Background: Serum carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) is the most common tumor marker assessed in pancreatic cancer patients; nevertheless few articles have comprehensively evaluated the evidence for its utility in pancreatic cancer management.
 Methods: Literature search was performed using Medline with keywords “pancreatic cancer” “tumor markers” “CA 19-9” “diagnosis” “screening” “prognosis” “resectability” and “recurrence”. All English language articles pertaining to the role of CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer were critically analyzed to determine its utility as a biomarker for pancreatic cancer.
 Results: Serum CA 19-9 is the most extensively validated pancreatic cancer biomarker with multiple clinical applications. CA 19-9 serum levels have a sensitivity and specificity of 79-81% and 82-90% respectively for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in symptomatic patients; but are not useful as a screening marker because of low positive predictive value (0.5-0.9%). Pre-operative CA 19-9 serum levels provide useful prognostic information as patients with normal levels ( 37 U/ml) (12-15 months). A CA 19-9 serum level of 100 U/ml suggest unresectablity or metastatic disease. Normalization or a decrease in post-operative CA 19-9 serum levels by ≥ 20-50% from baseline following surgical resection or chemotherapy is associated with prolonged survival compared to failure of CA 19-9 serum levels to normalize or an increase. Important limitations to CA 19-9 serum level evaluation in pancreatic cancer include poor sensitivity, false negative results in Lewis negative phenotype (5-10%) and increased false positivity in the presence of obstructive jaundice (10-60%).
 Conclusion: CA 19-9 is the most extensively studied and validated serum biomarker for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in symptomatic patients. CA 19-9 serum levels can provide important information with regards to prognosis, overall survival, and response to chemotherapy as well as predict post-operative recurrence. However, non-specific expression in several benign and malignant diseases, false negative results in Lewis negative genotype and an increased false positive results in the presence of obstructive jaundice severely limit the universal applicability of serum CA 19-9 levels in pancreatic cancer management.

/pdf/the-clinical-utility-of-serum-ca-19-9-in-the-diagnosis-2mrkxzum22.pdf

The clinical utility of serum CA 19-9 in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An evidence based appraisal

Purpose To determine the national incidence and risk factors for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Background Most series reporting the rates at which laparoscopic cholecystectomies are performed, relative to the open procedure, have come from centers specializing in laparoscopic surgery. The rates at which conversions occur from these centers may not reflect those in community practice. We sought to determine the actual, and therefore acceptable, conversion rate by examining nationally representative discharge data. Methods The National Hospital Discharge database for 1998 to 2001 was acquired from the Centers for Disease Control. All gallbladder disease related admissions were extracted, and the cholecystectomies (ICD-9-CM codes 51.2X) were analyzed using the SAS package. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine what factors were associated with the risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Results Approximately 25% of all cholecystectomies are performed by the open technique. Of the remaining 75%, there is an approximately 5% to 10% conversion rate. The major risk factors for conversion included male sex, obesity, and cholecystitis. Concurrent choledocholithiasis, cholelithiasis, and cholecystitis were associated with a conversion rate of 25%. Length of stay (LOS) was reduced for laparoscopic operations and although conversion added 2 to 3 days to the LOS, for most cases the LOS was still less than for primary open operations. Conclusions Three quarters of all cholecystectomies are performed laparoscopically, and the national conversion rate is 5% to 10%. Cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, male sex, and obesity are major predictors for conversion. The data presented in terms of conversion rates and LOS were derived from population-adjusted hospital discharge data and represent the current U.S. experience for cholecystectomy. From these data the community experience for conversion rates, risk factors, and LOS can be derived.

A nationwide study of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.

Data exists to indicate a definite association between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The strength of this association varies between various causes of pancreatitis, with hereditary and tropical pancreatitis more likely to result in malignancy. Pathogenesis may involve genetic factors, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption. Clinically a significant overlap exists between the two conditions, with histology difficult to obtain and interpret in this setting. Biomarkers like CA19-9 and others may be useful, as is a variety of newer imaging modalities. Treatment needs to be individualised as surgery offers the only chance of cure, albeit in but a few.

/pdf/pancreatic-cancer-in-chronic-pancreatitis-3bifmuvh46.pdf

Pancreatic cancer in chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive tumor with a dismal prognosis, biomarkers that can detect tumor in its early stages when it may be amenable to curative resection may improve prognosis. At present, serum CA 19-9 is the only validated tumor marker in widespread clinical use, but precise knowledge of its role in pancreatic cancer diagnosis, staging, determining resectability, response to chemotherapy and prognosis remains limited. A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed with keywords “pancreatic cancer” “tumor markers” “CA 19-9” “diagnosis” “screening” “prognosis” “resectability” and “recurrence”. All English language articles pertaining to the role of CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer were critically analyzed to determine its utility as a biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Serum CA 19-9 is the most extensively studied and clinically useful biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, CA 19-9 serum level evaluation in pancreatic cancer patients is limited by poor sensitivity, false negative results in Lewis negative phenotype (5–10%) and increased false positivity in the presence of obstructive jaundice (10–60%). Serum CA 19-9 level has no role in screening asymptomatic populations, and has a sensitivity and specificity of 79–81% and 82–90% respectively for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in symptomatic patients. Pre-operative CA 19-9 serum level provide useful prognostic information as patients with normal CA 19-9 serum levels ( 37 U/ml) (12–15 months). A CA 19-9 serum level of 100 U/ml may suggest unresectablity or metastatic disease. Normalization or a decrease in post-operative CA 19-9 serum levels by ≥20–50% from baseline following surgical resection or chemotherapy is associated with prolonged survival compared to failure of CA 19-9 serum levels to normalize or an increase. Carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) is the most extensively studied and validated serum biomarker for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in symptomatic patients. The CA 19-9 serum level can provide important information with regards to prognosis, overall survival, and response to chemotherapy as well as predict post-operative recurrence. Non-specific expression in several benign and malignant diseases, false negative results in Lewis negative genotype and an increased false positive results in the presence of obstructive jaundice severely limit the universal applicability of serum CA 19-9 levels in pancreatic cancer management.

/pdf/serum-ca-19-9-as-a-biomarker-for-pancreatic-cancer-a-10y6kygurf.pdf

Serum CA 19-9 as a Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer—A Comprehensive Review

An epidemic of infections after video-assisted surgery (1,051 possible cases) caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) and involving 63 hospitals in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, occurred between August 2006 and July 2007. One hundred ninety-seven cases were confirmed by positive acid-fast staining and/or culture techniques. Thirty-eight hospitals had cases confirmed by mycobacterial culture, with a total of 148 available isolates recovered from 146 patients. Most (n = 144; 97.2%) isolates presented a PRA-hsp65 restriction pattern suggestive of Mycobacterium bolletii or Mycobacterium massiliense. Seventy-four of these isolates were further identified by hsp65 or rpoB partial sequencing, confirming the species identification as M. massiliense. Epidemic isolates showed susceptibility to amikacin (MIC at which 90% of the tested isolates are inhibited [MIC90], 8 μg/ml) and clarithromycin (MIC90, 0.25 μg/ml) but resistance to ciprofloxacin (MIC90, ≥32 μg/ml), cefoxitin (MIC90, 128 μg/ml), and doxycycline (MIC90, ≥64 μg/ml). Representative epidemic M. massiliense isolates that were randomly selected, including at least one isolate from each hospital where confirmed cases were detected, belonged to a single clone, as indicated by the analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. They also had the same PFGE pattern as that previously observed in two outbreaks that occurred in other Brazilian cities; we designated this clone BRA100. All five BRA100 M. massiliense isolates tested presented consistent tolerance to 2% glutaraldehyde. This is the largest epidemic of postsurgical infections caused by RGM reported in the literature to date in Brazil.

/pdf/epidemic-of-postsurgical-infections-caused-by-mycobacterium-3gr14fr9oq.pdf

Epidemic of Postsurgical Infections Caused by Mycobacterium massiliense

Background
The role of the tumor marker CA 19-9 in differentiating benign from malignant masses in chronic pancreatitis has not been extensively studied.

CA 19-9 to differentiate benign and malignant masses in chronic pancreatitis: is there any benefit?

Background: In the light of laparoscopic cholecystectomy increasingly applied to all forms of cholecystitis, this study aimed at evaluating the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy applied to all cases of acute cholecystitis, and at determining factors associated with the risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy. Methods: The clinical, biochemical, radiologic, and operative data from 124 consecutive cases of acute cholecystitis were analyzed retrospectively to determine the complications and morbidity after operation. The data were analyzed further by univariate and multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with conversion. Results: No major bile duct injury or mortality occurred. Bile leak from the stump of the cystic duct developed in four patients. These were managed successfully by endoscopic biliary stent placement. The mean duration of hospital stay was 3.8 days in the laparoscopic group and 8.2 days in the open group. Of the 124 patients (18.5%), 23 underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy. Univariate analysis identified the following factors as associated with conversion: common duct dilation greater than 7 mm observed on ultrasound, (p < 0.05), pericholecystic collection seen on ultrasound (p < 0.0001), emphysematous cholecystitis (p < 0.01), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic evidence of Mirizzi syndrome (p < 0.05), and pericholecystic collection at operation (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, only pericholecystic collection (p < 0.015) and gallbladder wall thickness greater than 5 mm (p < 0.013) were statistically significant. Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis can be applied safely to all comers, offering the advantage of a shortened hospital stay. Pericholecystic collection, as observed on ultrasound, is associated with a high risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis.

In light of the explosive increase in laparoscopic surgery, there is concern about the effectiveness of sterilizing reusable laparoscopic instruments by immersion in 2% glutaraldehyde. This article describes the clinical features of eight patients who presented with biopsy-proven tuberculosis at the port-site unassociated with other clinical features of tuberculosis. Three of the eight patients had positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The port-site sinuses healed with antituberculous chemotherapy. There is conflicting information in the literature regarding the effectiveness of a 20-min instrument soak in 2% glutaraldehyde to clear M. tuberculosis. In light of the preceding information, the current practice of glutaraldehyde disinfection for reusable laparoscopes needs to be reexamined.

Port-site tuberculosis after laparoscopy: Report of eight cases

Purpose. To assess prospectively the feasibility of drainage procedures in patients with chronic pancreatitis and small ducts.

Ductal drainage with head coring in chronic pancreatitis with small-duct disease.

Background:  Patients with intrahepatic calculi require multiple interventions following successful surgical stone clearance for recurrent stones and cholangitis. The present paper describes the results of a technique of in-continuity side-to-side jejunoduodenal anastomosis (JDA) that provides endoscopic access to the hepaticojejunostomy and intrahepatic ducts. This operation is compared to other techniques in a critical appraisal of various biliary access procedures described for long-term management of intrahepatic ­calculi.



Methods:  A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 13 patients who underwent biliary drainage procedures with access loops for intrahepatic calculi during the period March 1990 to December 2000 was performed. The postoperative course of patients and the feasibility of postoperative endoscopic access to the hepaticojejunostomy and intrahepatic ductal system in treatment of recurrent cholangitis were assessed. Nine patients underwent JDA, two underwent permanent-access hepaticojejunostomy (PAH) and two others underwent an interposition hepaticojejunoduodenostomy (IHJ).



Results:  The analysis revealed no major procedure-related complications or mortality. Endoscopic access (using forward-viewing gastroscope) was possible in 100% of cases following JDA, and with difficulty in both cases after PAH. Endoscopic access in the two patients with IHJ failed because of technical reasons. Recurrent cholangitis was seen in seven patients (54%) − two out of two patients in the PAH group, one out of two in the IHJ group and four out of nine in the JDA group. This required 12 endotherapy sessions (mean: 1.5 procedures per patient).



Conclusion:  In-continuity side-to-side JDA allows easy access of conventional gastroduodenoscopes to the biliary tree for removal of recurrent/residual intrahepatic stones. The technique has advantages over other access loop procedures in the long term management of recurrent intrahepatic stones.

Biliary access loops for intrahepatic stones: results of jejunoduodenal anastomosis.

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