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Biomedical subjects

D O Faigel

Publications and source records attributed to D O Faigel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided real-time fine-needle aspiration: clinicopathologic features of 60 patients.

Diagnosis of lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent structures is possible using an imaging modality, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a suitable and cost-effective technique for obtaining cytohistologic material to confirm the diagnosis. EUS is capable of both characterizing the lesion and then guiding the FNA under real-time (RT) ultrasound guidance using a through-the-scope needle aspiration system. The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of this technique and to describe the clinicopathologic features. Sixty patients underwent EUS-guided RTFNA of 64 lesions, including pancreas (n = 45), periluminal lymph nodes (n = 12), mediastinal and retroperitoneal masses (n = 4), and hepatobiliary masses (n = 3). Follow-up data were obtained by surgery, histopathology, or clinical course. Thirty-one lesions were malignant, eight were atypical/suspicious, 16 were non-neoplastic, and nine were non-diagnostic. Of the 55 lesions with sufficient material for interpretation, 54 had follow-up confirmation of the RTFNA diagnosis. The calculated sensitivity and specificity for malignancy was 90% and 100%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy for malignancy was excellent for gastrointestinal associated lymph nodes (100%), mediastinal and retroperitoneal masses (100%), somewhat less so for pancreatic tumors (94%), and poor for hepatobiliary lesions (33%). EUS-guided RTFNA is accurate for sampling small gastrointestinal tract-associated lesions. EUS-guided RTFNA should be considered as a procedure of choice in selected patients when the results will influence management decisions.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Comparison of rapid office-based serology with formal laboratory-based ELISA testing for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

Accurate and cost-effective diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori gastritis has taken on major importance. Several serologic tests for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection are commercially available. We compared the performance of the FlexSure HP rapid IgG antibody test with the conventional HM-CAP ELISA to evaluate whether qualitative office-based serology is reliable enough to replace formal laboratory-based testing. We assessed H. pylori status by concordance in 100 consecutive patients with antral biopsy, rapid urease, and 1 microCi[14C]urea breath tests. Both antibody tests had good sensitivity and specificity (>86%). Concordance between the two antibody tests occurred in 87/93 patients (94%). Based on our data, the office-based FlexSure HP performed equally well as the laboratory-based formal ELISA and may be a better choice for initial serologic diagnosis in untreated patients.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Splenic vein thrombosis secondary to focal pancreatitis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography.

We report splenic vein thrombosis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) after the failure of extracorporeal ultrasound and contrast enhanced computed tomography to establish the diagnosis in a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia. Subsequent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings of retroperitoneal fibrosis and confirmed the EUS findings. Splenic vein thrombosis is a well-known cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and splenomegaly; pancreatitis and pancreatic tumors are its most common underlying causes. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography are frequently used to diagnose splenic vein thrombosis. We discuss the use of EUS for diagnosis of vascular anomalies in the gastrointestinal tract and the association of splenic vein thrombosis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and pancreatitis.

Endosonography↗

Biopsy-negative malignant esophageal stricture: diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) of the esophagus has been used primarily in staging biopsy-proven cancers. Its use as a primary diagnostic modality for esophageal malignancy has not been previously described. We report our recent experience in four patients with dysphagia and endoscopic biopsies negative for malignancy, including one patient with clinical and manometric features suggestive of achalasia. In all cases, EUS revealed a large infiltrating tumor invading through the esophageal wall into the surrounding tissues, and in one case into the aorta. Computed tomography suggested the possibility of a tumor in only one of the cases. Two patients underwent esophagectomy and were found to have adenocarcinoma. Two patients underwent repeat biopsy with alternative aggressive biopsy techniques and were found to have squamous cell carcinoma. We conclude that EUS is useful in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer and should be performed in selected patients with esophageal strictures whose biopsies are negative for malignancy; i.e., those with suspicious endoscopic or radiographic appearance, atypical presentation (e.g., profound weight loss, short duration of symptoms, or advanced age), and failure to respond to treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Hodgkin's disease diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of a periduodenal lymph node.

Hodgkin's disease rarely presents as obstructive jaundice. We report a case of Hodgkin's disease arising in periduodenallymph nodes, presenting with biliary obstruction, definitively diagnosed on cytologic material obtained by endosonographically-guided real-time fine needle aspiration biopsy and confirmed at laparotomy. The medical literature pertaining to the use of endosonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy for pancreatic lesions and abdominal lymphoma is reviewed. Currently available data support the use of fine needle aspiration biopsy in establishing the diagnosis of lymphoma. This case highlights the utility of endoscopic ultrasonography with endosonographically guided real-time fine needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosing and managing patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction or suspected abdominal lymphoma. Pairing endosonographically guided real-time fine needle aspiration biopsy with on-site cytologic assessment and immediate specimen triage can lead to definitive diagnosis of abdominal lymphoma, avoiding surgical intervention in many cases.

Adult↗

Device choice and experience level in endoscopic foreign object retrieval: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Successful foreign object retrieval may depend on device choice and the experience level of the endoscopist, although these factors have not been systematically evaluated. METHODS: In anesthetized pigs, the ability to retrieve foreign objects (metal tack, button disc battery, wooden toothpick) placed endoscopically into the stomach was assessed. Seven university medical center gastroenterology attending physicians (5 clinical and 2 basic science research [BSR]), and 4 fellows-in-training participated. The devices used were the Roth retrieval net, rat tooth forceps, Dormia basket, polypectomy snare, and radial jaw forceps. The time to retrieve each object into an esophageal overtube within a 5 minute maximum was measured. RESULTS: Only the Roth net and Dormia basket were successful in retrieving the button disc battery, although the Roth net was superior (100% vs 27%, Fisher p < 0.025). All devices were equally successful at retrieving the tack (82% to 100%, p = NS). The snare was significantly faster than the Roth net (p < 0.05). For the tack, there was significantly fewer difficulties encountered with the snare than the Roth net (Fisher p < 0.03). The Roth net was incapable of retrieving the toothpick; the other devices were equally successful (91% to 100%). The clinical attendings had a significantly higher success rate (95%) than the fellows (82%, chi squared p < 0.05) or combined fellows/BSR attendings (80%, p < 0.02), and were significantly faster than the fellows (p < 0.0002) or the fellows/BSR attendings (p < 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: The Roth net is the best device for retrieving smooth objects such as the button disc battery. For sharp objects, such as the tack and toothpick, best results were achieved with the snare, although the forceps were also effective. More experienced endoscopists had higher success rates and faster retrieval times. Both device choice and the experience level of the endoscopists have an impact on successful foreign object retrieval.

Animals↗

Receiver operator characteristic analysis of endoscopy as a test for gastritis.

Endoscopic evaluation of the presence or absence of gastritis is often performed in lieu of biopsy and histologic diagnosis. The purpose of our study was to assess the value of endoscopic examination as a diagnostic test for gastritis. Two endoscopists prospectively assessed the antrum of 73 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and graded, on a scale of 0-4 (0 = completely absent, 4 = definitely present), the likelihood of gastritis. The following features were also assessed at the time of endoscopy: erythema, nodularity, erosion, edema, and friability. Two concomitant antral biopsies (3 cm from the pylorus on the greater curvature of the stomach) were performed regardless of the endoscopic impression. The histologic findings were graded independently on a scale of 0-3 by two pathologists who were not aware of the endoscopic findings. The following histologic features were graded: acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, lymphoid aggregates, intestinal metaplasia, and quantity of Helicobacter pylori organisms. Receiver operator characteristic analysis, a method derived from signal detection theory, assesses the trade-off of sensitivity and specificity over all cutoff points of a test and is considered the best method by which to compare tests and determine the diagnostic utility of a given test. Receiver operator characteristic analysis gave an area of 0.65 +/- 0.01 SE for endoscopy as a test for gastritis (0.5 = chance, 1 = perfect) as defined by the histologic presence of inflammation. Additionally, endoscopy as a test for the presence of histologically proven Helicobacter pylori gave an area of 0.55 +/- 0.01 SE. All endoscopically graded features treated as separate tests for gastritis and/or H. pylori gave areas of approximately 0.44-0.61, indicative of a poor test. While H. pylori was always associated with at least some degree of inflammation, linear regression analysis revealed no correlation among any of the histologic features or of any histologic feature with any endoscopic feature. We conclude that a tissue diagnosis is essential for the proper diagnosis of gastritis.

Adult↗

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided real-time fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the pancreas in cancer patients with pancreatic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an important new tool in the staging of pancreatic malignancies. Using new curved linear-array instruments, real-time fine-needle aspiration biopsy (RTFNA) of pancreatic lesions can be performed. METHODS: Forty-five patients with pancreatic lesions (22 males and 23 females) underwent staging with the Olympus EUM-20 (Olympus America Corp, Melville, NY) followed by EUS-RTFNA with the Pentax FG-32PUA (Pentax-Precision Instrument Corp, Orangeburg, NY) and the 22-gauge GIP needle (GIP Medizin Technik, Grassau, Germany). RESULTS: EUS tumor stages were as follows: TO, n = 1; T1, n = 8; T2, n = 9; and T3 n = 27. Aspiration attempts were unsuccessful in four patients (two technical failures and two inadequate specimens). The remaining 41 lesions (mean size, 3.3 cm) were aspirated under EUS guidance (median passes, three) and the cytologic diagnoses were 25 definite adenocarcinoma, five suspicious for adenocarcinoma (three subsequently confirmed and two clinical course consistent with adenocarcinoma), and 11 negative for malignancy. Of 11 negatives, two were found to have adenocarcinoma, seven were confirmed benign at surgery (four cystadenomas and three inflammatory), one had a benign pseudocyst, and one had abundant inflammatory cells on RTFNA and follow-up time greater than 12 months with computed tomographic (CT) scans consistent with resolving inflammation. There were no false-positive RTFNAs. There were no procedure-related complications. Among those with diagnostic EUS-RTFNA (91%), the sensitivity for malignancy (confirmed plus suspicious) was 94% and negative predictive value 82%. CONCLUSION: EUS-guided RTFNA is a safe and accurate method for performing pancreatic biopsy. It should be considered in patients with suspected pancreatic malignancies in whom a tissue diagnosis is required or when other modalities have failed. EUS-RTFNA allows for local staging and tissue diagnosis in one procedure.

Biopsy, Needle↗

In situ hybridization for Helicobacter pylori in gastric mucosal biopsy specimens: quantitative evaluation of test performance in comparison with the CLOtest and thiazine stain.

Numerous detection methods for Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) have been developed with varying degrees of purported diagnostic utility. We have developed a rapid nonradioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) method for H. pylori detection in paraffin-embedded tissue and assessed its relative diagnostic performance by receiver operator characteristics (ROC) in comparison to the thiazine stain and CLOtest. Forty-five patients undergoing endoscopy had antral biopsies and concomitant CLOtest performed. ISH for H. pylori was done using a 22-base, biotin-labeled oligonucleotide probe complementary to a portion of H. pylori 16s rRNA with the following sequence: 5'-GGACATAGGCTGATCTTAGC-3'. ISH using this probe was specific for H. pylori with no crossreactivity with other bacterial or fungal organisms. Receiver operator characteristic analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of ISH and thiazine techniques. ISH and thiazine stains were done on serial sections, reviewed independently, and scored on a graded scale from 1-5 based upon the degree of assurance of H. pylori presence. Diagnostic performance was assessed in "expert" and "nonexpert" pathologist groups with the CLOtest serving as the invariant test for relative test comparison. The ISH test performed slightly better (ROC area 0.9) than the thiazine (ROC area 0.8) in the nonexpert population, but equally well in the "expert" group (ROC area 0.95, 0.95). ISH followed by routine hematoxylin and eosin staining showed detailed mucosal histology with a dramatic visualization of H. pylori along the surface of the foveolar cells with no evidence of lamina propria invasion. In summary, ISH for H. pylori is an excellent test that is specific, easily read, and allows concomitant detailed histologic mucosal examination.

Biopsy↗

Histological predictors of active Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori is a common cause of gastritis. No single test is 100% accurate for H. pylori diagnosis. In order to determine whether the presence of typical histological features of H. pylori gastritis may yield diagnostic information, we compared antral histology by H & E stain to the presence of organisms as detected on Thiazine stain of antral specimens, CLOtest, urea breath test and anti-H. pylori serology in 50 consecutive patients. Patients were diagnosed as having active H. pylori infection if at least two of these tests were positive. Patients with only one test positive (N = 5) were considered indeterminate for H. pylori and were excluded, resulting in 19 patients (42%) being classified as H. pylori positive. All slides were reviewed by a single blinded expert gastrointestinal pathologist and graded 0 (none) to 3 (severe) for the presence of acute (polymorphonuclear cells) or chronic (lymphocytes, monocytes, plasma cells) inflammation, lymphoid aggregates, and intestinal metaplasia. Active infection was associated with the presence of both acute and chronic inflammation (P < 0.0001) but not lymphoid aggregates (P = 0.09) or intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.10). The best positive predictors of infection were the presence of any acute inflammation (PPV = 86%) and the combination of any acute and chronic inflammation (PPV = 92%). The best negative predictor was absence of chronic inflammation (NPV = 100%). The presence of moderate to severe (grade 2 or 3) acute or chronic inflammation were each 100% predictive of infection. Moderate to severe chronic inflammation had both 100% sensitivity and specificity for active H. pylori infection, while moderate to severe acute inflammation was only 26% sensitive but 100% specific. The presence of any acute, or the combination of acute and chronic gastritis, is predictive of active H. pylori infection. Moreover, the predictive value correlates closely with the severity of the inflammation. The absence of chronic inflammatory cells rules out active H. pylori infection. These findings support the use of H & E histology-determined features in conjunction with other tests to diagnose H. pylori infection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Prevalence, etiology, and prognostic significance of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in diabetic ketoacidosis.

We reviewed the discharge records of all diabetic ketoacidosis hospitalizations over 30 months for the presence of clinically significant upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Of 284 hospitalizations in 193 patients, hemorrhage occurred in 26 hospitalizations (9%) in 25 patients (13%). None required invasive therapy to achieve hemostasis, and there were no bleeding recurrences and no deaths due to bleeding. Endoscopy in eight revealed esophagitis in all (five had erosions or ulcerations), one Mallory-Weiss tear, five with gastritis (mild in four), four with duodenitis (one erosive), one duodenal ulcer, and no gastric ulcers. Hemorrhage patients had a longer diabetes duration (14.85 vs 9.16 years, P < 0.02), and more nephropathy (40% vs 11%, P < 0.001), retinopathy (28% vs 12%, P < 0.03) and gastroparesis (36% vs 10%, P < 0.002) than those without hemorrhage. Ulcer medication (42% vs 23%, P < 0.03) or anticoagulant (12% vs 1%, P < 0.005) but not nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug usage (12% vs 12%) was higher in the hemorrhage group. Admission glucose (P < 0.02), BUN (P < 0.04), and creatinine (P < 0.02) levels were higher in hemorrhage patients, but arterial pH, serum ketones, hemoglobin, platelet count, and coagulation values were not. Hemorrhage patients required more blood transfusions (27% vs 10%, P < 0.003) and intensive care unit admissions (69% vs 43%, P < 0.009). Total (15% vs 3%, P < 0.003) and intensive care unit mortality (22% vs 6%, P < 0.026) were higher in the hemorrhage group. We conclude that upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage complicates 9% of diabetic ketoacidosis hospitalizations. Blood transfusion may be required, but the bleeding is self-limited and not severe. The most common lesion is erosive esophagitis. Hemorrhage correlates with glucose level, admission to the intensive care unit, duration of diabetes, the presence of diabetic complications, and portends a high non-bleeding-related mortality.

Adult↗

New noninvasive tests for Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Comparison with tissue-based gold standard.

The current gold standard for diagnosing H. pylori gastritis requires antral biopsy for urease test (eg, CLOtest) and/or history. We compared this gold standard to a new low-dose capsule-based 1 microCi [4C]urea breath test (UBT) and a rapid serum test for anti-H. pylori antibodies (FlexSure HP) in 50 consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy. Antral biopsies within 3 cm of the pylorus were used for CLOtest and were stained with H&E and thiazine. Slides were reviewed by a single, blinded pathologist (Review) and compared to the pathology department report (Report). A true positive was defined as a positive CLOtest or Review. The prevalence of H. pylori infection by each test was: CLOtest 32%, Review 36%, gold standard 42%, UBT 38%, FlexSure HP 44%, Report 44%. UBT had sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 96%, positive predictive value = 95%, and negative predictive value = 93% and accurately determined H. pylori status in a subgroup of 10 patients who had completed treatment. The one false positive breath test occurred in a patient with 2+ chronic inflammation on biopsy and a positive antibody test. There were two false negative breath tests. Each had both negative CLOtests and negative antibody tests. FlexSure HP had sensitivity = 74%, specificity = 89%, positive predictive value = 88%, and negative predictive value = 77% in patients not previously treated, but had a high false-positive rate in the 10 patients after treatment. Pathology department Report and blinded pathologist Review had only 84% agreement, kappa = 0.67. Both CLOtest and UBT agreed better with Review (86%, 87%, kappa = 0.68, 0.73, respectively) than Report (78%, 77%, kappa = 0.53, 0.53, respectively) suggesting that Review is more accurate than Report. When biopsy is done, we recommend that a CLOtest be performed followed by histological examination if the CLOtest is negative to ensure adequate sensitivity. However, interpretation of histological slides has significant interobserver variability even in experienced hands and may be inaccurate at times. FlexSure HP has good PPV but inadequate sensitivity to rule out active infection and is not useful in patients after treatment. UBT is an excellent noninvasive test that should be considered in cases where EGD is otherwise not indicated.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗