These results demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a centralized database to report individualized learning curves and confirm the substantial variability in time to achieve competence among AETs in EUS and ERCP. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02509416.

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Background and study aims: Current diagnostic testing is inadequate to determine the malignant potential of pancreatic cysts, resulting in overcautious patient management. Integrated molecular pathology (IMP) testing combines molecular analysis with first-line test results (cytology, imaging, and fluid chemistry) to assess the malignant potential of pancreatic cysts. This multicenter study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of IMP for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and the utility of IMP testing under current guideline recommendations for managing pancreatic cysts. Patients and methods: Patients who had undergone previous IMP testing as prescribed by their physician and for whom clinical outcomes were available from retrospective record review were included (n?=?492). Performance was determined by correlation between clinical outcome and previous IMP diagnosis (?benign?/?statistically indolent? vs. ?statistically higher risk [SHR]?/ ?aggressive?) or an International Consensus Guideline (Sendai 2012) criteria model for ?surveillance? vs. ?surgery.? The Cox proportional hazards model determined hazard ratios for malignancy. Results: Benign and statistically indolent IMP diagnoses had a 97?% probability of benign follow-up for up to 7 years and 8 months from initial IMP testing. SHR and aggressive diagnoses had relative hazard ratios for malignancy of 30.8 and 76.3, respectively (both P??93?% probability of benign follow-up, with relative hazard ratios for SHR and aggressive IMP diagnoses of 16.1 and 50.2, respectively (both P?

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Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) occurring in association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rather rare and carries a worse prognosis and greater disease severity compared with IBD alone. Although it is an infrequently documented association, progress over the last 20 years has led to better understanding of the association between AIP and IBD. IBD has a stronger association with type 2 than with type 1 AIP. Clinical and histologic features of AIP-IBD more often reveal features of type 2 AIP. Imaging is not helpful in facilitating the diagnosis of AIP and IBD. Similarly, attempts to identify a serological marker have not yielded better result. A proposed lymphocyte homing mechanism provides some insight into the mechanism of pathogenesis. This review represents an update of our current knowledge of the association between AIP and IBD.

FCSEMS for BBS had an acceptable rate of stricture resolution for postsurgical strictures, gallstone-related strictures, and those due to chronic pancreatitis. Predictors for stricture resolution include longer indwell time and absence of migration. Further study is warranted to assess long-term efficacy in a prospective manner with longer than 3-month time of stent indwelling time.

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Background and Aims: Limited data are available regarding fully covered metal stents in the management of malignant distal biliary strictures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS) with flared ends, in treating malignant biliary strictures. We report our long-term retrospective analysis from 6 centers.Methods: A total of 260 patients (142 males, median age 68 y) underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with placement of FCSEMS (WallFlex; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) for the palliation of obstructive jaundice in the setting of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (169), metastatic disease (36), cholangiocarcinoma (23), ampullary cancer (19), or other (13). Patients were evaluated clinically in follow-up and biochemical tests of liver function were obtained. Data were recorded for the following variables: patient survival, duration of stent patency, the need for subsequent biliary intervention, and complications.Results: A total of 266 FCSEMS were placed in 260 patients. There was a median survival of 100 days (range, 7 to 531 d). There was a mean follow-up of 134 ± 118 days (range, 4 to 519 d). Biliary decompression was successful in 252 patients (97%). At the end of the study period, 121 were alive with a patent stent, 65 patients died with a patent stent, 40 patients were successfully bridged to surgery, 8 patients had their patent stent removed and had no need for further stenting, and 18 patients were lost to follow-up. Five patients who had a successfully placed FCSEMS were considered a failure due to the following reason: migration (2), cholangitis (1), stent occlusion (1), and removal for management of proximal biliary obstruction (1). Two additional patients experienced migration that did not require FCSEMS removal or replacement. Stent replacement was required in 10 patients, of whom 6 had a second FCSEMS placed. The remaining 4 were in the failure group and underwent replacement with either uncovered stents or plastic stents. Other complications, managed conservatively, included pain (2), postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (4), fever (1), retroperitoneal perforation (1), and postsphincterotomy bleeding (1). The mean patency duration was 328 days (SE 19.04). The patency percentage was 83% at 3 months, 63% at 6 months, and 48.5% at 12 months.Conclusions: In the management of malignant distal biliary strictures, the fully covered WallFlex stent has acceptable patency and complication rates. Further long-term prospective data are required to confirm this observation.