BackgroundIn multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) have a high prevalence and represent the main cause of death. This study aimed to assess the... Show moreBackgroundIn multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) have a high prevalence and represent the main cause of death. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the currently used conventional pancreatic imaging techniques and the added value of fine needle aspirations (FNAs). MethodsPatients who had at least one imaging study were included from the population-based MEN1 database of the DutchMEN Study Group from 1990 to 2017. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), FNA, and surgical resection specimens were obtained. The first MRI, CT, or EUS was considered as the index test. For a comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of MRI versus CT, patients with their index test taken between 2010 and 2017 were included. The reference standard consisted of surgical histopathology or radiological follow-up. ResultsA total of 413 patients (92.8% of the database) underwent 3,477 imaging studies. The number of imaging studies per patient increased, and a preference for MRI was observed in the last decade. Overall diagnostic accuracy was good with a positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 88.9% (95% confidence interval, 76.0-95.6) and 92.8% (89.4-95.1), respectively, for PanNET in the pancreatic head and 92.0% (85.3-96.0) and 85.3% (80.5-89.1), respectively, in the body/tail. For MRI, PPV and NPV for pancreatic head tumors were 100% (76.1-100) and 87.1% (76.3-93.6) and for CT, 60.0% (22.9-88.4) and 70.4% (51.3-84.3), respectively. For body/tail tumors, PPV and NPV were 91.3% (72.0-98.8) and 87.0% (75.3-93.9), respectively, for MRI and 100% (74.9-100) and 77.8% (54.3-91.5), respectively, for CT. Pathology confirmed a PanNET in 106 out of 110 (96.4%) resection specimens. FNA was performed on 34 lesions in 33 patients and was considered PanNET in 24 [all confirmed PanNET by histology (10) or follow-up (14)], normal/cyst/unrepresentative in 6 (all confirmed PanNET by follow-up), and adenocarcinoma in 4 (2 confirmed and 2 PanNET). Three patients, all older than 60 years, had a final diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. ConclusionAs the accuracy for diagnosing MEN1-related PanNET of MRI was higher than that of CT, MRI should be the preferred (non-invasive) imaging modality for PanNET screening/surveillance. The high diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic imaging and the sporadic occurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma question the need for routine (EUS-guided) FNA. Show less
This thesis has dealt with the role of endosonography in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The main conclusion is that endosonography with aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes has superior... Show moreThis thesis has dealt with the role of endosonography in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The main conclusion is that endosonography with aspiration of mediastinal lymph nodes has superior diagnostic yield in comparison to conventional bronchoscopy with taking of peripheral (TBLB) and endobronchial (EBB) tissue (80% vs 53%). Guidelines advising to perform bronchoscopy (including TBLB and EBB) as a first choice procedure to detect granulomas should be revised. In case EUS or EBUS are not available, bronchoscopy may reach comparable sensitivity but only if cTBNA, TBLB and EBB are all performed. This will increase procedure time and likely also complications because of the number of needle and forceps samples. Secondly, we assessed morbidity and mortality rates of EBUS and EUS for pulmonary indications and found that both techniques are very safe. Fatalities have been described but are very rare with a mortality rate of 0.04% and mostly occurred in patients of fragile health. Serious adverse events happen occasionally (0.15%) and are mostly of infectious origin in patients undergoing needle aspiration of cysts, sarcoid of necrotic lymph nodes. Show less
