Impact of Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Infection Rate after Endoscopic Ultrasound Through-the-Needle Biopsy of Pancreatic Cysts: A Propensity Score-Matched Study

Background: Despite weak evidence, antibiotic prophylaxis prior to endoscopic ultrasound-guided through-the-needle biopsy (EUS-TTNB) of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) is routinely used in clinical practice. We aim to compare a group of patients treated with antibiotics before EUS-TTNB of PCLs and a group who did not undergo antimicrobial prophylaxis. Methods: Out of 236 patients with pancreatic cystic lesions referred to two high-volume centers between 2016 and 2021, after propensity score matching, two groups were compared: 98 subjects who underwent EUS-TTNB under antibiotic prophylaxis and 49 subjects without prophylaxis. Results: There was no difference in terms of baseline parameters between groups. Final diagnosis was serous cystadenoma in 36.7% of patients in the group not treated with prophylaxis and in 37.7% of patients in the control group, whereas IPMN and mucinous cystadenoma were diagnosed in 3 (6.1%) and 16 (32.6%) versus 6 (6.1%) and 32 (32.6%) patients in the two groups, respectively (p = 0.23). Overall, the adverse event rate was 6.1% in the group not treated with antibiotic prophylaxis and 5.1% in the control group (p = 0.49). Only a single infectious adverse event occurred in each group (p = 0.48). The diagnostic yields were 89.7% and 90.8% in the two groups (p = 0.7), and the diagnostic accuracy rate was 81.6% in both groups (p = 1.0). Conclusions: Prophylactic antibiotics do not seem to influence the risk of infection, and their routine use should be discouraged.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION-DUCTAL TYPE OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS, IN COMBINATION WITH BILIARY OBSTRUCTION SYNDROME

Background. The frequency of chronic pancreatitis and its complications is steadily increasing, which makes the problem of treating this pathology one of the most urgent and significant. Objective. Improvement of the results of surgical treatment of patients with hypertension-ductal type of chronic pancreatitis with extended stricture of the intrapancreatic part of the common bile duct. Material and methods. During the period 2006–2021, 328 operations were performed in the Grodno University Clinic due to chronic pancreatitis with pathology of the ductal system in combination with pancreatic cysts. The total number of complications was 5,1%. 18 patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis, ductal hypertension in combination with a cyst of the head pancreas, also with extended stricture of the terminal part common bile duct and mechanical jaundice were operated on according to the methods developed in the clinic: 12 patients underwent choledochopancreatoejunostomy, 5 patients underwent choledochocystopancreatoejunostomy, choledochocystoduodenostomy was performed in 1 case. Results. The developed methods make it possible to perform adequate internal drainage of the ductal system of the pancreas and bile ducts, as well as cystic formations. Conclusions. The application of the developed methods improves the results of surgical treatment complicated chronic pancreatitis.

Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome: Medical Syndrome or Surgical Syndrome?

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by a genetic aberration of the tumor suppressor gene VHL and characterized by multi-organ tumors. The most common neoplasm is retinal or cerebral hemangioblastoma, although spinal hemangio-blastomas, Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (RCCC), pheochromocytomas (Pheo), paragangliomas, Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (PNETs), cystadenomas of the epididymis, and tumors of the lymphatic sac can also be found. Neurological complications from retinal or CNS hemangio-blastoma and metastases of RCCC are the most common causes of death. There is a strong association between pheochromocytoma and VHL syndrome, and pheochromocytoma is often a classic manifestation of the syndrome. RCCCs are often incidental and identified during other tests. Between 35 and 70% of patients with VHL have pancreatic cysts. These can manifest as simple cysts, serous cystoadenomas, or PNETs with a risk of malignant degeneration or metastasis of no more than 8%. The objective of this retrospective study is to analyze abdominal manifestations of VHL from a surgical point of view.

Identification of a VHL gene mutation in atypical Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome: genotype–phenotype correlation and gene therapy perspective

Background Classical von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease/syndrome includes CNS hemangioblastoma, renal or pancreatic cysts, pheochromocytoma, renal carcinoma and exodermic cystadenoma. The syndrome is caused by mutation of VHL tumor suppressor gene. The most prevalent mutations are present in VHL syndrome. To date, > 500 mutations of gene related to the progression of VHL syndrome have been reported. VHL gene mutation presented in single lung or pancreatic tumor has been reported occasionally, but there is no report of both. Methods In this paper, we used CT scan, pathological and genetic examination methods to diagnose a rare atypical VHL syndrome. Results We reported a rare case of atypical VHL syndrome with authenticated VHL mutation at p.Arg167Gln, that was associated with not only bilateral pheochromocytoma but also lung carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumor of pancreas. Based on literature reviews, the patient was recommended to be further subjected to octreotide-based radionuclide therapy. Conclusions Combined with gene detection and clinical diagnosis, we found the inherent relationship between VHL genotype and phenotype, and constructed the standard diagnosis and treatment process of disease with rare VHL mutation from the perspective of gene therapy.

Outcomes of nephron sparing surgery and cortical sparing adrenalectomy in the management of Von Hippel–Lindau syndrome

Background The management of Von Hippel–Lindau syndrome (VHLS) is multidisciplinary. The urologist is involved in treating the renal, epididymal tumors and often adrenal pheochromocytoma. Preservation of renal and adrenal function is a challenge. We present 17 cases of VHLS in a tertiary care center in South India. Methods A retrospective review of the patients who underwent surgical treatment under urology for VHLS from January 2009 to November 2018 was conducted. The demographic data, the spectrum of manifestation, treatment, change in glomerular filtration rate, adrenal insufficiency, and recurrence-free survival were analyzed. Results There were 17 patients diagnosed with VHLS. The median age of diagnosis was 39 years (range 23–41). The spectrum of clinical manifestation was: multifocal RCC (88%), pancreatic cysts/tumors (70%), cerebellar hemangioblastoma (59%), retinal angiomas (47%), epididymal cysts/tumors (47%), pheochromocytomas (41%), and spinal hemangiomas (30%). There were seven patients with ten pheochromocytoma lesions. Three underwent cortical sparing and seven total adrenalectomies; 13 patients underwent nephron sparing surgery (NSS), of which seven patients had bilateral tumors. The median duration of follow-up was 6.5 years (range 2–12 years). Following NSS, seven patients had a local recurrence, and one developed pancreatic metastasis. Two patients (11%) were lost to follow-up. Renal function was preserved in all patients at the last follow-up, and there was no postoperative adrenal crisis or mortality. Conclusion Nephron sparing surgery and cortical sparing adrenalectomy are the treatment of choice for multifocal RCC and pheochromocytomas in patients with VHLS providing good oncological outcomes and preservation of renal and adrenal function.

The role of molecular biology in the diff erential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic neoplasias

Summary: Pancreatic cysts have been detected ever more frequently in recent years due to the advanced and wider use of imaging methods. We find them on CT or MR also in asymptomatic patients who do not have a history of any pancreatic disease. Pancreatic cystic lesions represent a wide range of pathological changes from simple cysts through precancerous lesions to malignant cysts. Accurate dia­gnosis remains difficult despite the combination of clinical status evaluation, imaging findings, and bio­chemical and cytological examination. Molecular bio­logical examination of cyst aspirate obtained by endosonographic examination increases the detection rate of mucinous cysts (KRAS/GNAS/VHL) and cysts with a high risk of malignancy (KRAS/GNAS/p53/PIK3CA/PTEN/CDKN2A/SMAD4) and optimizes therapeutic approach. Larger prospective validation studies are necessary to make this costly and limited method a routine part of clinical practice. Key words: molecular bio­logy – neoplasia – pancreatic cysts