Computer-aided diagnosis of serrated colorectal lesions using non-magnified white-light endoscopic images.

PURPOSE: Computer-aided diagnosis systems for polyp characterization are commercially available but cannot recognize subtypes of sessile lesions. This study aimed to develop a computer-aided diagnosis system to characterize polyps using non-magnified white-light endoscopic images. METHODS: A total of 2249 non-magnified white-light images from 1030 lesions including 534 tubular adenomas, 225 sessile serrated adenoma/polyps, and 271 hyperplastic polyps in the proximal colon were consecutively extracted from an image library and divided into training and testing datasets (4:1), based on the date of colonoscopy. Using ResNet-50 networks, we developed a classifier (1) to differentiate adenomas from serrated lesions, and another classifier (2) to differentiate sessile serrated adenoma/polyps from hyperplastic polyps. Diagnostic performance was assessed using the testing dataset. The computer-aided diagnosis system generated a probability score for each image, and a probability score for each lesion was calculated as the weighted mean with a log10-transformation. Two experts (E1, E2) read the identical testing dataset with a probability score. RESULTS: The area under the curve of classifier (1) for adenomas was equivalent to E1 and superior to E2 (classifier 86%, E1 86%, E2 69%; classifier vs. E2, p < 0.001). In contrast, the area under the curve of classifier (2) for sessile serrated adenoma/polyps was inferior to both experts (classifier 55%, E1 68%, E2 79%; classifier vs. E2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The classifier (1) developed using white-light images alone compares favorably with experts in differentiating adenomas from serrated lesions. However, the classifier (2) to identify sessile serrated adenoma/polyps is inferior to experts.

Risk of Delayed Bleeding after Cold Snare Polypectomy in Patients with Antithrombotic Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Cold snare polypectomy is being increasingly adopted; however, there are few reports of cold snare polypectomy regarding antithrombotic therapy. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the real-world safety of cold snare polypectomy during antithrombotic therapy. METHODS: We collected data from consecutive patients undergoing cold snare polypectomy in a single hospital between 2013 and 2017. Indications for cold snare polypectomy were any ≤ 10 mm polyp. The primary outcome was delayed bleeding. We compared rates of delayed bleeding between patients with and without antithrombotic therapy and analyzed risk factors for delayed bleeding using binary logistic regression model with firth procedure. RESULTS: In 2152 patients (mean age 67.6 years; male 1411), 4433 colorectal polyps (mean diameter 5.0 mm) underwent cold snare polypectomy. Clipping during the procedure was performed for 5.8%. Delayed bleeding occurred in 0.51% (11/2152) of patients and 0.25% (11/4433) of polyps, but no major delayed bleeding occurred. A total of 244 (11%) patients received antithrombotic therapy. Patients on antithrombotic therapy were older (p < 0.001), more likely male (p < 0.001) and had cold snare polypectomy in the proximal colon (p = 0.011). The rate of delayed bleeding was higher in patients on antithrombotic therapy (1.64% vs. non-antithrombotic therapy 0.37%, p = 0.009). Larger polyp size (> 5 mm), use of clips, and antithrombotic therapy were significant risk factors for delayed bleeding. There was no clear association between specific antithrombotic agents and delayed bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed bleeding after cold snare polypectomy was rare even in patients with antithrombotic therapy, and no major delayed bleeding occurred.

[The Evaluation of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer].

We evaluated the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)for 38 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). We administered mFOLFOX6 in 15, FOLFIRI in 3, CAPOX in 10, IRIS in 1 and FOLFOXIRI in 9 patients. We also used bevacizumab in 31 and panitumumab in 7 patients. There were 27 male and 11 female patients, with a median age of 64 years, and location was RS 2, Ra 9, Rb 21, and P 6. Synchronous distant metastasis was recognized in 13 patients. Nine patients had suffered adverse event of Grade 3, however all patients could complete NAC. Clinical response was CR 3, PR 31, SD 4, response rate was 91.9%, and reduction rate was 43.3(range 18.8-100)%. Clinical response of distant metastasis was CR 3, PR 9 and SD 1. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 29 patients. Postoperative complications of Grade 2 of Clavien- Dindo classification were recognized in 14 and Grade 3 in 4 patients. Three- and five-year overall survival rate of 25 patients without distant metastasis were 79.6% and 74.9%, respectively; and 13 with distant metastasis were 61.6% and 52.6%, respectively. The efficacy, safety and postoperative outcomes of NAC for LARC are favorable, and we think that NAC will be one of the treatments for LARC.

Polyp detection algorithm can detect small polyps: Ex vivo reading test compared with endoscopists.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Small polyps are occasionally missed during colonoscopy. This study was conducted to validate the diagnostic performance of a polyp-detection algorithm to alert endoscopists to unrecognized lesions. METHODS: A computer-aided detection (CADe) algorithm was developed based on convolutional neural networks using training data from 1991 still colonoscopy images from 283 subjects with adenomatous polyps. The CADe algorithm was evaluated on a validation dataset including 50 short videos with 1-2 polyps (3.5 ± 1.5 mm, range 2-8 mm) and 50 videos without polyps. Two expert colonoscopists and two physicians in training separately read the same videos, blinded to the presence of polyps. The CADe algorithm was also evaluated using eight full videos with polyps and seven full videos without a polyp. RESULTS: The per-video sensitivity of CADe for polyp detection was 88% and the per-frame false-positive rate was 2.8%, with a confidence level of ≥30%. The per-video sensitivity of both experts was 88%, and the sensitivities of the two physicians in training were 84% and 76%. For each reader, the frames with missed polyps appearing on short videos were significantly less than the frames with detected polyps, but no trends were observed regarding polyp size, morphology or color. For full video readings, per-polyp sensitivity was 100% with a per-frame false-positive rate of 1.7%, and per-frame specificity of 98.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of CADe to detect small polyps was almost equivalent to experts and superior to physicians in training. A clinical trial using CADe is warranted.

Colon Capsule Endoscopy versus CT Colonography in Patients with Large Non-Polypoid Tumours: A Multicentre Prospective Comparative Study (4CN Study).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-polypoid colon lesions compared with polypoid lesions has a high malignant potential. The diagnostic performance of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) and CT colonography (CTC) for large colorectal non-polypoid tumours, that is, laterally spreading tumours is still unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of CCE and CTC for the diagnosis of large non-polypoid tumours. METHODS: Thirty patients referred for endoscopic submucosal dissection of non-polypoid tumours measuring ≥20 mm were enrolled. Patients first underwent CCE, then colonoscopy (without resection) and CTC on the same day. An experienced gastroenterologist in a third hospital evaluated the CCE and recorded the location, size and morphology of all lesions detected, blinded to the colonoscopic findings. An experienced radiologist read the CTC under the same conditions. Colonoscopic findings were defined as the reference. RESULTS: A total of 30 lesions (T1 cancer: 3, Tis cancer: 7, adenoma: 14, sessile serrated adenoma/polyp: 6) in 27 patients were observed for evaluation. The capsule excretion rate within 8 h was 85% (23/27), and all capsules went beyond the target lesions. Non-polypoid tumours tend to be depicted as polypoid on CCE. Per patient sensitivities were 0.89 (24/27) by CCE and 0.70 (19/27) by CTC (p = 0.0253, McNemar), and per lesion sensitivities were 0.87 (26/30) and 0.67 (20/30) respectively (p = 0.0143). Most lesions missed by both modalities were located in the proximal colon. CONCLUSION: Eighty-seven per cent of non-polypoid tumours were detected by CCE, and the sensitivity using CCE was higher than that obtained using CTC (UMIN0000014772).

A novel volume-reduced CT colonography regimen using hypertonic laxative (polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid): randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of bowel preparation using a hypertonic laxative (polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid, PEG + Asc) for CT colonography (CTC) and to examine the volume limit of laxative. METHODS: In one institution, patients who met the indications for CTC were enrolled and randomly assigned to CTC with regimen A (800 ml PEG + Asc), B (600 ml PEG + Asc), or C (400 ml PEG + Asc). Sodium diatrizoate was given orally for fecal tagging. On the previous day, patients ate low-residue meals and took the assigned lavage solution after dinner. A reader blinded to the preparation graded residual stool/fluid and fecal tagging quality in six segments of the colorectum. The primary outcome was a proportion of colon segments without stool. One hundred twenty segments in 20 patients with each regimen were needed to show a non-inferiority margin of 15%, assuming 85% of no stool. RESULTS: A total of 360 segments in 60 patients were analyzed. There were 83% of segments with no stool in regimen A, 89% in regimen B, and 88% in regimen C. Using the delta method, the 95% confidence interval of the risk difference (6.7%) between regimens A and B was - 2.2% to 15.6%, and the risk difference (5.0%) between regimens A and C was - 4.1% to 14%, both within the non-inferiority margin. Residual fluid and fecal tagging quality were also within the non-inferiority margin. No adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: A novel CTC regimen using hypertonic laxative demonstrated optimal colon cleansing effectiveness even with the lowest volume of laxative (UMIN000022851). KEY POINTS: • A novel CTC regimen using a hypertonic laxative is feasible. • The lowest volume of laxative provides excellent colon imaging. • However, the lowest volume of laxative did not improve patient acceptance.

[Two Cases of Advanced Colorectal Cancer Achieving Complete Response by FOLFOXIRI plus Bevacizumab-A Case Report].

We report 2 cases of advanced colorectal cancer achieving complete response by FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab. Case 1 was a 65-year-old male diagnosed with descending colon cancer with multiple liver metastases. Six courses of FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab were administered after laparoscopic-assisted left hemicolectomy. Ten partial hepatectomies and 1 radiofrequency ablation were performed as the liver metastases resolved. A pathological complete response was confirmed. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered, and recurrence-free survival was 21 months after hepatectomy. Case 2 was a 77-yearold male diagnosed with rectal cancer invading the pelvic wall and sacral foramen with bilateral lateral lymph node metastasis. Additionally, there was a cancer embolism in the right internal iliac vein. Six courses of FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab were administered, and the cancer tissue was absent on subsequent CT and MRI. The cancer was scarred by colonoscopy, and the biopsy showed no malignant cells. Six courses of FOLFIRI plus panitumumab were administered as second-line chemotherapy, and the patient survived without any recurrence after 12 months from initiation of chemotherapy.

[Curative Transanal Resection after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Lower Rectal Cancer-A Case Report].

A 53-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with melena. Examinations revealed advanced rectal cancer involving the anal canal with invasion of the left-sided levator ani muscle. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered to preserve anal function. A first course of capecitabine and oxaliplatin(CapeOX)plus bevacizumab was administered. CapeOX plus panitumumab was administered from the 2nd to the 8th courses after confirming the absence of RAS mutation. Endoscopy and computed tomography confirmed the disappearance of the tumor after completion of the chemotherapy. A biopsy of the scar tissue revealed no cancer cells. However, diffusion weighted-magnetic resonance imaging(MRI-DWI)revealed a suspected residual tumor. To determine the subsequent treatment, a transanal resection was performed. No carcinoma was identified in the specimen. Thus, additional surgical treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy were not administered. The patient was followed-up over 2.5 years post local resection and showed no recurrence.

Histological Comparison of Cold versus Hot Snare Resections of the Colorectal Mucosa.

BACKGROUND: Delayed postpolypectomy bleeding occurs more frequently after hot resection than after cold resection. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we performed a histological comparison of tissue after cold and hot snare resections. DESIGN: This is a prospective study, registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000020104). SETTING: This study was conducted at Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Japan. PATIENTS: Fifteen patients scheduled to undergo resection of colorectal cancer were enrolled. INTERVENTION: On the day before surgery, 2 mucosal resections (hot and cold) of normal mucosa were performed on each patient using the same snare without saline injection. The difference was only the application of electrocautery or not. Resection sites were placed close to the cancer to be included in the surgical specimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the depth of destruction. Secondary outcome measures included the width of destruction, depth of the remaining submucosa, and number of vessels remaining at the resection sites. The number and diameter of vessels in undamaged submucosa were also evaluated. RESULTS: All cold resections were limited to the shallow submucosa, whereas 60% of hot resections advanced to the deep submucosa and 20% to the muscularis propria (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the width of destruction. The number of remaining large vessels after hot resections trended toward fewer (p = 0.15) with a decreased depth of remaining submucosa (p = 0.007). In the deep submucosa, the vessel diameter was larger (p < 0.001) and the number of large vessels was greater (p = 0.018). LIMITATIONS: Histological assessment was not blinded to the 2 reviewers. Normal mucosa was used instead of adenomatous tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Hot resection caused damage to deeper layers involving more large vessels. This may explain the mechanism for the reduced incidence of hemorrhage after cold snare polypectomy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A631.

Accuracy of CT Colonography for Detection of Polypoid and Nonpolypoid Neoplasia by Gastroenterologists and Radiologists: A Nationwide Multicenter Study in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess prospectively the diagnostic accuracy of computer-assisted computed tomographic colonography (CTC) in the detection of polypoid (pedunculated or sessile) and nonpolypoid neoplasms and compare the accuracy between gastroenterologists and radiologists. METHODS: This nationwide multicenter prospective controlled trial recruited 1,257 participants with average or high risk of colorectal cancer at 14 Japanese institutions. Participants had CTC and colonoscopy on the same day. CTC images were interpreted independently by trained gastroenterologists and radiologists. The main outcome was the accuracy of CTC in the detection of neoplasms ≥6 mm in diameter, with colonoscopy results as the reference standard. Detection sensitivities of polypoid vs. nonpolypoid lesions were also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1,257 participants, 1,177 were included in the final analysis: 42 (3.6%) were at average risk of colorectal cancer, 456 (38.7%) were at elevated risk, and 679 (57.7%) had recent positive immunochemical fecal occult blood tests. The overall per-participant sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for neoplasms ≥6 mm in diameter were 0.90, 0.93, 0.83, and 0.96, respectively, among gastroenterologists and 0.86, 0.90, 0.76, and 0.95 among radiologists (P<0.05 for gastroenterologists vs. radiologists). The sensitivity and specificity for neoplasms ≥10 mm in diameter were 0.93 and 0.99 among gastroenterologists and 0.91 and 0.98 among radiologists (not significant for gastroenterologists vs. radiologists). The CTC interpretation time by radiologists was shorter than that by gastroenterologists (9.97 vs. 15.8 min, P<0.05). Sensitivities for pedunculated and sessile lesions exceeded those for flat elevated lesions ≥10 mm in diameter in both groups (gastroenterologists 0.95, 0.92, and 0.68; radiologists: 0.94, 0.87, and 0.61; P<0.05 for polypoid vs. nonpolypoid), although not significant (P>0.05) for gastroenterologists vs. radiologists. CONCLUSIONS: CTC interpretation by gastroenterologists and radiologists was accurate for detection of polypoid neoplasms, but less so for nonpolypoid neoplasms. Gastroenterologists had a higher accuracy in the detection of neoplasms ≥6 mm than did radiologists, although their interpretation time was longer than that of radiologists.

Diagnostic Performance and Patient Acceptance of Reduced-Laxative CT Colonography for the Detection of Polypoid and Non-Polypoid Neoplasms: A Multicenter Prospective Trial.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and patient acceptance of reduced-laxative computed tomographic (CT) colonography without computer-aided detection (CAD) for the detection of colorectal polypoid and non-polypoid neoplasms in a population with a positive recent fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained. This multicenter prospective trial enrolled patients who had positive FIT results. Reduced-laxative CT colonography and colonoscopy were performed on the same day. Patients received 380 mL polyethylene glycol solution, 20 mL iodinated oral contrast agent, and two doses of 20 mg mosapride the day before CT colonography. The main outcome measures were the accuracy of CT colonography for the detection of neoplasms 6 mm or larger in per-patient and per-lesion analyses and a survey of patient perceptions regarding the preparation and examination. The Clopper-Pearson method was used for assessing the 95% confidence intervals of per-patient and per-lesion accuracy. Survey scores were analyzed by using the Wilcoxon and χ2 tests. Results Three hundred four patients underwent both CT colonography and colonoscopy. Per-patient sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT colonography for detecting neoplasms 10 mm or larger were 0.91 (40 of 44), 0.99 (255 of 258), 0.93 (40 of 43), and 0.98 (255 of 259), respectively; these values for neoplasms 6 mm or larger were 0.90 (71 of 79), 0.93 (207 of 223), 0.82 (71 of 87), and 0.96 (207 of 215), respectively. Per-lesion sensitivities for detection of polypoid and non-polypoid neoplasms 10 mm or larger were 0.95 (40 of 42) and 0.67 (six of nine), respectively; those for neoplasms 6 mm or larger were 0.90 (104 of 115) and 0.38 (eight of 21), respectively (P < .05 for both). Patient acceptance of preparation and examination with CT colonography was significantly higher than that with colonoscopy, and 62% (176 of 282) of patients would choose CT colonography as the first examination if they have a positive FIT result in the future. Conclusion Reduced-laxative CT colonography without CAD is accurate in the detection of polypoid neoplasms 6 mm or larger but is less accurate in the detection of non-polypoid neoplasms. Reduced-laxative CT colonography has high patient acceptance and is an efficient triage examination for patients with a positive FIT. © RSNA, 2016 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Detectability of colorectal neoplastic lesions using a novel endoscopic system with blue laser imaging: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Most studies have not reported an improvement in the detection of adenomas with the use of image-enhanced colonoscopy methods, possibly because of the darkness of the images. To overcome this limitation, a new-generation endoscopic system has been developed. This system has 2 blue-laser imaging (BLI) observation modes. The BLI observation was set to BLI-bright mode to detect lesions. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of BLI in detecting lesions. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial with participants from 8 institutions. We enrolled patients aged ≥40 years. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: observation by using white-light imaging (WLI) with a conventional xenon light source (WLI group) or observation by using BLI-bright mode with a laser light source (BLI group). All of the detected lesions were resected or had a biopsy taken for histopathologic analysis. The primary outcome was the mean number of adenomas per patient (MAP) that were detected per procedure. RESULTS: The WLI and BLI groups consisted of 474 and 489 patients, respectively. The MAP was significantly higher in the BLI group than in the WLI group (mean ± standard deviation [SD] WLI 1.01 ± 1.36, BLI 1.27 ± 1.73; P = .008). Adenoma detection rate in the BLI group was not significantly higher than in the WLI group. Observation times differed significantly, with BLI (9.48 minutes) being longer than WLI (8.42; P < .001). The mean (± SD) number of polyps per patient was significantly higher in the BLI group compared with the WLI group (WLI 1.43 ± 1.64, BLI 1.84 ± 2.09; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: A newly developed system that uses BLI improves the detection of adenomatous lesions compared with WLI. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000014555.).

Ultrathin versus pediatric instruments for colonoscopy in older female patients: A randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Small-caliber endoscopes such as gastroscopes or pediatric colonoscopes are occasionally required to negotiate fixed or angulated colons. However, the use of a new ultrathin instrument (diameter 7.0 mm) narrower than other conventional colonoscopes has not been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to compare the use compare the use of an ultrathin colonoscope (UTC) with a pediatric colonoscope (PDC) for colonoscopy in older female patients. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in a single academic endoscopy unit. A total of 77 female patients aged ≥70 years undergoing unsedated colonoscopy were randomized to colonoscopy with a UTC (n = 39) or PDC (n = 38). Primary outcome measurement was the degree of pain using a numerical rating scale, and secondary outcomes were cecal intubation rate, ileal intubation rate, time to cecum and adenoma detection rate. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in reported pain using the numerical rating scale (median, UTC 1 vs PDC 4, P < 0.0001). Cecal intubation rates were 97.4% in UTC and 92.1% in PDC (P = 0.36), and ileal intubation rates were 82.0% and 89.4% (P = 0.76), respectively. However, median times to cecum were significantly longer using UTC compared with PDC (15.2 min vs 11.1 min, P = 0.022). Adenoma detection rates were 30.7% in UTC and 26.3% in PDC (P = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy using UTC was almost equivalent to that of PDC in older female patients, with significantly less pain compared with PDC. UTC may be an alternative to PDC for the difficult colon.

Double-balloon colonoscopy carried out by a trainee after incomplete conventional colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It has been reported that double-balloon colonoscopy (DBC) is useful for patients after failed colonoscopy. In most cases previously reported, expert colonoscopists have carried out DBC. However, DBC may not require significant expertise. The objective of the present study is to assess DBC carried out by an inexperienced colonoscopist in patients referred after previously incomplete colonoscopy. METHODS: In a single center between June 2011 and September 2012, we enrolled 28 consecutive patients referred following incomplete conventional colonoscopy. The reported reasons for previous failed colonoscopy were severe pain during the procedure in 15, long redundant colon in 13 and sigmoid fixation in eight. Under instruction by an experienced colonoscopist, all procedures were carried out by a gastroenterology trainee with little colonoscopy experience. A double-balloon instrument with carbon dioxide insufflation was used under fluoroscopic guidance, with i.v. sedation. Cecal intubation rate, time to cecum and patient-reported pain using a visual analog scale (0 to 10) were evaluated. RESULTS: The trainee achieved a cecal intubation in all patients (100%) without primary involvement by the experienced colonoscopist. Time to cecum ranged from 6 min to 66 min (median time to cecum 15 min 55 s). No patients required additional sedation. Visual analogue pain scores ranged from 0/10 to 10/10 (median score 2.5/10). There were no complications. CONCLUSION: DBC may enable inexperienced colonoscopists to achieve total colonoscopy after previously incomplete conventional colonoscopy.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm penetrating to the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum demonstrated on MR cholangiopancreatography with an oral negative contrast agent.

A 65-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to epigastric pain. Abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated marked dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) and communication to the gastric and duodenal lumen was suspected. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a villous tumor with white mucous discharge in the posterior wall of the gastric corpus and duodenal bulb. Pathological specimens showed mucin-producing epithelium with nuclear atypia that had developed in a papillary form. Based on these findings, we diagnosed intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) arising in the MPD with penetration into the gastric and duodenal lumen. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with an oral negative contrast agent (manganese chloride tetrahydrate) showed a fistulous tract not only to the stomach and duodenum, but also to the jejunum. MRCP demonstrated mucous streaming with remarkably high intensity. In this case, an oral negative contrast agent was useful to distinguish mucous discharge from gastric fluid, facilitating the diagnosis of penetration to the jejunum. This finding was unobtainable by CT or EGD. When IPMN penetrating to other organs is suspected, MRCP with an oral negative contrast agent may provide important information.

Risk Factors and Predictive Biomarkers for Anastomotic Leakage after Colorectal Cancer Surgery with the Double Stapling Technique.

Objectives: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a serious complication associated with morbidity, mortality, and poor prognosis. This study aimed to identify the risk factors and predictive biomarkers for AL after colorectal surgery with double stapling technique (DST) anastomosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 331 patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer surgery with DST anastomosis between April 2012 and July 2021. Patient-, tumor-, and surgery-related variables were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the risk factors for AL. Postoperative inflammatory biomarkers were also analyzed to identify the predictive factors for AL. Results: AL occurred in 28 (8.5%) patients. In multivariate analysis, male sex, a history of diabetes mellitus and high ligation of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) were significant risk factors for AL. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on postoperative day (POD) 3 and 7 were significantly correlated with AL (OR; 95% CI, 1.134; 1.044-1.232, p = 0.003, and 1.154; 1.036-1.286, p = 0.009, respectively). The cut-off value of CRP on POD 3 was 10.91 mg/dL (sensitivity 0.714, specificity 0.835, positive predictive value [PPV] 0.290, and negative predictive value [NPV] 0.969). The cut-off value of CRP on POD 7 was 4.58 mg/dL (sensitivity 0.821, specificity 0.872, PPV 0.377, and NPV 0.981). Conclusions: Male sex, a history of diabetes mellitus and high ligation of IMA were risk factors for AL in colorectal cancer surgery with DST anastomosis. The predictive biomarkers for cases without AL were CRP levels on POD 3 and 7.

Short-term outcomes of patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal lesions.

Objectives: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of colorectal lesions was invented in Japan, but postoperative management including hospital stay has not been reconsidered due to the Japanese insurance system. To explore appropriate postoperative management after colorectal ESD, we reviewed short-term outcomes after ESD in non-selected consecutive patients. Methods: Patients who underwent colorectal ESD from April 2013 to September 2020 in one institution were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of adverse events stratified by the Clavien-Dindo classification with five grades. A logistic regression model with the Firth procedure was applied to investigate predictors of severe (grade III or greater) adverse events. Results: A total of 330 patients (female 40%, male 60%; median 72 years; IQR 65-80 years) with colorectal lesions (median 30 mm, IQR 23-40 mm; colon 77%, rectum 23%; serrated lesion 4%, adenoma 47%, mucosal cancer 30%, invasive cancer 18%) was evaluated. The en bloc resection rate was 97%. The median dissection time was 58 min (IQR: 38-86). Intraprocedural perforation occurred in 3%, all successfully treated by endoscopic clipping. No delayed perforations occurred. Postprocedural bleeding occurred in 3% on days 1-10 (median day 2); all were controlled endoscopically. Severe adverse events included only delayed bleeding. In analyzing severe adverse events in a multivariate logistic regression model with the Firth procedure, antithrombotic agent use (p = 0.016) and rectal lesions (p = 0.0010) were both significant predictors. Conclusions: No serious adverse events occurred in this series. Four days of hospitalization may be too long for the majority of patients after ESD.

Sonographic findings of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule from ovarian cancer.

Sister Mary Joseph's nodule (SMJN), which is known as a malignant tumor metastasized to the umbilicus, is a rare condition. We report ultrasonic findings of SMJN secondary to ovarian cancer in a 66-year-old woman. The umbilical tumor was observed as a hypoechoic mass with punctate hyperechoic foci. A pathological specimen obtained by needle biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma with psammoma bodies. A comparison of the ultrasonographic findings with the pathological findings of the resected specimen suggested that the hyperechoic foci corresponded to psammoma bodies. When hyperechoic foci are observed inside SMJN by ultrasonography, adenocarcinoma from ovarian cancer should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Bowel habits and gender correlate with colon length measured by CT colonography.

PURPOSE: CT colonography enables three-dimensional measurement of colon length. However, previous studies using CT colonography have not examined the association with gender, age, physique, a history of laparotomy and bowel habits, all possible contributory factors to colon length. The aim of this study is to investigate factors associated with colon length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a post hoc analysis based on data obtained from a previous multi-center trial including 321 patients with positive fecal immunochemical tests who underwent CT colonography. Colon length was measured using a computer-generated center line and was divided at the iliac crest level into the distal and proximal colons. Bowel habits were classified into three groups: A-daily; B-once every 2 or 3 days; and C-less than once in 3 days. Statistical comparison was made using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's correction. RESULTS: A total of 295 patients were analyzed. The entire colon length (cm, mean ± standard deviation) of individual patients was 150.3 ± 18.5 cm and ranged from 109.7 to 195.9 cm. The female colon was significantly longer than the male colon (154.3 ± 18.1 cm vs. 147.1 ± 18.3 cm; p = 0.022). Colon length showed trends associated with age (p = 0.18) and a history of laparotomy (p = 0.14). According to bowel habits, the entire colon measured 147.4 ± 17.9 in group A, 154.7 ± 18.5 in group B and 158.6 ± 18.3 in group C, and significant differences were observed for "A vs. C" (p = 0.002) and "A vs. B" (p = 0.014). In subgroup analysis by colon segment, the proximal colon trended similarly to the entire colon while there were no trends for the distal colon. CONCLUSIONS: This study has clearly demonstrated that bowel habits and gender both correlate with the length of the entire colon measured by CT colonography, and in particular, the proximal colon. Using CT colonography, we measured the colon length in 295 patients. The entire colon length was 150.3 ± 18.5 cm on average. Females and constipated (less frequent defecation) patients have a significantly longer colon, and in particular, the proximal colon. Colon length showed trends associated with age and a history of laparotomy.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose CT colonography for the detection of colorectal polyps: a feasibility study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this feasibility study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose CT colonography using iterative reconstruction algorithms with reference to standard colonoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prior to this study, a phantom study was performed to investigate the optimal protocol for ultra-low-dose CT colonography. A total of 206 patients with average/high risk of colorectal cancer were recruited. After undergoing full bowel preparation, the patients were scanned in the prone and supine positions with the CT conditions set to 120 kV, standard deviation 45 to 50, and an adaptive iterative reconstruction algorithm applied. Two expert readers read the images independently. The main outcome measures were the per-patient and per-polyp accuracies for the detection of polyps ≥ 10 mm, with colonoscopy results as the reference standard. RESULTS: Two hundred patients (102 females, mean age 67.5 years) underwent both ultra-low-dose CT colonography and colonoscopy on the same day. The mean radiation exposure dose was 0.64 ± 0.34 mSv. On colonoscopy, 39 patients had 45 polyps ≥ 10 mm (non-polypoid morphology 7), including 4 cancers. Per-patient sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT colonography for polyps ≥ 10 mm were 0.74, 0.96, and 0.92 for reader one, and 0.74, 0.99, and 0.94 for reader two, respectively. Per-polyp sensitivities for polyps ≥ 10 mm were 0.73 for reader one and 0.71 for reader two. On subgroup analysis by morphology, non-polypoid polyps ≥ 10 mm were not detected by both readers. CONCLUSION: Extreme ultra-low-dose CT colonography had an insufficient diagnostic performance for the detection of polyps ≥ 10 mm, because it was unable to detect non-polypoid polyps. This study showed that the problem with ultra-low-dose CT colonography was the lack of detectability of small-size polyps, especially non-polypoid polyps. To use ultra-low-dose CT colonography clinically, it is necessary to resolve the problems identified by this study.