Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in the diagnosis and treatment of mucobilia

Objective. Some biliary neoplasms secrete copious mucin into bile ducts, yet the management of mucobilia is not well known. The objective of this study was to analyze 16 patients with copious mucin in the biliary tract stressing the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Material and methods. Sixteen patients with mucobilia were found among 5635 cases of ERC from October 1999 to October 2006 in our institution. Diagnostic and therapeutic ERC as well as clinical features were retrospectively analyzed. Results. Mucin had a greater impact than the neoplasm itself on the cholangiogram and clinical presentation. ERC failed to show the tumors but a disproportionate or aneurysmal dilatation of the segmental or lobar duct correlated with the tumor-bearing duct was evident. Endoscopic managements included clearance of intraductal mucin and/or endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD). Three patients were excluded from outcome assessment because of non-specific symptoms or spontaneously subsiding jaundice. Among the 13 patients eligible for assessment, subjective improvement in symptoms and/or a decrease in jaundice along with subsiding cholangitis following ERC was observed in 5 of the 7 patients that underwent both clearance of intraductal mucin and ENBD (ENBD function was poor in all 7 patients), in 1 patient who underwent only clearance of intraductal mucin, and in 3 of the 5 patients who underwent only ENBD. The three patients with progressive jaundice, despite endoscopic management, had advanced disease. Conclusions. ERC revealed the tumor-bearing duct but not the extent of the disease in most of the patients with mucobilia. When mucobilia is encountered during ERC, the management should include clearance of as much intraductal mucin as possible. ENBD is frequently obstructed by mucin and may be helpful only in selected cases.     

Proposal for a morphological classification of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPN-B)

Purpose

We propose a morphological classification of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPN-B).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 16 patients with IPN-B who had undergone surgical resection was conducted. These 16 cases were classified into three types based on the primary lesion’s anatomical location: branch duct type (6 cases), main duct type (5 cases) and mixed type (5 cases). In this paper we have analyzed the characteristics of IPN-B according to our new classification.

Results

All branch duct type IPN-B was located in the left lobe and 5 of them were resected by left hepatectomy without extrahepatic bile duct resection (EBDR). On the other hand, all patients with main duct and mixed type IPN-B underwent EBDR in addition to hepatectomy or pancreatoduodenectomy. Microscopically, 2 of 6 patients with branch duct type IPN-B had no malignant component and, in the remaining 4 patients, cancer invasion was restricted to within the ductal wall. There were no cases of branch duct type IPN-B with lymph node metastasis and superficial intraductal tumor spread. In contrast, all patients with main duct and mixed duct type IPN-B had the malignant component. In all cases, lymph node metastasis was not observed, but superficial intraductal tumor spread was frequently found in extrahepatic bile duct lesions: 3 of main duct type and 3 of mixed type. Four patients with superficial intraductal spread had non-curative resection due to a cancer-positive ductal margin. Most patients with IPN-B obtained a good prognosis, but two patients with a cancer-positive ductal margin developed local recurrence.

Conclusions

Our classification vividly reflects clinical and pathological characteristics of IPN-B and is useful to determine appropriate surgical strategy.     

Usefulness of Intraductal Ultrasonography in Icteric Patients with Highly Suspected Choledocholithiasis Showing Normal Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Background

Choledocholithiasis is one of the causes of jaundice and may require urgent treatment. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the primary management strategy for choledocholithiasis. However, small stones can be overlooked during ERCP.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) for detecting choledocholithiasis in icteric patients with highly suspected common bile duct (CBD) stones without definite stone diagnosis on ERCP.

Methods

Ninety-five icteric (bilirubin ≥3 mg/dL) patients who underwent ERCP for highly suspected choledocholithiasis without definite filling defects on cholangiography were prospectively enrolled in the present study. We evaluated the bile duct using IDUS for the presence of stones or sludge. Reference standard for choledocholithiasis was endoscopic extraction of stone or sludge.

Result

Bile duct stones were detected with IDUS in 31 of 95 patients (32.6 %). IDUS findings were confirmed by endoscopic stone extraction in all patients. The mean diameter of CBD stones detected by IDUS was 2.9 mm (range 1–7 mm). IDUS revealed biliary sludge in 24 patients (25.2 %) which was confirmed by sludge extraction in 21 patients (87.5 %). In dilated CBD, detection rate of bile duct stone/sludge based on IDUS was significantly higher than in non-dilated CBD (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

IDUS is useful for the detection of occult CBD stone on ERCP in icteric patients with highly suspected CBD stones.     

DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF PERORAL CHOLANGIOSCOPY AND TRANSPAPILLARY INTRADUCTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR BILE DUCT CARCINOMA

Recently, new diagnostic procedures such as video peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) and transpapillary intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) have been available for diagnosis of biliary diseases. These new modalities are especially useful for diagnosis of minute bile duct lesions on cholangiogram and correct diagnosis of lateral extension of bile duct carcinoma. In this paper, showing some effective cases of POCS and IDUS, we present our diagnostic approach for bile duct carcinoma and discuss the future prospects of POCS and IDUS.     

Simultaneous liver mucinous cystic and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile duct:A case report

Cystic hepatic neoplasms are rare tumors,and are classified into two separate entities:mucinous cystic neoplasms(MCNs)and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile duct(IPMN-B).We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and jaundice due to the presence of a large hepatic multilocular cystic tumor associated with an intraductal tumor.Partial hepatectomy with resection of extrahepatic bile ducts demonstrated an intrahepatic MCN and an intraductal IPMN-B.This is the first report of the simultaneous occurrence of these two histologically distinct entities in the liver.     

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF INTRADUCTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS NEOPLASM OF THE PANCREAS

Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) is useful for evaluating the horizontal spread along the main pancreatic duct in cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas, thus providing valuable information for the determination of the resection line at surgery. Differentiation between benign and malignant IPMN is also indispensable for management decisions. Measurement of the height of mural nodules by IDUS is expected to be useful for differential diagnosis of IPMN. Because IDUS cannot always demonstrate whole lesions, especially in branch duct IPMN, endoscopic ultrasonography plays a complementary role in such cases.     

Papillentumoren

Background

Papillary tumors are rare and morphologically heterogeneous and the most common premalignant lesion is the intestinal differentiated adenocarcinoma. The main types of papillary tumors are the intestinal differentiated adenocarcinoma and the prognostically unfavorable pancreatobiliary differentiated carcinoma.

Diagnostics and therapy of papillary adenoma

Papillary adenoma and peripapillary duodenal adenoma are precancerous lesions. Endoscopy and biopsy are the basis for therapeutic decision making. For adenomas larger than 1 cm and/or further conspicuous findings, staging investigations are necessary. The treatment of papillary adenoma should be carried out by endoscopic loop removal (papillectomy) or by surgical interventions, such as transduodenal papillectomy (ampullectomy) and radical partial duodenopancreatectomy. Adenomas larger than 5 cm but macroscopically and histologically inconspicuous, should be removed endoscopically, if technically feasible. The treatment strategy for adenomas larger than 4-6 cm with intraductile tumor growth, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasm (HGIEN) or focal T1 carcinoma should be decided by interdisciplinary discussion. Patients in a good general condition and with confirmed papillary carcinoma are generally treated by radical surgery.

Diagnostics and therapy of papillary carcinoma

Early diagnosis of papillary carcinoma is carried out by a thorough diagnostic evaluation of patients with obstructive icterus, unclear periampullary duct dilatation in the region of the biliary duct and/or the pancreatic duct system or when a space-occupying lesion in the papillary region is suspected. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) can be used to visualize lesions greater than 1 cm in size as well as duct dilatation, the relationship to vascular structures and liver metastases. Endoscopy supplies information on the extent, size, surface structure (e.g. polypoid, ulcerated or mixed) and material for tissue diagnostics by biopsy/cytology or endoscopic papillectomy. Direct visualization of the duct by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) / percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) is currently being challenged by non-invasive magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) which is more suitable for assessment of the papillary region and extent of intraductal spread of the adenoma. The endoscopic ultrasonography/intraductal ultrasonography (EUS/IDUS) technique allows assessment of conspicuous mucosal, vascular, ductal, nodal and parenchymatous structures in one investigation and T3 and T4 stages can also be reliably assessed. Difficulties are encountered in the differentiation between papillary adenoma and T1 carcinoma. Partial duodenopancreatectomy represents the current standard oncological intervention for histologically confirmed or high-grade macroscopic suspicion of papillary carcinoma.     

Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for bile duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms

AIM: To investigate gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile duct (IPMN-B).METHODS: The imaging findings of five cases of IPMN-B which were pathologically confirmed at our hospital between March 2012 and May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Three of these cases were diagnosed by duodenal endoscopy and biopsy pathology, and two cases were diagnosed by surgical pathology. All five patients underwent enhanced and non-enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI; one case underwent both Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and positron emission tomography-CT. The clinical data and imaging results for these cases were compared and are presented.RESULTS: Conventional imaging showed diffuse dilatation of bile ducts and multiple intraductal polypoid and papillary neoplasms or serrated changes along the bile ducts. In two cases, Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI revealed dilated biliary ducts and intraductal tumors, as well as filling defects caused by mucin in the dilated bile ducts in the hepatobiliary phase. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI in one case clearly showed a low-signal tumor in the hepatobiliary phase, similar to what was seen by positron emission tomography-CT. In two patients, routine inspection was unable to discern whether the lesions were inflammation or tumors. However, Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI revealed a pattern of gradual enhancement during the hepatobiliary phase, and the signal intensity of the lesions was lower than the surrounding liver parenchyma, suggesting tissue inflammation in both cases, which were confirmed by surgical pathology.CONCLUSION: Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI reveals the intraductal mucin component of IPMN-B in some cases and the extent of tumor infiltration beyond the bile ducts in invasive cases.     

Mucin-producing bile duct tumors: radiological–pathological correlation and diagnostic strategy

Mucin-producing bile duct tumors are characterized by intraductal papillary tumors producing large amounts of mucin. The tumor comprises macroscopically prominent intraductal papillary neoplastic epithelia and produces a large amount of viscid mucin, resulting in dilatation of the bile ducts. The surface of the tumor is frond-like, velvety, or serrated. The tumor exhibits five intraductal growth patterns; polypoid intraductal growth, mucosal spreading growth, cast-like intraductal growth, cystic tumor, and intraductal floating tumors. Imaging features reflect the interplay between the morphology of the tumor, the amount of mucin production, and biliary dilatation. This review article describes the radiological manifestations of the tumor, based on pathological-radiological correlation and biological behavior.     

胆管腔内超声与逆行胆管造影诊断胆管结石的对比研究

目的 比较十二指肠镜下胆管腔内超声（IDUS）和内镜下逆行胆管造影（ERC）诊断肝外胆管结石的作用。方法 对30例临床怀疑有肝外胆管结石的患者，先进行ERC，再经内镜活检孔道将超声微探头直接送入胆管腔内探查，而后行乳头切开取石。结果 30例患者中，ERC准确诊断结石26例，将胆管絮状物诊断为结石1例，漏诊2例，其诊断结石的准确率，敏感性分别为86.7%(26/30),92.9%(26/28)；而IDUS准确诊断结石28例，无漏诊，误诊，其诊断结石的准确率，敏感性均为100.0%。结论 IDUS可弥补ERC的视觉误差且在确定胆管结石方面优于ERC。     

Single-institution validation of the international consensus guidelines for treatment of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas

Background

The international consensus guidelines (the guidelines) for management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas recommend surgical resection of branch duct IPMNs with any of the following features: cyst size >30 mm, mural nodules, main pancreatic duct diameter >6 mm, positive cytology, and symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of these guidelines for resection of branch duct IPMNs.

Methods

We reviewed 84 consecutive patients with branch duct IPMNs who underwent surgical resection at our hospital between January 1984 and December 2007.

Results

Sixty-nine patients had indications for resection according to the guidelines. Malignant IPMNs had significantly larger cysts than benign tumors (P = 0.026). Patients with malignant IPMNs had significantly more indications for resection than those with benign IPMNs (2.6 ± 1.0 vs. 1.7 ± 0.9, P < 0.001), and 36 of the 37 patients with malignant IPMNs had indications. The sensitivity of the guidelines for predicting malignancy was 97.3%. One of 15 patients without indications had malignancy, and the specificity was low (29.8%).

Conclusions

The guidelines show a high sensitivity for predicting malignancy of branch duct IPMNs, but the specificity is low. The cyst size and the total number of indications in each patient should be taken into account when predicting the risk of malignancy for branch duct IPMNs.     

Etablierte und neue Entwicklungen in der biliären intraduktalen Diagnostik

Background

A cholestatic laboratory constellation of findings, i.e. increased levels of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) and bilirubin, within the framework of routine blood investigations or icterus of the sclera and/or skin, as a rule represent the main symptoms of a bile duct stenosis. Unspecific upper abdominal pain occasionally occurs in parallel. The clinical manifestations of bile duct stenosis are extremely variable and the spectrum of differential diagnoses is large. This requires a detailed clarification by technical procedures.

Methods

The primary application of transabdominal ultrasound would be logical here. Furthermore, in many cases extended diagnostics are necessary which as a rule include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and in most cases allow a diagnosis. Subsequently, an appropriate therapy can be initiated using ERC. In rare cases, an additional direct imaging of the bile duct is necessary to clarify the exact genesis of the bile duct stenosis.

Aim

The aim of this review article is to present and evaluate established and new developments in biliary intraductal diagnostics.     

Transpapillary intraductal ultrasound in the evaluation of dominant bile duct stenoses in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Objective. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) in approximately 9% of patients. Neither cholangiography nor endoscopic tissue sampling can reliably distinguish between CC and benign dominant bile duct stenosis. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) in distinguishing between benign and malignant dominant stenoses in PSC patients. Material and methods. Forty PSC patients with dominant bile duct stenoses were studied prospectively. Transpapillary IDUS and endoscopic tissue sampling were performed in addition to endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Cholangiography and IDUS findings were classified as malignant or benign by the investigators. Final diagnosis of malignant stenosis was based on positive histology and/or cytology, whereas a benign character was assumed in cases of negative tissue sampling and uneventful extended clinical follow-up. Results. Eight PSC patients (20%) had dominant bile duct stenoses caused by CC, whereas 32 out of 40 patients (80%) had benign dominant bile duct stenoses. IDUS was significantly superior to ERC for detection of malignancy in terms of sensitivity (87.5% versus 62.5%, p=0.05), specificity (90.6% versus 53.1%, p<0.001), accuracy (90% versus 55%, p<0.001), positive predictive value (70% versus 25%, p<0.001), and negative predictive value (96.7% versus 85%, p=0.049). Conclusions. Transpapillary IDUS significantly increases the ability to distinguish malignant from benign dominant bile duct stenoses in patients with PSC.     

Institutional indications for islet transplantation after total pancreatectomy

Background/Purpose

This study was designed to establish institutional indications for pancreatic islet transplantation by examining patients with total pancreatectomy as candidates for islet allotransplantation.

Methods

In 12 patients who underwent total pancreatectomy, we compared pre-and postoperative plasma glucose level, body mass index, HbA1c, and daily insulin use; we examined candidacy for islet allotransplantation based on the guidelines of Japan’s islet transplantation registry.

Results

Eight of the 12 patients with total pancreatectomy were operated for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. At our institution, the 5-year survival of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm was far better (76.3%) than that of patients with pancreatic cancer. Postoperatively, plasma glucose level, HbA1c, and daily insulin use were increased in all patients with total pancreatectomy. Of the 12 patients treated with total pancreatectomy, 4 (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, n = 2; islet cell tumor, n = 1; and acute pancreatitis due to arteriovenous malformation, n = 1) showed deteriorated diabetic control and therefore were considered to be candidates for islet allotransplantation according to the guidelines.

Conclusions

Islet allotransplantation could be indicated for patients with favorable postoperative survival who have had a total pancreatectomy for either benign or neoplastic disease.     

PERORAL PANCREATOSCOPY AND INTRADUCTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN DETERMINING THE RESECTION LINES OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS

In patients with malignant intraductal papillary–mucinous tumors (IPMT), the tumor spread along the main pancreatic duct is generally inspected as mural nodules within the ducts by peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS). Even the lower mural nodules including fish‐eggs‐like lesions and granular mucosa continued to the main taller mural nodules should be resected. Mural nodules along the main duct and cystic dilation of the branch ducts observed by intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) are regarded as the tumor spread. Although POPS is superior to IDUS in identifying mural nodules along the main duct, POPS has limitations to detect mural nodules within the branch ducts. Therefore, the accuracy of the diagnosis by POPS is higher in main duct IPMT, whereas that by IDUS is higher in branch duct IPMT. These modalities should be performed as complementary tests in determining the resection lines preoperatively.     

Intraductal ultrasonography for the selection of self expandable metal stent in extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic stent insertion with self expandable metal stent (SEMS) is one of the standard palliative treatments for the patients with unresectable bile duct carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine whether detection of longitudinal spread of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma by intraductal US (IDUS) would be helpful in the selection of metal stent for the palliative drainage in bile duct carcinoma. METHODS: Seventeen patients with histologically proven unresectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with IDUS were included. Longitudinal cancer extension along the bile duct was determined and, then, compared with the cholangiographic image. The type and length of SEMS was selected based on IDUS findings. RESULTS: IDUS demonstrated more extensive tumor spread than ERC in 7 of 17 (41.2%) patients with the hepatic side of strictures and in 7 of 16 (43.8%) patients with the duodenal side of strictures. Five of 17 (29.4%) patients have changed the plan of endoscopic biliary drainage with SEMS after IDUS. There was no early dysfunction associated with endoscopic biliary drainage. CONCLUSIONS: IDUS prior to biliary drainage would be useful in demonstrating longitudinal extension of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. It has a potential role in helping stent selection and identifying factors which predict early stent dysfunction.     

胆管内超声对胆管结石诊断价值的研究

目的 通过对磁共振胰胆管成像（MRCP）、内镜下逆行胆管造影（ERC）和十二指肠镜下胆管腔内超声（IDUS）对肝外胆管结石诊断作用的比较,评价IDUS对胆管结石的诊断价值.方法 对30例临床怀疑肝外胆管结石的患者,先行MRCP,然后行ERC,同时用经导丝的腔内超声探头行胆管内扫查.IDUS检查完成后,行内镜下取石,证实诊断.结果 30例中,MRCP准确诊断结石22例,将胆管絮状物诊断为结石2例,漏诊2例,其诊断结石的准确性、敏感性、特异性分别为86.7%（26/30）、91.7%（22/24）、66.7%（4/6）;ERC准确诊断结石23例,将胆管积气诊断为结石2例,漏诊1例,其诊断结石的准确性、敏感性、特异性分别为90%（27/30）、92%（23/25）、66.7%（4/6）;IDUS准确诊断结石24例,絮状物4例,气泡2例,无漏诊及误诊,其诊断结石的准确率、敏感性、特异性均为100%.结论 IDUS是一项安全可靠的技术,在确定胆管结石方面优于ERCP和MRCP.     

Wire-guided intraductal US: an adjunct to ERCP in the management of bile duct stones.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) may misdiagnose bile duct stones if air bubbles are introduced during contrast injection, and it may also fail to diagnose stones in the presence of bile duct dilation. METHODS: Our aim was to determine whether intraductal US (IDUS) improves the accuracy of cholangiography and whether it is a useful adjunct in the management of bile duct stones. IDUS with a wire-guided US probe was performed after initial ERC in patients in whom bile duct stones were suspected. The diagnostic accuracy of ERC alone was compared with that of ERC plus IDUS. RESULTS: ERC with IDUS was performed in 62 patients who were suspected to have bile duct stones. Both IDUS and ERC were performed by the same endoscopist, and ERC was performed with a C-arm fluoroscope. The presence of bile duct stones and/or sludge were confirmed after sphincterotomy and extraction in 34 patients. Overall, the accuracy of ERC combined with IDUS in the diagnosis of bile duct stone and/or sludge was higher than that of ERC alone (97% vs. 87%, p < 0.05). With dilated bile ducts, the diagnostic accuracy of ERC combined with IDUS was also higher than that of ERC alone (95.5% vs. 72.7%, p < 0.05). Additional diagnostic information provided by IDUS included identification of cystic duct stones in 5 patients, characterization of bile duct strictures in 2 patients, and choledochal varices in 1 patient. Performance of wire-guided IDUS required 5% of the total procedure time. CONCLUSIONS: IDUS improves diagnostic accuracy of ERC and is a useful adjunct to ERC when bile duct stones are suspected.     

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: an analysis of protein expression and clinical features

Background/Purpose

The molecular pathology of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas has not been well characterized, and there are no reliable markers to predict the presence of associated invasive carcinoma in patients with IPMNs. We investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics of 37 IPMNs and the immunohistochemical findings of these tumors to investigate the malignancy of IPMNs.

Methods

Between May 1992 and September 2003, 37 patients with IPMNs, 24 with adenoma and 13 with carcinoma, underwent pancreatic resections at Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Japan. In tumor specimens from these patients, we immunohistochemically analyzed the expression of p53 protein, proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), and E-cadherin. Clinical features and follow-up after resection were recorded.

Results

Aberrant expression of the proteins examined was frequently observed. Namely, there were significant differences in the expression of MMP-7 according to clinicopathological characteristics. Positive expression of MMP-7 was found in all of nine patients with infiltrating ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma (IDC) and in all of seven patients with invasive intraductal papillary mucinous adenocarcinoma (IC-IPMC); however, 33.3% of patients with noninvasive IPMA, 58.3% of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma (IPMA), and all normal pancreatic tissues were negative for MMP-7; differences which were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our current results indicate that MMP-7 may play a significant role in the progression of noninvasive to invasive IPMC.     

Preoperative evaluation of the longitudinal extent of borderline resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma by intraductal ultrasonography

Background and Aim: In patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC), longitudinal tumor extent is important for curative resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal extents of HC using transpapillary intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) for optimal surgical planning. Methods: From July 2006 to April 2010, a total of 42 patients with borderline resectable HC were enrolled at Samsung Medical Center, a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea. All patients were evaluated using multi‐detector computed tomography (MDCT), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and IDUS. The new modified Bismuth Type (MBT) classification, in which the traditional Bismuth type IV stage is divided into stages IVa and IVb, was used to determine whether the tumor invaded the left lateral section. Among the subtypes of HC, the periductal infiltrative type (PDI) and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPN‐B) were compared. The accuracies of CT, ERCP, and IDUS were assessed through comparison with the postoperative histology findings. Results: A total of 42 patients were prospectively enrolled, and the tumor extent could be assessed histologically in 30 patients. The accuracies of CT, ERCP, and IDUS were 66.6%, 60%, and 90%, respectively. The accuracy of IDUS was 85.7% in 21 patients with PDI and 100% in nine patients with IPN‐B. Conclusions: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma staging based on IDUS findings was highly accurate. We therefore highly recommend using IDUS for optimal surgical planning in patients with borderline resectable HC.