This controlled clinical study supports the hypothesis that PG is safer than PJ, particularly with regard to the incidence of pancreatic fistula.

No abstract

Our data indicate that FNH occurs slightly more frequently in men than in women in Japan. It occurs also at any age in both sexes, but the mean lesion size was smaller in our series than in the previous reports. Metabolic disease was seen only in male FNH patients. A direct communication between the FNH lesion and the hepatic vein is diagnostically worth noting.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with right hypochondralgia. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a well-circumscribed round lesion in segments 5 and 6 of the liver. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) indicated that the tumor was enhanced in the arterial phase, changing to hypo-enhanced 30 seconds following contrast injection. After admission, the patient complained of epigastralgia, and CEUS subsequently demonstrated extravasation from the tumor. Although abdominal angiography was successful for achieving hemostasis, the tumor grew rapidly and the patient died. An autopsy revealed the presence of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The literature is lacking in details regarding CEUS findings for sarcomatoid HCC and rupture. We herein report a rare case of sarcomatoid HCC.

A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with the onset of tuberculosis (Tb) from a pulmonary latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) during triple therapy with pegylated interferon α2a, ribavirin, and telaprevir for a chronic hepatitis C infection in 2013 before interferon (IFN)-free anti-viral therapy was introduced in Japan. A liver biopsy before IFN treatment revealed the presence of epithelioid cell granulomas (ECGs). IFN may also be employed for chronic hepatitis B infection and malignant tumors, thus, special attention must be paid to the development of Tb from a LTBI when ECGs are observed before treatment. It is also necessary to review the significance of the liver biopsy.

Objectives We aimed to investigate whether contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) could be useful for early evaluation of the treatment response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study retrospectively selected HCCs in which homogeneous retention of iodized oil was confirmed on non–contrast‐enhanced computed tomography performed immediately after TACE. Therapeutic responses of HCCs were evaluated by CEUS 1 to 2 days after TACE and by contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) approximately 4 weeks after TACE. We investigated the noninferiority of CEUS 1 to 2 days after TACE to CECT approximately 4 weeks after TACE in terms of the diagnostic accuracy of the therapeutic response to TACE on HCC. Results Eighty‐nine HCCs were enrolled in this study between April 2014 and June 2016. A complete response was observed in 57 of 89 nodules (64.0%), and an incomplete response was observed in the remaining 32 nodules (36.0%). The accuracy rates for CEUS 1 to 2 days after TACE and CECT approximately 4 weeks after TACE in the therapeutic effect of TACE on HCCs were 83.1% (95% confidence interval, 73.7%–90.2%) and 83.1% (95% confidence interval, 73.7%–90.2%), respectively. The difference in diagnostic accuracy between methods was 0%, which was below the predetermined noninferiority limit of 15%, and CEUS 1 to 2 days after TACE was noninferior to CECT approximately 4 weeks after TACE. Conclusions Our results suggest that CEUS is a useful modality for early therapeutic evaluation of TACE for HCC, and we can thus plan the next treatment strategies for HCC within a few days after TACE.

A 74-year-old man was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumor in the liver showed a complete response after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but lung, bone, and lymph node metastases were observed, so treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was initiated. After administration, the scans showed tumor growth, but after continuous administration of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, the tumors finally reduced in size and showed a partial response. The transient growth of the tumors was considered to be pseudoprogression. Herein, we report a case of pseudoprogression in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.

Pancreas fistula is a well-known and severe complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy. It is difficult to control with conservative therapy, inducing further complications and severe morbidity. Until now, re-operation has been the only way to resolve pancreatic fistula causing complete dehiscence of the pancreatic-enteric anastomosis (complete pancreatic fistula). Percutaneous transgastric fistula drainage is one of the treatments for pancreatic fistula. This procedure allows both pancreas juice drainage and anastomosis re-construction at the same time. This is effective and minimally invasive but difficult to adapt to a long or complicated fistula. In particular, dilatation of the main pancreatic duct is indispensable. This paper reports the successful resolution of a postoperative pancreatic fistula by a two-way-approach percutaneous transgastric fistula drainage procedure. Using a snare catheter from the fistula and a flexible guidewire from the transgastric puncture needle, it can be performed either with or without main pancreatic duct dilatation.