Efficacy of perfusion CT in differentiating of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from mass-forming chronic pancreatitis and characterization of isoattenuating pancreatic lesions

Abdominal Radiology - Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is routinely used in the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but it may be inadequate in some cases, especially...     

局灶性自身免疫性胰腺炎与胰腺癌的CT鉴别诊断

目的探讨局灶性自身免疫性胰腺炎（AIP）的CT和临床特征,提高该病与胰腺癌的CT鉴别能力。方法回顾性分析复旦大学附属肿瘤医院9例经病理证实的局灶性AIP及9例胰腺癌患者的动态增强CT特征和临床表现。局灶性AIP选择美国梅奥医学中心AIP诊断标准,均由穿刺活检或手术病理证实;胰腺癌均由手术病理证实。对比病灶在部位、形态、强化方式、胰管改变、胰周及胰腺外改变等方面的不同。结果 9例局灶性AIP患者中,8例（88.9%）有局灶性胰腺肿大,1例（11.1%）外形正常。9例（100.0%）病灶均在CT平扫中呈相对低密度,8例（88.9%）增强后呈延迟强化,3例（33.3%）出现病灶远端胰管轻度扩张,以上特点与胰腺癌患者表现相比差异均有统计学意义。2例（22.2%）出现胰周包膜样改变。仅1例（11.1%）具有梗阻性黄疸及AIP合并硬化性胆管炎。3例（33.3%）有胰周淋巴结肿大。以上特征与胰腺癌患者表现相比差异无统计学意义。结论 CT对局灶性AIP与胰腺癌的鉴别诊断具有一定价值。     

Diagnostic evaluation of pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis by pancreatoscopy

We succeeded in viewing the image of pancreatic duct on a TV monitor as a sequential electronic endoscope image by connecting a converter with a charge-coupled device to an ultra-thin pancreatoscope. Spacial image processing by adaptive enhancement, using an electronic endoscope, was studied in the pancreatoscope images of 18 cases (10 with pancreatic cancer and 8 with chronic pancreatitis). As a result, it became clear that the images obtained in Peak 2 of adaptive enhancement are much better than the original images. There was an excellent effect of clearly detecting the characteristic mucosal patterns in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. We are convinced that this method would be very useful in improving the diagnostic ability of pancreatic cancer using an ultra-thin pancreatoscope.     

MR动态增强鉴别诊断胰腺癌与肿块型胰腺炎

目的 探讨MR动态增强对胰腺癌(PC)与肿块型胰腺炎(FP)的诊断与鉴别诊断价值。 方法 收集经手术病理或临床证实的PC患者28例、FP患者15例及正常胰腺对照20名。各受检者均接受胰腺MR五期动态增强扫描。采用感兴趣区(ROI)法测量胰腺肿块及其周边胰腺各期信号值,计算胰腺肿块各期强化率,并绘制出肿块区及周边胰腺时间-信号强度曲线(TIC)。根据强化峰值时间将TIC分为五型(依次为注射对比剂后18 s、45 s、75 s、150 s、240 s达到峰值),即Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ型。根据TIC尾部走行趋势,将肿块区的每型进一步分为两个亚型,即a(缓慢下降)型与b(平台趋势)型。 结果 正常胰腺动态增强均呈Ⅰ型强化曲线。Ⅳb及Ⅴ型仅出现在PC中(P=0.036、0.008),Ⅰa及Ⅱa仅出现在FP中(P=0.037、<0.001),肿块周边胰腺的Ⅰ型强化曲线更多见于PC(P=0.027),且动脉期PC的强化率低于FP的强化率(P=0.031)。 结论 MR多期动态增强扫描有助于诊断、鉴别诊断PC与FP。     

A case of stage IA pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma accompanied with focal pancreatitis demonstrated by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

A patient with slight dilatation of the main pancreatic duct was followed-up with ultrasonography every 6 months as a high-risk case of pancreatic cancer. Twelve years later, a faint hypoechoic area 13 mm in diameter was first detected on the body of the pancreas. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography revealed a well-demarcated hypoenhanced area 8 mm in diameter and a hyperenhanced area with an unclear margin. The former was suspected to be a small pancreatic cancer lesion, and the latter to be focal pancreatitis accompanying cancer. However, contrast-enhanced dynamic CT did not suggest any tumor, diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was confirmed with pancreatic juice cytology through endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. Surgical resection was performed, and the lesion was pathologically diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma as follows: pTS1 (1.0 cm), infiltrative type (pT1), stage IA. When comparing the images from contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with the pathological findings, the hypoenhanced area corresponded to ductal adenocarcinoma, and the hyperenhanced area to focal pancreatitis. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was able to reveal detailed information on the focal lesion in the pancreas, and it was effective for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.     

Presented antigen from damaged pancreatic β cells activates autoreactive T cells in virus-mediated autoimmune diabetes

The induction of autoimmunity by viruses has been attributed to numerous mechanisms. In mice, coxsackievirus B4 (CB4) induces insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) resembling the final step of disease progression in humans. The immune response following the viral insult clearly precipitates IDDM. However, the molecular pathway between viral infection and the subsequent activation of T cells specific for islet antigen has not been elucidated. These T cells could become activated through exposure to sequestered antigens released by damaged beta cells, or they could have responded to factors secreted by the inflammatory response itself. To distinguish between these possibilities, we treated mice harboring a diabetogenic T cell repertoire with either the islet-damaging agent streptozotocin (STZ) or poly I:C, which nonspecifically activates T cells. Significantly, only treatment of mice with STZ resulted in IDDM and mimicked the effects observed following CB4 infection. Furthermore, antigen-presenting cells from STZ-treated mice were shown to directly activate autoreactive T cells and induce diabetes. Therefore, the primary role of CB4 in the precipitation of IDDM is to damage tissue, causing release and presentation of sequestered islet antigen. These events stimulate autoreactive T cells and thereby initiate disease.     

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation for morphological changes of the splenic artery in autoimmune pancreatitis: novel imaging findings for differentiation from pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Purpose

To determine whether morphological changes can occur in the splenic artery (SPA) of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) cases, and if present, to compare them with those in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) to clarify any arterial morphological differences between AIP and PAC.

Methods

A total of 101 AIP cases were included in this study. The presence or absence of morphological change in the SPA was assessed, using arterial phase axial computed tomography images. Subsequently, imaging parameters (imaging pattern, capsule-like rim, other organ involvement, splenic vein [SPV] stenosis, and SPA calcification) were compared between cases with and without morphological changes. Additionally, comparison analyses (visual SPA assessment and % minimal lumen diameter [MLD] stenosis) among normal pancreas, PAC, and AIP groups were performed using early arterial phase (EAP) reconstructed images.

Results

In 25 (24.8%) AIP cases, marginal irregularities of the SPA were present. The presence of the capsule-like rim and SPV stenosis were significantly associated with the arterial morphological changes. All cases with morphological changes had a capsule-like rim. Visual assessment using EAP reconstructed images revealed irregularities of the SPA in 9 of 38 AIP cases (23.7%); however, arterial narrowing was not detected in any cases. % MLD stenosis in AIP group was significantly lower than that in PAC group (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Although approximately one-quarter of AIP cases potentially demonstrate marginal irregularity in the SPA when it is surrounded by an apparent capsule-like rim, arterial luminal narrowing rarely occurs in contrast to PAC. These arterial findings can help to distinguish AIP from PAC.

     

Analgesia from a peripherally active kappa-opioid receptor agonist in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Preclinical studies suggest that visceral afferents constitutively express kappa-opioid receptors (KORs) and that noxious visceral stimuli can be inhibited at a peripheral site by KOR activation. To test the relevance of these observations to humans, we infused, in a randomized, double blind manner, a peripherally selective KOR agonist (ADL 10-0101) or placebo into six patients with chronic pancreatitis and ongoing abdominal pain despite mu-opioid agonist therapy. Pain was assessed using a pain magnitude estimate, an open ended scale of each patient's choosing and compared to their rating of pain from a 1.6 cm(2) thermode applied to the skin and heated to 49 degrees C for 5s. Normalizing pain scores to this rating as 100, pain prior to study drug treatment was 4070, and was unaffected by placebo infusion in the two individuals receiving this therapy. In contrast, ADL 10-0101 infusion reduced pain score from 63+/-7.6 (mean+/-SE) prior to infusion to 23+/-15 4h after infusion (P<0.05 vs. baseline). One patient receiving placebo and one receiving ADL 10-0101 experienced a mild headache during the study. One patient receiving ADL 10-0101 experienced restlessness and another had assymptomatic transient dysrhythmia upon standing after the 4h study. Neither of the treatments affected blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, or oxyhemoglobin saturation, and no patient experienced nausea during the study. These limited data support the hypothesis that human visceral afferents express KOR and that peripherally restricted KOR agonists produce analgesia in patients with chronic visceral pain.     

Oral insulin treatment suppresses virus-induced antigen-specific destruction of beta cells and prevents autoimmune diabetes in transgenic mice.

Oral administration of self-antigens has been proposed as a therapy to prevent and treat autoimmune diseases. Here we report that oral treatment with insulin prevents virus-induced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in a transgenic (tg) mouse model. Such mice express the viral nucleoprotein (NP) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) under control of the rat insulin promoter in their pancreatic beta cells and < 2% spontaneously develop diabetes. However, 2 mo after challenge with LCMV, IDDM occurs in > 95% of tg mice but not in controls. Oral treatment with 1 mg of insulin twice per week for 2 mo starting either 1 wk before or 10 d after initiating LCMV infection prevents IDDM in > 50% of the tg mice (observation time 8 mo). Thus, insulin therapy is effective in preventing progression to overt IDDM in prediabetic tg mice with ongoing islet infiltration. Oral administration of insulin does not affect the generation of LCMV-NP-specific anti-self cytotoxic T lymphocytes nor the infiltration of lymphocytes into the pancreas. However, less beta cells are destroyed in insulin-treated mice, upregulation of MHC class I and II molecules does not occur, and antiviral (self) cytotoxic T lymphocytes are not found in the islets, events present in tg mice developing IDDM. The majority of lymphocytes in the islets of insulin-treated tg mice without IDDM produces IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-beta. In contrast, lymphocytes from islets of tg mice developing IDDM mainly make gamma-IFN.     

新诊断2型糖尿病患者血糖波动与胰岛细胞功能的关系

目的：探讨新诊断2型糖尿病患者血糖波动与胰岛细胞功能的关系。方法分析51例新诊断2型糖尿病患者的临床资料,血糖波动采用OGTT 1 h与OGTT 0 h差值（GLU1）、OGTT 2 h与OGTT 0 h差值（GLU2）表示。胰岛细胞功能采用空腹血清胰岛素、空腹血清C肽、稳态模式评估法的胰岛素分泌指数（HOMA-β）及胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）表示。分析患者血糖波动情况,即GLU1、GLU2与空腹血清胰岛素、空腹血清C肽、HOMA-β、HOMA-IR的相关性。结果该组患者的GLU1为（7.84±2.31）mmol/L,GLU2为（7.4±2.7）mmol/L,空腹血清胰岛素为（13.8±6.0）mU/L,空腹血清C肽为（0.85±0.26）nmol/L,HOMA-β的对数值为4.10±0.64,HOMA-IR的对数值为1.43±0.54。GLU1、GLU2与空腹血清胰岛素、空腹血清C肽、HOMA-IR的对数无相关性（P均＞0.05）,但与HOMA-β的对数值呈负相关（r值分别为-0.344、-0.498,P均＜0.05）。结论新诊断2型糖尿病患者血糖波动可能与胰岛素分泌缺陷密切相关。     

超声造影鉴别诊断胰腺癌与肿块型胰腺炎

目的 比较常规超声与超声造影在胰腺癌及肿块型胰腺炎 (chronic mass pancreatitispancreatitis,CMP)的鉴别诊断价值,提高术前鉴别诊断率。方法 随机抽取2013年1月~2015年12月在我院行超声检查的胰腺癌及肿块型胰腺炎患者共60例作为研究对象,均用常规超声及超声造影（contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,CEUS）检查,使用统计学方法比较二者对胰腺肿块性质、灵敏度、特异性及超声显像等的差异性。结果 超声造影对胰腺癌及肿块性胰腺炎检出率高于常规超声,P<0.05;CUES对胰腺癌及肿块型胰腺炎的特异度及灵敏度均高于常规超声检查(P<0.05);造影静脉期：胰腺癌不均质增强比例高于肿块型胰腺炎（P<0.01）;胰腺癌患者AT、TTP均大于肿块型胰腺炎（P<0.05）,mTT两组比较差异无统计学意义,P>0.05。肿块型胰腺炎Imax与正常胰腺实质相近,胰腺癌患者Imax小于正常胰腺组及肿块型胰腺炎。结论 超声造影对于胰腺癌及肿块型胰腺炎的诊断及鉴别诊断较常规超声更加准确和客观,有较高的临床应用价值。     

Immunoreactive pancreatic phospholipase A2 and catalytically active phospholipases A2 in serum from patients with acute pancreatitis

Measuring the content of immunoreactive pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2; EC 3.1.1.4) and the catalytic activity of PLA2 in serum samples from five patients with acute pancreatitis, we found no correlation between these two measurements overall. To test the specificity of the method for catalytic PLA2, we measured PLA2 activity in serum samples before and after immunoadsorption with an antiserum to human pancreatic PLA2. The results suggest the presence of at least two immunologically distinct PLA2 enzyme proteins in sera from these patients. One of the enzymes is pancreatic in origin and may exist in active, inactive, or inhibited form. The activity profile of the second PLA2 enzyme in serum during acute pancreatitis differs from that for other common pancreatic enzymes. In the present experiment, the catalytic activity was not removed by treatment with the anti-human pancreatic PLA2 antiserum. The source of this second PLA2 activity is unknown. Some samples contained increased activities of both PLA2 forms.     

CT双期扫描对节段性自身免疫性胰腺炎与胰腺癌及胰内分泌肿瘤的鉴别诊断价值

目的：研究节段性自身免疫性胰腺炎（Autoimmune pancreatitis,AIP）CT双期扫描的强化模式与胰腺癌及内分泌肿瘤（Pancreatic endocrine tumor,PECT）的差异,提高AIP的诊断水平。方法：收集9例节段性AIP患者、25例胰腺癌及16例PECT患者的CT平扫和双期动态增强资料以及25例性别、年龄与AIP相似的正常对照组,分析双期扫描3种病变的影像特点以及与正常胰腺的密度差异;测量4组的双期扫描平均CT值,分别比较AIP组与胰腺癌、PECT组的平均CT值差异,同时与正常对照组比较。结果：动脉期,在图像上,与同病例正常胰腺比较,9例AIP患者的病变胰腺均表现为相对低密度,25例胰腺癌患者呈明显低密度,16例PECT患者均呈高密度;AIP组、胰腺癌组、PECT组的平均CT值分别为72.7HU、49.2HU、115.6HU,正常组的平均CT值为93.4HU。门脉期,在图像上,与同病例正常胰腺比较,9例AIP患者的病变胰腺均为等或偏高密度,25例胰腺癌患者的病变胰腺均为明显低密度;16例PECT患者呈偏高密度;AIP组、胰腺癌组、PECT组的平均CT值分别为86.6HU、57.6HU、104.2HU,正常组的平均CT值为83.9HU。结论：AIP与胰腺癌、PECT的强化模式不同,不同时相,病变与正常胰腺的对比度不同,CT双期扫描在节段性AIP与胰腺癌、PECT鉴别诊断中有重要价值,通过CT双期扫描可作出AIP的倾向性诊断。