Evaluating the usefulness of considering the size and morphological type of type B2 vessel area based on Japan Esophageal Society classification in estimating tumor invasion depth in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas: study protocol for a prospective observational study (Japan BEES study).

BACKGROUND: Accurate evaluation of tumor invasion depth is essential to determine the appropriate treatment strategy for patients with superficial esophageal cancer. The pretreatment tumor depth diagnosis currently relies on the magnifying endoscopic classification established by the Japan Esophageal Society (JES). However, the diagnostic accuracy of tumors involving the muscularis mucosa (MM) or those invading the upper third of the submucosal layer (SM1), which correspond to Type B2 vessels in the JES classification, remains insufficient. Previous retrospective studies have reported improved accuracy by considering additional findings, such as the size and macroscopic type of the Type B2 vessel area, in evaluating tumor invasion depth. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether incorporating the size and/or macroscopic type of the Type B2 vessel area improves the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative tumor invasion depth prediction based on the JES classification. METHODS: This multicenter prospective observational study will include patients diagnosed with MM/SM1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on the Type B2 vessels of the JES classification. The tumor invasion depth will be evaluated using both the standard JES classification (standard-depth evaluation) and the JES classification with additional findings (hypothetical-depth evaluation) for the same set of patients. Data from both endoscopic depth evaluations will be electronically collected and stored in a cloud-based database before endoscopic resection or esophagectomy. This study's primary endpoint is accuracy, defined as the proportion of cases in which the preoperative depth diagnosis matched the histological depth diagnosis after resection. Outcomes of standard- and hypothetical-depth evaluation will be compared. DISCUSSION: Collecting reliable prospective data on the JES classification, explicitly concerning the B2 vessel category, has the potential to provide valuable insights. Incorporating additional findings into the in-depth evaluation process may guide clinical decision-making and promote evidence-based medicine practices in managing superficial esophageal cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry of the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN-CTR) under the identifier UMIN000051145, registered on 23/5/2023.

Evaluating false-positive detection in a computer-aided detection system for colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Computer-aided detection (CADe) systems can efficiently detect polyps during colonoscopy. However, false-positive (FP) activation is a major limitation of CADe. We aimed to compare the rate and causes of FP using CADe before and after an update designed to reduce FP. METHODS: We analyzed CADe-assisted colonoscopy videos recorded between July 2022 and October 2022. The number and causes of FPs and excessive time spent by the endoscopist on FP (ET) were compared pre- and post-update using 1:1 propensity score matching. RESULTS: During the study period, 191 colonoscopy videos (94 and 97 in the pre- and post-update groups, respectively) were recorded. Propensity score matching resulted in 146 videos (73 in each group). The mean number of FPs and median ET per colonoscopy were significantly lower in the post-update group than those in the pre-update group (4.2 ± 3.7 vs 18.1 ± 11.1; P < 0.001 and 0 vs 16 s; P < 0.001, respectively). Mucosal tags, bubbles, and folds had the strongest association with decreased FP post-update (pre-update vs post-update: 4.3 ± 3.6 vs 0.4 ± 0.8, 0.32 ± 0.70 vs 0.04 ± 0.20, and 8.6 ± 6.7 vs 1.6 ± 1.7, respectively). There was no significant decrease in the true positive rate (post-update vs pre-update: 95.0% vs 99.2%; P = 0.09) or the adenoma detection rate (post-update vs pre-update: 52.1% vs 49.3%; P = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The updated CADe can reduce FP without impairing polyp detection. A reduction in FP may help relieve the burden on endoscopists.

Clinical outcomes and learning curve of Tip-in endoscopic mucosal resection for 15-25 mm colorectal neoplasms among non-experts.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tip-in endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has a high en bloc resection rate for large colorectal neoplasms. However, non-experts' performance in Tip-in EMR has not been investigated. We investigated whether Tip-in EMR can be achieved effectively and safely even by non-experts. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent Tip-in EMR for 15-25 mm colorectal nonpedunculated neoplasms at a Japanese tertiary cancer center between January 2014 and December 2020. Baseline characteristics, treatment outcomes, learning curve of non-experts, and risk factors of failing self-achieved en bloc resection were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 597 lesions were analyzed (438 by experts and 159 by non-experts). The self-achieved en bloc resection (69.8% vs 88.6%, P < 0.001) and self-achieved R0 resection (58.3% vs 76.5%, P < 0.001) rates were significantly lower in non-experts with <10 cases of experience than in experts, but not in non-experts with >10 cases. Adverse event (P = 0.165) and local recurrence (P = 0.892) rates were not significantly different between experts and non-experts. Risk factors of failing self-achieved en bloc resection were non-polypoid morphology (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.6-7.3, P = 0.001), lesions with an underlying semilunar fold (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6-7.3, P < 0.001), positive non-lifting sign (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.0, P = 0.023), and non-experts with an experience of ≤10 cases (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.1-6.3, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of Tip-in EMR for 15-25 mm lesions performed by non-experts were favorable.

A novel low-power pure-cut hot snare polypectomy for 10-14 mm colorectal adenomas: An ex vivo and a clinical prospective feasibility study (SHARP trial).

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hot snare polypectomy using blend or coagulation current is widely used; however, it causes deeper tissue heat injury, leading to adverse events. We hypothesized that hot polypectomy using low-power pure cut current (PureCut, effect 1 10 W) could reduce deeper tissue heat injury. We conducted animal experiments to evaluate the deeper tissue heat injury and conducted a prospective clinical study to examine its cutting ability. METHODS: In a porcine rectum, hot polypectomy using Blend current (EndoCut, effect 3 40 W) and low-power pure cut current was performed. The deepest part of heat destruction and thickness of the non-burned submucosal layer were evaluated histologically. Based on the results, we performed low-power pure cut current hot polypectomy for 10-14 mm adenoma. The primary endpoint was complete resection defined as one-piece resection with negative for adenoma in quadrant biopsies from the defect margin. RESULTS: In experiments, all low-power pure-cut resections were limited within the submucosal layer whereas blend current resections coagulated the muscular layer in 13% (3/23). The remaining submucosal layer was thicker in low-power pure cut current than in blend current resections. In the clinical study, low-power pure-cut hot polypectomy removed all 100 enrolled polyps. For 98 pathologically neoplastic polyps, complete resection was achieved in 84 (85.7%, 95% confidence interval, 77-92%). The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval was not more than 15% below the pre-defined threshold of 86.6%. No severe adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: A novel low-power pure-cut hot polypectomy may be feasible for adenoma measuring 10-14 mm. (UMIN000037678).

Endoscopic causes and characteristics of missed gastric cancers after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Because endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) preserves the entire stomach, missed gastric cancers (MGCs) are often found in the remaining gastric mucosa. However, the endoscopic causes of MGCs remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the endoscopic causes and characteristics of MGCs after ESD. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2018, all patients undergoing ESD for initially detected EGC were enrolled. According to a review of EGD images before ESD, we identified the endoscopic causes (perceptual, exposure, sampling errors, and inadequate preparation) and characteristics of MGC in each endoscopic cause. RESULTS: Of 2208 patients who underwent ESD for initial EGC, 82 patients (3.7%) had 100 MGCs. The breakdown of endoscopic causes of MGCs was as follows: 69 (69%) perceptual errors, 23 (23%) exposure errors, 7 (7%) sampling errors, and 1 (1%) inadequate preparation. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for perceptual error were male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-5.18), isochromatic coloration (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.47-6.84), greater curvature (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.121-4.40), and lesion size ≤12 mm (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.07-2.84). The sites of exposure errors were around the incisura angularis (11 [48%]), posterior wall of the gastric body (6 [26%]), and antrum (5 [21%]). CONCLUSIONS: We identified MGCs in 4 categories and clarified their characteristics. Quality improvements in EGD observation, with attention to the risks of perceptual and site of exposure errors, can potentially prevent missing EGCs.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial circumferential esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Our aim was to elucidate the clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial circumferential esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (cESCC). METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent ESD for cESCC between 2009 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Short-term outcomes were en-bloc resection, R0 resection, procedure time, and adverse events, whereas long-term outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), cumulative recurrence rate (CRR), and clinical course. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with 52 cESCCs (median tumor length, 5.0 cm; interquartile range [IQR], 4.0-6.3) were evaluated. The en-bloc resection and R0 resection rates were 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.4-100) and 69.2% (95% CI, 54.9-81.3), respectively. The median procedure time was 112 minutes (IQR, 87-162). Intraoperative perforations and delayed bleeding occurred in 4 (7.7%) and 1 (1.9%) patients, respectively. Among the 42 patients who underwent ESD alone, 36 (85.7%) experienced esophageal strictures. Within a median follow-up of 49.1 months (IQR, 25.7-74.7), the 4-year OS, DSS, and CRR were 86.2% (95% CI, 71.6-93.6), 95.5% (95% CI, 83.1-98.9), and 11.5% (95% CI, 4.1-23.1), respectively. There was no significant difference in the OS between patients with low-risk cESCC (pT1a, negative lymphovascular invasion, and negative vertical margin) and high-risk lesions, regardless of undergoing additional treatment (P = .93). In 31 patients with low-risk cESCC who were treated with ESD alone, the 4-year OS, DSS, and CRR were 93.2%, 100%, and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is a highly curative treatment for cESCC with favorable long-term outcomes, especially in low-risk patients. Stricture-prevention techniques should be improved to optimize the benefits of ESD for cESCC.

Diagnostic performance of endoscopy for subsquamous extension of superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

OBJECTIVES: Extension of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction under the squamous epithelium may lead to errors when determining lateral margins. However, the characteristics of subsquamous extension are unclear. Herein, we evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of subsquamous extension of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and the diagnostic performance of endoscopy for this condition. METHODS: Eighty-nine consecutive patients with superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who underwent endoscopic or surgical resection at a tertiary cancer center between January 2010 and December 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Endoscopic subsquamous extension was defined as a submucosal tumor-like elevation covered by squamous epithelium and/or a brownish area with abnormal microvessels on the squamous epithelium observed using narrow-band imaging. The diagnostic performance of endoscopy for subsquamous extension was evaluated using histological subsquamous extension as gold standard. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (44%) had histological subsquamous extension. Proton pump inhibitor use was significantly associated with histological subsquamous extension [odds ratio: 4.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.77-12.2]. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of endoscopic subsquamous extension were 56% (95% CI: 40-72%), 96% (86-99%), 92% (73-99%), 74% (62-84%) and 79% (69-87%), respectively. The median length difference between histological and endoscopic subsquamous extension was 2 mm (range: -6 to 9 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of endoscopic diagnosis of subsquamous extension was unsatisfactory. The endoscopic length of subsquamous extension tended to be underestimated. An oral safety margin of one centimeter is reasonable during endoscopic resection of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.IMPACT STATEMENT This study will contribute significantly to the literature because this is the first study to determine the difference between the lengths of subsquamous extension detected endoscopically and histologically. This study determines the prevalence of subsquamous extension and identifies characteristics associated with subsquamous extension. An understanding of the risk of subsquamous extension is important when choosing a treatment strategy and planning the resection margins in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. This study provides patients with subsquamous extension characteristics and suggests a method for accurately diagnosing this condition.

Complete endoscopic removal rate of detected colorectal polyps in a real world out-patient practical setting.

OBJECTIVES: Colonoscopy with adenomatous polypectomy reduces the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. We introduced a strategy of removing all neoplastic polyps in single-session out-patient colonoscopy using cold polypectomy. We aimed to investigate the achievement of single-session complete removal rate of detected colorectal polyps in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included colonoscopy-scheduled 40-79-year-old outpatients, with at least one colorectal neoplasm, between January 2015 and December 2016. Exclusion criteria were: colorectal neoplasms 21 mm or larger in size; pre-examination for colorectal surgery or endoscopic submucosal dissection; colonoscopy performed by health check program; ongoing antithrombotic treatment; inflammatory bowel disease; familial adenomatous polyposis. We defined 'clean colon' as the removal of all detected neoplastic polyps in a single-session colonoscopy. We evaluated clean colon rate, factors relating to clean colon failure and complications. RESULTS: We evaluated 2527 patients (mean age 68 years; 799 women) with 8203 colorectal polyps (7675 adenomas, 423 serrated lesions, 105 Tis and T1 cancers). In 1-4 mm polyps, cold snare polypectomy (CSP; 51.8%) and cold forceps polypectomy (CFP; 45.8%) were applied. Clean colon rates were 95.1% per patient and 97.1% per lesion. The significant factors denoting clean colon failure were inadequate bowel preparation, ≥5 lesions, and the most advanced estimated histology of adenocarcinoma, on multivariate analyses. Post-polypectomy bleeding requiring endoscopic hemostasis occurred in five patients (0.2%) who had undergone endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or hot snare polypectomy (HSP). Perforation occurred in one patient (0.04%) with EMR. CONCLUSIONS: The clean colon rates were satisfactory in single-session out-patient colonoscopy using cold polypectomy.

Local recurrence risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma due to intralesional damage during endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It is unclear whether additional treatment should be considered given the recurrence risk after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) when the vertical margin is positive or unclear (VM1/VMX) due to intralesional damage. This study aimed to elucidate the local recurrence risk of ESCC caused by intralesional damage during ESD. METHODS: Among consecutive patients with pT1a ESCCs initially treated by ESD at our institution between January 2006 and December 2018, ESCCs diagnosed as VM1/VMX were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria were piecemeal resection and any additional treatment after ESD. Intralesional damage included the following three types: a macroscopic hole inside the lesion, an incision from the lateral margin of the specimen into the lesion, and crushing injury or burn effect into the deepest area of the lesion without an obvious hole. The local recurrence rate after ESD was primarily analyzed. RESULTS: Of 1174 pT1a ESCCs initially treated using ESD, 22 lesions were histopathologically diagnosed as VM1/VMX due to intralesional damage (1.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.8%). At a median follow-up period of 60.0 (interquartile range, 15.0-84.0) months, no local recurrence was observed (0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0-13.3%) among 21 lesions finally evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of intralesional damage during ESD for ESCC on local recurrence might be negligible. Follow-up without additional treatment may be acceptable even if intralesional damage occurs and results in VM1/VMX after ESD for pT1a ESCCs.

Optimization of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue sample acquisition for commercially available comprehensive genome profiling.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Optimal tumor samples are crucial for successful analysis using commercially available comprehensive genomic profiling (CACGP). However, samples acquired by endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) are occasionally insufficient, and no consensus on the optimal number of needle passes required for CACGP exists. This study aimed to explore the optimal number of needle passes required for EUS-TA to procure an ideal sample fulfilling the prerequisite criteria of CACGPs. METHODS: Patients who underwent EUS-TA for solid masses between November 2019 and July 2021 were retrospectively studied. The correlation between the acquisition rate of an ideal sample and the number of needle passes mounted on a microscope slide was evaluated. Additionally, the factors predicting a successful analysis were investigated in patients scheduled for CACGP using EUS-TA-obtained samples during the same period. RESULTS: EUS-TAs using 22- and 19-gauge (G) needles were performed in 336 and 57 patients, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the acquisition rate and the number of passes using a 22-G needle (38.9%, 45.0%, 83.7%, and 100% for 1, 2, 3, and 4 passes, respectively), while no correlation was found with a 19-G needle (84.2%, 83.3%, and 85.0% for 1, 2, and 3 passes, respectively). The analysis success rate in patients with scheduled CACGP was significantly higher with ideal samples than with suboptimal samples (94.1% vs 55.0%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The optimal estimated number of needle passes was 4 and 1-2 for 22- and 19-G needles, respectively.

Comparison of treatment outcomes between endoscopic submucosal dissection with the needle-type knife and insulated-tip knife for superficial esophageal neoplasms.

Our study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes between endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with an insulated-tip knife (ESD-IT) and a needle-type knife (ESD-N) for large superficial esophageal neoplasms, as no study of this kind has been previously reported. We used the dataset of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial that compared conventional ESD (C-ESD) and traction-assisted ESD (TA-ESD) for superficial esophageal neoplasms. We compared the procedural outcomes between ESD-IT and ESD-N in a post hoc analysis and conducted sub-analyses based on traction assistance and electrical knife type. We included 223 (EST-IT, n = 169; ESD-N, n = 54) patients with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. The operator handover rate due to ESD difficulties was significantly higher in ESD-N (ESD-IT = 0.6% vs. ESD-N = 13.0%, P = 0.001), while the injection volume was significantly higher in ESD-IT than in ESD-N (40.0 vs. 20.5 mL, P < 0.001). Other outcomes were comparable between both groups (procedural time: 51.0 vs. 49.5 minute, P = 0.89; complete resection: 90.5% vs. 90.7%, P > 0.99; and complication rate: 1.8% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.60 for ESD-IT and ESD-N, respectively). In the sub-analyses, the handover rate was significantly lower with TA-ESD than with C-ESD for ESD-N (3.2% vs. 26.1%, P = 0.034), and a significantly smaller injection volume was used in TA-ESD than in C-ESD for ESD-IT (31.5 vs. 47.0 mL, P < 0.01). ESD with either endoscopic device achieved favorable treatment outcomes with low complication rates. The handover rate in ESD-N and the injection volume in ESD-IT improved with the traction method.

Clinical course and management of adverse events after endoscopic resection of superficial duodenal epithelial tumors: Multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elucidate the clinical course and management of adverse events (AEs) after endoscopic resection (ER) for superficial duodenal epithelial tumors (SDETs). METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent ER of SDETs between January 2008 and July 2018 at 18 Japanese institutions were retrospectively enrolled. The study outcomes included the clinical course, management, and risk of surgical conversion with perioperative AEs after ER for SDETs. RESULTS: Of the 226 patients with AEs, the surgical conversion rate was 8.0% (18/226), including 3.7% (4/108), 1.0% (1/99), and 50.0% (12/24) of patients with intraoperative perforation, delayed bleeding, or delayed perforation, respectively. In the multivariate logistic analysis, involvement of the major papilla (odds ratio [OR] 12.788; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.098-77.961, P = 0.006) and delayed perforation (OR 37.054; 95% CI 10.219-134.366, P < 0.001) were significant risk factors for surgical conversion after AEs. Delayed bleeding occurred from postoperative days 1-14 or more, whereas delayed perforation occurred within 3 days in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical conversion rate was higher for delayed perforation than those for other AEs after ER of SDETs. Involvement of the major papilla and delayed perforation were significant risk factors for surgical conversion following AEs. In addition, reliable prevention of delayed perforation is required for 3 days after duodenal ER to prevent the need for surgical interventions.

Tip-in EMR as an alternative to endoscopic submucosal dissection for 20- to 30-mm nonpedunculated colorectal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tip-in EMR, which includes anchoring the snare tip, has recently shown a favorable en-bloc and R0 resection rate for colorectal neoplasms. Thus, Tip-in EMR may be an alternative to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We aimed to compare clinical outcomes between Tip-in EMR and ESD for large colorectal neoplasms. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients who underwent Tip-in EMR or ESD for 20- to 30-mm nonpedunculated colorectal neoplasms at a Japanese tertiary cancer center between January 2014 and December 2019. Baseline characteristics, treatment results, and long-term outcomes were analyzed using 1:1 propensity score matching. RESULTS: Seven hundred nine lesions were evaluated. The Tip-in EMR group included 1 lesion with a nonlifting sign but no lesions with fold convergence. After propensity score matching, each group included 140 lesions. The ESD group showed significantly higher en-bloc resection rates (99.3% vs 85.0%) and R0 resection rates (90.7% vs 62.9%). Procedure time was significantly shorter in the Tip-in EMR group (8 minutes vs 60 minutes). The Tip-in EMR and ESD groups did not differ significantly with respect to local recurrence rate (2.1% vs 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Tip-in EMR is comparable with ESD with respect to the local recurrence rate but has a shorter procedure time, despite the lower en-bloc and R0 resection rates for 20- to 30-mm nonpedunculated colorectal neoplasms without fold convergence or nonlifting sign. Thus, Tip-in EMR could be a feasible alternative to ESD in these lesions.

Second gastric cancer after curative endoscopic resection of differentiated-type early gastric cancer: post-hoc analysis of a single-arm confirmatory trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) can preserve the stomach; however, the remaining stomach can develop second gastric cancer. Few reports have prospectively investigated the incidence and treatment outcomes of second gastric cancer. METHODS: This post-hoc analysis used the dataset of the single-arm confirmatory trial, JCOG0607. The key inclusion criteria for JCOG0607 were solitary differentiated-type EGC and no previous gastrectomy or endoscopic treatment for EGC. Three hundred seventeen patients who underwent curative ER were included in this study. Surveillance endoscopy was performed 1 to 3 months after the initial ER and subsequently annually for at least 5 years. A lesion detected ≤1 year and >1 year after the initial ER was defined as overlooked gastric cancer (OGC) and metachronous gastric cancer (MGC), respectively. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 6.0 years (interquartile range, 5.1-7.0), 30 OGCs and 61 MGCs were detected in 24 and 48 patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence of OGC at 1 year and MGC at 5 years was 7.6% and 12.7%, respectively. ER and gastrectomy were performed in 85 lesions and 6 lesions, respectively. Pathologic evaluation showed 78 mucosal cancers, 12 submucosal cancers, and 1 advanced cancer. Eventually, 28 OGCs and 52 MGCs fulfilled the pathologic criteria for curative ER. CONCLUSIONS: Our study was the first to reveal the actual incidence of second gastric cancer after curative ER for differentiated-type gastric cancer. Most lesions could be treated with ER. Continuous endoscopic surveillance after curative ER is important to detect second gastric cancer.

Biliary obstruction and pancreatitis after duodenal stent placement in the descending duodenum: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Metallic stents placed in the descending duodenum can cause compression of the major duodenal papilla, resulting in biliary obstruction and pancreatitis. These are notable early adverse events of duodenal stent placement; however, they have been rarely examined. This study aimed to assess the incidence of and risk factors for biliary obstruction and/or pancreatitis after duodenal stent placement in the descending duodenum. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of consecutive patients who underwent metallic stent placement in the descending duodenum for malignant gastric outlet obstruction at a tertiary referral cancer center between April 2014 and December 2019. Risk factors for biliary obstruction and/or pancreatitis were analyzed using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included. Biliary obstruction and/or pancreatitis occurred in 12 patients (18%): 8 with biliary obstruction, 2 with pancreatitis, and 2 with both biliary obstruction and pancreatitis. Multivariate analysis indicated that female sex (odds ratio: 9.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.4-58.6, P = 0.02), absence of biliary stents (odds ratio: 12.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.8-90.2, P = 0.01), and tumor invasion to the major duodenal papilla (odds ratio: 25.8, 95% confidence interval: 2.0-340.0, P = 0.01) were significant independent risk factors for biliary obstruction and/or pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of biliary obstruction and/or pancreatitis after duodenal stent placement in the descending duodenum was non-negligible. Female sex, absence of biliary stents, and tumor invasion to the major duodenal papilla were the primary risk factors. Risk stratification can allow endoscopists to better identify patients at significant risk and permit detailed informed consent.

Risk Factors for Non-Ampullary Duodenal Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: An increase in the incidence of duodenal adenocarcinoma has been recently reported. However, little is known about the risk factors for duodenal adenocarcinoma, which are important for screening purposes. We, therefore, aimed to conduct a systematic review to identify risk factors for non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A medical literature search was performed using electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Japan Medical Abstracts Society, and Web of Science. Studies that assessed the association between dietary habits, lifestyle behaviors, comorbidities, and non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma were extracted. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the risk of bias in individual studies, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach was used to assess the quality of evidence across studies included in this review. RESULTS: Out of 1,244 screened articles, 10 were finally selected for qualitative synthesis. In the general population, no consistent risk factors were identified except for Helicobacter pylori positivity, which was considered a risk factor in 2 studies, but the quality of evidence was considered very low because of the high risk of bias. In patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Spigelman stage IV at initial endoscopy was considered a consistent risk factor in 3 studies. CONCLUSIONS: There are currently limited data regarding risk factors for non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma, and no conclusive risk factors were identified in the general population. However, in patients with FAP, Spigelman stage IV was identified as a consistent risk factor. Further studies are needed to improve diagnosis and support effective clinical management of this malignancy.

Predicting the depth of superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Preoperative determination of the invasion depth of superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction is important for appropriate endoscopic or surgical resection. There are no objective criteria regarding this; therefore, we investigated the factors associated with the invasion depth of superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated patients with superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who had undergone endoscopic or surgical resection at a Japanese tertiary cancer center between April 2004 and December 2017. We analyzed endoscopic features of intramucosal to slight submucosal (M-SM1; < 500 µm) and deep submucosal (SM2; ≥ 500 µm) adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and extracted significant factors associated with and assessed the diagnostic performance of endoscopic features for SM2 lesion. RESULTS: A total of 106 cases were included in this study. Multivariate analysis indicated that depressed or protruded type (odds ratio [OR], 11.1), lesion size ≥ 15 mm (OR, 3.11), uneven surface (OR, 6.31), and subsquamous extension (OR, 5.41) were significantly associated with SM2 adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction. When the macroscopic type was depressed or protruded, high sensitivity (97%) but fair specificity (46%) were observed for SM2 adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction, whereas uneven surface and subsquamous extension showed high specificity (96% and 87%) but fair sensitivity (36% and 46%). CONCLUSIONS: Depressed or protruded type, lesion size ≥ 15 mm, uneven surface, and subsquamous extension were significantly associated with the invasion depth of superficial adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. These endoscopic features are useful in determining the treatment method preoperatively.

Circularity Is a Potential Noninvasive Diagnostic Indicator to Differentiate Gastric Submucosal Tumors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Noninvasive, imaging diagnosis of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors (GIMTs) is still difficult. This study aimed to develop a novel diagnostic method of GIMTs via endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) using circularity. METHODS: In a derivation series, we retrospectively collected 50 GIMTs 2-5 cm in diameter of two institutions. After selecting one EUS still image showing the maximal area per lesion, two endoscopists who were blind to the histological diagnosis assessed circularity, a surrogate indicator of roundness (range, 0-1; 1 = a true circle), with an image-analyzing software. Median circularity of three types of GIMT was compared, and the cutoff value to differentiate a group from other groups was presented by drawing a receiver operating characteristic curve. Subsequently, we assessed the diagnostic ability of circularity in 91 GIMTs which were retrospectively collected from the other two institutions by using the optimal cutoff value presented in the derivation series. RESULTS: The circularity in leiomyomas indicated 0.70 and was significantly lower than that of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (0.89), schwannomas (0.90), and their combined group. When leiomyomas were diagnosed as the circularity of <0.8305, which was presented as the optimal cutoff value, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the validation series were 73.6%, 80.0%, and 72.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrated that leiomyomas significantly exhibited more distortion than other GIMTs. That implies that the difference in shape, which is objectively determined as circularity, is useful to noninvasively discriminate leiomyomas from other GIMTs.

Cold snare polypectomy for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumor: a prospective clinical trial (pilot study).

BACKGOUND: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) can minimize the risk of adverse events and has become a standard treatment for small colorectal polyps. CSP might also be suitable for small superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs). This study aimed to evaluate the safety of CSP for SNADETs. METHODS: The major indication criteria were as follows: (1) endoscopically diagnosed SNADET, (2) ≤ 10 mm, and (3) a single primary lesion. CSP was performed using an electrosurgical snare without electrocautery. Follow-up endoscopy and scar biopsy were performed 3 months after CSP. The primary endpoint was the delayed adverse events rate. RESULTS: In total, 21 patients were enrolled. Two and 19 lesions were located in the duodenal bulb and 2nd portion, respectively; the median lesion size was 8 mm. CSP was attempted for all lesions; three lesions could not be resected without electrocautery and were removed by conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The rate of spurting bleeding after CSP was 0%. The median procedure time was 12 min, the median resected specimen size was 12 mm, and the rate of en bloc resection was 81% (17/21). No adverse events were observed intraoperatively, with no delayed adverse events after CSP. Histopathology revealed 15 adenomas, 4 cancers (intramucosal), and 2 non-neoplastic lesions. The horizontal margins were negative/positive/undetermined in 9, 1, and 11 cases, respectively. All vertical margins were negative. Only one recurrence was detected by follow-up endoscopy 3 months after CSP. CONCLUSIONS: CSP can be performed safely for small SNADETs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry ( http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm ), and the registration number is UMIN000019157.

Diagnostic ability of magnification endoscope with narrow-band imaging in screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

OBJECTIVES: Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) is useful for the optical diagnosis of gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, the utility of M-NBI in screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of the magnification endoscope (ME) in screening EGD for a population with a low prevalence of upper gastrointestinal cancers. METHODS: Overall, 4887 asymptomatic examinees without a history of laryngopharyngeal and/or upper gastrointestinal neoplasms who underwent opportunistic screening EGD between April 2011 and December 2017 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The examinees were categorized into two groups depending on whether screening EGD was performed using ME (ME group) or not (non-ME group). Using a propensity score-matched analysis, the diagnostic ability of EGD was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In total, 1482 examinees (30%) were allocated to the ME group and 3405 (70%) to the non-ME group. Thirty-five epithelial neoplasms were detected in 30 examinees (0.6%). The groups were matched for baseline characteristics (1481 pairs). Both groups showed no significant difference in the epithelial neoplasm detection rate (0.8% vs. 0.3%; P = 0.14). The biopsy rate was significantly lower in the ME group than in the non-ME group (12% vs. 15%; P = 0.003). The positive predictive value (PPV) for biopsy was significantly higher in the ME group than in the non-ME group (6.6% vs. 2.8%; P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Using an ME for screening EGD in an apparently healthy, asymptomatic population could reduce unnecessary biopsies by improving PPV for biopsy without decreasing the epithelial neoplasm detection rate.