Cold versus hot endoscopic mucosal resection for nonpedunculated colorectal polyps sized 6-10 mm: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Cold snare polypectomy is an established method for the resection of small colorectal polyps; however, significant incomplete resection rates still leave room for improvement. We aimed to assess the efficacy of cold snare endoscopic mucosal resection (CS-EMR), compared with hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection (HS-EMR), for nonpedunculated polyps sized 6 - 10 mm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a dual-center, randomized, noninferiority trial. Consecutive adult patients with at least one nonpedunculated polyp sized 6 - 10 mm were enrolled. Eligible polyps were randomized (1:1) to be treated with either CS-EMR or HS-EMR. Both methods involved submucosal injection of a methylene blue-tinted normal saline solution. The primary noninferiority end point was histological eradication evaluated by postpolypectomy biopsies (noninferiority margin - 10 %). Secondary outcomes included occurrence of intraprocedural bleeding, clinically significant postprocedural bleeding, and perforation. RESULTS: Among 689 patients screened, 155 patients with 164 eligible polyps were included (CS-EMR n = 83, HS-EMR n = 81). The overall rate of histological complete resection was 92.8 % in the CS-EMR group and 96.3 % in the HS-EMR group (difference 3.5 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] - 4.15 to 11.56), showing noninferiority of CS-EMR compared with HS-EMR. CS-EMR was shown to be noninferior both for polyps measuring 6 - 7 mm (CS-EMR 93.3 %; HS-EMR 100 %; 95 %CI - 7.95 to 21.3) and those of 8 - 10 mm (92.5 % vs. 94.7 %, respectively; 95 %CI - 7.91 to 13.16). Rates of intraprocedural bleeding were similar between the two groups (CS-EMR 3.6 %, HS-EMR 1.2 %; P  = 0.30). No clinically significant postprocedural bleeding or perforation occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: CS-EMR appears to be a valuable modification of the standard cold snare technique, obviating the need to use diathermy for nonpedunculated colorectal polyps sized 6 - 10 mm.

Simulated performance of flexible sigmoidoscopy-based screening for advanced neoplasia detection in a Greek population.

BACKGROUND: Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) is resource-conserving and may increase adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening compared to total colonoscopy. We investigated the diagnostic performance of FS-based screening for advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN), including advanced adenomatous neoplasms (AANs), advanced serrated lesions (ASLs) and CRCs. METHODS: Data from 2005 subjects undergoing average-risk screening colonoscopy in a single center in Greece were retrospectively reviewed. Sensitivities of FS-based screening for detecting AANs, ASLs, CRCs or any ACN were simulated on a per-lesion basis, assuming: 1) FS up to the sigmoid-descending junction (FS-1) or splenic flexure (FS-2); 2) colonoscopy referral criteria according to the 4 screening FS trials conducted in UK, Italy, Norway, and USA. RESULTS: Overall, 114 ACNs (93 AANs, 17 ASLs, 4 CRCs) were detected in 102 (5.1%) subjects. The overall sensitivities of FS-1 and FS-2 alone for the detection of any ACN were 41.2% and 54.4%, respectively. Assuming different colonoscopy referral criteria, the estimated sensitivities for any ACN ranged from 48.2-50.9% for FS-1 and 60.5-64% for FS-2. The overall sensitivities were lower for ASLs (FS-1: 35.3-41.2%, FS-2: 41.2-52.9%) compared to those observed for AANs (FS-1: 48.4-51.6%, FS-2: 62.4-66.7%). The difference was particularly pronounced in women, in whom all 4 criteria led equally to a very low sensitivity for ASLs (30%). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of FS-based screening in Greek subjects would have led to the detection of 48-64% of all ACNs. An alarmingly low detection of ASLs among women may call for gender-specific colonoscopy referral strategies.

Genetic mapping of pancreatic cancer by targeted next-generation sequencing in a cohort of patients managed with nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy or agents targeting the EGFR axis: a retrospective analysis of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG).

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies ranking fourth among the leading causes of cancer death with diagnosis at late stages carrying a dismal prognosis. The aim of our retrospective study was to describe the nature and the incidence of gene mutations and genomic instability in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinomas of a Greek patient population fully annotated with clinicopathological data. We used a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel encompassing genes commonly mutated in pancreatic tumours in a patient population managed with either nab-paclitaxel regimens or targeted compounds modulating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/AKT/mTOR axis. We identified KRAS, TP53, SMAD4 and CDKN2A as being the most prevalent mutations in the study population with the exception of an intriguingly lower incidence regarding KRAS mutants. Homologous recombination gene mutations were found to be mutually exclusive with CDKN2A mutations. The coexistence of both KRAS and TP53 mutation seems to adversely affect the outcome of the patients whether treated with targeted therapy against EGFR/Akt/mTOR axis or cytotoxic drugs. The poor prognosis observed, correlated to late presentation, specific molecular mutations and to high mutational load warrant prospective validating studies and research into the mechanistic pathophysiology of pancreatic tumours for more effective therapeutic targeting.

Intravascular B-cell lymphoma with leukemic presentation: case report and literature review.

Intravascular lymphoma is an extremely rare, disseminated, and aggressive extranodal CD20+ non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by the presence of lymphoma cells only in the lumina of small vessels. We report a 72-year-old woman with a diagnosis of intravascular lymphoma presented with splenomegaly and leukemic appearance in the peripheral blood smear. Her clinical course was rapidly deteriorated before the initiation of specific chemotherapy and finally died due to multiorgan insufficiency. Bone marrow biopsy revealed a characteristic infiltration of CD5, CD10 B-cell lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a CD5, CD10 intravascular B-cell lymphoma with leukemic presentation in peripheral blood with multiple cytogenetic aberrations.

Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma of sigmoid colon in a patient with multiple myeloma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an uncommon tumor that most often involves the nasopharynx or upper respiratory tract. Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a type of plasma cell neoplasm that can present as a primary tumor or secondary to another plasma cell neoplasm, such as multiple myeloma. Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma is usually noted in the advanced stages of the disease. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract occurs in approximately 10% of cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old Caucasian woman with known diverticular disease of the colon and multiple myeloma diagnosed 3 years previously, with monoclonal bands of immunoglobulin A, lambda light chains, and multiple osteolytic lesions, presented to our hospital with abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, and pneumoperitoneum. She underwent left colectomy for diverticulitis with perforation, and an extramedullary secondary colonic plasmacytoma was found in histopathological examination of the sigmoid colon. CONCLUSIONS: Plasmacytoma is known to occur in extraosseous sites. The stomach and small intestine are the most commonly involved sites in the gastrointestinal tract. Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the colon is rare. Colonic plasmacytoma may have varying clinical presentations, such as inflammatory bowel disease and multiple colonic strictures. Although these cases are rare, treating physicians as well as radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons should be aware of this entity.

Advanced choroidal melanoma with a desirable aesthetic outcome after enucleation: A case report.

Choroidal melanoma is a rare ocular tumor. The present study reports the case of a 66-year-old male who presented with chronic headache and progressive visual loss. Physical eye examination and combined A- and B-mode ultrasonography detected choroidal melanoma. Due to tumor characteristics the eye was enucleated restoring the orbital volume with a 22 mm intraorbital bioceramic sphere implant. The eye was subjected to histopathological examination that confirmed the choroidal melanoma, 2 cm in diameter and 0.8 cm in elevation, occupying almost half of the globe. Microscopically, the neoplasm comprises mostly of epithelioid cells and fewer Type B spindle cells, with intense pigmentation. AJCC staging for the melanoma was T4b. The patient was fitted with an artificial eye after enucleation. Thirteen months after initial diagnosis, liver metastases were confirmed during his scheduled follow-up.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: current opinions on a rare, but potentially curable neoplasm.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) share a unique genetic identity, functional behavior, and clinical course. Compared with tumors of the exocrine pancreas, they are rare and show a different biologic behavior and prognosis. On the basis of data from recent studies, all PNETs, outside of small insulinomas, should be considered potentially malignant and treated accordingly. Untreated tumors have a high possibility to grow locally into adjacent structures or spread to distant organs. Although surgical excision irrespective of tumor functioning or nonfunctioning state remains the cornerstone of therapy, providing the best disease-free and survival rates to date, the understanding of the genetic nature of the disease yields new 'targets' to consider in drug development. The aim of this review is to summarize all recent advances of genetic research and new drug development in terms of PNETs, especially their genetic identity and subsequent alterations leading to the development of near or total malignant activity, and the new medical treatment strategies of this potentially curable disease on the basis of therapeutical agents acting, where possible, at the genetic level.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach. A study of 17 cases.

AIM: The gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is an uncommon tumor usually diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy or surgical resection. We evaluated the efficacy and accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy in the diagnosis of GIST. METHOD: Seventeen patients with gastric GIST diagnosed by EUS-guided FNA were included in this study (from 2005 to 2007). A single endosonographer performed all procedures. An attending cytopathologist was present on site to assess specimen adequacy. All tumors were reviewed for EUS, cytomorphologic, histologic and immunohistochemical features. RESULTS: Eleven patients (64.7%) were male and six (35.5%) were female, with a median age of 60.7 years. The clinical indication for EUS-FNA procedure in all patients was the evaluation of submucosal tumor. EUS revealed a solid hypoechoic tumor in all cases with the largest diameter being from 9.5 mm to 70 mm (median diameter 31.9 mm). Cytologic specimen was adequate upon on-site evaluation in all cases, with an average of two passes performed. Spindle cells were present in the cytologic material in all cases and epithelial cells in two cases. Nuclear irregularities and mitoses were not observed. Immunohistochemical (IHC) stain in cell blocks confirmed the c-kit and CD34 positivity in all cases. There were no false negative or false positive findings. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of EUS-guided FNA procedure in the diagnosis of gastric GIST in Greece. We demonstrated that EUS-FNA provides accurate diagnosis of GIST in combination with IHC reactivity for c-kit, performed in adequate cytology specimens obtained by FNA.