical significance to malignant and potentially lethal conditions. The prevalence of hepatic cyst (HC) has been reported to be as high as 15-18% in the United States. Imaging with conventional ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used to characterize further and diagnose. The pre-test probability of a diagnosis is highly affected by the patient's comorbidities and the clinical and laboratory data; thus, imaging studies should be interpreted in the context of the other clinical information for that particular patient. Treatment modalities for hepatic cyst include fenestration, aspiration sclerotherapy, or surgical resection. In the current review, we discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment modalities for various cystic hepatic lesions.