Endosonographic features of histologically proven gastric ectopic pancreas

Extensive heterotopic pancreas in a rare site: A case report and a review of literature

RATIONALE

Heterotopic pancreas is a pancreatic tissue that occurs outside the normal anatomical site, the most common site is antrum. Due to the lack of specific imaging and endoscopic signs, heterotopic pancreas especially those occurring in the rare site, are often misdiagnosed, and leading to unnecessary surgical treatment. Endoscopic incisional biopsy and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration are effective means for diagnosing heterotopic pancreas. We reports a case of extensive heterotopic pancreas in a rare site, which was finally diagnosed by this way.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 62-year-old man was admitted due to the presence of an angular notch lesion, which was suspected as gastric cancer before. He denied any history of tumor or gastric disease.

DIAGNOSES

No abnormality was found in the physical examination and laboratory testing after admission. Computed tomography showed localized thickening of the gastric wall measuring 30 mm in the long diameter. Gastroscope revealed a nodular-like submucosal protuberance at the angular notch with size of about 3*4 cm. Ultrasonic gastroscope showed that the lesion was located in the submucosa. The lesion exhibited mixed echogenicity. The diagnosis can not be identified.

INTERVENTIONS

2 times of incision biopsy were performed to make a clear diagnosis. Finally, appropriate tissue specimens were obtained for pathology testing.

OUTCOMES

The patient was diagnosed as heterotopic pancreas according to pathology. He was recommended to undergo observation and regular follow-ups rather than surgery. Then he was discharged home with no discomfort.

LESSONS

Heterotopic pancreas occurring in the angular notch is extremely rare, the site is scarcely reported in the relevant literature. Therefore, it is easy to be misdiagnosed. In the cases of an vague diagnosis, endoscopic incisional biopsy or endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration may be a good choice.

Gastric ectopic pancreas in magnetic resonance imaging: A review of 2 cases

Gastric ectopic pancreas (EP) is an uncommon congenital anomaly in which pancreatic tissue with no anatomic connection to the main pancreas is found in the stomach. Gastric EP is often discovered incidentally when a nonspecific submucosal tumor is found in endoscopic studies or other imaging examinations. Tissue characterization by biopsy or fine-needle aspiration is required as endoscopic findings alone cannot exclude malignancy. The authors present 2 cases of gastric EP incidentally detected on endoscopy, which underwent further characterization by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In both cases, MRI showed submucosal gastric lesions, isointense to the orthotopic pancreas in all sequences, including hyperintensity on T1-weighted images. Furthermore, the lesions showed bright arterial phase enhancement, paralleling the native pancreas. MRI may provide the best non-invasive imaging method for evaluating gastric submucosal lesions. This report intends to show that EP shows a characteristic MR appearance that allows differentiation from other submucosal lesions.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Gastrointestinal Subepithelial Lesions

Subepithelial lesions (SEL) of the GI tract represent a mix of benign and potentially malignant entities including tumors, cysts, or extraluminal structures causing extrinsic compression of the gastrointestinal wall. SEL can occur anywhere along the GI tract and are frequently incidental findings encountered during endoscopy or cross-sectional imaging. This clinical guideline of the American College of Gastroenterology was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation process and is intended to suggest preferable approaches to a typical patient with a SEL based on the currently available published literature. Among the recommendations, we suggest endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with tissue acquisition to improve diagnostic accuracy in the identification of solid nonlipomatous SEL and EUS fine-needle biopsy alone or EUS fine-needle aspiration with rapid on-site evaluation sampling of solid SEL. There is insufficient evidence to recommend surveillance vs resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) <2 cm in size. Owing to their malignant potential, we suggest resection of gastric GIST >2 cm and all nongastric GIST. When exercising clinical judgment, particularly when statements are conditional suggestions and/or treatments pose significant risks, health-care providers should incorporate this guideline with patient-specific preferences, medical comorbidities, and overall health status to arrive at a patient-centered approach.

Ectopic pancreatic tissue in stomach: A case report

Introduction and importance

Ectopic Pancreas (EP) is a rare condition that is mostly found in the Gastrointestinal tract and especially in the stomach. Although the lesion is mainly asymptomatic, non-specific symptoms can be present, making the diagnosis even more challenging.

Case presentation

In our case a 52-year-old woman, with heartburn as the only symptom, was undergone successive examinations, indicating a subepithelial lesion in the antrum of the stomach, from which only Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) indicated the presence of ectopic pancreas, while Computed Tomography results considered the mass as Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Wedge gastrectomy was performed in order to extract the lesion and the histopathological examination confirmed the findings of the MRI. The patient fully recovered with no complications.

Clinical discussion

In most cases, EP is described in endoscopy as a subepithelial mass with normal mucosa. As EP can mimic other subepithelial masses, even adenocarcinoma, it is of utmost importance not to omit the performance of surgical removal and histopathological examination. Consequently, resection is essential not only for the diagnosis but also for the treatment of the patient.

Conclusion

EP is not a usually detected clinical pathology. There is no specific algorithm, which physicians should follow in order to reach the diagnosis without the surgical intervention. For this reason, clinicians should be conscious of the existence of EP in the stomach.

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Ectopic pancreas (EP) is mostly found in the gastrointestinal tract.

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EP in stomach first considered as a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST).

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Resection is essential for the diagnosis and for the treatment of the patient.

Clinical classification of symptomatic heterotopic pancreas of the stomach and duodenum: A case series and systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is an aberrant anatomic malformation that occurs most commonly in the upper gastrointestinal tract. While the majority of heterotopic pancreatic lesions are asymptomatic, many manifest severe clinical symptoms which require surgical or endoscopic intervention. Understanding of the clinical manifestations and symptoms of HP is limited due to the lack of large volume studies in the literature. The purpose of this study is to review symptomatic cases at a single center and compare these to a systematic review of the literature in order to characterize common clinical manifestations and treatment of this disease.

AIM

To classify the common clinical manifestations of heterotopic pancreas.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of pathologic samples containing heterotopic pancreas from 2000-2018. Review was limited to HP of the upper gastrointestinal tract due to the frequency of presentation in this location. Symptomatic patients were identified from review of the medical records and clinical symptoms were tabulated. These were compared to a systematic review of the literature utilizing PubMed and Embase searches for papers pertaining to heterotopic pancreas. Publications describing symptomatic presentation of HP were selected for review. Information including demographics, symptoms, presentation and treatment were compiled and analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patient were identified with HP at a single center, with six of these identified has having clinical symptoms. Clinical manifestations included, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric ulceration with/without perforation, pancreatitis, and gastric outlet obstruction. Systemic review of the literature yielded 232 publications detailing symptomatic cases with only 20 studies describing ten or more patients. Single and multi-patient studies were combined to form a cohort of 934 symptomatic patients. The majority of patients presented with abdominal pain (67%) combined with one of the following clinical categories: (1) Dyspepsia, (n = 445, 48%); (2) Pancreatitis (n = 260, 28%); (3) Gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 80, 9%); and (4) Gastric outlet obstruction (n = 80, 9%). The majority of cases (n = 832, 90%) underwent surgical or endoscopic resection with 85% reporting resolution or improvement in their symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Heterotopic pancreas can cause significant clinical symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Better understanding and classification of this disease may result in more accurate identification and treatment of this malformation.

Insight into gastrointestinal heterotopic pancreas: imaging evaluation and differential diagnosis

Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is an uncommon congenital abnormality in the developmental process of the pancreas, with gastrointestinal heterotopic pancreas (GHP) being the most common HP. The clinical manifestations of GHP may have variable patterns of presentation, dictated by both the anatomic location and the functional ability of the lesion. The most common imaging modality in detecting GHP is computed tomography (CT), while gastrointestinal barium fluoroscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also applied. The density and enhancement patterns of GHP are consistent with histological classifications. GHP with a predominantly acinar tissue component manifests homogeneous and marked enhancement on CT images, whereas a predominantly ductal GHP presents heterogeneous and mild enhancement. On MRI, the appearance and signal intensity of GHP were paralleled to the normal pancreas on all sequences and were characterized by T1-weighted high signal and early marked enhancement. This article provides a comprehensive review of the histopathology, clinical manifestations, imaging features of various modalities, and differential diagnosis of GHP. It is hoped that this review will improve clinicians' knowledge of GHP and aid in accurate preoperative diagnosis, thereby reducing the misdiagnosis rate.

Endoscopic and Endosonographic Features of Histologically Proven Gastric Ectopic Pancreas by Endoscopic Resection

Backgrounds/Aims

Distinguishing gastric ectopic pancreas (GEP) from malignant tumors is relatively difficult. This study evaluated the endosonography findings of pathologically proven GEP.

Methods

Thirty-one patients diagnosed with GEP based on a histopathological analysis from January 2004 to July 2018 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent EUS and an endoscopic resection.

Results

Seventeen patients were female, and the median age was 41.1 years (range, 14-74). The lesions were localized most commonly in the antrum. The mean size of the GEP was 10.6 mm (range, 7-15). Superficial type lesions, lesions with heterogeneous echogenicity, mixed pattern lesions, and lesions with indistinct borders were commonly observed on EUS. Calcification, anechoic duct-like structures, and thickening of the muscularis propria were observed in some patients. Endoscopic mucosal resection (41.9%) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (58.1%) were performed. The mean procedure time was 22.5 minutes. Complete resection was achieved for 71% of patients. No statistically significant results between the endosonography findings and complete resection rates were obtained. The mean follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy duration was 4.5 months. None of the patients presented with residual lesions on subsequent endoscopy.

Conclusions

EUS can help identify the features of GEP. Careful observations of the EUS findings can avoid unnecessary removal of GEP.

Diagnostic yields of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle tissue acquisition according to the gastric location

The diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle tissue acquisition (EUS-FNTA) according to the gastric location of subepithelial tumors (SETs) has not been well established. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EUS-FNTA for the diagnosis of gastric SETs according to tumor location.Thirty-three patients diagnosed with gastric SETs via EUS-FNTA from January 2016 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Patient demographics, diagnostic yields, and complications were evaluated.Nineteen patients (57.6%) were female, with a mean age of 57.7 years. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a mean longitudinal diameter of 25.6 mm. The most common location of SETs was in the gastric body (n = 18, 54.5%), followed by cardia and fundus (n = 10, 30.3%), and antrum (n = 5, 15.2%). A 20-gauge biopsy needle was most frequently used (90.9%). The diagnostic yield was obtained in 23 patients (69.7%). The most common diagnosis was gastrointestinal stromal tumor (73.9%), followed by leiomyoma (17.4%). The diagnostic yield of SETs in gastric antrum (0/5, 0%) was significantly lower than that in the gastric body and cardia (23/28, 82.1%, P = .001). A case of immediate bleeding after EUS-FNTA occurred in 1 patient (3.0%) who recovered uneventfully. According to related literature, the overall diagnostic yield of SETs in gastric antrum was significantly lower than that in the gastric body, fundus, and cardia (29.7% vs 71.4%, P < .001, n = 191).EUS-FNTA is ineffective in the diagnosis of SETs in the gastric antrum. Although EUS-FNTA is an advanced diagnostic tool for gastric SETs, it is essential to develop more effective methods for the diagnosis of antral SETs.

Evaluation and management of a pancreatic rest noted during pre-bariatric surgery screening endoscopy

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic rest (PR) is an ectopic pancreatic lesion that is usually found incidentally on endoscopy or surgery. While most lesions do not have clinical significance, some patients are symptomatic and rarely, PR can predispose to malignancy. With the growing popularity of bariatric surgery, it has been unclear how to manage PR found on screening endoscopies, prior to bariatric surgery. Through review of the current literature, we propose an algorithm for clinicians to evaluate and manage PR found on screening endoscopies prior to bariatric surgery.

METHODS

We performed a literature search in PubMed pertaining to PR, clinical characteristics, risk of malignant transformation, endoscopic characteristics, histological descriptions, and resection techniques. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), we found 33 published articles from 2001 to 2019, including case reports, case series, retrospective cohorts, and a review paper.

RESULTS

PR is commonly found incidentally in the gastric antrum. Larger lesions have a higher risk of being symptomatic or predisposing to malignant transformation. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can assist in the diagnosis of PR and guide resection technique. Certain histological characteristics, such as Heinrich class, grading of neoplasia, and genetic alterations, can determine malignancy risk of PR. Resection technique, either endoscopically or surgically, should be based on lesion size, depth of wall invasion, and the endoscopists' level of skill in endoscopic resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Proper evaluation and treatment of PR should be considered because of the risk for symptoms and malignant transformation. Symptomatic lesions and those at risk for malignant transformation should be considered for resection. EUS can guide the diagnosis and type of resection, either endoscopically through EMR or ESD or surgically through sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

A Novel Snare Traction-Assisted Method During Endoscopic Resection for Upper Gastrointestinal Submucosal Tumors

Background: Traction-assisted endoscopic resection is an approach to provide better procedural outcomes than conventional endoscopic procedure in treating gastric or esophageal epithelial lesions. Submucosal tumors (SMTs) are challenging to resect endoscopically due to the difficulty in exposure and high incidence of full-thickness resection. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of snare traction-assisted method, served as an "extra hand," for upper gastrointestinal SMTs. Methods: From June 2019 to May 2020, we used the snare traction-assisted method to treat 11 patients with 12 upper gastrointestinal SMTs in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. The duration of the procedures and the outcomes were recorded. Results: A total of 11 patients with 12 lesions were treated by snare traction-assisted endoscopic resection. The mean procedure time was 26.8 ± 8.3 minutes. En bloc resection was achieved in all the 12 lesions. The mean length of the specimens was 11.5 ± 4.0 mm. Full-thickness resection was performed in four lesions. The patients were discharged in 5.0 days after procedures without delayed bleeding or other complication reported. Conclusion: Snare traction-assisted method is an effective tool for endoscopic resection of upper gastrointestinal SMTs. Further prospective studies comparing the snare traction-assisted method with the conventional procedure are necessary.

Heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the gastric antrum an incidental finding during bariatric surgery: A case report and literature review

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Heterotopic pancreas, is presence of pancreatic tissue outside its normal location without anatomic continuity with the main body of the pancreas.

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The Heterotopic pancreas can be in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, or a Meckel diverticulum.

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This is the first reported case of gastric heterotopic pancreas found during a bariatric surgery procedure.

Introduction

Heterotopic pancreas, also known as ectopic pancreas, is defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue outside its normal location and without anatomic and vascular continuity with the main body of the pancreas. The incidence of heterotopic pancreas has been reported as 0.5 % during laparotomies and at autopsy ranging from 0.6–14 %.

Presentation of case

A 28 years old obese male, medically free electively admitted for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Intraoperatively after dissecting the greater omentum from the stomach and inserting the 36 Fr gastric bougie, small oval shape mass about 1 cm close to the lesser curvature on the anterior surface of the gastric antrum. Macroscopically benign looking and a thorough laparoscopic exploration showed no signs of other organs involvement. Antrectomy and mini gastric bypass done. The postoperative course was uneventful. The histopathological examination of the antrectomy specimen showed heterotopic pancreas in the subserosa of gastric antrum.

Discussion

The Heterotopic pancreatic tissue can be discovered in the stomach (particularly antrum), duodenum, jejunum, or a Meckel diverticulum. Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment if the heterotopic pancreas is symptomatic or when the lesion is found incidentally during surgery in order to prevent complications.

Conclusion

Heterotopic pancreas should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of incidentally found gastric lesions and can be safely resected. This is the first case report of gastric heterotopic pancreas which is found incidentally during a bariatric surgery procedure.

Ectopic pancreas in the upper gastrointestinal tract: Is endosonographic diagnosis reliable? Data from the German Endoscopic Ultrasound Registry and review of the literature

Background:

Ectopic pancreas (EP) belongs to the most frequent subepithelial lesions (SELs) of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In the majority of cases, it is detected incidentally. Differential diagnosis from mesenchymal subepithelial tumors may be difficult.

Methods:

Among 24,308 endosonographic examinations and interventions, which were prospectively enrolled in the database of the German Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Registry from January 2009 to August 2013, 575 were performed for suspected SELs of the upper GI tract. Sixty three cases of EP of the upper GI tract (stomach, n = 53; duodenum, n = 10; esophagus, n = 0) were extracted and retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

In 65.1% of cases, radial echoendoscopes or radial miniprobes were used for examination. Nearly 84% of EP was found in the stomach, 16% in the duodenum, none in the esophagus. In 88.9% of cases, the EUS examination discerned the layer of origin. In 59% of cases EP was described as a heterogeneous, in 28.6% as a homogeneous-hypoechoic and in 7.9% as a homogeneous-echogenic subepithelial mass lesion. Mean diameter was 13.0 mm × 8.1 mm, the mean ratio between long and short axis diameter was 1.75. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was used to accomplish cytological or histological diagnosis in only 6.3% of cases.

Conclusions:

EP accounts for 11% of all EUS examinations performed for subepithelial lesions of the upper GI tract and prospectively enrolled in the German EUS registry. Rather than being an eyecatcher, EP is a chameleon with numerous differential diagnoses. In selected cases, EUS-FNA may help clarifying the diagnosis.

A Rare Case of Early Gastric Cancer Combined with Underlying Heterotopic Pancreas

Heterotopic pancreas in the stomach is usually asymptomatic and benign. Here, we presented a rare case of an early gastric cancer overlying a heterotopic pancreas. A 48-year-old woman underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a subepithelial mass measuring 2.0×1.5 cm on the gastric antrum with a 1-cm erosive erythematous discoloration on the surface. A biopsy specimen showed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Endosonography showed a heterogeneous hypoechoic mass measuring 1.3×0.6 cm, with indistinct margins in the second and third layers of the gastric wall; anechoic tubular structures within the mass were suggestive of heterotopic pancreas. Distal gastrectomy was performed, which confirmed an early gastric cancer confined to the mucosa, and a separate underlying heterotopic pancreas. Although heterotopic pancreas is most likely benign, careful endoscopic observation of the mucosal surface is necessary to avoid overlooking a coincident early gastric cancer.

Ectopic pancreas in the stomach successfully resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection

A 32-year-old Japanese man presented with a gastric submucosal tumor. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a sessile submucosal tumor measuring approximately 10 mm in diameter on the greater curvature of the gastric antrum. Endoscopic ultrasonography examination revealed a solid tumor with a diameter of 11.8 mm, which was located in the deep mucosal and submucosal layers. The internal echogenicity was homogenous and hypoechoic. Biopsy examinations were performed twice but were not diagnostic since only the intact mucosal layer was obtained. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with ectopic pancreas in the stomach by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). This case underscores the usefulness of the ESD technique for the pathological diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumors.