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Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Embryological development of the pancreas is a complex phenomenon and, therefore, it can have multiple developmental aberrations. Fortunately, the majority of these... (Review)
Review
Embryological development of the pancreas is a complex phenomenon and, therefore, it can have multiple developmental aberrations. Fortunately, the majority of these pancreatic ductal anomalies are asymptomatic with no clinical relevance and are incidentally detected during diagnostic cross-sectional imaging or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or autopsy. Occasionally, pancreatic duct anomalies can result in symptoms like abdominal pain or recurrent pancreatitis. Also, an accurate pre-operative diagnosis of ductal anomalies can prevent inadvertent duct injury during surgery. Conventionally, ERCP had been used for an accurate diagnosis of pancreatic duct anomalies. However, because it is invasive and associated with a risk of pancreatitis, it has been replaced with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). MRCP has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ductal anomalies, which can be further improved with the use of secretin-enhanced MRCP. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a new diagnostic and interventional tool in the armamentarium of endoscopists and has demonstrated promising results in the detection of pancreatic duct variations and anomalies. Along with the visualization of the course and configuration of the pancreatic duct, EUS can also visualize changes in the pancreatic parenchyma, thereby helping with an early diagnosis of any co-existent pancreatic disease. Absence of the stack sign and crossed duct sign are important EUS features to diagnose pancreas divisum. EUS can also help with the diagnosis of other congenital ductal anomalies like annular pancreas, ansa pancreatica, and anomalous pancreaticobiliary union, although the published experience is limited.
PubMed: 37835872
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193129 -
Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases... Jun 2024Mirizzi syndrome is a serious complication of gallstone disease. It is caused by the impacted stones in the gallbladder neck or cystic duct. One of the features of... (Review)
Review
Mirizzi syndrome is a serious complication of gallstone disease. It is caused by the impacted stones in the gallbladder neck or cystic duct. One of the features of Mirizzi syndrome is severe inflammation or dense fibrosis at the Calot's triangle. In our clinical practice, bile duct, branches of right hepatic artery and right portal vein clinging to gallbladder infundibulum are often observed due to gallbladder infundibulum adhered to right hepatic hilum. The intraoperative damage of branches of right hepatic artery occurs more easily than that of bile duct, all of which are hidden pitfalls for surgeons. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are the preferable tools for the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome. Anterograde cholecystectomy in Mirizzi syndrome is easy to damage branches of right hepatic artery and bile duct due to gallbladder infundibulum adhered to right hepatic hilum. Subtotal cholecystectomy is an easy, safe and definitive approach to Mirizzi syndrome. When combined with the application of ERCP, a laparoscopic management of Mirizzi syndrome by well-trained surgeons is feasible and safe. The objective of this review was to highlight its existing problems: (1) low preoperative diagnostic rate, (2) easy to damage bile duct and branches of right hepatic artery, and (3) high concomitant gallbladder carcinoma. Meanwhile, the review aimed to discuss the possible therapeutic strategies: (1) to enhance its preoperative recognition by imaging findings, and (2) to avoid potential pitfalls during surgery.
Topics: Humans; Mirizzi Syndrome; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Cholelithiasis; Cholecystectomy; Bile Ducts
PubMed: 38326157
DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2024.01.005 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Mar 2024Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common endoscopic procedure which plays a key role in the management of diseases of the bile ducts and the... (Review)
Review
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common endoscopic procedure which plays a key role in the management of diseases of the bile ducts and the pancreas. Despite ERCP being performed routinely since more than 4 decades, it is still related to a considerable rate of complications with post-ERCP pancreatitis being the most frequent one. Lately, endoscopic techniques have evolved, and numerous modalities have been developed to prevent or manage ERCP-related complications, especially PEP, such as the use of intra-rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), insertion of prophylactic stents in the pancreatic duct (PD) or intravenous hyperhydration. Knowledge of the various risk factors and applying validated preventive methods are keys in providing a safe procedure and optimizing overall patient care.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Pancreatitis; Risk Factors; Stents
PubMed: 38749582
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2024.101906 -
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of... Jul 2024Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD) is a method of decompressing the pancreatic duct (PD) if unable to access the papilla or surgical... (Review)
Review
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD) is a method of decompressing the pancreatic duct (PD) if unable to access the papilla or surgical anastomosis, particularly in nonsurgical candidates. The 2 types of EUS-PDD are EUS-assisted pancreatic rendezvous (EUS-PRV) and EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy (EUS-PG). EUS-PRV should be considered in patients with accessible papilla or anastomosis, while EUS-PG is a comparable alternative in surgically altered foregut anatomy. While technical and clinical successes range from 79% to 100%, adverse events occur in approximately 20%. A multidisciplinary approach that considers the patient's anatomy, clinical indication, and long-term goals should be discussed with surgical and interventional radiology colleagues.
Topics: Humans; Drainage; Pancreatic Ducts; Endosonography; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Stents
PubMed: 38796295
DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2024.02.002 -
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of... Jul 2024Per-oral pancreatoscopy (POP) is a pancreas-preserving modality that allows for targeted pancreatic duct interventions, particularly in cases where standard techniques... (Review)
Review
Per-oral pancreatoscopy (POP) is a pancreas-preserving modality that allows for targeted pancreatic duct interventions, particularly in cases where standard techniques fail. POP specifically has an emerging role in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and disease extent determination of main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). It has also been successfully used for laser ablation of IPMNs in poor surgical candidates, lithotripsy for complex stone disease, and laser stricturoplasty. As experience with POP increases beyond select referral center practices, further studies validating POP efficacy with long-term follow-up will help clarify when POP-guided intervention is most beneficial in relation to surgical intervention.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatic Diseases; Endoscopy, Digestive System; Pancreatic Ducts; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreatic Intraductal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38796290
DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2024.02.007 -
Pancreatology : Official Journal of the... Nov 2023Pancreatic duct pressure (PDP) dynamics comprise an intricately modulated system that helps maintain homeostasis of pancreatic function. It is affected by various... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic duct pressure (PDP) dynamics comprise an intricately modulated system that helps maintain homeostasis of pancreatic function. It is affected by various factors, including the rate of pancreatic fluid secretion, patency of the ductal system, sphincter of Oddi function, and pancreatic fluid characteristics. Disease states such as acute and chronic pancreatitis can alter the normal PDP dynamics. Ductal hypertension or increased PDP is suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic pain, endocrine and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and recurrent pancreatitis. This review provides a comprehensive appraisal of the available literature on PDP, including the methods used in the measurement and clinical implications of elevated PDP.
Topics: Humans; Clinical Relevance; Manometry; Pancreatic Ducts; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Sphincter of Oddi
PubMed: 37798192
DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2023.09.141 -
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of... Oct 2023Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an ongoing inflammatory disease with most patients developing pancreatic calculi during their course of disease. Extracorporeal shock wave... (Review)
Review
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an ongoing inflammatory disease with most patients developing pancreatic calculi during their course of disease. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a first-line treatment option in patients with large lumen obstructing pancreatic duct (PD) stones. In patients with CP and PD dilatation, digital single-operator pancreatoscopy (DSOP)-guided lithotripsy seems to be an appealing option to ESWL and surgery. DSOP-guided lithotripsy for the treatment of large symptomatic PD-stones has been demonstrated to be safe, technically, and clinically effective, and should be regarded as an alternative endoscopic treatment of certain patients.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatic Diseases; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Lithotripsy; Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; Pancreatic Ducts
PubMed: 37709413
DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2023.04.001 -
Acta Medica Portuguesa Oct 2023Pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma is currently the sixth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the fourth in Europe, with a continuous increase in annual lethality in... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma is currently the sixth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the fourth in Europe, with a continuous increase in annual lethality in Portugal during the last two decades. Surgical en-bloc resection of the tumor with microscopic-negative margins and an adequate lymphadenectomy is the only possibility of long-term survival. As this type of cancer is a systemic disease, there is a high rate of recurrence even after curative resection, turning systemic therapy the core of its management, mostly based on chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant strategies for nonmetastatic disease showed significant improvement in overall survival compared with upfront surgery, namely in borderline resectable disease. Moreover, these strategies provided downstaging in several situations allowing R0 resections. Under these new oncologic strategies, several recent surgical issues were introduced, namely more aggressive vascular resections and even tumor resections in oligometastatic disease. This review revisits the state-of-the-art of surgical and oncological interventions in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma and highlights recent advances in the field aiming to achieve higher survival rates.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Europe
PubMed: 37788655
DOI: 10.20344/amp.19957 -
The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology... Oct 2023The ampulla of Vater is a small projection formed by the confluence of the main pancreatic duct and common bile duct in the second part of the duodenum. Primary... (Review)
Review
The ampulla of Vater is a small projection formed by the confluence of the main pancreatic duct and common bile duct in the second part of the duodenum. Primary ampullary adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy, accounting for only 0.2% of gastrointestinal cancers and approximately 7% of all periampullary cancers. Jaundice from a biliary obstruction is the most common symptom of ampullary adenocarcinoma. In the early stages, radical pancreatoduodenectomy is the standard surgical approach. On the other hand, no randomized controlled trial has provided evidence to guide physicians on the choice of adjuvant/palliative chemotherapy because of the rarity of the disease and the paucity of related research. This paper reports the biology, histology, current therapeutic strategies, and potential future therapies of ampullary adenocarcinoma.
Topics: Humans; Ampulla of Vater; Adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms; Duodenal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37876255
DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2023.110 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2023Fatty infiltration of the pancreas (FIP) has been recognized for nearly a century, yet many aspects of this condition remain unclear. Regular literature reviews on the... (Review)
Review
Fatty infiltration of the pancreas (FIP) has been recognized for nearly a century, yet many aspects of this condition remain unclear. Regular literature reviews on the diagnosis, consequences, and management of FIP are crucial. This review article highlights the various disorders for which FIP has been established as a risk factor, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula (PF), metabolic syndrome (MS), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC), as well as the new investigation tools. Given the interdisciplinary nature of FIP research, a broad range of healthcare specialists are involved. This review article covers key aspects of FIP, including nomenclature and definition of pancreatic fat infiltration, history and epidemiology, etiology and pathophysiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis, clinical consequences, and treatment. This review is presented in a detailed narrative format for accessibility to clinicians and medical students.
PubMed: 37809324
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1227188