Differentiation of Crohn’s disease from intestinal tuberculosis in India in 2010

Differentiating intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn’s disease (CD) is an important clinical challenge of considerable therapeutic significance. The problem is of greatest magnitude in countries where tuberculosis continues to be highly prevalent, and where the incidence of CD is increasing. The final clinical diagnosis is based on a combination of the clinical history with endoscopic studies, culture and polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, biopsy pathology, radiological investigations a...     

Pancreatic tuberculosis in a human immunodeficiency virus positive patient：A case report

Despite the increased incidence of tuberculosis related to human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） in recent decades, pancreatic tuberculosis has rarely been described. We report a case of pancreatic tuberculosis in a 39-year- old African man who presented with progressive dysphagia, vomiting, weight loss and productive cough, accompanied by localized epigastric pain and one episode of melena. HIV-1 testing was positive and lymphocyte subset profile showed CD4 count of 9/mm3. Abdominal computed tomography （CT） scan with contrast revealed a cystic mass in the body of the pancreas, significant portal and retroperitoneal cystic adenopathy, and multiple cystic lesions in the spleen and liver. CT guided cyst aspiration and node biopsy detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient responded well on antituberculosis and antiretroviral therapy. Tuberculosis rarely involves the pancreas, probably due to the presence of pancreatic enzymes which interfere with the seeding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pancreatic tuberculosis is considered to be the result of dissemination of the infection from nearby lymphatic nodes. Endoscopic ultrasound or CT guided fine needle aspiration for cytology is the recommended diagnostic technique. Although the prognosis is good with anti-tuberculosis treatment, it could be fatal without correct diagnosis and treatment. The clinician’s high index of suspicion of pancreatic tuberculosis and application of FNAB to obtain pathological evidence are extremely important to a correct diagnosis, especially in young HIV positive patients.     

Pancreatic tuberculosis masquerading as pancreatic serous cystadenoma

Solitary pancreatic involvement of tuberculosis is rare, especially in an immunocompetent individual, and it may be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cystic neoplasms. Pancreatic cystic neoplasms are being identified in increasing numbers, probably because of the frequent use of radiology and advances in endoscopic techniques. However, they are composed of a variety of neoplasms with a wide range of malignant potential, and it is often difficult to differentiate pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking cystic neoplasms from benign or malignant pancreatic cystic neoplasms. Non-surgical diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis is inconclusive and continues to be a challenge in many cases. If so, then laparotomy should be employed to establish the diagnosis. Therefore, pancreatic tuberculosis should be kept in mind during the differential diagnosis of solitary cystic masses in the pancreas. We report a patient who had solitary pancreatic tuberculosis masquerading as pancreatic serous cystadenoma.     

Cavernous hemangioma of adult pancreas: A case report and literature review

Pancreatic hemangioma is a rare type of benign vascular tumor.Low clinical suspicion and inability of current cross sectional imaging techniques to differentiate it from other pancreatic lesions,contribute to the difficulty in making the correct diagnosis.Without a definitive diagnosis,and due to concern for malignancy,in many instances,surgery is performed.We report a case of pancreas cavernous hemangioma in an 18-yearold female.The patient presented with three-month history of epigastric pain.Physical examination and routine blood tests were normal.Abdominal Computed Tomography scan revealed a 5 cm × 6 cm complex nonenhancing cystic mass in the head of pancreas.Magnetic resonance imaging,endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) and EUS guided fine needle aspiration cytology were non-diagnostic.Because of uncontrolled symptoms,the patient underwent surgical resection.Histopathology and Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma of pancreas.     

Pancreatic tuberculosis-abdominal tuberculosis presenting as pancreatic abscesses and colonic perforation

Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis is an extremely rare condition, more so in an immunocompetent individual. Its presentation as pancreatic abscesses with colonic perforation has not been reported so far. This condition poses difficulties in clinical diagnoses. Herein we report a case who was operated in another hospital for pancreatic abscesses, and referred to our institution later when he developed fecal peritonitis due to colonic perforation. Re-laparotomy, resection and exteriorisation of the colon were done. Acid fast bacilli was seen in the histopathological examination of the resected colon. The patient responded remarkably to anti-tuberculous therapy and two sittings of debridement. Post procedure the patient developed pancreatic fistula, which was managed successfully with stenting. Pancreatic tuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis when pancreatitis is atypical.     

Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and useful ancillary methods

The role of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) in evaluating pancreatic pathology has been well documented from the beginning of its clinical use. High spatial resolution and the close proximity to the evaluated organs within the mediastinum and abdominal cavity allow detection of small focal lesions and precise tissue acquisition from suspected lesions within the reach of this method. Fine needle aspiration(FNA) is considered of additional value to EUS and is performed to obtain tissue diagnosis. Tissue acquisition from suspected lesions for cytological or histological analysis allows, not only the differentiation between malignant and non-malignant lesions, but, in most cases, also the accurate distinction between the various types of malignant lesions. It is well documented that the best results are achieved only if an adequate sample is obtained for further analysis, if the material is processed in an appropriate way, and if adequate ancillary methods are performed. This is a multi-step process and could be quite a challenge in some cases. In this article, we discuss the technical aspects of tissue acquisition by EUS-guided-FNA(EUS-FNA), as well as the role of an on-site cytopathologist, various means of specimen processing, and the selection of the appropriate ancillary method for providing an accurate tissue diagnosis and maximizing the yield of this method. The main goal of this review is to alert endosonographers, not only to the different possibilities of tissue acquisition, namely EUS-FNA, but also to bring to their attention the importance of proper sample processing in the evaluation of various lesions in the gastrointestinal tract and other accessible organs. All aspects of tissue acquisition(needles, suction, use of stylet, complications, etc.) have been well discussed lately. Adequate tissue samples enable comprehensive diagnoses, which answer the main clinical questions, thus enabling targeted therapy.     

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas： A diagnostic challenge

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are increasingly recognized due to the expanding use and improved sensitivity of cross-sectional abdominal imaging. Major advances in the last decade have led to an improved understanding of the various types of cystic lesions and their biologic behavior. Despite significant improvements in imaging technology and the advent of endoscopic-ultrasound （EUS）-guided fine- needle aspiration, the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic lesions remains a significant clinical challenge. The first diagnostic step is to differentiate between pancreatic pseudocyst and cystic neoplasm. If a pseudocyst has been effectively excluded, the cornerstone issue is then to determine the malignant potential of the pancreatic cystic neoplasm. In the majority of cases, the correct diagnosis and successful management is based not on a single test but on incorporating data from various sources including patient history, radiologic studies, endoscopic evaluation, and cyst fluid analysis. This review will focus on describing the various types of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, their malignant potential, and will provide the clinician with a comprehensive diagnostic approach.     

Is liver biopsy necessary in the management of alcoholic hepatitis?

Acute alcoholic hepatitis(AAH)is characterised by deep jaundice in patients with a history of heavy alcohol use,which can progress to liver failure.A clinical diagnosis of AAH can be challenging to make in patients without a clear alcohol history or in the presence of risk factors for other causes of acute liver failure.Other causes of acute on chronic liver failure such as sepsis or variceal haemorrhage should be considered.Liver biopsy remains the only reliable method to make an accurate diagnosis.However,there is controversy surrounding the use of liver biopsy in patients with AAH because of the risks of performing a percutaneous biopsy and limitations in access to transjugular biopsy.We review the existing literature and find there are few studies directly comparing clinical and histological diagnosis of AAH.In the small number of studies that have been conducted the correlation between a clinical and histological diagnosis of AAH is poor.Due to this lack of agreement together with difficulties in accessing transjugular liver biopsy outside tertiary referral centres and research institutions,we cannot advocate universal biopsy for AAH but there remains a definite role for liver biopsy where there is clinical diagnostic doubt or dual pathology.Italso adds value in a clinical trial context to ensure a homogeneous trial population and to further our understanding of the disease pathology.Further prospective studies are required to determine whether non-invasive markers can be used to accurately diagnose AAH.     

Needle track seeding： a real hazard after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for colorectal liver metastasis

Neoplastic needle track seeding following percutaneous radiofrequency ablation （RFA） of secondary liver tumors is exceedingly rare. Reports on cutaneous tumor seeding after percutaneous RFA for colorectal liver metastasis are even rarer in the literature. Here we report a case of a 46-year-old female who developed an ulcerating skin lesion along the needle track of a previous percutaneous RFA site around 6 mo after the procedure. The previous RFA was performed by the LeVeen~ needle for a secondary liver tumor from a primary rectal cancer. The diagnosis of secondary skin metastasis was confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology. The lesion was successfully treated with wide local excision. We believe that tumor seeding ＂after percutaneous RFA in our patient was possibly related to its unfavorable subcapsular location and the use of an expansion-type needle. Hence, prophylactic ablation of the needle track should be performed whenever possible. Otherwise, alternative routes of tumor ablation such as laparoscopic or open RFA should be considered.     

Pancreatic cystic lesions: How endoscopic ultrasound morphology and endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration help unlock the diagnostic puzzle

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are being diagnosed with increasing frequency,covering a vast spectrum from benign to malignant and invasive lesions.Numerous investigations can be done to discriminate between benign and non-evolutive lesions from those that require surgery.At the moment,there is no single test that will allow a correct diagnosis in all cases.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) morphology,cyst fluid analysis and cytohistology with EUS-guided fine needle aspiration can aid in this difficult diagnosis.     

Splenic tuberculosis in patients with AIDS.

Splenic tuberculosis is an uncommonly considered diagnosis in clinical practice. We report splenic tuberculosis in three patients with AIDS who were admitted to the hospital because of fever and constitutional syndrome. In all of the patients, abdominal sonography and abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple hypoechoic and hypodense lesions, respectively. In two patients needle aspiration of the spleen with sonographic control was the diagnostic procedure. In the third patient the diagnosis was confirmed after splenectomy. In AIDS patients tuberculosis must be included in the differential diagnosis of hypoechoic and hypodense lesions by means of sonography and computed tomography, respectively, especially in those patients with active tuberculosis.     

Pancreatic tuberculosis: an unusual cause of obstructive jaundice accessible to endoscopic management

Tuberculosis of the pancreas is unusual and often secondary to generalized tuberculosis. In most cases clinical presentation is obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic mass lesion. Although diagnosis is usually obtained after resection of the mass lesion, endoscopic procedures might avoid non-necessary surgical procedure. We report a clinical case of pancreatic tuberculosis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy and treated by biliary stenting.     

Transthoracic puncture and excavated pulmonary lesion. Diagnostic contribution and value of the extemporaneous cytologic test

Twenty-six cases of excavated pulmonary masses are reported. In 18 cases malignancy was proven by transparietal needle aspiration. A false-negative result was due to the needle being introduced too centrally and bringing pus, whereas the tumour was an epidermoid carcinoma. The seven non-malignant lesions consisted of abscess in 4 cases, tuberculosis in 1 case and pulmonary embolism in 2 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique were similar to those observed in large series of transparietal needle aspiration of solid masses. Using thin needles and extemporaneous cytology reduced the number of complications: haemothorax 6 percent, haemoptysis 0.4 percent. The authors conclude that in excavated pulmonary masses transparietal needle aspiration provides a diagnosis of malignancy when the radiological and clinical courses and bronchial fibroscopy are inconclusive. Transparietal needle aspiration avoids the need for other investigations, such as exploratory thoracotomy, thereby reducing the cost of diagnosis.     

Thyroid tuberculosis

Thyroid is a rare localization of tuberculosis, and should be considered in the diagnosis of nodular lesion of the thyroid gland except for the complicated forms with collection in which the fine needle aspiration showed the acid fast bacilli on Ziehl-Neelson stain (Koch bacilli) and/or granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis. We report the case of a 70 year-old woman referred to the hospital with a diagnosis of endothoracic goiter without clinical signs of tuberculosis. The diagnosis was established after total thyroidectomy and histological exam. Six-month treatment with three antituberculous drugs was administered with a good outcome.     

Colonoscopic Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Diagnosis of Ileocecal Tuberculosis

Two cases of ileocecal tuberculosis are presented. The diagnosis was achieved by endoscopic fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), while endoscopic biopsies and brush cytology were negative. The usefulness of endoscopic FNAC in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract tuberculosis is highlighted.     

Isolated tuberculosis of the pancreas diagnosed with needle aspiration: a case report and review of the literature.

Pancreatic tuberculosis is very rare, especially in immunocompetent patients, and represents a diagnostic challenge. The clinical features in patients with pancreatic tuberculosis are usually non-specific. The radiological features mimic pancreatic malignancy or pancreatitis. We describe a case of pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking carcinoma on Computed tomography scan. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed caseating granulomatous inflammation. The diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis was made and the patient was put on anti-tubercular therapy. Five months later, a repeat CT scan of the abdomen revealed resolution of the pancreatic lesion. We emphasize that tuberculosis should now be included in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass. Diagnostic indicators include the association of a pancreatic mass with fever, the presence of abdominal pain and a cystic pancreatic mass in a younger patient coming from a region where tuberculosis is endemic.     

Pseudo-tumoral hepatic tuberculosis developing into a multinodular form despite treatment

Localized macronodular tuberculosis of the liver is rare. In this location antituberculosis therapy results in a favorable clinical evolution in 100% of cases. We report a pseudo-tumoral form of this condition with no specific clinical, biological or radiological data. After ultrasound guided needle aspiration cytology suggesting metastasis, the correct diagnosis was obtained on liver biopsy after laparotomy. After what was probably inadequate therapy, the enlargement of several hepatic and splenic macronodules was observed. After two years and eight months, the clinical condition of the patient was good but radiological features remained. The risk of diagnostic errors and the therapeutic difficulties in the zones where the incidence of tuberculosis is low should be noted.     

腮腺结核一例并文献复习

目的 提高对腮腺结核的认识及早期诊断水平。方法 我院2012年经病理组织学明确诊断的1例腮腺结核患者的临床资料,结合国内外2005—2013年文献检索到的34例腮腺结核患者的详细资料,对腮腺结核的临床特点进行回顾性总结分析。 结果 35例腮腺结核患者,男22例,女13例;左侧腮腺结核16例,右侧腮腺结核16例,双侧腮腺结核3例。主要临床特征：腮腺进行性、无痛性肿大（34/35）,偶有不规则发热（2/35）,偶有龋齿、牙痛、张口困难症状（2/35）,盗汗、乏力、消瘦、纳差等结核中毒症状不明显（34/35）;细针穿刺细胞学检查可协助疾病诊断,35例患者中18例进行了细针穿刺细胞学检查,通过细针穿刺细胞学检查确诊者10例（10/18）。35例患者中28例有治疗资料,其中27例进行了规律抗结核药物治疗,疗效好;1例未行抗结核治疗,疗效较差。 结论 对于腮腺结核,药物规律抗结核治疗效果好;临床医师加强对该病的认识和警惕,是早期诊治的关键。     

Scrofuloderma--a case series from rural India

Cutaneous tuberculosis is the rarest presentation of all the forms of tuberculosis. Scrofuloderma is a frequent manifestation of cutaneous tuberculosis in Indian scenario. Males are affected one and half times more than females. The most common affected age group showing clinical infection is within the first three decades of life. A series of cases mostly malnourished children attending a tertiary care centre in a rural area of central India is being reported. They have presented with a wide spectrum of clinical features, forcing us to establish the final diagnosis by Mantoux test, fine needle aspiration cytology and histopathological examination. The mainstay of treatment remains medical therapy but the underlying cause for severe immunosuppression needs to be ruled out and treated.     

针吸细胞块技术在肺癌诊断及鉴别诊断中的意义

目的 探讨针吸细胞块技术,结合免疫组织化学检测在肺癌诊断中的意义.方法 收集120例锁骨上及颈部肿块,经细针穿刺涂片见到肿瘤细胞的病例,行细针穿刺抽吸细胞制做细胞块,常规切片,HE染色,免疫组织化学检测.结果 120例患者中转移性肺癌112例确诊率93.3％ (112/120).112例肺癌中腺癌(包括细支气管肺泡癌)62例,鳞癌38例,小细胞癌8例,大细胞癌4例.其余8例中转移性胃癌4例;转移性乳腺癌2例;结核2例.肺腺癌TTF-1阳性表达阳性率93.5％(58/62);肺鳞癌P63阳性表达阳性率92.1％(35/38).结论 应用针吸细胞块技术结合免疫组织化学检测,能确定肿瘤组织学类型,提高细胞学诊断的准确性,有助于肺癌的诊断及鉴别诊断.