The endoscopist and malignant and non-malignant biliary obstruction

Patients with biliary strictures often represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, due to the site and complexity of biliary obstruction and wide differential diagnosis. Multidisciplinary decision making is required to reach an accurate and timely diagnosis and to plan optimal care. Developments in endoscopic ultrasound and peroral cholangioscopy have advanced the diagnostic yield of biliary endoscopy, and novel optical imaging techniques are emerging. Endoscopic approaches to biliary drainage are preferred in most scenarios, and recent advances in therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound allow drainage where the previous alternatives were only percutaneous or surgical. Here we review recent advances in endoscopic practice for the diagnosis and management of biliary strictures. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cholangiocytes in Health and Diseaseedited by Jesus Banales, Marco Marzioni and Peter Jansen.     

Breast cancer in women with primary biliary cirrhosis.

The occurrence of extrahepatic malignancy was studied in 195 unselected patients who satisfied predetermined biochemical, immunological, and histological criteria for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. The incidence of breast cancer in women with primary biliary cirrhosis was found to be significantly higher than in an age and sex matched control population from the same well defined geographical area (p less than 0.0015). The association of breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis remains unexplained, though diminished immunological surveillance, fat soluble vitamin deficiency, or endocrine dysfunction may play a part.     

Biliary brushing cytology

Biliary tract brush specimens are fast becoming the method of choice in the evaluation of patients who present with biliary tract strictures. Although the specificity is high, sensitivity rates for the detection of malignancy are generally low on cytological sampling. New liquid-based preparations and ancillary tests have emerged with the intent of addressing this issue. This review focuses on the current schemata used in the diagnosis of biliary tract lesions and the current available modalities which aid in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.     

恶性胆道梗阻患者所行经皮穿刺肝内胆管引流术中成功置入金属支架的术前影响因素分析

目的:探讨恶性胆道梗阻患者行PTBD(Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage)术中金属支架置入成功率的影响因素。方法:回顾性搜集2010年10月-2017年1月上海市第一人民医院收治的因患有近端恶性胆道梗阻行PTBD术患者的相关临床资料。比较不同原发病因患者支架置入情况。根据患者支架置入是否成功将其分为支架组和非支架组,比较患者的一般临床特征。结果:胰腺癌、胃癌和胆囊癌为本研究中数量上前3位的肿瘤,将以上3组分别按照支架置入数行x~2检验,其中胰腺癌(n=18,支架=6)和胃癌(n=14,支架=11)有统计学意义。将50例患者分为支架组(n=28)和非支架组(n=22),组间比较差异有统计学意义的因素包括:白细胞计数(支架组=6.40±3.40×10~9/L,非支架组=10.74±6.41×10~9/L),中性粒细胞计数(支架组=4.90±3.06×10~9/L,非支架组=8.92±6.25×10~9/L),胆道感染(支架组=9,非支架组=15)。进一步将该50例患者分为6组:胰腺癌-胆道感染组、胃癌-胆道感染组、其他肿瘤-胆道感染组、胰腺癌+胆道感染组、胃癌+胆道感染组、其他肿瘤+胆道感染组。将以上6组分别按照支架置入数行x~2检验,胰腺癌+胆道感染组(n=11,支架=1,P=0.001)有统计学意义。结论:PTBD术对于恶性胆道梗阻是一种有效的姑息治疗手段。胆道感染是PTBD术中支架置入成功的不利因素,胰腺癌合并胆道感染会显著降低PTBD术中支架置入成功率。     

Complex use of radiation diagnostic techniques in tumors of the pancreatoduodenal area

In the work are summarized the results of the examination of the 500 patients with tumors of pancreas (141), tumors of biliary ducts (9), tumor of duodenum (1), chronic pancreatitis (315), choledocholithiasis (12) and non-specific biliary dilatation (13). The are show the possibilities different methods of radiation diagnosis (ultrasonography, CT, MRI, MR cholangiopancreatography) in the differential diagnosis tumors of pancreatico-duodenal region, estimation of the localization, specification, degree of invasion into the neoplasms gathering round the cells. The paper presents algorithm, used in the Regional hospital of Chelyabinsk.     

Log-linear Models in a Study of Gall Bladder Disease

Biliary drainage and X-rays have been used singly and together in the diagnosis of gall bladder disease. Data from two sets of patients were statistically analyzed using log-linear analysis of contingency tables. The results of the study show that “biliary drainage” is dependent of “X-ray” and “Pathology”; abnormal X-ray is associated with abnormal pathology. Thus, biliary drainage is not of such value as to base surgery on it alone. However, X-rays are of significant value in the diagnosis of the gall bladder disease and to decide whether a surgery is needed or not.     

Balance—FFE序列在胆管磁共振检查中的应用

目的：探讨磁共振平衡式稳态自由进动梯度回波序列（Balance—FFE）在胆管疾病中的应用价值。方法：92例胆管病变患者均进行了冠状面的Balance—FFE序列扫描和磁共振胰胆管造影（MRCP）。将Balance-FFE的图像和3DMRCP像及MRCP原始图像对病变的显示率进行X。检验。结果：胆管系统在Balance—FFE序列中呈明显高信号,并能直接显示胆管结石和胆管狭窄,还能显示胆管外病变和胰腺病变,对周围淋巴结的显示也比较清楚。经x^2检验,Balance—FFE序列和MRCP原始像对胆管系统病变的显示没有统计学意义（P〉0．05）,而3DMRCP像对病变的显示能力不如Balance．FFE序列和MRCP原始像,对胆道病变的显示能力具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：Balance-FFE序列对胆道病变能清晰显示,成像速度快,图像信噪比高,伪影较少,与MRCP结合能提高对胆管系统病变的诊断率,因此Balance-FFE序列应作为胆管疾病磁共振扫描的常规序列,可作为MRCP序列的有效补充。     

8例胆道周围感染与小儿亚急性重症肝炎关系的临床分析

对8例小儿亚急性重症肝炎合并胆道周围感染进行了临床分析。其结果,8例胆道周围感染的B型超声图像均有特征性显示,其中以壁厚、呈双边征,胆囊水肿显示率最高;8例胆道周围感染中,血象仅有1例在正常范围内,余均超过正常范围,白细胞升高者占87.5%,8例血象75%以中性粒细胞升高为主。认为,(1)胆道周围感染与肝脏病变互为因果。感染是小儿重型病毒性肝炎致死的重要原因之一;(2)继发感染在重症肝炎时易被忽视,感染灶不易被发现,临床表现多不典型。B超图像特征性显示,对胆道周围感染的诊断有很大的临床实用价值。     

Radiodiagnosis of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Among diseases of the hepatobiliary system, primary sclerosing cholangitis is an undetectable disorder of the biliary tract rather than a rare nosological entity, complex radiation study is of great importance in its preoperative diagnosis. Among direct methods for contrasting the biliary tract, the authors gave preference to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography that allows the dilated biliary tract to be contrasted virtually in 100% of cases. The specific features of X-ray semiotics of primary sclerosing cholangitis were identified in 17 patients.     

Clinico-genetic analysis of congenital biliary atresia

Clinical and genetic analysis of 148 cases of biliary atresia identified in our patients and the literature data allowed to establish the genetic heterogeneity for these congenital malformations, determine the contribution of congenital syndromes to their origin and estimate empirical risk for probands sibs. Possible reasons for a high (9.8%) recurrent risk in sibs of the patients with intrahepatic biliary atresia are discussed. Special examination of probands and their parents to differentiate risk and evaluate the possibility of prenatal diagnosis is proposed. A supposedly "new" syndrome with autosomal recessive mode of inheritance associated with extrahepatic biliary atresia is reported.     

Identification of HSP90 as Potential Biomarker of Biliary Atresia Using Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis and Mass Spectrometry

Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating cholestatic liver disease targeting infants. Current diagnosis depends on surgical exploration of the biliary tree. The aim of the present study was to identify potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA). Two-dimensional electrophoresis was utilized for the identification of proteins that were differentially expressed in liver biopsies of 20 BA patients and 12 infants with non-BA neonatal cholestasis (NC) as controls. Using mass spectrometry, we identified 15 proteins with expressions significantly altered. Out of the 15 proteins identified, heat shock protein (HSP) 90 was the most significantly altered and was down-regulated in BA samples compared to NC samples using immunoblotting analysis. Our findings suggest that HSP90 might be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of BA and may be used for monitoring further development and therapy for BA. This study demonstrated that a comprehensive strategy of proteomic identification combined with further validation should be adopted in biomarker discovery.     

ERCP治疗急性胆源性胰腺炎

急性胆源性胰腺炎(ABP)是消化内科常见急腹症之一,是急性胰腺炎中最常见的类型,占急性胰腺炎每年发病人数的40%-60%,病死率较高,常规药物治疗不能从根本上解除病因,易导致复发,手术治疗风险较大,创伤较大,费用较高,住院时间较长,易引起其术后并发症,不利于患者恢复。而经内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)作为一种内镜与放射技术相结合的诊断治疗方法,对胆管内结石并发急性胰腺炎的诊断率是最高的,诊断结石的敏感性大于95%。在20世纪70年代被认为是急性胆源性胰腺炎的禁忌症,近年来随着ERCP技术的不断发展和广泛应用,ERCP已成为治疗胆胰疾病的一种安全有效的技术。ERCP可清除胆管结石,从而达到通畅胆道,减少胆汁向胰管反流,迅速改善患者病情,阻断病情进展的目的,并有效缩短住院时间,减轻患者痛苦,减少复发和改善总体预后,为广大ABP患者带来了福音,此外,还能减少患者住院费用,节省医疗资源,对于个人及社会均具有积极意义,值得推广。     

RECONSTRUCTIVE OPERATIONS ON THE BILIARY TRACT

Fifty cases in which reconstruction of the biliary system was carried out were reviewed. In 25 cases the operation was done during the treatment of malignant neoplasms. The other 25 patients were treated for benign conditions. Delayed stricture of the biliary anastomosis occurs more frequently following operation for benign post-traumatic obstruction than following reconstruction for other conditions. This is probably a result of: (1) greater regional scarring, (2) local infection, and (3) technical imperfections in the reconstituted biliary anastomosis.Certain primary malignant tumors may be difficult to recognize by both gross and microscopic examination. In six cases of biliary obstruction resulting from malignant neoplasms in the present series, exploration had been carried out some time previously, and in four of them an erroneous diagnosis of benign biliary obstruction was made.End-to-end anastomosis of the duct above and below the point of obstruction is the method preferred in the treatment of benign biliary stricture. Intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary-enteric anastomoses have been used successfully in selected cases.     

老年人急性胆道感染(附68例临床分析)

目的:探讨老年人急性胆道感染的临床特点及诊疗经验。方法:回顾性分析68例老年人急性胆道感染的诊断和治疗的临床资料。结果:老年人急性胆道感染病人并发症多,使病情危重复杂,影响手术的安全性和术后的恢复。甚至手术效果良好的病人术后死于并发症的严重发作,多数患者预后不佳。结论:老年人具有特殊的生理特点与临床特点,急性胆道感染时临床表现多不典型。年龄不是手术禁忌证,应在积极抗感染、抗休克的同时,尽早采取恰当的手术治疗,做好围手术期的处理才能提高治疗效果,降低病死率。     

Improving diagnostic yield of biliary brushings cytology for pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma

Biliary brushings are currently the best accepted method to obtain a cytological diagnosis of pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma. The technique has good specificity but poor sensitivity. Two dedicated pathologists reviewed 137 consecutive biliary brushings from 127 patients between February 1997 and February 2000. The ultimate diagnosis was determined by review of radiology, operative diagnosis and patient outcome. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the original results and the review results were calculated and compared. Additional diagnostic categories 'suspicious' and 'atypical possibly benign' were included on review. After review, the sensitivity improved from 49.4% to 89.0% and the specificity remained 100%. The use of the additional diagnostic category 'suspicious' increased the sensitivity to 90.4%, at the expense of a fall of the specificity to 66.7%. We conclude that review by two dedicated pathologists and additional diagnostic categories can improve the diagnostic accuracy of biliary brushings.     

Identification of unconjugated bile acids in human bile

Unconjugated bile acids in the bile of healthy and diseased humans were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by means of gas-liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, after their isolation by ion-exchange chromatography. In a healthy person and three patients with cholelithiasis, unconjugated bile acids comprised 0.1-0.4% of total biliary bile acids. The bile acid composition of the unconjugated fraction was quite different from that of the glycine- or taurine-conjugate fraction, in that it contained a relatively large proportion of unusual bile acids including C23 and C27 bile acids. In two patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, C22 and C23 bile acids were the major constituents of the biliary unconjugated bile acids, and comprised about 0.8% of total bile acids; no detectable amounts of C27 bile acids were found in their bile. The analysis of biliary unconjugated bile acids may be useful for the diagnosis of metabolic diseases concerning bile acids, particularly the accumulation or disappearance of unusual bile acids.     

Use of Computer-assisted Model in Diagnosis of Drug Hypersensitivity Jaundice

Of 374 patients with jaundice seen in the liver unit over a four-year period 21 were finally thought to be hypersensitive to one of seven different drugs. The clinical, laboratory, and histological features were often difficult to distinguish from those of viral hepatitis, tumour of the extrahepatic biliary tree, or primary biliary cirrhosis. A computer-assisted diagnostic model made use of minor differences, and made a correct diagnosis in all patients. Even when information about drug ingestion was left out it was still correct in 81% of patients. Sixty-four other patients gave a history of ingestion of potentially hepatotoxic drugs of whom 62 were correctly diagnosed by the computer. In the complete series of 374 patients only two were incorrectly computed to have drug jaundice when there was no history of drug ingestion.Two additional patients became jaundiced after exposure to drugs, but were found to have primary biliary cirrhosis.     

Biliary tract brush cytology

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively review brush smears obtained during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) primarily from the biliary tree. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 175 specimens from 147 patients were included in the study. The smears, prepared directly from the endoscopic brush, were stained by the Papanicolaou technique and analyzed for standard cytologic features. RESULTS: The smears were categorized into benign/reactive, significant atypia and suspicious/positive. The consistent features seen in suspicious or positive smears were tightly cohesive, small, three-dimensional cell clusters that formed cell balls. The cells in the clusters displayed features of malignant cells. CONCLUSION: ERCP-guided brushing is a safe diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of biliary tree lesions. Small, three-dimensional epithelial clusters with marked atypia signify malignancy and warrant the diagnosis of a malignant neoplasm even when only one or two such clusters are seen in the smears. Single cells, cytoplasmic vacuoles and prominent nucleoli are not essential for a diagnosis of malignancy.     

Diagnostic Performance of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in Malignant Obstructive Jaundice

Malignant obstructive jaundice is caused by tumors arising from the head of the pancreas and biliary tree, or seen due to secondary metastases in the porta hepatis lymph nodes. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that can be used for imaging the entire biliary tree and pancreatic duct system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MRCP in the diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice. The methods used involved comparative review of the images obtained by using magnetic resonance imaging and MRCP as well as comparison between MRCP- and pathology-based diagnoses. The accuracy of MRCP-based diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice was analyzed. Our data show that the positive rate of anatomical diagnosis and the detection rate of bile ducts on the proximal side of obstruction are 100%. The diagnostic accuracy of malignant obstruction was 82.9%. MRCP was found to have high diagnostic specificity for determining the location and extent of obstruction. We, therefore, concluded that MRCP had significance for clinical diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice. The positive rate of localization diagnosis was 100%. Distinguishing the quality of obstruction was also important. The diagnostic accuracy of MRCP for malignant obstructive jaundice was remarkably higher.