Narrow-band imaging versus Lugol chromoendoscopy for esophageal squamous cell cancer screening in normal endoscopic practice: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is as sensitive as Lugol chromoendoscopy to detect esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) but its specificity, which appears higher than that of Lugol chromoendoscopy in expert centers, remains to be established in general practice. This study aimed to prove the superiority of NBI specificity over Lugol chromoendoscopy in the detection of esophageal SCC and high grade dysplasia (HGD) in current general practice (including tertiary care centers, local hospitals, and private clinics). METHODS: This prospective randomized multicenter trial included consecutive patients with previous or current SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract who were scheduled for gastroscopy. Patients were randomly allocated to either the Lugol or NBI group. In the Lugol group, examination with white light and Lugol chromoendoscopy were successively performed. In the NBI group, NBI examination was performed after white-light endoscopy. We compared the diagnostic characteristics of NBI and Lugol chromoendoscopy in a per-patient analysis. RESULTS: 334 patients with history of SCC were included and analyzed (intention-to-treat) from 15 French institutions between March 2011 and December 2015. In per-patient analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood values were 100 %, 66.0 %, 21.2 %, and 100 %, respectively, for Lugol chromoendoscopy vs. 100 %, 79.9 %, 37.5 %, and 100 %, respectively, for NBI. Specificity was greater with NBI than with Lugol (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: As previously demonstrated in expert centers, NBI was more specific than Lugol in current gastroenterology practice for the detection of early SCC, but combined approaches with both NBI and Lugol could improve the detection of squamous neoplasia.

[Severe acute syphilitic hepatitis]. / Hépatite aiguë sévère d'origine syphilitique.

We report the case of a 23-year-old patient with very marked hepatic cytolysis (ASAT: 18N; ALAT: 44N) associated with biological icterus and mucocutaneous jaundice. Initially, no etiology was identified due to the absence of toxic consumption, the negativity of hepatotropic virus serologies and tests for autoimmune pathologies. Following the appearance of cutaneous signs three weeks after the onset of hepatic involvement, a syphilis serology was performed, which proved positive and led to the diagnosis of secondary syphilis. To our knowledge, only one case of hepatic syphilis with such intense hepatic cytolysis has been described. Usually, the hepatic damage is moderate, with transaminases not exceeding 5 times normal values. Syphilitic hepatitis is rare and occurs in less than 10% of syphilis cases. This case makes it possible to identify syphilis as a neglected etiology of acute hepatitis which should be considered in a context suggestive of infection even in the absence of skin signs.

[Pseudo-tumoral hepatic tuberculosis developing into a multinodular form despite treatment]. / Tuberculose hépatique pseudo-tumorale évoluant vers une forme multi-nodulaire malgré le traitement.

Localized macronodular tuberculosis of the liver is rare. In this location antituberculosis therapy results in a favorable clinical evolution in 100% of cases. We report a pseudo-tumoral form of this condition with no specific clinical, biological or radiological data. After ultrasound guided needle aspiration cytology suggesting metastasis, the correct diagnosis was obtained on liver biopsy after laparotomy. After what was probably inadequate therapy, the enlargement of several hepatic and splenic macronodules was observed. After two years and eight months, the clinical condition of the patient was good but radiological features remained. The risk of diagnostic errors and the therapeutic difficulties in the zones where the incidence of tuberculosis is low should be noted.

Prospective evaluation of a new ultrathin one-plane bending videoendoscope for transnasal EGD: a comparative study on performance and tolerance.

BACKGROUND: EGD, with small-diameter endoscopes, is routinely performed via a nasal route in adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a new ultrathin one-plane bending videoendoscope for transnasal EGD. DESIGN: Single center, prospective, randomized study. SETTING: Edouard Herriot University Hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 122 outpatients (median age, 49 years [18-81 years], 62 men and 60 women) were randomized into 2 groups (on a 2:1 basis) according to the endoscope used: (1) a standard 5.9-mm-diameter videoendoscope (80 patients) or (2) a one-plane bending high resolution 4.9-mm-diameter videoendoscope (42 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The operator assessed the quality of examination by using standard scores or a 100-mm visual scale. Patients quantified tolerance by using a 100-mm visual scale. RESULTS: The duration of the procedure was the same in each group. The feasibility of transnasal insertion was significantly higher when using the 4.9-mm-diameter endoscope (97.61% [41/42 patients] vs 88.75% [71/80 patients], P<.05). The tolerance of EGD was significantly better in the group with the small videoendoscope, for global discomfort, pain, belching, and bloating. Similarly, acceptation of a new EGD in similar conditions was higher in group 2 (92.9% vs 80%, P<.05). The quality of examination (global, lavage, inflation, suction) was not different between the 2 groups. LIMITATIONS: Evaluation of patient tolerance and quality of examination was based on subjective features. CONCLUSIONS: Availability of a new ultrathin one-plane bending videoendoscope represents a major technical improvement for transnasal EGD, which significantly improves both feasibility and patient tolerance, without affecting the quality of the examination.