Differentiating autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with CT radiomics features

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether computed tomography (CT)-based machine learning of radiomics features could help distinguish autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).Materials and MethodsEighty-nine patients with AIP (65 men, 24 women; mean age, 59.7 ± 13.9 [SD] years; range: 21–83 years) and 93 patients with PDAC (68 men, 25 women; mean age, 60.1 ± 12.3 [SD] years; range: 36–86 years) were retrospectively included. All patients had dedicated dual-phase pancreatic protocol CT between 2004 and 2018. Thin-slice images (0.75/0.5 mm thickness/increment) were compared with thick-slices images (3 or 5 mm thickness/increment). Pancreatic regions involved by PDAC or AIP (areas of enlargement, altered enhancement, effacement of pancreatic duct) as well as uninvolved parenchyma were segmented as three-dimensional volumes. Four hundred and thirty-one radiomics features were extracted and a random forest was used to distinguish AIP from PDAC. CT data of 60 AIP and 60 PDAC patients were used for training and those of 29 AIP and 33 PDAC independent patients were used for testing.ResultsThe pancreas was diffusely involved in 37 (37/89; 41.6%) patients with AIP and not diffusely in 52 (52/89; 58.4%) patients. Using machine learning, 95.2% (59/62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 89.8–100%), 83.9% (52:67; 95% CI: 74.7–93.0%) and 77.4% (48/62; 95% CI: 67.0–87.8%) of the 62 test patients were correctly classified as either having PDAC or AIP with thin-slice venous phase, thin-slice arterial phase, and thick-slice venous phase CT, respectively. Three of the 29 patients with AIP (3/29; 10.3%) were incorrectly classified as having PDAC but all 33 patients with PDAC (33/33; 100%) were correctly classified with thin-slice venous phase with 89.7% sensitivity (26/29; 95% CI: 78.6–100%) and 100% specificity (33/33; 95% CI: 93–100%) for the diagnosis of AIP, 95.2% accuracy (59/62; 95% CI: 89.8–100%) and area under the curve of 0.975 (95% CI: 0.936–1.0).ConclusionsRadiomic features help differentiate AIP from PDAC with an overall accuracy of 95.2%.     

Pancreatic Panniculitis Associated with Allograft Pancreatitis and Rejection in a Simultaneous Pancreas–Kidney Transplant Recipient

Pancreatic panniculitis is an uncommon condition that can occur in association with pancreatic disease. We present a case of pancreatic panniculitis in a female pancreas-kidney transplant recipient 5 months post-transplant. The patient was on standard immunosuppressive medications and had acute rejection of her renal allograft. The diagnosis of allograft pancreatitis and rejection presenting with pancreatic panniculitis was supported clinically, histopathologically and by laboratory and imaging data. This is the fourth case of pancreatic panniculitis occurring in a transplant recipient and the first in a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipient. It is also the first case associated with allograft rejection. Clinicians should be aware that pancreatic panniculitis may be a manifestation of underlying allograft pancreatic disease.     

Islet Xenotransplantation: Are We Really Ready for Clinical Trials?

Four clinical trials of porcine islet transplantation have been reported, and there are verbal reports that clinical trials on much larger scales are continuing in centers in China and Russia. The four reported trials are briefly reviewed and, in the light of the present status of experimental islet xenotransplantation, consideration is given to whether such trials are currently justified. The Ethics Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association has (1) emphasized the need for encouraging studies in non-human primates before clinical trials should be undertaken, (2) mandatory monitoring for the transfer of porcine microorganisms, and (3) careful regulation and oversight by recognized bodies. Other aspects of the topic, such as the need for informed consent, are briefly discussed. We conclude that, at the present time, more data documenting convincing efficacy, focused on clinically applicable immunosuppressive regimens, are needed to justify the initiation of closely monitored clinical trials. A clinical trial may then be justified even though the potential risk to the patients, and possibly for society, will not be zero.     

Aggressive resection for advanced pancreatic carcinoma

An aggressive pancreatectomy was performed on a 53 year old Japanese man with advanced cancer of the pancreas. The tumor originated from the body of the pancreas and invaded the stomach, duodenum, left kidney, transverse colon and common hepatic artery. An unexpected cancer was also found in the head of the pancreas during the operation. Therefore, total pancreatectomy, total gastrectomy, left adrenonephrectomy, resection of the left transverse colon and dissection of the regional lymph nodes were performed. Resection of the common hepatic artery was also performed, followed by an end-to-end anastomosis between the common hepatic artery and celiac trunk. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was doing well until nine months after the operation when multiple metastatic lesions were noted in the liver. He died 391 days after the operation from hepatic failure.     

Groove pancreatitis associated with true pancreatic cyst

We report a case of groove pancreatitis (GP) associated with a true pancreatic cyst. An 81-year-old man who had suffered epigastric pain for 4 months was referred to Saisekai Kure Hospital. Computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed a cystic lesion in the groove area of the pancreas. Serum amylase elevation and imaging findings suggested GP due to the cyst. Six weeks of medical treatment did not improve the clinical symptoms. Therefore, pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Histologic examination revealed a true cyst with intraluminal necrosis, which produced a protein plug that obstructed the Santorini duct. The parenchyma surrounding the groove area showed marked fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. GP due to true pancreatic cyst was diagnosed. Although GP is usually caused by overconsumption of alcohol, which leads to changes in the pancreatic juice and the ultimate blockage of pancreatic outflow, the histologic features in our patient suggest that true pancreatic cyst stands as a secondary cause of GP.     

ENDOSCOPIC PANCREATIC STENTING IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS WITH DUCTAL DILATION PROXIMAL TO A STRICTURE: A SAFE and EFFECTIVE PROTOCOL

After removal of intraductal stones, a 10‐Fr or 7‐Fr pancreatic stent was placed in 16 patients with upstream ductal dilation proximal to a stricture of the main pancreatic duct. Stents were removed after a mean duration of 52.5 days. Nine patients underwent repeated stenting. About one year after removal of the initial stent, when the remaining upstream ductal dilation was found on follow‐up pancreatograms, the next stent was replaced. Repeated stenting improved outflow of pancreatic juice more effectively than one‐time stenting. Correlation between long‐term pain relief without recurrence of intraductal stones and reduction of duct diameter was also shown. Stent occlusion was observed in 14 of 30 stents. Stent occlusion was frequently associated with recurrence of pancreatitis and intraductal stones, and was also associated with morphologic changes in the pancreatic ductal system. Although there were no significant differences between stent patency of the initial stents and that of the next stents, stent patency of 10‐Fr stents was superior to that of 7‐Fr stents. 10‐Fr stents should be removed within 8 weeks and 7‐Fr stents should be removed within 4 weeks for the prevention of stent occlusion. Repeated stenting with short‐term stenting is therefore considered a safe and effective protocol of endoscopic pancreatic stenting.     

介入化疗结合立体适形放射治疗晚期胰腺癌的临床观察

探讨晚期胰腺癌的介入化疗加立体适形放射治疗的临床疗效。先选择性胰腺动脉化疗,药物:CF 300 mg、5-FU 1 000~1 500 mg、DDP 60~80 mg和健择1.2~2.0 g,共4次。介入化疗后或两次介入之间行立体定向放射治疗,放疗采用4~6个适形野,总剂量为35~45 Gy,4~8 Gy/次,每周3次,21例患者CR率42.85%(9/21),PR率42.85%(9/21),SD 4.76%(1/21),PD 9.52%(2/21),总有效率(CR PR)85.70%(18/21)。初步研究结果提示,主观指标评估,2例临床症状完全消失,17例主观症状有所改善。介入化疗结合立体放射治疗晚期胰腺癌不失为临床选用的治疗手段。     

Assessment of the quality of life in chronic pancreatitis using Sf-12 and EORTC Qlq-C30 questionnaires

BACKGROUND: SF-12 Health Survey, and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 are the two main questionnaires proposed and validated for assessing the quality of life in chronic pancreatitis. AIMS: To evaluate the role of the information furnished by both the SF-12 Health Survey and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 questionnaires, and to determine which of these two questionnaires may be considered more efficacious, in clinical practice, in describing the quality of life of patients with chronic pancreatitis. PATIENTS: We studied 163 consecutive patients with proven chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: The Italian version of the SF-12 Health Survey and the Italian neutral version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 Version 3.0 questionnaires were administered. RESULTS: Pancreatic pain was the only clinical variable able to significantly impair the SF-12 Health Survey component summaries as well as all domains of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30, while body mass index was positively related to the physical component summary-12 and to the domains of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30. A high level of reliability of the domains/scores of the two questionnaires in evaluating the quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis was found and two main factors were identified. These two factors were mainly related to the two SF-12 Health Survey summary components. CONCLUSIONS: From a practical point of view, the SF-12 Health Survey is more reliable and easier to use in routine clinical practice than the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire-C30.     

胰腺分裂与慢性胰腺炎的病因学关系及发病机制

目的:探讨胰腺分裂(PD)在慢性胰腺炎病因学中的作用及其发病机制。方法:将32只犬随机分为4组(每组8只)。Ⅰ组:部分结扎背-腹胰管间的交通支。Ⅱa组:切断并结扎交通支。Ⅱb组:在背胰管注入小乳头前2mm处将其切断并结扎断端。Ⅲ组:假手术对照组,除不结扎交通支外,其余操作同上。于手术前检测各组犬血清磷脂酶(PLA2)和淀粉酶(Ams)活性及背、腹胰管基础压并在胰泌素激发后15、30、45、60和90分钟各测压一次。于术后180天再行胰胆管测压和造影并观察背、腹胰和十二指肠乳头的病理改变。结果:⑴Ⅰ、Ⅱa组和Ⅱb组术后5-80天血清PLA2和Ams活性显著升高。⑵处死时Ⅰ、Ⅱa组腹胰管和Ⅱb组背、腹胰管压力在激发后30-60分钟显著高于注药前(P<0.01);在60分钟后,前两组压力恢复到术前水平(P>0.05),而Ⅱb组仍较高(P<0.05),该组压力在90分钟后恢复正常。⑶光镜:Ⅱb组犬背、腹胰小叶间或/和胰管周围显著纤维组织增生,腺细胞结构破坏和炎细胞浸润。Ⅰ和Ⅱa组腹胰见轻度上述改变。⑷电镜:Ⅰ、Ⅱa组腹胰和Ⅱb组背、腹胰腺细胞粗面内质网脱颗粒、融合和扩张。酶原颗粒减少,线粒体肿张。Ⅰ和Ⅱa组背胰及Ⅲ组背、腹胰未见异常。结论:PD是慢性胰腺炎的病因学因素之一,其引发胰腺炎的机制是在胰液分泌的高峰期副乳头功能性梗阻。