Endoscopic ultrasonography in the evaluation of dilated common bile duct

Abdominal ultrasonography (US) is the procedure of first choice in the evaluation of a dilated common bile duct (CBD). Dilated bile ducts and the level of obstruction can be reliably demonstrated with US, but the cause can be determined in only two thirds of patients. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the value of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in detecting the cause of CBD dilatation in patients in whom US could not demonstrate the cause of dilation or in whom US revealed equivocal results. This 13-month study included the evaluation of 985 patients. Ninety consecutive patients found to have an enlarged CBD (diameter, > or =7 mm) of unexplained origin during US examination were included in this study. All patients were evaluated by EUS. Final diagnosis was determined by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with or without sphincterotomy ( n = 72) and surgical exploration ( n = 17). The following diagnoses were made by EUS: choledocholithiasis in 40 patients, benign distal stricture in 8, choledochal cyst in 2, and ova of Ascaris in 1. The dilatation of CBD was found by EUS examination to be caused by a tumor in 13 cases. These included tumor of the papilla of the Vater in six patients, distal cholangiocarcinoma in five, and pancreatic head cancer in two. Endoscopic ultrasonography provided an accurate explanation for CBD dilatation in 70 of the 76 patients (92%). We conclude that the diagnostic strategy for cholestasis should include US as a first choice. When the diagnosis of biliary obstruction remains probable, EUS should be carried out. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with sphincterotomy should be reserved for therapeutic use rather than diagnostic.

Sonographic findings in achalasia

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to describe the sonographic features of achalasia.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with achalasia (17 men and 18 women; mean age, 43 years) were examined with transabdominal sonography, and the findings were compared with those in 41 volunteers without esophageal disease (21 men and 20 women; mean age, 41 years), 10 patients with gastroesophageal junction carcinoma (7 men and 3 women; mean age, 55 years), and 4 patients with peptic stricture (3 men and 1 woman; mean age, 39 years). The distal end of the esophagus was evaluated, and the thickness of the esophageal wall was measured.

RESULTS

In 28 fasting patients (80%) with achalasia, sonography showed dilatation, retention of fluid, and smooth narrowing of the distal esophagus (like a bird's beak). These findings were not identified in the other patients or volunteers. In addition, in 6 of 7 achalasia patients who had no sign of esophageal dilatation in the fasting state, water retention was demonstrated after ingestion of water, bringing the total number of patients with achalasia with positive sonographic findings to 34 (97%). In patients with achalasia, the mean thickness (+/- standard deviation) of the esophageal wall at the gastroesophageal junction was 4.8 +/- 0.9 mm (range, 3.6-7.2 mm). The thickening was regular, symmetric, and localized to the gastroesophageal junction. In the volunteers, the mean thickness of the esophageal wall was 2.3 +/- 0.5 mm (range, 1.4-3.5 mm). The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the patients with carcinoma, the mean wall thickness was 17.0 /+ 1.1 mm, and the thickening was irregular. In the patients with peptic stricture, the mean wall thickness was 5.1 +/- 1.1 mm (range, 3.8-8.3 mm), and the thickening was irregular and occupied a longer segment of the distal esophagus.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with achalasia, transabdominal sonography clearly shows the regular thickening of the esophageal wall, water retention, dilatation of the distal esophagus, and the bird's beak appearance. Sonography may help in differentiating achalasia from carcinoma and peptic stricture of the gastroesophageal junction, which is difficult to do with other modalities.

Retroperitoneal duodenal perforation during endoscopic sphincterotomy: sonographic findings

We present the sonographic findings in 5 cases of retroperitoneal duodenal perforation during endoscopic sphincterotomy. In each case, sonography showed hyperechoic areas associated with shadowing and ring-down artifacts between the liver and the right kidney correlating with the retroperitoneal air seen on plain x-ray films. This brightly echogenic area with shadowing surrounded and obscured the kidney. In 4 patients, resolution was documented on follow-up sonographic examinations in agreement with other radiologic findings; the other patient died.

Sonographic diagnosis of recurrent ulcer penetrating the anterior abdominal wall

Penetration of a recurrent ulcer into the anterior abdominal wall after surgical treatment of peptic ulcer disease is a rare surgical emergency. Early diagnosis is essential, but there are no specific radiographic or endoscopic features. We report 2 cases of recurrent ulcer penetration into the anterior abdominal wall diagnosed preoperatively with transabdominal sonography. The ulcers appeared as cavity lesions, with hyperechoic bases that had destroyed the continuity of the stomach wall. Associated findings were a minimal amount of fluid around the ulcer cavity and a hypoechoic area considered secondary to inflammation or edema. The diagnoses were confirmed at laparotomy.

Portal vein aneurysm in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Both hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and portal vein aneurysm are rare disorders. We described the first documented case of HHT associated with portal vein aneurysm. As the portal vein aneurysm in this patient associated with HHT, the pathogenesis in this patient seems to have been a congenital anomaly of the vasculature.

A case report of congenital intrahepatic arterioportal fistula

We report a case of congenital arterioportal fistula presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding from oesophageal varices. The fistula was successfully treated with surgical ligation of the left hepatic artery.

Transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

To aim of the present study was to determine the value of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in the assessment of disease activity in ulcerative colitis patients, and in differentiating between mucosal inflammation and transmural inflammation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

TRUS examinations were used to study 30 control individuals and 76 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including 50 cases of ulcerative colitis and 26 of Crohn's disease. A rigid linear endorectal probe was used to examine the rectal wall.

RESULTS

In the 30 control individuals, the rectal wall showed five layers, with a mean total diameter of 2.6 mm. There were significant differences between patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis, active ulcerative colitis, and control individuals with regard to the total rectal wall thickness (P<0.001), submucosal thickness (P<0.001) and mucosal thickness (P<0.001). Using cut-off values, differentiation between active ulcerative colitis and remission ulcerative colitis was found to be 100% specific and 73 % sensitive for submucosal thicknesses. TRUS revealed a 100% specificity in differentiating between remission ulcerative colitis and control cases based on the total rectal wall thickness, submucosal, and mucosal thicknesses. In the differential diagnosis of active and remission ulcerative colitis, an increase in submucosal wall thickness and the existence of arterial and venous capillary flow in the submucosa were found to be specific and more sensitive than the other parameters. TRUS examination revealed transmural inflammation in 21 of the 26 Crohn's disease patients, and mucosal inflammation in all 50 of the ulcerative colitis patients.

CONCLUSION

TRUS is a reliable and easy method of assessing ulcerative colitis activity and differentiating between rectal diseases.

Sonographic findings in noncirrhotic portal fibrosis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sonographic appearances of noncirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF).

METHODS

Between 1983 and 1996, 12 patients between the ages of 16 and 60 years were diagnosed with NCPF on the basis of medical history and clinical, imaging, and biopsy findings.

RESULTS

Sonograms for all patients showed hyperechoic bands surrounding the portal vein branches, which were separated from adjacent liver parenchyma by a hypoechoic stripe. All liver biopsy specimens showed nonspecific changes and no cirrhosis. Histologic findings included fibrosis and some obliteration of the intrahepatic portal veins.

CONCLUSIONS

If sonography of the liver shows increased echogenicity of the walls of the portal vessels with a hypoechoic stripe between the wall and the adjacent liver parenchyma in a patient who has portal hypertension and normal liver function tests, NCPF should be considered.

Caroli's disease: 1977-1995 experiences

OBJECTIVE

Until recently, congenital cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary ducts (Caroli's disease) has been recognized infrequently. This report aimed to analyse and discuss our observations on 21 adult patients with the disease.

PATIENTS

From 1977 to 1995, 21 patients (eight women and 13 men), aged 17 to 68 years, were diagnosed and treated for Caroli's disease at Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital. The mean duration of the disease was 6.5 years.

RESULTS

The commonest presenting symptom was abdominal pain, a feature in 18 cases. The distribution of the biliary lesions was bilobar in 12 patients and monolobar in nine. Two of them were congenital hepatic fibrosis. Twenty-one patients had coexisting hepatobiliary disease, associated with Caroli's disease. Approximately 95% of our patients had cystolithiasis, cholelithiasis or both. Surgical treatment was used in 18 patients, a partial hepatectomy being carried out in seven of them, an internal biliary drainage by choledocystojejunostomy in five cases, and by choledochotomy in four cases. Three cases with Caroli's disease were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction. In the follow-up period, four of our patients died.

CONCLUSION

Caroli's disease is being diagnosed more frequently as a result of improved diagnostic capabilities. The aim of the treatment is to obtain sufficient biliary drainage and to relieve the symptoms.

Ultrasonographic scoring system: an auxiliary to differential diagnosis of gastric pathologies

In a prospective clinical study, 64 patients with gastric pathologies (27 malignant and 37 benign) were examined ultrasonographically. Gastric wall layer changes, gastric wall thickness, lesion length, and protrusion into the lumen were evaluated. A scoring system was defined based on the distribution of these parameters and the score of each patient was calculated retrospectively. Six of the malignant cases had scores in the benign range and 3 of the benign cases had scores in the malignant range. Sensitivity of this scoring system in terms of detecting malignancy was 78% and specificity 92%. The positive predictive value was 88%, the negative predictive value was 85%, and overall diagnostic accuracy was 86%. This scoring system was considered to be a useful aid in the differential diagnosis of gastric pathologies.

The ultrasonographic diagnosis of bleeding into a pancreatic pseudocyst

Bleeding into a pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare but life-threatening entity. Early diagnosis is crucial in its management. There are reports suggesting that computed tomography (CT), scintigraphy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and angiography could be the diagnostic maneuvers. In this report, we present a case of arterial bleeding into a pancreatic pseudocyst, which was diagnosed by the turbulent echo-currents seen in real-time ultrasonography.