Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie最新文献

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor originating from the squamous epithelium. In contrast, esophageal submucosal tumors are common benign lesions arising from mesenchymal tissues. To date, an entirely intramural growth of ESCC is very rare. This study described a case of an esophageal submucosal tumor resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) that was finally diagnosed as ESCC.A 51-year-old woman presented with progressive dysphagia and was provisionally diagnosed with esophageal leiomyoma by further diagnostic modalities. The patient did not have any obvious suspicious malignant features and underwent ESD. However, the histopathology of the resected specimen was reported as poorly differentiated infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma with normal overlying squamous epithelium. Consequently, the patient received additional chemoradiotherapy, and no recurrence was observed during the 2-year follow-up.A comprehensive literature search related to ESCC with entirely intramural growth was performed in PubMed and Embase from their inception up to November 2023, and 12 articles including 13 cases were finally included in the literature review. Subsequently, we extracted information about these cases.It is concluded that ESCC may masquerade as a submucosal tumor with a complete submucosal growth pattern and is easily misdiagnosed because endoscopic biopsy and iodine staining are always negative. Therefore, if a patient with a submucosal tumor has dysphagia or weight loss in the short term, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of ESCC with a complete submucosal growth pattern. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), chest computed tomography (CT), or positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) may help assist in the diagnosis, and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) could be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Systemic mast cell activation disease (MCAD) is an epigenetic and genetic disease entity with a very pronounced clinical symptomatology in a variety of clinical manifestations in potentially every organ and tissue due to inappropriate release of mast cell mediators accompanied with the accumulation of both morphologically normal and mutated mast cells. Due to the prevalence of the disease of 17% in Germany, gastroenterologists and endoscopists are often unknowingly faced with MCAD in everyday clinical practice. In addition, gastroenterological examinations are an essential part of the diagnosis of MCAD. It is therefore essential for every physician working in gastroenterology to possess basic knowledge of this disease and, in particular, to be informed about its problems in the field of gastroenterology. This overview summarizes the current state of knowledge on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of the highly complex MCAD, focusing on the gastroenterological aspects.

Giant appendicoliths (defined as appendiceal stones larger than 2 cm in size) are rare findings, with less than 20 well-documented reported cases. Appendicoliths, in general, are linked to an increased risk of appendicitis and associated complications. However, little information is available on the clinical impact of giant appendicoliths. We present a case of a giant appendicolith accidentally discovered during screening colonoscopy. With more than 4 cm, this appendicolith is one of the largest of the few reported so far. In contrast to all other cases of giant appendicoliths, the patient did not exhibit any symptoms. Additionally, we provide an overview of giant appendicolith cases, discussing their clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

Globally, many liver transplantation programs require adherence to a 6-month abstinence period in cases of alcohol-associated liver disease. Especially in cases of decompensation, such as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), the severity of the disease often makes it impossible to reach this interval, leading to increasing critical scrutiny of a fixed abstinence period. The prognostic relevance of the 6-month abstinence is also not firmly established.In the present study, we analyze all patients who were presented for liver transplantation at a German transplantation center due to acute-on-chronic liver failure caused by alcohol-associated liver disease.Retrospective analyses of patients with alcohol-associated liver disease who did not complete the 6-month abstinence period.Out of the 83 patients initially considered, 78 were included in the final analysis. The patients who underwent liver transplantation (n=16) had a significantly better 5-year survival rate (81.3% vs. 24.2%; p < 0.001). Especially in patients with ACLF and multiple organ dysfunctions (ACLF Grade 3), liver transplantation resulted in a significantly improved survival rate. Patients with an ACLF Grade 3 who were not transplanted died within the first six months after decompensation (92.5% mortality). All surviving transplant recipients continued abstaining from alcohol until the most recent evaluation point (average follow-up time 963 days).Patients experiencing acute-on-chronic liver failure from alcohol-related liver disease clearly benefit from liver transplantation, irrespective of whether they meet the 6-month abstinence criterion. This stipulated waiting period is increasingly debated in current discussions. Our findings emphasize that patients with ACLF, when not transplanted, face significant mortality risks. Such insights should be factored into tailored treatment decisions.

Prion diseases pose a challenge for flexible reusable endoscopes. Especially for the new variant of Creutzfeld Jakob disease (vCJD) there is currently no suitable processing procedure. In these patients only disposable endoscopes are hygienically safe. The case report shows a PEG placement in a 42-year-old patient with suspected vCJD using a disposable bronchoscope.

The liver is an organ bearing important metabolic and immune functions. Hepatocytes are the main metabolically active cells of the liver and are the target of infection by hepatotropic viruses. Virus-specific CD8 T cells are essential for the control of hepatocyte infection with hepatotropic viruses but may be subject to local regulation of their effector function. Here, we review our current knowledge of the tissue determinants of antiviral immunity in the liver. Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells (LSECs) not only allow through their fenestrations the access of circulating virus-specific CD8 T cells to engage in direct contact with infected hepatocytes without the need for extravasation but also cross-present viral antigens released from infected hepatocytes to these CD8 T cells. Two important features of LSECs and hepatocytes contribute to antiviral immune surveillance and liver failure. First, CD8 T cell immunity targeting LSECs leads to widespread endothelial cell death and results in sinusoidal microcirculation failure, causing fulminant viral hepatitis, whereas immune-mediated loss of hepatocytes is rapidly compensated by the regenerative capacity of the liver. Second, virus-infected hepatocytes support clearance of infection by responding to TNF, which is released from virus-specific CD8 T cells, with the selective induction of apoptosis. This increased sensitivity for TNF-induced death is caused by reduced mitochondrial resilience in virus-infected hepatocytes and may assist antiviral immunity in preferential targeting of virus-infected hepatocytes. Thus, hepatocytes and LSECs actively contribute to the outcome of antiviral CD8 T cell immunity in the liver. The knowledge of the mechanisms determining CD8 T cell control of hepatotropic viral infection will help to improve strategies to increase antiviral immune surveillance.