Review for 10.1186/s12876-022-02378-8 (2022)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Pancreatic Involvement in Erdheim-Chester Disease: A Case Report and
Review of the Literature
Version: 
0 
Date: 
09 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
The authors present a case of Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) with pancreatic
involvement. It is presented as "the first case".
Major comments
1) Authors should provide the bone scintigraphy (I suggest within figure 1 to
replace the 1c); otherwise, the diagnosis of ECD cannot to be confirmed. ECD is
more frequent in male and median age at diagnosis is 55 years; diagnosis in the
28y old female is possible but really unusual. Page3 line32 scintigraphy does not
show osteosclerosis, but metabolic uptake. Add within the abstract the
information of bilateral symmetrical long bone involvement.
2) Detection of a mutation could also help to confirm the diagnosis of ECD.
Complete the negative BRAF detection with NGS.
3) There is no proof that pancreatic nodules are related to ECD. Indeed, cytology
is not conclusive and improvement during interferon treatment is not a
demonstration. Please discuss alternative radiologic diagnoses. Detection of the
same mutation in pancreatic cytology as in the biopsy would be a clear-cut
demonstration.
4) Histology and cytology figures are of bad quality.
5) At least another case has already been published (PMID: 6705387). Author
should perform a serious bibliographic research.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
No
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
No