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Biomedical subjects

T Zöpf

Publications and source records attributed to T Zöpf.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

[Endoscopy 2000].

The trends and developments in endoscopy of the coming years are many-sided. Improved fiber-optics and invention of computer technology lead to smaller endoscopes with higher resolution. Electronic image processing makes three dimensional measurement or presentation of objects possible. In endosonography a trend to miniaturization is also obvious. Advances in molecular biology and imaging procedures will strengthen the importance of endoscopy in the future. Moreover a differentiated use of new laser technologies will improve the possibilities of endoscopic diagnosis and therapy. The use of electronic diagnostic documentation systems will contribute to a standardized nomenclature and to a quality-improvement of documentation in the near future. The utilization of modern electronic communication systems will facilitate intra- and interdisciplinary exchange of information.

Endoscopes

Improved tumor staging by diagnostic laparoscopy.

This study was performed to assess the role of additional diagnostic laparoscopy in the preoperative staging of patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer prior to intended curative surgery. 89 patients with primary solid abdominal tumors were eligible for evaluation; of those 49 patients had a gastric cancer, 33 a pancreatic cancer and seven an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Patients without histologically proven metastases proceeded to laparotomy. Metastases were detectable laparoscopically in nine of 49 patients (18.4%) with gastric cancer (peritoneum n = 5, omentum n = 2, liver n = 2). Intraoperatively metastases were evident in further five cases (liver n = 3, peritoneum n = 2). In eleven of 33 patients (33%) with pancreatic cancer metastases were detected by laparoscopy (liver n = 6, peritoneum n = 2, liver and peritoneum n = 3) and in further four patients intraoperatively (liver n = 2, peritoneum n = 2). One of seven patients with an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus had liver metastases detected by laparoscopy. Intraoperatively no metastases were evident in those patients. Laparotomies were avoidable in 21 of the 89 patients (23.6%) who had a diagnostic laparoscopy prior to intended curative resection. Preoperative staging by additional diagnostic laparoscopy proved effective in patients with gastric and pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma

[Possibilities and limits of invasive endoscopy in treatment of endoscopic surgical complications after operations of the biliary tract].

Minimal invasive methods compete with surgical treatment in the therapy of complications after cholecystectomy. We demonstrate our results of endoscopic therapy. 52 patients with postoperative complications (39 stenoses, 5 leakages, 6 stenoses and leakages, 2 complete obliterations of bile duct) were treated by transpapillary or transhepatic biliary drainage over a time period of 12 months. In 73% of patients who completed the therapy protocol successful treatment was possible. In 4 cases a restenosis occurred. 4 patients underwent surgical treatment. We think endoscopic management is the therapy of first choice for postoperative biliary complications. Biliary stricture should be dilatated for 12 months by biliary endoprosthesis, leakage can be drained for shorter time periods.

Adult

[The change in laser usage in gastroenterology--the status in 1997].

Since the establishing of laser technology in gastroenterology there has been a change in the indications for laser therapy and numerous new laser systems have been introduced in basic and clinical research. First the argon laser and later on the Nd:YAG laser were used mainly for bleeding peptic lesions, today emphasis is on palliative desobliteration of advanced esophageal and rectosigmoidal carcinoma. Moreover, in selected cases it is used for curative ablation of early carcinoma and dysplasia. A new field of application is photocoagulation of the "watermelon stomach". Despite of promising ablation results the erbium:YAG and holmium:YAG laser became not yet established in gastroenterology. Also the KTP laser is rarely used e.g. for treatment of telangiectasia. Difficult bile duct stones can be highly effective fragmented intracorporally by means of laser lithotripsy; an automatic stone-tissue discrimination system avoids uncontrolled injury of the bile ducts. The hitherto experimental interstitial laser therapy of primary and secondary liver malignancies shows excellent results, but online monitoring of the expansion of the necrosis is still a problem. Thermal probes, MRT technology and duplex sonography are under current evaluation. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is now, after numerous pilot studies, investigated with larger numbers of patients. First results show a marked effectiveness in ablation of dysplasia and mucosal carcinoma. The photosensitizer 5-aminolaevulinic acid seems to be particularly effective for ablation of Barrett's mucosa and m-THPC for treatment of local carcinoma. Palliative PDT of bile duct cancer may help to avoid repeated endoprosthetic treatment. The possibilities and limitations of light induced fluorescence diagnostics of severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ is now being evaluated intensively. This method might in future facilitate the endoscopic diagnosis of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Gastroenterology