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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (DBE-ERCP) is an effective method for interventions in the pancreaticobiliary system in the post-surgical patient. However, use of currently available endoscopic accessories during this procedure is limited due of the length of the conventional instrument (200 cm). The aim of this study was to explore the utility of the short DBE (152 cm) for the management of pancreaticobiliary disorders in patients with surgically altered anatomies. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively on patients with various anatomic variations in whom ERCP was performed using the short DBE from April 2008 to November 2011. Basic demographic information, clinical presentation, preoperative imaging, and type of surgery, procedural technical success rate, and adverse events were evaluated. Descriptive analysis was used to document the demographic and clinical data of the patients. RESULTS: We identified 79 patients in whom DBE-ERCP was attempted (38 % male, mean age 58 years). Indications for the procedure were removal of a previously placed stent (n = 5), suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction type 1 (n = 3), surgical biliary leak (n = 3), pancreatic anastomotic stricture (n = 2), suspected biliary stones (n = 48), and biliary strictures visualized on imaging (n = 18). Overall, the success rate of DBE-ERCP in all patients was 81 % (64/79). The scope could not reach the papilla or surgical anastomosis in 8 cases and duct cannulation failed in 7 cases. The following interventions were performed: biliary sphincterotomy (n = 39), dilation of CBD stenosis with a balloon (n = 30), biliary stent insertion (n = 25), stone removal (n = 35), brushing cytology of biliary strictures (n = 3), and stent retrieval (n = 4). Three patients developed post-procedure pancreatitis. There was 1 episode of self-limited bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates that DBE assisted ERCP for pancreaticobiliary interventions using a short enteroscope are feasible in patients with surgically altered anatomy.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences 09/2012; · 2.12 Impact Factor
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Andre Konski,
Tianyu Li,
Michael Christensen,
Jonathan D Cheng,
Jian Q Yu,
Kevin Crawford, Oleh Haluszka,
Jeffrey Tokar,
Walter Scott,
Neal J Meropol,
Steven J Cohen,
Alan Maurer,
Gary M Freedman
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ABSTRACT: To determine factors associated with symptomatic cardiac toxicity in patients with esophageal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy.
We retrospectively evaluated 102 patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Our primary endpoint was symptomatic cardiac toxicity. Radiation dosimetry, patient demographic factors, and myocardial changes seen on (18)F-FDG PET were correlated with subsequent cardiac toxicity. Cardiac toxicity measured by RTOG and CTCAE v3.0 criteria was identified by chart review.
During the follow up period, 12 patients were identified with treatment related cardiac toxicity, 6 of which were symptomatic. The mean heart V20 (79.7% vs. 67.2%, p=0.05), V30 (75.8% vs. 61.9%, p=0.04), and V40 (69.2% vs. 53.8%, p=0.03) were significantly higher in patients with symptomatic cardiac toxicity than those without. We found the threshold for symptomatic cardiac toxicity to be a V20, V30 and V40 above 70%, 65% and 60%, respectively. There was no correlation between change myocardial SUV on PET and cardiac toxicity, however, a greater proportion of women suffered symptomatic cardiac toxicity compared to men (p=0.005).
A correlation did not exist between percent change in myocardial SUV and cardiac toxicity. Patients with symptomatic cardiac toxicity received significantly greater mean V20, 30 and 40 values to the heart compared to asymptomatic patients. These data need validation in a larger independent data set.
Radiotherapy and Oncology 06/2012; 104(1):72-7. · 5.58 Impact Factor
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Yang K Chen,
Mansour A Parsi,
Kenneth F Binmoeller,
Robert H Hawes,
Douglas K Pleskow,
Adam Slivka, Oleh Haluszka,
Bret T Petersen,
Stuart Sherman,
Jacques Devière,
Søren Meisner,
Peter D Stevens,
Guido Costamagna,
Thierry Ponchon,
Joyce A Peetermans,
Horst Neuhaus
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ABSTRACT: The feasibility of single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) for biliary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was previously reported.
To confirm the utility of SOC in more widespread clinical use.
Prospective clinical cohort study.
Fifteen endoscopy referral centers in the United States and Europe.
Two hundred ninety-seven patients requiring evaluation of bile duct disease or biliary stone therapy.
SOC examination and, as indicated, SOC-directed stone therapy or forceps biopsy.
Procedural success defined as ability to (1) visualize target lesions and, if indicated, collect biopsy specimens adequate for histological evaluation or (2) visualize biliary stones and initiate fragmentation and removal.
The overall procedure success rate was 89% (95% CI, 84%-92%). Adequate tissue for histological examination was secured in 88% of 140 patients who underwent biopsy. Overall sensitivity in diagnosing malignancy was 78% for SOC visual impression and 49% for SOC-directed biopsy. Sensitivity was higher (84% and 66%, respectively) for intrinsic bile duct malignancies. Diagnostic SOC procedures altered clinical management in 64% of patients. Procedure success was achieved in 92% of 66 patients with stones and complete stone clearance during the study SOC session in 71%. The incidence of serious procedure-related adverse events was 7.5% for diagnostic SOC and 6.1% for SOC-directed stone therapy.
The study was observational in design with no control group.
Evaluation of bile duct disease and biliary stone therapy can be safely performed with a high success rate by using the SOC system.
Gastrointestinal endoscopy 07/2011; 74(4):805-14. · 6.71 Impact Factor
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Navesh K Sharma,
Joshua S Silverman,
Tianyu Li,
Jonathan Cheng,
Jian Q Yu, Oleh Haluszka,
Walter Scott,
Neal J Meropol,
Steven J Cohen,
Gary M Freedman,
Andre A Konski
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ABSTRACT: The relationship between local, regional, or distant disease control (LC, RC, DC) and maximal posttreatment standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) in patients with esophageal cancer has not been elucidated. This study was initiated to explore whether a decrease in SUV on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan is associated with LC, RC, or DC in patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.
Medical records of 40 patients with inoperable esophageal cancer treated with definitive intent and who underwent pre- and posttreatment PET-CT scans were reviewed. The histology, nodal status, tumor location, and radiotherapy (RT) dose were investigated as variables to determine a relationship between SUV(max) and LC, RC, and DC as well as disease-free survival (DFS).
Decreased posttreatment SUV(max) on PET scan (P = .02) and increased RT dose (P = .009) were the only significant predictors of improved LC on univariate analysis. Mean RT doses in patients with no evidence of disease or with local, regional, or distant recurrences were 5,244, 4,580, 5,094, and 4,968, respectively. Decreased posttreatment SUV (P = .03) and increased RT dose (P = .008) were also associated with an improvement in DFS. Furthermore, decreased posttreatment SUV(max) correlated with an improvement in LC (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.6, P = .03) as well as DFS (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.03-1.6, P = .03). These findings were maintained on multivariate analysis.
Posttreatment decrease in SUV is associated with LC and DFS in esophageal cancer patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy. RT dose was also associated with both LC and DFS. The prognostic significance of these findings warrants prospective confirmation.
Gastrointestinal cancer research: GCR 05/2011; 4(3):84-9.
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ABSTRACT: Primary malignant neoplasms of the small bowel comprise only 1-3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Small bowel cancers pose a significant diagnostic challenge. The recent development of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) have greatly facilitated evaluation of the small bowel.
We retrospectively reviewed all cases referred to a single U.S. center from September 2004 to July 2009 to determine the frequency and type of primary small bowel cancers found on DAE.
The charts of 555 patients who underwent a total of 805 procedures (768 double-balloon and 37 rotational enteroscopies) were reviewed. A total of 20 patients with small bowel cancers were diagnosed. There was no gender predominance (ten men and ten women). The average age at presentation was 66 ± 11 years, essentially identical to our overall population. We identified eight neuroendocrine tumors, five adenocarcinomas, four GIST, two lymphomas, and one poorly differentiated carcinoma.
Small bowel cancer is a rare but important finding on DAE. The per-patient incidence in our series was 3.6%. A recent multicenter Japanese series showing a higher incidence of small bowel tumors (14%) included polyposis syndrome patients and benign lesions, which were excluded from our study. The high frequency of neuroendocrine tumors in our series was also in contrast to the Japanese series, where lymphoma and GIST were more common. This may reflect a difference between our referral populations. Most of our patients underwent surgery as a consequence of these findings, underscoring the importance of identifying these tumors. DAE provides direct endoscopic access to the small bowel and is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of small bowel cancers.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences 03/2011; 56(9):2701-5. · 2.12 Impact Factor
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Douglas Morgan,
Bennie Upchurch,
Peter Draganov,
Kenneth F Binmoeller, Oleh Haluszka,
Sreeni Jonnalagadda,
Patrick Okolo,
Ian Grimm,
Joel Judah,
Jeff Tokar,
Michael Chiorean
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ABSTRACT: The performance characteristics of spiral enteroscopy have not been well-described.
To determine the technical performance, diagnostic and therapeutic yields, and safety of oral spiral enteroscopy in patients with suspected or established small-bowel pathology.
Prospective, multicenter, cohort study, with centralized database.
Ten U.S. tertiary-care medical centers.
This study involved 148 participants, of whom 101 were referred for obscure bleeding. All participants referred for antegrade deep enteroscopy were considered eligible.
Spiral enteroscopy.
Examination duration, depth of insertion, spiral enteroscopy findings, mucosal assessment upon withdrawal, and patient symptom assessment (day 1 and day 7 after the procedure).
Spiral enteroscopy was successful in 93% of patients, with a median depth of insertion beyond the angle of Treitz of 250 cm (range 10-600 cm). The mean (± standard deviation) total procedure time was 45.0 ± 16.2 minutes for all procedures, and 35.4 minutes for diagnostic procedures. The diagnostic yield was 65%, of which 48% revealed more than one abnormality. The most common findings were angiectasias (61.5%), inflammation (7.5%), and neoplasia (6.8%). Argon plasma coagulation ablation accounted for 64% of therapeutic interventions.
This was not a randomized, controlled trial of deep enteroscopy modalities.
Spiral enteroscopy appears to be safe and effective for evaluation of the small bowel. The procedure duration, depth of insertion, and diagnostic and therapeutic yields compare favorably with previously published data on other deep enteroscopy techniques such as single-balloon and double-balloon enteroscopy. Comparative studies are warranted.
Gastrointestinal endoscopy 11/2010; 72(5):992-8. · 6.71 Impact Factor
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Yun Shin Chun,
Barton N Milestone,
James C Watson,
Steven J Cohen,
Barbara Burtness,
Paul F Engstrom, Oleh Haluszka,
Jeffrey L Tokar,
Michael J Hall,
Crystal S Denlinger,
Igor Astsaturov,
John P Hoffman
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ABSTRACT: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma impinging the portal and/or superior mesenteric vein (PV-SMV) is classified as borderline resectable, and preoperative chemoradiation is recommended to increase the margin-negative resection rate. There is no consensus about what degree of venous impingement constitutes borderline resectability.
All patients undergoing potentially curative pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma were reviewed. Venous involvement was classified by preoperative computed tomography according to Ishikawa types: (I) normal, (II) smooth shift without narrowing, (III) unilateral narrowing, (IV) bilateral narrowing, (V) bilateral narrowing with collateral veins.
From 1990-2009, 109 patients underwent resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving the PV-SMV. Seventy-four patients received preoperative chemoradiation, whereas 35 did not. Patients who received preoperative therapy had a significantly longer median overall survival rate of 23 months compared with 15 months for patients without preoperative therapy (P = 0.001). Preoperative chemoradiation was associated with higher R0 resection rate and negative lymph nodes (both P < 0.0001) but did not affect the need for vein resection. When stratified by Ishikawa types, preoperative therapy was associated with improved overall survival among patients with types II and III but not types IV and V. Similarly, the correlation between preoperative therapy and R0 resection rate was observed only among patients with Ishikawa types II and III.
Preoperative therapy for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with higher margin-negative resection and survival rates in patients with Ishikawa type II and III tumors, defined as a smooth shift or unilateral narrowing of the PV-SMV. Patients with bilateral venous narrowing were less likely to benefit from preoperative treatment.
Annals of Surgical Oncology 11/2010; 17(11):2832-8. · 4.17 Impact Factor
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Gastrointestinal endoscopy 10/2010; 72(4):817-24. · 6.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is an important tool in the evaluation and management of small-bowel disease. Limited data are available on the safety, findings, and outcomes of DBE in elderly patients.
To determine the safety and efficacy of DBE in elderly patients.
Single-center, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected database.
Open-access, tertiary care referral center.
A total of 176 patients undergoing DBE (216 procedures) for evaluation of small-bowel disease between August 2007 and August 2008.
Argon plasma coagulation of bleeding small-bowel lesions.
DBE complication rate, diagnostic/therapeutic success of DBE.
An age cutoff of 75 years and older was used to designate patients as elderly. Data on complications, indications, findings, and diagnostic and therapeutic success of DBE were compared between age groups.
The mean age of patients was 66 +/- 16.4 years (range 20-95 years). DBE was performed in 185 patients, including 60 patients age 75 years and older and 110 patients younger than age 75. An overall complication rate of 0.9% was seen for DBE in this study, with no significant difference between age groups. No major complications were observed in elderly patients. Elderly patients were more likely to have angioectasias (39% vs 23%; P = .01) and were more likely to require endoscopic therapy during DBE (46.8% vs 29.2%; P = .01).
Single-center, retrospective study.
DBE is safe in elderly patients. Elderly patients are more likely to have angioectasias and to require endoscopic therapy during DBE.
Gastrointestinal endoscopy 02/2010; 71(6):983-9. · 6.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Accurate staging of gastric cancer is vital in guiding treatment decisions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has emerged as the
most accurate means of locally staging gastric cancer. In this review, we discuss the role of EUS in the management of gastric
cancer, focusing on EUS technique for Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) staging, comparison of EUS to other imaging modalities used
for staging, and specific clinical scenarios (early and advanced gastric cancer) in which EUS is performed.
Key WordsEndoscopic ultrasound-EUS-Gastric cancer-TNM staging
12/2009: pages 227-247;
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ABSTRACT: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) can have altered sugar transport into cells, potentially affecting the results of 18-FDG PET scans. The specific aim of this study was to determine the effect of DM on pre- and post-treatment standard uptake value (SUV) scores in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.
Patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma undergoing preoperative or definitive chemoradiotherapy underwent pre- and posttreatment 18-FDG PET scans. Maximum SUV score was measured from the tumor before chemoradiotherapy and 3 to 4 weeks after chemoradiotherapy (preoperatively). Patients were identified as having DM by medical record review. Random serum glucose measurements were obtained prior to 18-FDG PET scans. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test for differences in SUV scores between patients with and without DM, and a generalized linear model with backward selection was applied to search for significant predictors of initial and posttreatment SUV scores.
Sixty-three patients underwent 18-FDG PET scans during the course of treatment for esophageal malignancies between 6/02 and 8/05. Fifty-four patients received chemotherapy. The median radiation dose was 46.8 Gy. Eighteen patients had DM, six were insulin-dependent DM (IDDM). There was no difference in initial SUV scores between DM and non-DM patients (P > .05). There was also no difference in initial SUV scores between IDDM and non-IDDM groups. Patients with tumors at the gastroesophageal junction had lower initial SUV scores compared to patients with tumors in the lower or mid-esophagus (P = .05). T stage was associated with initial SUV score (T2 lower than T3, P = .014). Older age (P = .03), diabetes (P = .007), higher T stage (P = .002), and presence of nodes (P = .05) were each positively associated with posttreatment SUV scores. Blood glucose levels prior to 18-FDG PET scan, endoscopic tumor length, and tumor location were not predictive of posttreatment SUV scores. Patients with DM had significantly lower posttreatment SUV scores compared to patients without DM (P = .04). Pathologic complete response or percent SUV decrease did not differ between patients with or without DM.
Regardless of glucose levels, DM and IDDM do not influence pretreatment SUV scores in patients with localized esophageal cancer. However, DM may influence posttreatment SUV scores and thus complicate interpretation of treatment response. Further confirmatory study in a larger cohort of DM patients to evaluate the relationship of posttreatment SUV score to pathologic response is warranted.
Gastrointestinal cancer research: GCR 07/2009; 3(4):149-52.
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Lauren B Gerson,
Jeffrey Tokar,
Michael Chiorean,
Simon Lo,
G Anton Decker,
David Cave,
Doumit Bouhaidar,
Daniel Mishkin,
Charles Dye, Oleh Haluszka,
Jonathan A Leighton,
Alvin Zfass,
Carol Semrad
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ABSTRACT: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) was introduced into the US in 2004. Potential complications include perforation, pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Prevalence and risk factors for complications have not been described in a US population.
We conducted a retrospective study of DBE complications in 9 US centers. We obtained detailed information for each complication including patient history, maneuvers performed during the DBE, and presence of altered surgical anatomy.
We collected data from 2478 DBE examinations performed from 2004 to 2008. The dataset included 1691 (68%) anterograde DBE, 722 (29%) retrograde DBE (including 5 per-stomal DBEs), and 65 (3%) DBE-facilitated endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP cases. There were a total of 22 (0.9%) major complications including perforation in 11 (0.4%), pancreatitis in 6 (0.2%), and bleeding in 4 (0.2%) patients. One of 6 cases of pancreatitis occurred post retrograde DBE. Perforations occurred in 3/1691 (0.2%) anterograde examinations and 8/719 (1.1%) retrograde DBEs (P = .004). Eight (73%) perforations occurred during diagnostic DBE examinations. Four of 8 retrograde DBE perforations occurred in patients with prior ileoanal or ileocolonic anastomoses. In the subset of 219 examinations performed in patients with surgically altered anatomy, perforations occurred in 7 (3%), including 1/159 (0.6%) anterograde DBE examinations, 6/60 (10%) retrograde DBEs, and 1 of 5 (20%) peristomal DBE examinations (P < .005 compared with patients without surgically altered anatomy).
DBE is associated with a higher complication rate compared with standard endoscopic procedures. The perforation rate was significantly elevated in patients with altered surgical anatomy undergoing diagnostic retrograde DBE examinations.
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology: the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association 07/2009; 7(11):1177-82, 1182.e1-3. · 5.64 Impact Factor
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Eileen Ke,
Bhavinkumar B Patel,
Tiffany Liu,
Xin-Ming Li, Oleh Haluszka,
John P Hoffman,
Hormoz Ehya,
Nancy A Young,
James C Watson,
David S Weinberg,
Minhhuyen T Nguyen,
Steven J Cohen,
Neal J Meropol,
Samuel Litwin,
Jeffrey L Tokar,
Anthony T Yeung
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ABSTRACT: There are currently no diagnostic indicators that are consistently reliable, obtainable, and conclusive for diagnosing and risk-stratifying pancreatic cysts. Proteomic analyses were performed to explore pancreatic cyst fluids to yield effective diagnostic biomarkers.
We have prospectively recruited 20 research participants and prepared their pancreatic cyst fluids specifically for proteomic analyses. Proteomic approaches applied were as follows: (1) matrix-assisted laser-desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry peptidomics with LC/MS/MS (HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry) protein identification; (2) 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis; (3) GeLC/MS/MS (tryptic digestion of proteins fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by LC/MS/MS).
Sequencing of more than 350 free peptides showed that exopeptidase activities rendered peptidomics of cyst fluids unreliable; protein nicking by proteases in the cyst fluids produced hundreds of protein spots from the major proteins, making 2-dimensional gel proteomics unmanageable; GeLC/MS/MS revealed a panel of potential biomarker proteins that correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
Two homologs of amylase, solubilized molecules of 4 mucins, 4 solubilized CEA-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs), and 4 S100 homologs may be candidate biomarkers to facilitate future pancreatic cyst diagnosis and risk-stratification. This approach required less than 40 microL of cyst fluid per sample, offering the possibility to analyze cysts smaller than 1 cm in diameter.
Pancreas 02/2009; 38(2):e33-42. · 2.39 Impact Factor
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Andrew Ross,
Shahab Mehdizadeh,
Jeffrey Tokar,
Jonathan A Leighton,
Ahmad Kamal,
Ann Chen,
Drew Schembre,
Gary Chen,
Kenneth Binmoeller,
Richard Kozarek,
Irving Waxman,
Charles Dye,
Lauren Gerson,
M Edwyn Harrison, Oleh Haluszka,
Simon Lo,
Carol Semrad
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: Small bowel mass lesions (SBML) are a relatively common cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Their detection has been limited by the inability to endoscopically examine the entire small intestine. This has changed with the introduction of capsule endoscopy (CE) and double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) into clinical practice.
To evaluate the detection of SBML by DBE and CE in patients with OGIB who were found to have SBML by DBE and underwent both procedures.
A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of all patients undergoing DBE for OGIB at seven North American tertiary centers was performed. Those patients who were found to have SBML as a cause of their OGIB were further analyzed.
During an 18 month period, 183 patients underwent DBE for OGIB. A small bowel mass lesion was identified in 18 patients. Of these, 15 patients had prior CE. Capsule endoscopy identified the mass lesion in five patients; fresh luminal blood with no underlying lesion in seven patients, and non-specific erythema in three patients. Capsule endoscopy failed to identify all four cases of primary small bowel adenocarcinoma.
Double balloon enteroscopy detects small bowel mass lesions responsible for OGIB that are missed by CE. Additional endoscopic evaluation of the small bowel by DBE or intraoperative enteroscopy should be performed in patients with ongoing OGIB and negative or non-specific findings on CE.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences 09/2008; 53(8):2140-3. · 2.12 Impact Factor
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Andre A Konski,
Jonathan D Cheng,
Melvyn Goldberg,
Tianyu Li,
Alan Maurer,
Jian Q Yu, Oleh Haluszka,
Walter Scott,
Neal J Meropol,
Steven J Cohen,
Gary Freedman,
Louis M Weiner
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To determine whether 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography scans predict the pathologic complete response and disease-free and overall survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma undergoing definitive or preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
The records of patients with esophageal carcinoma presenting for definitive or preoperative treatment and undergoing pre- and post-treatment 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-computed tomography scans were retrospectively reviewed. The histologic type, T stage, and nodal status were the variables investigated to determine a relationship with the baseline standardized uptake value (SUV) of the primary tumor at diagnosis. We also attempted to determine whether a relationship exists between the percent decrease in SUV and a pathologic complete response, overall and disease-free survival.
A total of 81 patients, 14 women and 67 men, underwent 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-computed tomography scanning before treatment and 63 also had post-treatment scans. T stage and tumor location predicted in univariate, but not multivariate, analysis for the initial SUV. Of the patients with a postchemoradiotherapy SUV of <2.5, 66% had tumor in the surgical specimen and 64% of patients had positive lymph nodes at surgery that were not imaged on the postchemoradiotherapy PET scan. A trend existed for post-treatment SUV and the days from radiotherapy to surgery to predict for a pathologic complete response (p = 0.09 and p = 0.08, respectively). The post-treatment SUV predicted for disease-free survival in the definitive chemoradiotherapy group (p = 0.01).
A correlation was found between the depth of tumor invasion and the baseline SUV. The post-treatment SUV predicted for disease-free survival in the definitive chemoradiotherapy group. Caution should be exercised in using post-treatment PET scans to determine the necessity for surgical resection.
International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics 10/2007; 69(2):358-63. · 4.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Endoscopic treatments have become a viable alternative for some patients with early-stage esophageal neoplasia. Although esophagectomy remains the standard of care for high-grade dysplasia and superficial cancers, surgical morbidity and mortality may deter patients who are medically unfit or reluctant to undergo surgery. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are the best-studied nonsurgical approaches at present. PDT has been reported to eradicate high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and early Barrett's cancers at rates ranging from 75% to 100% and 17% to 100%, respectively, and a recent randomized controlled trial confirmed that PDT may prevent progression of HGD to cancer. Complete remission rates greater than 90% have also been reported with EMR and other mucosa-ablating interventions, although recurrence rates necessitate close endoscopic surveillance and retreatment in some patients. In addition to PDT and EMR, several emerging endoscopic treatment options for superficial esophageal neoplasia may provide attractive alternatives to surgery.
Seminars in Radiation Onchology 02/2007; 17(1):10-21. · 4.03 Impact Factor
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Andre Konski,
John Hoffman,
Elin Sigurdson, Oleh Haluszka,
Paul Engstrom,
Jonathan D Cheng,
Steven J Cohen,
James C Watson,
Debra Eisenberg,
Eileen McGarrity,
Gary Freedman,
Neal J Meropol
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to correlate change in fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) uptake with response to combined-modality neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Twenty patients (13 male; 7 female) underwent (18)FDG-PET scans before and 3 to 4 weeks after completion of chemoradiation before surgery. Staging by endoscopic ultrasound was T3/T4 (17/1); two patients were unable to undergo endorectal ultrasound. Fifteen patients had perirectal lymphadenopathy. Median radiation dose was 5,040 cGy (range, 4,500 to 5,500 cGy). All patients received continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (or capecitabine) with radiation. Median pre- and post-chemoradiation standard uptake values were 9.4 (range, 3.6 to 37.0) and 3.05 (range, 0.5 to 8.2), respectively. Median percent standard uptake value decrease observed in the postchemoradiation PET scans was 71% (range, 7% to 95%). Six patients (30%) had pathologic complete response. Only two of six patients with postchemoradiation standard uptake values <or=2.5 had a complete pathologic response. The time from the end of radiation to surgery was marginally significant for predicting pathologic complete response (P = .12). Neoadjuvant combined-modality therapy resulted in decreased metabolic activity on PET. Because response to preoperative treatment predicts clinical outcome, the utility of midtreatment PET scans to guide treatment decisions should be further explored in larger clinical studies.
Seminars in Oncology 12/2005; 32(6 Suppl 9):S63-7. · 3.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cannulation of the common bile duct can be difficult in certain instances. Difficult cannulation has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis. We report a technique to facilitate difficult cannulation that uses a pancreatic-duct stent to guide biliary cannulation.
A retrospective review of all ERCPs performed at our institution from October 1, 2000 to June 30, 2004 (1638) was performed to identify all cases in which a pancreatic-duct stent was placed to guide common bile duct cannulation. Charts on these patients then were reviewed to assess cannulation success and complications. In addition, indications for the ERCP and previously failed cannulation attempts by outside physicians were documented.
Thirty-nine patients had pancreatic-duct stents placed as an aid to guide common bile duct cannulation. Successful cannulation of the bile duct was achieved in 38 of the 39 patients (97.4%) Procedure-related pancreatitis occurred in two patients and was mild in both. There were no procedure-related deaths.
In cases of difficult common bile duct cannulation, placement of a pancreatic-duct stent as a guide to aid common bile duct cannulation appears to be an effective and safe technique.
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 11/2005; 62(4):592-6. · 4.88 Impact Factor
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Oleh Haluszka
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ABSTRACT: Continuous improvements in endoscopic imaging and accessories have opened up a field of interventional endoscopy. This highly technical offshoot of gastroenterology uses not just standard endoscopic techniques but also newer endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) imaging or fluoroscopic monitoring to facilitate procedures that were once performed either surgically or percutaneously, if at all. This review will update the role of these novel procedures that can be used to assist in the palliative care of patients whose malignancies involve the gastrointestinal tract. The emphasis will be on those palliative interventions that are used to overcome intestinal obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract and restore luminal patency. The role of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis to assist in pain control, especially in patients with pancreatic malignancies, will also be detailed.
Seminars in Oncology 05/2005; 32(2):174-8. · 3.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Accurate delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) is important in radiation therapy treatment planning. We evaluated the impact of PET and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) compared with CT simulation in the planning of radiation fields for patients with esophageal carcinoma.
Twenty-five patients presenting with esophageal carcinoma for radiation therapy underwent PET scans in the treatment position after conventional CT simulation. Patients underwent PET/CT scanning after being injected with 10 to 20 mCi of [F-18]-2-deoxy-2-fluro-D-glucose. The length of the abnormality seen on the CT portion of the PET/CT scan vs. the PET scan alone was determined independently by 2 separate investigators. The length of the GTV and detection of regional adenopathy by PET was also correlated with EUS in 18 patients. Of the 18 patients who had EUS, 2 had T2 tumors and 16 had T3 tumors. Eighteen patients had adenocarcinoma and 7 had squamous cell carcinoma. Nine tumors were located at the gastroesophageal junction, 8 at the lower esophagus, 7 in the middle esophagus, and 1 in the cervical esophagus. The PET scans were reviewed to determine the length of the abnormality by use of a standard uptake value (SUV) of 2.5 to delineate the tumor extent.
The mean length of the cancer was 5.4 cm (95% CI 4.4-6.4 cm) as determined by PET scan, 6.77 cm (95% CI, 5.6-7.9 cm) as determined by CT scan, and 5.1 cm (95% CI, 4.0-6.1 cm) for the 22 patients who had endoscopy. The length of the tumors was significantly longer as measured by CT scans compared with PET scans (p = 0.0063). EUS detected significantly more patients with periesophageal and celiac lymphadenopathy compared to PET and CT. The SUV of the esophageal tumors was higher in patients with peri-esophageal lymphadenopathy identified on PET scans.
Endoscopic ultrasound and PET scans can add additional information to aid the radiation oncologist's ability to precisely identify the GTV in patients with esophageal carcinoma.
International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics 04/2005; 61(4):1123-8. · 4.11 Impact Factor
