Utility of a peritoneal dialysis leukocyte test strip in the diagnosis of peritonitis

Expeditious diagnosis of peritonitis remains a significant goal in the management of patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis. Several attempts to use leukocyte esterase reagent strips to diagnose peritonitis have been described. In this study we examined the usefulness of a new reagent strip, the PeriScreen Test Strip, in the diagnosis of peritonitis. A series of 72 peritoneal effluent samples obtained from 22 maintenance peritoneal dialysis patients is reported. In this study, the test strips had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.3% as compared to an abnormal leukocyte count. Thus, in the diagnosis of peritonitis we believe that the PeriScreen Test Strip can be used as a simple bedside screening test to exclude peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients.     

Giant hairy 'bathing trunk' naevus with multiple congenital melanocytic naevi

A 23-day-old male infant had hairy 'bathing trunk' naevus covering, neck and upper trunk along with multiple congenital melanocytic naevi scattered all over the body.     

EUS findings in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune pancreatitis is an increasingly recognized benign condition with a presentation similar to pancreatic neoplasia but responds to corticosteroid therapy. Clinical features, ERCP, and CT findings have been described. This study assessed the EUS and EUS-guided FNA features of proven autoimmune pancreatitis. METHODS: The diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis was based on examination of surgical resection specimens or typical clinical findings (elevated immunoglobulin G level, no evidence of malignancy, characteristic non-EUS imaging studies, and clinical improvement, especially in response to treatment with a corticosteroid). RESULTS: Presenting manifestations in 14 patients included obstructive jaundice, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Ten patients underwent surgery (including exploratory surgery). Six were successfully treated with corticosteroid. EUS revealed diffuse hypoechoic pancreatic enlargement (8/14) or a focal irregular hypoechoic mass (6/14). Features of chronic pancreatitis were not noted. EUS-guided FNA of the pancreas was suggestive of chronic inflammatory pancreatitis in 9 of 12 patients. Celiac and peripancreatic lymphadenopathy (up to 3 cm in diameter) was present in 6 patients. EUS-guided FNA of lymph nodes (3/4) did not reveal evidence of malignancy. Vascular involvement was noted in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The EUS features of autoimmune pancreatitis are easily mistaken for malignancy. However, a diffusely hypoechoic, enlarged pancreas, together with chronic inflammatory cells in aspirated cytologic specimens, is supportive of the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis. When combined with clinical data, EUS and EUS-guided FNA may support a diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis, may warrant a trial of corticosteroid, and thereby may prevent unnecessary surgery.     

Utility of positron emission tomography/CT in the evaluation of small bowel pathology

We describe the management principles and different roles of positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the evaluation of patients with small bowel tumours (adenocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, lymphoma, metastases) from initial staging, monitoring response to treatment, to detection of recurrent disease. We also discuss the various non-malignant aetiologies of small bowel fludeoxyglucose (FDG) PET uptake, and other pitfalls in FDG PET/CT interpretation. Awareness of the imaging appearances of small bowel tumours, patterns of disease spread and potential PET/CT interpretation pitfalls are of paramount importance to optimise diagnostic accuracy.