Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.6
3.6
Journals
Diagnostics
Special Issues
Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2
share announcement

Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 13652

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Huarong Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: gastrointestinal cancer; cancer biology; RNA modification; cancer immunology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Gastrointestinal diseases refer to disorders of the digestive tract, which is made up of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as eosinophilic esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gall stone, inflammatory bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastrointestinal cancer, are common problems and represent a great threat to human health. Early diagnosis provides one of the best chances for patient treatment and greatly improves patient outcomes. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for scientists, clinical researchers, and clinicians to disseminate their research findings and updated reviews on topics related to advanced diagnostic methods in gastrointestinal diseases. Proposals of diagnostic markers, diagnostic techniques and clinical criteria are welcome. 

Dr. Huarong Chen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (13 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

12 pages, 2439 KiB  
Article
Fecal Calprotectin in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Study Based on the History of Bowel Resection and Location of Disease
by Jeongkuk Seo, Subin Song, Seung Hwan Shin, Suhyun Park, Seung Wook Hong, Sang Hyoung Park, Dong-Hoon Yang, Byong Duk Ye, Jeong-Sik Byeon, Seung-Jae Myung, Suk-Kyun Yang and Sung Wook Hwang
Diagnostics 2024, 14(8), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14080854 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 389
Abstract
Fecal calprotectin (FC) is commonly used to assess Crohn’s disease (CD) activity. However, standardized cut-off values accounting for bowel resection history and disease location are lacking. In this study, we analyzed data from patients with CD who underwent magnetic resonance enterography, ileocolonoscopy, and [...] Read more.
Fecal calprotectin (FC) is commonly used to assess Crohn’s disease (CD) activity. However, standardized cut-off values accounting for bowel resection history and disease location are lacking. In this study, we analyzed data from patients with CD who underwent magnetic resonance enterography, ileocolonoscopy, and FC measurements from January 2017 to December 2018. In 267 cases from 254 patients, the FC levels in the ‘operated’ patients were higher when the disease was active compared with those who were in the remission group (178 vs. 54.7 μg/g; p < 0.001), and similar findings were obtained for the ‘non-operated’ patients (449.5 vs. 40.95 μg/g; p < 0.001). The FC levels differed significantly according to the location of inflammation, with lower levels in the small bowel compared to those in the colon. The FC cut-off levels of 70.8 μg/g and 142.0 μg/g were considered optimal for predicting active disease for operated and non-operated patients, respectively. The corresponding FC cut-off levels of 70.8 μg/g and 65.0 μg/g were observed for patients with disease only in the small bowel. In conclusion, different FC cut-off values would be applicable to patients with CD based on their bowel resection history and disease location. Tight control with a lower FC target may benefit those with a history of bowel resection or small-bowel-only disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2410 KiB  
Article
A Cost-Effective Model for Predicting Recurrent Gastric Cancer Using Clinical Features
by Chun-Chia Chen, Wen-Chien Ting, Hsi-Chieh Lee, Chi-Chang Chang, Tsung-Chieh Lin and Shun-Fa Yang
Diagnostics 2024, 14(8), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14080842 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 383
Abstract
This study used artificial intelligence techniques to identify clinical cancer biomarkers for recurrent gastric cancer survivors. From a hospital-based cancer registry database in Taiwan, the datasets of the incidence of recurrence and clinical risk features were included in 2476 gastric cancer survivors. We [...] Read more.
This study used artificial intelligence techniques to identify clinical cancer biomarkers for recurrent gastric cancer survivors. From a hospital-based cancer registry database in Taiwan, the datasets of the incidence of recurrence and clinical risk features were included in 2476 gastric cancer survivors. We benchmarked Random Forest using MLP, C4.5, AdaBoost, and Bagging algorithms on metrics and leveraged the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) for imbalanced dataset issues, cost-sensitive learning for risk assessment, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAPs) for feature importance analysis in this study. Our proposed Random Forest outperformed the other models with an accuracy of 87.9%, a recall rate of 90.5%, an accuracy rate of 86%, and an F1 of 88.2% on the recurrent category by a 10-fold cross-validation in a balanced dataset. We identified clinical features of recurrent gastric cancer, which are the top five features, stage, number of regional lymph node involvement, Helicobacter pylori, BMI (body mass index), and gender; these features significantly affect the prediction model’s output and are worth paying attention to in the following causal effect analysis. Using an artificial intelligence model, the risk factors for recurrent gastric cancer could be identified and cost-effectively ranked according to their feature importance. In addition, they should be crucial clinical features to provide physicians with the knowledge to screen high-risk patients in gastric cancer survivors as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5175 KiB  
Article
Unselective Measurement of Tumor-to-Stroma Proportion in Colon Cancer at the Invasion Front—An Elusive Prognostic Factor: Original Patient Data and Review of the Literature
by Zsolt Fekete, Patricia Ignat, Amelia Cristina Resiga, Nicolae Todor, Alina-Simona Muntean, Liliana Resiga, Sebastian Curcean, Gabriel Lazar, Alexandra Gherman and Dan Eniu
Diagnostics 2024, 14(8), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14080836 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 427
Abstract
The tumor-to-stroma ratio is a highly debated prognostic factor in the management of several solid tumors and there is no universal agreement on its practicality. In our study, we proposed confirming or dismissing the hypothesis that a simple measurement of stroma quantity is [...] Read more.
The tumor-to-stroma ratio is a highly debated prognostic factor in the management of several solid tumors and there is no universal agreement on its practicality. In our study, we proposed confirming or dismissing the hypothesis that a simple measurement of stroma quantity is an easy-to-use and strong prognostic tool. We have included 74 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who underwent primary curative abdominal surgery. The tumors have been grouped into stroma-poor (stroma < 10%), medium-stroma (between 10 and 50%) and stroma-rich (over 50%). The proportion of tumor stroma ranged from 5% to 70% with a median of 25%. Very few, only 6.8% of patients, had stroma-rich tumors, 4% had stroma-poor tumors and 89.2% had tumors with a medium quantity of stroma. The proportion of stroma, at any cut-off, had no statistically significant influence on the disease-specific survival. This can be explained by the low proportion of stroma-rich tumors in our patient group and the inverse correlation between stroma proportion and tumor grade. The real-life proportion of stroma-rich tumors and the complex nature of the stroma–tumor interaction has to be further elucidated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 226 KiB  
Article
Prospective Evaluation of a New Liquid-Type Rapid Urease Test Kit for Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori
by Seung Han Kim, Kyeong Ah Kim, Moon Kyung Joo, Hannah Lee, Jun-Won Chung, Sung-Cheol Yun and Seon Tae Kim
Diagnostics 2024, 14(7), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14070700 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 642
Abstract
Background/Aims: Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools are essential for the timely recognition of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in clinical practice. The rapid urease test (RUT) is a comparatively accurate and time-saving method recommended as a first-line diagnostic test. The primary objective [...] Read more.
Background/Aims: Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools are essential for the timely recognition of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in clinical practice. The rapid urease test (RUT) is a comparatively accurate and time-saving method recommended as a first-line diagnostic test. The primary objective of conducting the RUT is to obtain rapid results, thus enabling the initiation of an eradication therapy based on clarithromycin resistance testing. This study aimed to assess the reaction time and accuracy of a new liquid-type RUT. Method: In this prospective study, consecutive dyspeptic or check-up patients referred to our clinic for endoscopy were assessed to evaluate the rapidity and accuracy of a novel liquid-type RUT (Helicotest®, WON Medical, Bucheon, Republic of Korea) compared with another commercial RUT kit (HP kit, Chong Kun Dang, Seoul, Republic of Korea) and a real-time quantitative PCR-based assay (Seeplex® H.pylori-ClaR Detection, Seegene, Republic of Korea). RUTs were analyzed at 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min. Results: Among the 177 enrolled patients, 38.6% were infected with H. pylori. The positivity rates of the liquid-type RUT were 26.1, 35.8, 39.2%, and 41.5% at 10, 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively. When compared with the HP kit test, the time needed to confirm positivity was significantly reduced by 28.6 min (95% CI, 16.60–39.73, p < 0.0001). Helicotest® had a greater accuracy (96.02 ± 1.47), sensitivity (98.53 ± 1.46) and NPV (99.03 ± 0.97) compared to the HP kit. Conclusions: Compared to the commonly used RUT, the new liquid-type RUT presented faster and reliable results. Such findings could improve H. pylori treatment outcomes, particularly in outpatient clinical settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
11 pages, 277 KiB  
Article
The Detection of Colorectal Cancer through Machine Learning-Based Breath Sensor Analysis
by Inese Poļaka, Linda Mežmale, Linda Anarkulova, Elīna Kononova, Ilona Vilkoite, Viktors Veliks, Anna Marija Ļeščinska, Ilmārs Stonāns, Andrejs Pčolkins, Ivars Tolmanis, Gidi Shani, Hossam Haick, Jan Mitrovics, Johannes Glöckler, Boris Mizaikoff and Mārcis Leja
Diagnostics 2023, 13(21), 3355; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13213355 - 31 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1148
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While CRC screening is already part of organized programs in many countries, there remains a need for improved screening tools. In recent years, a [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While CRC screening is already part of organized programs in many countries, there remains a need for improved screening tools. In recent years, a potential approach for cancer diagnosis has emerged via the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using sensor technologies. The main goal of this study was to demonstrate and evaluate the diagnostic potential of a table-top breath analyzer for detecting CRC. Breath sampling was conducted and CRC vs. non-cancer groups (105 patients with CRC, 186 non-cancer subjects) were included in analysis. The obtained data were analyzed using supervised machine learning methods (i.e., Random Forest, C4.5, Artificial Neural Network, and Naïve Bayes). Superior accuracy was achieved using Random Forest and Evolutionary Search for Features (79.3%, sensitivity 53.3%, specificity 93.0%, AUC ROC 0.734), and Artificial Neural Networks and Greedy Search for Features (78.2%, sensitivity 43.3%, specificity 96.5%, AUC ROC 0.735). Our results confirm the potential of the developed breath analyzer as a promising tool for identifying and categorizing CRC within a point-of-care clinical context. The combination of MOX sensors provided promising results in distinguishing healthy vs. diseased breath samples. Its capacity for rapid, non-invasive, and targeted CRC detection suggests encouraging prospects for future clinical screening applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

9 pages, 501 KiB  
Article
Comparison Study between ERCP and PTBD for Recurrent Choledocholithiasis in Patients Following Gastrectomy
by O Seong Kweon, Jun Heo and Min Kyu Jung
Diagnostics 2023, 13(16), 2651; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13162651 - 11 Aug 2023
Viewed by 890
Abstract
The recurrence rate of choledocholithiasis in the general population has been reported to exceed 10%. The incidence of cholelithiasis was reported to be higher in patients following gastrectomy than that in the general population. However, there is no study for recurrent choledocholithiasis incidence [...] Read more.
The recurrence rate of choledocholithiasis in the general population has been reported to exceed 10%. The incidence of cholelithiasis was reported to be higher in patients following gastrectomy than that in the general population. However, there is no study for recurrent choledocholithiasis incidence in patients following gastrectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the recurrence rate of choledocholithiasis and identify risk factors for recurrent choledocholithiasis in patients following gastrectomy. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with gastrectomy history who underwent choledocholithiasis removal in Kyungpook National University Hospital between January 2011 and December 2019. Choledocholithiases were treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (n = 41) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) (n = 90). The gastrectomy type was classified as subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth I (18.3%), Billroth II (45.0%), and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y (36.6%). During a median follow-up period of 31.5 (range, 6–105) months, choledocholithiasis recurrence was noted in 19 of 131 patients (14.5%). In subgroup analysis, the ERCP group (24.4%) had higher choledocholithiasis recurrence than the PTBD group (10.0%). Stone removal modality (ERCP), no use of balloon sphincteroplasty, and the presence of periampullary diverticulum were significant risk factors for recurrent choledocholithiasis. In multivariate analysis, ERCP (hazard ratio (HR), 3.597; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.264–10.204) CBD stricture (HR, 3.823; 95% CI: 1.118–13.080) and no use of balloon sphincteroplasty (HR, 4.830; 95% CI: 1.669–13.889) were risk factors for recurrent choledocholithiasis following stone removal. The incidence of CBD stones in patients who underwent gastrectomy is similar to that of the general population. ERCP, CBD stricture, and no use of balloon sphincteroplasty are potential risk factors for recurrent CBD stones following gastrectomy. When we consider PTBD disadvantages, the ERCP procedure with active use of balloon sphincteroplasty is recommended to decrease recurrent CBD stones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3308 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis: A Propensity Score Matched Study Comparing before and during the Pandemic
by Patricia Mihaela Rădulescu, Elena Irina Căluianu, Emil Tiberius Traşcă, Dorin Mercuţ, Ion Georgescu, Eugen Florin Georgescu, Eleonora Daniela Ciupeanu-Călugăru, Maria Filoftea Mercuţ, Răzvan Mercuţ, Vlad Padureanu, Costin Teodor Streba, Cristina Călăraşu and Dumitru Rădulescu
Diagnostics 2023, 13(14), 2446; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13142446 - 22 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1808
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the outcomes and survival of patients with acute pancreatitis who shared the same clinical form, age, and sex before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and among those with confirmed COVID-19 infection upon hospital admission. This consideration used the sparse [...] Read more.
We aimed to evaluate the outcomes and survival of patients with acute pancreatitis who shared the same clinical form, age, and sex before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and among those with confirmed COVID-19 infection upon hospital admission. This consideration used the sparse data in the existing literature on the influence of the pandemic and COVID-19 infection on patients with acute pancreatitis. To accomplish this, we conducted a multicentric, retrospective case–control study using propensity score matching with a 2:1 match of 28 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute pancreatitis, with 56 patients with acute pancreatitis pre-pandemic, and 56 patients with acute pancreatitis during the pandemic. The study outcome demonstrated a six-fold relative risk of death in patients with acute pancreatitis and SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those with acute pancreatitis before the pandemic. Furthermore, restrictive measures implemented during the pandemic period led to a partial delay in the care of patients with acute pancreatitis, which likely resulted in an impairment of their immune state. This, in certain circumstances, resulted in a restriction of surgical treatment indications, leading to a three-fold relative risk of death in patients with acute pancreatitis during the pandemic compared to those with acute pancreatitis before the pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 606 KiB  
Article
Inflammatory Ratios as Survival Prognostic Factors in Resectable Gastric Adenocarcinoma
by Vlad-Ionuţ Nechita, Nadim Al-Hajjar, Daniel-Corneliu Leucuța, Emil Moiş, Alin Fetti, Mihaela-Ancuţa Nechita and Florin Graur
Diagnostics 2023, 13(11), 1910; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13111910 - 30 May 2023
Viewed by 1181
Abstract
Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers (NLR—neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, PLR—platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, LMR—lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, SII—systemic immune-inflammation index) and overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Methods: Over a six-year period (2016–2021), we conducted a longitudinal retrospective cohort research [...] Read more.
Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers (NLR—neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, PLR—platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, LMR—lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, SII—systemic immune-inflammation index) and overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Methods: Over a six-year period (2016–2021), we conducted a longitudinal retrospective cohort research on 549 patients with resectable stomach adenocarcinoma. The overall survival was determined using the univariate and multivariate COX proportional hazards models. Results: The age of the cohort varied between 30 and 89 years old, with an average age of 64.85 ± 10.51 years. Four hundred seventy-six patients (86.7%) had R0 resection margins. Eighty-nine (16.21%) subjects received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Two hundred sixty-two (47.72%) patients died during the follow-up period. The median survival time in the cohort was 390 days. A significantly lower (p = 0.029—Logrank test) median survival was observed for R1 resections (355 days) in comparison with R0 resections (395 days). Significant differences in survival were observed regarding tumor differentiation, tumoral (T), and node (N) stage. No differences in survival were observed between the low or high value of inflammatory biomarkers (dichotomized by median value in the sample). In the COX univariate and multivariate regression models, elevated NLR proved an independent prognostic factor for lower overall survival [HR = 1.068, (95% CI 1.011–1.12)]. In this study, the other inflammatory ratios (PLR, LMR, and SII) did not prove as prognostic factors for gastric adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: In resectable gastric adenocarcinoma, elevated NLR before surgery was associated with lower overall survival. PLR, LMR, and SII had no prognostic value for the patient’s survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1412 KiB  
Article
Low MTUS1 Protein Expression Is Associated with Poor Survival in Patients with Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
by Hosub Park, Seungyun Jee, Hwangkyu Son, Hyebin Cha, Seongsik Bang, Byung Kyu Ahn, Jaekyung Myung, Seungsam Paik and Hyunsung Kim
Diagnostics 2023, 13(6), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13061140 - 16 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1062
Abstract
Introduction: Microtubule-associated tumor suppressor 1 (MTUS1) is a novel tumor suppressor protein involved in cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth. MTUS1 is thought to be downregulated in various human cancers and associated with poor prognosis. We evaluated the clinicopathologic significance and prognostic value [...] Read more.
Introduction: Microtubule-associated tumor suppressor 1 (MTUS1) is a novel tumor suppressor protein involved in cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth. MTUS1 is thought to be downregulated in various human cancers and associated with poor prognosis. We evaluated the clinicopathologic significance and prognostic value of MTUS1 in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for MTUS1 was performed on tissue microarrays of 393 colorectal adenocarcinoma cases, and MTUS1 staining was classified into high- and low-expression groups. Then, we investigated the correlations between MTUS1 protein expression and various clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Results: MTUS1 protein was expressed at various grade levels in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, which showed loss or decreased expression of MTUS1. A total of 253 cases (64.4%) were classified into the low MTUS1 protein expression group and 140 cases (35.6%) into the high MTUS1 expression group. A low level of MTUS1 protein significantly correlated with tumor size (p = 0.047), histological grade (p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.047), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001). Survival analyses showed that patients with low MTUS1 protein expression had worse overall survival (p = 0.007, log-rank test) and worse recurrence-free survival (p = 0.019, log-rank test) than those with high MTUS1 expression. Conclusions: Low MTUS1 protein expression is associated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics and poor survival outcomes in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. These results suggest that MTUS1 functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal adenocarcinoma and could be a potential prognostic biomarker. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

17 pages, 3208 KiB  
Review
Diagnostic Differentiation between Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer: A Scoping Review
by Fusi Madela, Lucien Ferndale and Colleen Aldous
Diagnostics 2024, 14(3), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14030290 - 29 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1421
Abstract
Pancreatitis, encompassing acute and chronic forms, and pancreatic cancer pose significant challenges to the exocrine tissue of the pancreas. Recurrence rates and complications following acute pancreatitis episodes can lead to long-term risks, including diabetes mellitus. Chronic pancreatitis can develop in approximately 15% of [...] Read more.
Pancreatitis, encompassing acute and chronic forms, and pancreatic cancer pose significant challenges to the exocrine tissue of the pancreas. Recurrence rates and complications following acute pancreatitis episodes can lead to long-term risks, including diabetes mellitus. Chronic pancreatitis can develop in approximately 15% of cases, regardless of the initial episode’s severity. Alcohol-induced pancreatitis, idiopathic causes, cigarette smoking, and hereditary pancreatitis contribute to the progression to chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, with older age at onset and smoking identified as risk factors. This scoping review aims to synthesise recent publications (2017–2022) on the diagnostic differentiation between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer while identifying knowledge gaps in the field. The review focuses on biomarkers and imaging techniques in individuals with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Promising biomarkers such as faecal elastase-1 and specific chemokines offer non-invasive ways to assess pancreatic insufficiency and detect early biomarkers for chronic pancreatitis. Imaging techniques, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and positron emission tomography (PET), aid in differentiating between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. However, accurately distinguishing between the two conditions remains a challenge, particularly when a mass is present in the head of the pancreas. Several knowledge gaps persist despite advancements in understanding the association between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, including the correlation between histopathological grading systems, non-invasive imaging techniques, and biomarkers in chronic pancreatitis to determine the risk of progression to pancreatic cancer, as well as differentiating between the two conditions. Further research is necessary to enhance our understanding of these aspects, which can ultimately improve the diagnosis and management of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 688 KiB  
Review
The Role of Radiomics in Fibrosis Crohn’s Disease: A Review
by Ali S. Alyami
Diagnostics 2023, 13(9), 1623; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13091623 - 04 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1784
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global health concern that has been on the rise in recent years. In addition, imaging is the established method of care for detecting, diagnosing, planning treatment, and monitoring the progression of IBD. While conventional imaging techniques are [...] Read more.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global health concern that has been on the rise in recent years. In addition, imaging is the established method of care for detecting, diagnosing, planning treatment, and monitoring the progression of IBD. While conventional imaging techniques are limited in their ability to provide comprehensive information, cross-sectional imaging plays a crucial role in the clinical management of IBD. However, accurately characterizing, detecting, and monitoring fibrosis in Crohn’s disease remains a challenging task for clinicians. Recent advances in artificial intelligence technology, machine learning, computational power, and radiomic emergence have enabled the automated evaluation of medical images to generate prognostic biomarkers and quantitative diagnostics. Radiomics analysis can be achieved via deep learning algorithms or by extracting handcrafted radiomics features. As radiomic features capture pathophysiological and biological data, these quantitative radiomic features have been shown to offer accurate and rapid non-invasive tools for IBD diagnostics, treatment response monitoring, and prognosis. For these reasons, the present review aims to provide a comprehensive review of the emerging radiomics methods in intestinal fibrosis research that are highlighted and discussed in terms of challenges and advantages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 4778 KiB  
Interesting Images
Coexistence of Colorectal Cancer and Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease in the Same Lesion: A Rare Case with Molecular Classification
by Kiyong Na and So-Woon Kim
Diagnostics 2024, 14(2), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14020138 - 08 Jan 2024
Viewed by 824
Abstract
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a novel fibroinflammatory disorder characterized by enlargement of the involved organs, elevated IgG4 levels, and abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Indeed, primary colon cancers arising from IgG4-RD are rare. This case report describes a rare occurrence of [...] Read more.
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a novel fibroinflammatory disorder characterized by enlargement of the involved organs, elevated IgG4 levels, and abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Indeed, primary colon cancers arising from IgG4-RD are rare. This case report describes a rare occurrence of simultaneous colorectal cancer and IgG4-RD in the same lesion in a 62-year-old male patient. The patient underwent a right hemicolectomy under the suspicion of primary colon cancer. The mass was grossly well-defined and yellowish tan, and the background colon was fibrotic. Microscopically, the tumor cells showed glandular differentiation characteristic of adenocarcinoma in a background of dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis in the pericolic fat tissue. IgG4 immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse positivity in infiltrating plasma cells. The patient was administered adjuvant chemotherapy and prednisolone therapy. The patient’s serum IgG4 levels gradually decreased, and a follow-up positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan 1 year after surgery showed no evidence of local or distant recurrence of colorectal cancer. IgG4-RD occurring concurrently with primary colon adenocarcinoma has not been reported. Increased awareness of this rare coexistence can guide clinicians in navigating diagnostic complexities and selecting optimal therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

5 pages, 6185 KiB  
Interesting Images
Unusual Duodenal Ulcer: Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis
by Yoo Dong Won, Su Lim Lee and Kyung Jin Seo
Diagnostics 2023, 13(14), 2455; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13142455 - 24 Jul 2023
Viewed by 915
Abstract
Metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis (MUCP), a type of metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (MUTUC), is a rare malignancy, and some patients with MUCP present with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. MUCP in the gastrointestinal tract is even rarer. [...] Read more.
Metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis (MUCP), a type of metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (MUTUC), is a rare malignancy, and some patients with MUCP present with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. MUCP in the gastrointestinal tract is even rarer. Herein, we report a 78-year-old man with MUCP that presented as a duodenal ulcer. He complained of anorexia, dizziness, and melena for one month. Endoscopic examination at a local clinic revealed a duodenal hemorrhagic and ulcerative lesion, and the patient was referred. He noted dark-colored stools with increasing frequency, but he denied hematochezia, coffee ground emesis, weight changes, or abdominal pain. Gastroduodenoscopic examination at our hospital demonstrated an ulcerofungating lesion of the second portion of the duodenum. Colonoscopic findings showed no abnormality. Computed tomography showed a 6.7 cm sized mass abutting the inferior vena cava, second portion of the duodenum, lower pole of the right kidney, and right iliopsoas. The mass showed heterogeneous enhancement and internal hemorrhagic necrosis and infiltrated the perinephric soft tissues, the second portion of the duodenum, the right psoas muscle, the right renal vein, and the right adrenal gland. Duodenal biopsy showed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed diffuse and strong positivity for CK5/6. Tissue from the liver biopsy showed similar histopathologic features and showed GATA3 positivity on IHC. The imprint cytology smears of the liver tissue showed “cercariform” cell features. We confirmed the diagnosis as MUCP. This case illustrated a rare cause of a secondary duodenal tumor, MUCP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Diseases—Volume 2)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-13
Back to TopTop