Increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in the province of Salamanca. Comparison of two periods: 2004-2006 and 2010-2012.

OBJECTIVES: To compare incidence, mortality and epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) in the province of Salamanca over two different periods: 2010-2012 and 2004-2006. METHODS: Retrospective observational study. We include all diagnosed cases of CRC according to histopathological criteria from 01/01/2004 to 31/12/2006 and from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2012. The studied variables were sex, age, date of diagnosis and tumor location. Cumulative incidence and specific incidence in different age groups were measured and compared between the two periods. The age rates were adjusted to the standard world population so that the results could be compared with those of other populations. RESULTS: We detected 38% more cases of CRC in the 2010-2012 period than in 2004-2006. Variables distribution (sex, age at diagnosis and location) was similar in both groups. More than twice as many colonoscopies were performed in 2010-2012 than in 2004-2006. Population mortality due to CRC also increased, although much less importantly than the incidence of this condition. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a clear increase in CRC incidence in the province of Salamanca from 2004-2006 to 2010-2012 which is not related to the ageing of the population. The remarkable increase in colonoscopies may have been an important factor for the increased detection.

Endoscopic treatment of duodenal varices with cyanoacrylate.

BACKGROUND: the duodenum is the most common location for ectopic varices. Bleeding is rare, but when it appears, it is massive and difficult to control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: retrospective description of five clinical cases of digestive bleeding secondary to duodenal varices that we observed between the years 2011 and 2012, together with their clinical characteristics, endoscopic diagnosis, endoscopic treatment with cyanoacrylate injection and the posterior follow-up and assessment of new bleeding. RESULTS: all five patients were treated with an endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection and two of the patients experienced a digestive rebleeding. Three of the patients died during the follow-up period, only one due to cause digestive bleeding. CONCLUSION: in conclusion we can state that endoscopic treatment of duodenal varices with cyanoacrylate is technically possible, and it permits us to control the first bleeding before doing other definitive treatments, if the patient condition allows it.

Prognostic factors for recurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding due to Dieulafoy's lesion.

AIM: To analyze the effectiveness of the endoscopic therapy and to identify prognostic factors for recurrent bleeding. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to Dieulafoy's lesion (DL) from 2005 to 2011. We analyzed the demographic characteristics of the patients, risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding, endoscopic findings, characteristics of the endoscopic treatment, and the recurrence of bleeding. We included cases in which endoscopy described a lesion compatible with Dieulafoy. We excluded patients who had potentially bleeding lesions such as angiodysplasia in other areas or had undergone other gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with DL were identified. Most of them were men with an average age of 71.5 years. Fifty-five percent of the patients received antiaggregatory or anticoagulant therapy. The most common location for DL was the stomach (51.7%). The main type of bleeding was oozing in 65.5% of cases. In 27.6% of cases, there was arterial (spurting) bleeding, and 6.9% of the patients presented with an adherent clot. A single endoscopic treatment was applied to nine patients (31%); eight of them with adrenaline and one with argon, while 69% of the patients received combined treatment. Six patients (20.7%) presented with recurrent bleeding at a median of 4 d after endoscopy (interquartile range = 97.75). Within these six patients, the new endoscopic treatment obtained a therapeutic success of 100%. The presence of arterial bleeding at endoscopy was associated with a higher recurrence rate for bleeding (50% vs 33.3% for other type of bleeding) [P = 0.024, odds ratio (OR) = 8.5, 95% CI = 1.13-63.87]. The use of combined endoscopic treatment prevented the recurrence of bleeding (10% vs 44.4% of single treatment) (P = 0.034, OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.19-0.99). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic treatment of DL is safe and effective. Adrenaline monotherapy and arterial (spurting) bleeding are associated with a high rate of bleeding recurrence.