A case of a 45-year-old Japanese man with a splenic inflammatory pseudotumor is described. This benign lesion is rarely reported in the world literature. We preoperatively could not rule out the possibility of a malignant neoplasm, due to the fact that the tumor had grown in size after a 2-year observation. However, after performing a splenectomy, a histological examination of the mass revealed an inflammatory process. Inflammatory pseudotumors often pose diagnostic difficulties because the clinical and radiological findings tend to suggest a malignancy. The clinical and pathological features of such previously reported cases are also reviewed.

Purpose: To evaluate MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) findings ofKey words: Pancreatic ducts; intraductal papillary tumors of the pancreas and correlate them with histopath-pancreatic cysts; neoplasms; bile ology. ducts; MR. Material and Methods: Seventeen patients with intraductal papillary tumor of the pancreas underwent MRCP before surgery. MRCP findings were corre-Correspondence: Akihiko Arakawa, lated to histopathology with regard to the presence of septa and excrescent Department of Radiology, nodules in the cystic lesion, communication between the cystic lesion and the Kumamoto University School of main pancreatic duct (MPD), degree of dilatation of MPD, and dilatation of Medicine, 1-1-1 Honjo, the common bile duct (CBD).Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan. Results: MRCP demonstrated septa in 17 cases (100%), excrescent nodules FAX π81 96 362 4330. in 8 cases (47.1%), communication between the intraductal papillary tumor and the MPD in 14 cases (82.3%), dilatation of MPD over 50% in 6 cases (35.3%), Accepted for publication 31 January and dilatation of CBD in 3 cases (17.6%). These findings showed excellent corre-2000. lation with histopathology. The septum on MRCP corresponded with a layer of connective tissue with pancreatic duct epithelium. Excrescent nodules in the carcinomas consisted not only of malignant cells, but also of dysplasia and adenoma. Excrescent nodules in adenomas were consistent not only with minimal papillary growth of adenoma, but also with proliferation of fibrosis, and hematoma and organized fibrin with minimal fibrosis. Pancreatic tissue was affected by chronic pancreatitis in all cases. Cases with dilatation of CBD on MRCP were due to microscopic invasion by the carcinoma.Conclusion: MRCP appearances of intraductal papillary tumors are well correlated with the findings at histopathology.

MRCP appearances of intraductal papillary tumors are well correlated with the findings at histopathology.

Background: We used a Mongolian gerbil model to evaluate the effects of long‐term Helicobacter pylori infection on blood flow, gastric acidity and atrophic change of the gastric mucosa. Methods: Infected animals were divided into eight groups according to the duration of infection: 3 months infection (MI), 6 MI, 9 MI, 12 MI, 18 MI, 24 MI, 30 MI and 36 MI (n = 6 in the 3–30 MI groups and n = 11 in the 36 MI group). Control animals were divided into the same eight groups (3–36 MC; n = 6 in each group). Blood flow and gastric acidity were measured and atrophic changes were analyzed in each group. The gastric mucosa was divided into areas termed F (chief cells observed continuously), f1 (number of chief cells decreased and no longer continuous), f2 (parietal cells scattered and chief cells not seen) and P (only pyloric glands observed). Atrophic changes were classified as normal, mild, moderate and severe on the basis of the percentage of the F area and the presence or absence of the f2 area. Results: Blood flow did not show any significant difference between the control groups, but decreased significantly in the 12–36 MI groups compared with the 3–9 MI groups (P < 0.0001). The pH was significantly higher in the 12–36 MC groups than in the 6 and 9 MC groups (P < 0.002). The pH was significantly higher in the 9–36 MI groups than in the 6 MI group (P < 0.006). Atrophic changes were not found in the 3–9 MC groups, but mild atrophic changes were observed in the 12–24 MC groups and moderate atrophic changes were observed in the 30 and 36 MC groups. Atrophic changes were moderate in the 3–18 MI groups and severe in the 24–36 MI groups. Conclusion: The present study shows that atrophic changes progress with aging naturally and that H. pylori infection accelerates this change to induce a severe decrease in blood flow and gastric acid secretion.

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