Imaging of the pancreatic duct by linear endoscopic ultrasound

Analysis of risk factors associated with acute pancreatitis after endoscopic papillectomy

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common adverse event (AE) of endoscopic papillectomy (EP). Prophylactic plastic pancreatic stent (PPS) placement appears to prevent AP. We evaluated factors associated with post-EP AP by a retrospective analysis of patients with tumors of the duodenal papilla who underwent EP from January 2008 to November 2016 at 2 tertiary care centers. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic ultrasound parameters, and PPS placement were evaluated. Seventy-two patients underwent EP (37 men), with mean age of 60.3 (31-88) years. Mean main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter was 0.44 (0.18-1.8) cm. Mean tumor size was 1.8 (0.5-9.6) cm. Tumors were staged as uT1N0, uT2N0, and uT1N1 in 87.5%, 11.1%, and 1.4%. Thirty-eight AEs occurred in 33 (45.8%) patients, with no mortality. Total bilirubin, tumor size, MPD diameter, and PPS placement had odds ratios (ORs) of 0.82, 0.14, 0.00, and 6.43 for AP. Multivariate analysis (PPS placement × MPD diameter) showed ORs of 4.62 (95%CI, 1.03-21.32; p = 0.049) and 0.000 (95%CI, 0.00-0.74; p = 0.042) for AP. In conclusion, patients with jaundice, large tumors, and dilated MPD seem less likely to have post-EP AP. PPS placement was associated with a higher risk of AP, which may question its use.

Imaging of gall bladder by endoscopic ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is considered a superior investigation when compared to conventional ultrasonography for imaging gall bladder (GB) lesions as it can provide high-resolution images of small lesions with higher ultrasound frequencies. Examination of GB is frequently the primary indication of EUS imaging. Imaging during EUS may not remain restricted to one station and multi-station imaging may provide useful information. This review describes the techniques of imaging of GB by linear EUS from three different stations. The basic difference of imaging between the three stations is that effective imaging from station 1 is done above the neck of GB, from station 2 at the level of the neck of GB and from station 3 below the level of the neck of GB.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound: A quantification method

Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) has been recently standardized by guidelines and recommendations. The European Federation of Societies for US in Medicine and Biology position paper describes the use for DCE-US. Comparatively, little is known about the use of contrast-enhanced endoscopic US (CE-EUS). This current paper reviews and discusses the clinical use of CE-EUS and DCE-US. The most important clinical use of DCE-US is the prediction of tumor response to new drugs against vascular angioneogenesis.