Project description:Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS), also called Bean's syndrome, is a rare disease associated with multiple venous malformations in the skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Dermatological lesions, which are the first clinically visible manifestations, appear as skin-colored compressible protuberances or as dark-blue venous nodules, rubbery in consistency. Central nervous system (CNS) manifestations are rare, variable, non-specific, and tend to occur late in the disease, mainly reported as seizures and focal neurological deficits secondary to compression. Most cases occur sporadically, however, an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern has been reported. A 74-year-old male with history of focal epilepsy secondary to possible neurocysticercosis presented at the emergency department due to sudden onset of aphasia, left central facial paralysis, and dysphagia secondary to catastrophic intracerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral MRI showed multiple cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM)-like lesions and, on the general exploration, multiple dark-blue nodules, rubbery in consistency. One week later he died due to complicated pneumonia; a brain autopsy was performed showing multiple vascular malformations. His son had a history of focal epilepsy presumed to be related to neurocysticercosis. He had the same skin lesions and brain MRI pattern. Histological analysis of the skin lesions of the two cases showed venous vascular malformations. A non-systematic review was carried out, in which all case reports of blue nevus syndrome with neurological manifestations in adults were included.
Project description:Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare disease in which venous malformations (VMs) involve any body organ, most commonly the skin and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Treatment of BRBNS aims at preserving the GI tract as much as possible. Although there are several dozen case reports about BRBNS that describe short-term clinical courses, a few provide an account of long-term clinical course. Here, we report a case of BRBNS in a girl that required multiple abdominal surgeries due to the GI VMs and a recurrence at an interval of 14 years. The preferred approach for gastrointestinal VMs involves the complete resection of all lesions without residual VMs. It is important to bear in mind the possibility of delayed recurrence of GI VMs after surgical or endoscopic treatment.
Project description:A 14-year-old girl, who had been diagnosed with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, was referred to our hospital because of iron deficiency anemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a dark and red-colored vascular malformation occurring just above the duodenal papilla. Because the lesion was regarded as the cause of the anemia, we performed polidocanol injection therapy with bile duct stenting. Since esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed a month later revealed a scarred ulcer, the bile duct stent was removed. She has been under observation as an outpatient without any symptoms.
Project description:To study the clinical effect of oral sirolimus in the treatment of children with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) in the gastrointestinal tract, a retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and follow-up results of two children with BRBNS treated by sirolimus. The two children with BRBNS had gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia and were treated with sirolimus at a dose of 1 mg/day as part of treatment. The plasma concentration of the drug was maintained between 2.5-12.0?ng/mL. The children showed disappearance of gastrointestinal bleeding and improvements in anemia and coagulation function, and blood transfusion could be stopped during treatment, with no obvious adverse drug reactions. PubMed, Wanfang Data, and CNKI were searched for related articles on sirolimus in the treatment of BRBNS. A total of 26 cases of children with BRBNS, aged 0-18 years, were obtained. With the addition of the 2 cases in this study, sirolimus treatment achieved a satisfactory clinical effect in all 28 cases. Sirolimus may be effective and safe in the treatment of children with BRBNS, and further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of this drug.
Project description:Blue rubber bleb naevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare vascular disorder with malformed veins, or blebs, appearing in the skin or internal organs. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is the most common feature and often subject to bleeding, potentially resulting in chronic occult blood loss and iron deficiency anaemia. We present the case of a 10-year-old boy with venous malformations on the feet and severe anaemia. Although massive sudden haemorrhage rarely occurs, awareness of the illness is necessary to prevent complications.
Project description:Background/aimsStudies concerning the efficacy and safety of single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) compared with that of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) often appear to be conflicting. However, previous studies were performed by endoscopists who were less experienced in SBE compared with DBE.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of SBE and DBE data performed by a single enteroscopist, with expertise in SBE, using a prospective balloon-assisted enteroscopy registry from 2013 to 2015. Furthermore, we performed a comprehensive literature search and meta-analysis of available studies, including the current study, to clarify the efficacy and safety of SBE versus DBE.ResultsA total of 65 procedures in 44 patients with SBE and 74 procedures in 69 patients with DBE were analyzed. There were no significant differences in diagnostic yield (61.1% vs 77.3%, respectively, p=0.397), therapeutic yield (39.1% vs 31.8%, respectively, p=0.548), and complication rate (4.4% vs 2.3%, p=1.000). In the meta-analysis, which included four randomized controlled trials and three observational studies, there were no significant differences in the pooled relative risk and odds ratio for diagnostic and therapeutic yield and complications of SBE compared with those of DBE.ConclusionsThe performance of SBE appears to be similar to that of DBE in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic yield and complications.
Project description:BackgroundComputed tomography enterography (CTE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) are widely used in diagnosis of small bowel diseases. Both of these examinations bring discomfort to patients. The aim of this study was to compare patients' tolerance and preference between CTE and DBE.MethodsFrom August 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016, patients with suspected or known small bowel diseases who underwent both CTE and DBE were prospectively enrolled in our study. They were asked to fill out a questionnaire evaluating discomfort of the procedure after each examination.ResultsOne hundred and seven patients completed our study. Abdominal distension, painfulness, tenesmus, general discomfort, prolonged duration, difficulty in completing the test, and discomfort after the examination were significantly lower with CTE than with DBE (P<0.001, respectively). Mannitol intake (47.7%), bowel preparation (31.9%), and radiation exposure (15.0%) were regarded as the three most intolerable burdens in CTE. Painfulness (38.3%), bowel preparation (26.2%), and invasiveness (16.8%) were considered as the three most unacceptable parts of DBE. More patients (61.7%) preferred to repeat CTE rather than DBE (P<0.001).ConclusionCompared to DBE, CTE was a more tolerable and less burdensome examination and enjoyed higher preference by most patients.
Project description:Blue nevi are melanocytic tumors originating in the cutaneous dermis. Malignant tumors may arise in association with or resembling blue nevi, so called 'blue nevus-like melanoma', which can metastasize and result in patient death. Identifying which tumors will behave in a clinically aggressive manner can be challenging. Identifying genetic alterations in such tumors may assist in their diagnosis and prognostication. Blue nevi are known to be genetically related to uveal melanomas (eg, both harboring GNAQ and GNA11 mutations). In this study, we analyzed a large cohort (n=301) of various morphologic variants of blue nevi and related tumors including tumors diagnosed as atypical blue nevi (n=21), and blue nevus-like melanoma (n=12), screening for all gene mutations known to occur in uveal melanoma. Similar to published reports, we found the majority of blue nevi harbored activating mutations in GNAQ (53%) or GNA11 (15%). In addition, rare CYSLTR2 (1%) and PLCB4 (1%) mutations were identified. EIF1AX, SF3B1, and BAP1 mutations were also detected, with BAP1 and SF3B1 R625 mutations being present only in clearly malignant tumors (17% (n=2) and 25% (n=3) of blue nevus-like melanoma, respectively). In sequencing data from a larger cohort of cutaneous melanomas, this genetic profile was also identified in tumors not originally diagnosed as blue nevus-like melanoma. Our findings suggest that the genetic profile of coexistent GNAQ or GNA11 mutations with BAP1 or SF3B1 mutations can aid the histopathological diagnosis of blue nevus-like melanoma and distinguish blue nevus-like melanoma from conventional epidermal-derived melanomas. Future studies will need to further elucidate the prognostic implications and appropriate clinical management for patients with tumors harboring these mutation profiles.
Project description:Video 1Percutaneous cholangioscopy was performed to confirm complete closure of the choledochojejunostomy. Percutaneous cholangioscopy revealed complete closure of the anastomosis. Our attempt to pass a guidewire through the anastomosis failed accordingly.
Project description:Background and aimsGastrointestinal endoscopy can be difficult for patients to tolerate. Studies on endoscopic tolerability mainly focus on gastroscopy or colonoscopy with a paucity of data on double balloon enteroscopy (DBE). We aimed to prospectively evaluate tolerability in patients undergoing several forms of endoscopy including DBE.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP), capsule endoscopy (CE) and DBE were prospectively recruited. A questionnaire recorded demographics, procedural data, patient tolerability (pain, discomfort and distress recorded on numerical rating scales) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).Results956 patients were recruited (512 women; median age 57 years). The median pain score for DBE was poor with a score of 5 compared with 1 and 0 for oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and ERCP, respectively (p<0.001). Colonoscopy and retrograde DBE scores were not dissimilar. CE was well tolerated with a median pain score of 0. Patients with DBE required significantly higher doses of sedation and analgesia than other patients. The HADS Anxiety Score was also associated with poorer tolerability.ConclusionsDBE is poorly tolerated when compared with other forms of endoscopy despite higher doses of sedation. Increasing demand to improve tolerability of DBE in the UK may be addressed with the use of propofol.