Second-generation distal attachment cuff improves adenoma detection rate: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the second-generation distal attachment cuff device (Endocuff Vision; Olympus America, Center Valley, Pa, USA) have reported conflicting results in improving adenoma detection rate (ADR) compared with standard high-definition colonoscopy without the distal attachment. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs to compare outcomes between second-generation cuff colonoscopy (CC) versus colonoscopy without the distal attachment (standard colonoscopy [SC]). METHODS: An electronic literature search was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Cochrane Library through May 2020. The primary outcome was reporting of ADR, and secondary outcomes were polyp detection rate (PDR), mean withdrawal time, mean adenomas per colonoscopy (APC), sessile serrated lesion detection rate, and adverse events. Pooled rates and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals were reported. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with 5695 patients were included in the final analysis, with 2862 patients (mean age, 62.8 years; 52.9% men) in the CC group and 2833 patients (mean age, 62.6 years; 54.2% men) in the SC group. Compared with SC, use of CC was associated with a significant improvement in ADR (49.8% vs 45.6%, respectively; RR, 1.12; P = .02), PDR (58.1% vs 53%, respectively; RR, 1.12; P = .009), and APC (P < .01). Furthermore, use of CC had a .93-minute lower mean withdrawal time (P < .01) when compared with SC. The difference in ADR was larger in the screening/surveillance population (6.5%, P = .02) and when used by endoscopists with ADRs <30% (9.4%, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this meta-analysis of randomized trials show a significant improvement in ADR and APC with shorter withdrawal times using the second-generation cuff device compared with SC.

Do Water-aided Techniques Improve Serrated Polyp Detection Rate During Colonoscopy?: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The utility of water-aided techniques (WT): water exchange (WE) and water immersion (WI) have been studied extensively in the literature for improving colonoscopy outcome metrics such as adenoma detection rate. Serrated polyps owing to their location and appearance have a high miss rate. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing WT with the standard gas-assisted (GA) method to determine if there was any impact on serrated polyp detection rate (SPDR) and sessile serrated polyp detection rate. METHODS: The following databases were queried for this systematic review: Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Sciences. The authors only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was SPDR and secondary outcomes were sessile serrated polyp detection rate and cecal intubation rate. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for each outcome. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 4 RCTs (5 arms) with 5306 patients (2571 in the GA group and 2735 in the WT group) were included. The SPDR was significantly increased for the WT group compared with GA (6.1% vs. 3.8%; RR, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.13; P<0.001; I2=22.7%). A subgroup analysis for WE technique also demonstrated improved SPDR compared with the GA method (4.9% vs. 3.2%; RR, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.14; P=0.004; I2=6.1%). CONCLUSIONS: WT, particularly, the WE method results in improved SPDR. This technique should be encouraged in a clinical setting to detect these polyps to prevent interval colorectal cancer.

A Comparative Study of 22G versus 19G Needles for EUS-Guided Biopsies for Parenchymal Liver Disease: Are Thinner Needles Better?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Data on comparative efficacy of various available endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) needles are limited. We sought to compare the performance of a novel Franseen-tip 22G fine-needle biopsy (FNB) device to that of 19G needle platforms for liver parenchyma. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred for EUS and suspected to have hepatic parenchymal disease underwent EUS-LB using different EUS needles and were included in this retrospective study. Two blinded expert liver pathologists independently reviewed and reported on: total number of tissue fragments, length of longest fragment, number of complete and incomplete portal tracts (CPT and IPT), and specimen adequacy. RESULTS: A 22G Franseen-tip needle (A) was used in 30 patients; 19G Tru-Cut needle (B) in 50 patients; 19G reverse beveled non-Tru-Cut needle (C) in 27 patients; and a 19G flexible non-Tru-Cut needle (D) in 28 patients. In the order of needles, A, B, C and D, > 10 tissue fragments were obtained in 100%, 6%, 82%, and 96% samples, the mean number of CPTs was 6.9; 3.0; 7.3; and 16.9, length of longest fragment was 3.8, 4. 7, 3.9, and 8.4 mm, and specimen adequacy was 66.7%, 46%, 82.1%, and 81.5%, respectively. A positive correlation was obtained between number of CPTs and length of longest fragment in samples accrued by 19G needles. CONCLUSION: EUS-LB specimens using 22G Franseen-tip needle appear highly fragmented, leading to inferior specimen adequacy compared to 19G non-Tru-Cut needles. We also report on using length of longest fragment as an additional criterion for specimen adequacy as it positively correlates with number of CPTs standard.

Intralesional steroids and endoscopic dilation for anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Post-esophagectomy anastomotic strictures are difficult to treat. The impact of adding local steroid injection to endoscopic dilation for the treatment of post-esophagectomy anastomotic strictures is unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of performing steroid injection in addition to dilation. METHODS: A search was conducted in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science from inception to January 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of endoscopic dilation plus either local steroid injection (steroid group) or saline injection (placebo group) were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Three RCTs were eligible for the final analysis: 72 patients (mean age 61.3 years, 74 % male) in the steroid group and 72 patients (mean age 59.6 years, 71 % male) in the placebo group. The mean number of dilations required to resolve the stricture was significantly lower in the steroid group compared with the placebo group, with a mean weighted difference of -1.62 (95 % confidence interval [CI] -2.73 to -0.50; P = 0.004). After 6 months of follow-up, there was a trend toward more patients in the steroid group remaining dysphagia free compared with the placebo group, with a pooled odds ratio of 2.36 (95 %CI 0.94 to 5.91; P = 0.07, I2  = 24 %). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that the addition of local steroid injection at the time of dilation for benign anastomotic strictures led to a significant decrease in the number of procedures required to resolve the stricture and may well reduce dysphagia symptoms during follow-up.

Effectiveness and safety of EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) is emerging as an alternative technique for biliary drainage in patients who fail conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) are being increasingly used for CDD. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CDD using LAMS. METHODS: We performed a systematic search of multiple databases through May 2019 to identify studies on CDD using covered self-expanding metal stents. Pooled rates of technical success, clinical success, adverse events, and recurrent jaundice associated with CDD using LAMS were estimated. A subgroup analysis was performed based on use of LAMS with electrocautery-enhanced delivery system (EC-LAMS). RESULTS: Seven studies on CDD using LAMS (with 284 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled rates of technical and clinical success (per-protocol analysis) were 95.7% (95% CI 93.2-98.1) and 95.9% (95% CI 92.8-98.9), respectively. Pooled rate of post-procedure adverse events was 5.2% (95% CI 2.6-7.9). Pooled rate of recurrent jaundice was 8.7% (95% CI 4.5-12.8). On subgroup analysis of CDD using EC-LAMS (5 studies with 201 patients), the pooled rates of technical and clinical success (per-protocol analysis) were 93.8% (95% CI 90.4-97.1) and 95.9% (95% CI 91.9-99.9), respectively. Pooled rate of post-procedure adverse events was 5.6% (95% CI 1.7-9.5). Pooled rate of recurrent jaundice was 11.3% (95% CI 6.9-15.7). Heterogeneity (I2) was low to moderate in the analyses. CONCLUSION: CDD using LAMS/EC-LAMS is an effective and safe technique for biliary decompression in patients who failed ERCP. Further studies are needed to assess CDD using LAMS as primary treatment modality for biliary obstruction.

Improving serrated adenoma detection rate in the colon by electronic chromoendoscopy and distal attachment: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The evidence for modification of conventional colonoscopy using either "distal attachments" (DAs; endocap, endocuff, and endoring) or "electronic chromoendoscopy" (EC; narrow-band imaging [NBI], iScan, blue-light imaging, autofluorescence imaging, and linked-color imaging) to improve the detection of serrated adenomas during colonoscopy has shown conflicting results. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed using Medline, Google Scholar, Embase, and Cochrane Library based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any DA or EC with high-definition white-light colonoscopy for detection of serrated adenomas (sessile serrated adenoma/polyp and traditional serrated adenoma) were included. The primary outcome was serrated adenoma detection rate (SADR) defined as the number of patients with at least 1 serrated adenoma of total patients in that group. The secondary outcome was the number of serrated adenomas per subject. Pooled rates were reported using risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Seventeen studies with 13,631 patients (56% men; age range, 50-66 years) met the inclusion criteria. The use of DAs (RR, 1.21; P = .45) and EC (RR, 1.29; P = .09) during colonoscopy did not show a significant improvement in SADR. The SADR using EC was 6.9% (4 studies) and that with NBI alone was 3.7% (3 studies). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that, except for NBI, the use of DAs or EC during colonoscopy does not improve detection of serrated adenomas in the colon. More RCTs evaluating NBI are needed to explore the effect.

Diagnostic performance of volumetric laser endomicroscopy for Barrett's esophagus dysplasia amongst gastroenterology trainees.

BACKGROUND: Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is an advanced imaging modality used in Barrett's esophagus (BE) surveillance. VLE image interpretation is challenged by subtle grayscale image variation across a large amount of data. Training in VLE interpretation is not standardized. This study aims to determine if VLE training can be incorporated into a gastroenterology (GI) fellowship curriculum with the use of a self-directed module. METHODS: A standardized, self-directed training module (30 min) was created explaining the background and established VLE criteria for the diagnosis of BE dysplasia. A VLE image dataset was generated from a multicenter VLE database of targeted biopsies. GI trainees were asked to grade each image for the presence or absence of the following criteria (I) increased surface optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) signal intensity and (II) atypical glands and provide a final diagnosis (dysplastic vs. non-dysplastic). Diagnostic performance was calculated and results compared to VLE expert interpretation using histology as the gold-standard. RESULTS: The dataset included 50 VLE images (10 high-grade dysplasia, 40 non-dysplastic BE). VLE images were reviewed in a randomized and blinded fashion by 5 GI trainees with no prior VLE experience and 5 experienced VLE users. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of GI trainees was 83.3% (95% CI: 71.5-91.7%), 59.0% (95% CI: 51.6-66.0%), and 64.8% (95% CI: 58.5-70.7%) compared to 80.0% (95% CI: 67.7-89.2%), 79.5% (95% CI: 73.0-85.0%), and 79.6% (95% CI: 74.1-84.4%) for VLE experts respectively. The difference in specificity and accuracy between the two groups were statistically significant with P<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: A brief training session on VLE is inadequate to reach competency in interpretation of VLE by GI trainees. Additional experience is required to accurately interpret VLE images.

Composite Neuroendocrine and Squamous Cell Tumor of the Esophagus.

Neuroendocrine cell tumors of the esophagus are rare forms of cancer. Incidence of squamous cell cancer of the esophagus is low in the United States. Combined tumors with components of both neuroendocrine and squamous cell cancer which are very rarely seen have not been reported in the United States. We present a unique case of a composite tumor of the esophagus with squamous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Molecular pathogenesis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

Over the last 3 decades, there have been substantial improvements in diagnostic imaging and sampling techniques to evaluate pancreatic diseases. The modern technology has helped us to recognize premalignant conditions of pancreas including mucinous cystic neoplasms and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). Differentiation between benign and malignant lesions and early detection of any malignant transformation in premalignant lesion are extremely important for further management decisions. Diagnostic cytology has limited sensitivity to further differentiate between benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions of the pancreas. There is limited information about the epidemiological risk factors and molecular mechanisms leading to development and further progression to malignancy of IPMNs. Several studies have shown that pancreatic juice and pancreatic tissue from the lesion can be tested for molecular markers including K-ras, p53, and p16 to differentiate between cancer and chronic inflammatory process. We review cellular signaling pathways that contribute to pathogenesis of IPMNs of the pancreas to further identify potential biomarkers and molecular targets.