Hepatitis B-Related Hepatic Flare During Immune Reconstitution Syndrome After Antiretroviral Treatment Initiation in an HBV Surface Antigen-Positive Patient With HIV: Viroimmunological and Histological Characterization.

HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection is relatively common. Initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people with HIV (PWH) causes a progressive restoration of cell-mediated immune functions. In the presence of overt or occult coinfections, immune restoration might lead to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Here, we describe the clinical, immunological, virological, and histological characterization of a case of HBV-related IRIS hepatitis in a PWH after ART initiation. A liver biopsy was performed during HBV-related IRIS hepatic flare, and liver samples were analyzed through immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques, with the assessment of intrahepatic HBV-DNA, covalently closed circular DNA, and HBV pregenomic RNA through a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction system. Immune activation and senescence were also longitudinally assessed. In this clinical case, the hepatic flare occurred 6 weeks after ART initiation with a therapeutic regimen including tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and emtricitabine (FTC). The episode was self-limiting, characterized by hyperactivation of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and resolved without ART discontinuation, leading to the achievement of HBsAg seroconversion (HBsAg-/HBsAb+) and HBV-DNA plasma undetectability. Notably, hyperactivation of the immune system plays a pivotal role in promoting the control of HBV replication, thus triggering the achievement of HBsAg seroconversion during treatment with TAF/FTC.

Pancreatic Adeno-MiNEN, a Rare Newly Defined Entity with Challenging Diagnosis and Treatment: A Case Report with Systematic Literature Review and Pooled Analysis.

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNEN) are a peculiar entity that can occur throughout the whole gastrointestinal trait, and pancreatic localization is rare. Their main characteristic is the presence of at least a neuroendocrine and an epithelial component, each accounting for at least 30% of the tumour mass. The presence of epithelial ductal component defines adeno-MiNEN. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman affected by pancreatic adeno-MiNEN with challenging diagnosis and successfully treated. A systematic literature review and pooled analysis was also performed, aiming to define the management and outcomes of pancreatic adeno-MiNEN. Out of 190 identified records, 15 studies including 28 patients affected by pancreatic-adeno-MiNEN were included in the analysis. Pancreatic adeno-MiNEN occurred mainly in males (82.8%) and at a mean age of 61.7 (range: 24-82) years. Pre-operative diagnosis was possible only in 14.2% of cases. At presentation, the majority had already advanced disease (TNM stage III (53.8%) and stage IV 19.3%). Adjuvant therapy was performed in 55% of patients, and the tumour recurrence rate was in 30% of cases. Median disease-free survival (DFS) was 12 months (range: 0-216 months) with a 5-year DFS of 16.6%, while the median overall survival (OS) was 12 months (range: 0-288 months) with a 5-year OS of 23.5%. Pancreatic adeno-MiNENs are rare; as they have very heterogenous behaviour, they are rarely diagnosed preoperatively and have poor prognosis. Treatment of localised MiNEN still relies on radical surgical resection, which seems essential to achieve a good oncological prognosis. International registry on MiNEN is necessary to improve the knowledge on this rare tumour and to improve its outcomes.

No Time to Die: How Kidney Cancer Evades Cell Death.

The understanding of the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma led to the development of targeted therapies, which dramatically changed the overall survival rate. Nonetheless, despite innovative lines of therapy accessible to patients, the prognosis remains severe in most cases. Kidney cancer rarely shows mutations in the genes coding for proteins involved in programmed cell death, including p53. In this paper, we show that the molecular machinery responsible for different forms of cell death, such as apoptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis, which are somehow impaired in kidney cancer to allow cancer cell growth and development, was reactivated by targeted pharmacological intervention. The aim of the present review was to summarize the modality of programmed cell death in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma, showing in vitro and in vivo evidence of their potential role in controlling kidney cancer growth, and highlighting their possible therapeutic value.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Plus Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Based Tissue Sampling for Diagnosis of Proximal and Distal Biliary Stenosis Due to Cholangiocarcinoma: Results from a Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Differentiating between benign and malignant biliary stenosis (BS) is challenging, where tissue diagnosis plays a crucial role. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based tissue sampling and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or biopsy (FNB) are used to obtain tissue specimens from BS. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA/B plus ERCP with brushing or forceps biopsy in BS. All endoscopic procedures performed in patients with BS at our gastroenterology unit were reviewed. The gold standard for diagnosis was histopathology of surgical specimens or the progression of the malignancy at radiological or clinical follow-up. A total of 70 endoscopic procedures were performed in 51 patients with BS. Final endoscopic diagnosis was reached in 96% of the patients and was malignant in 61.7% and benign in 38.3% of cases. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 73.9%, 100%, and 80%, respectively, for EUS-FNA/B; 66.7%, 100%, and 82.5% for ERCP; and 83.3%, 100%, and 87.5% for both procedures carried out in the same session. The combination of EUS and ERCP tissue sampling seems to increase diagnostic accuracy in defining the etiology of BS. Performing both procedures in a single session reduces the time required for diagnostic work-up and optimizes resources.

Global mapping of cancers: The Cancer Genome Atlas and beyond.

Cancer genomes have been explored from the early 2000s through massive exome sequencing efforts, leading to the publication of The Cancer Genome Atlas in 2013. Sequencing techniques have been developed alongside this project and have allowed scientists to bypass the limitation of costs for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of single specimens by developing more accurate and extensive cancer sequencing projects, such as deep sequencing of whole genomes and transcriptomic analysis. The Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes recently published WGS data from more than 2600 human cancers together with almost 1200 related transcriptomes. The application of WGS on a large database allowed, for the first time in history, a global analysis of features such as molecular signatures, large structural variations and noncoding regions of the genome, as well as the evaluation of RNA alterations in the absence of underlying DNA mutations. The vast amount of data generated still needs to be thoroughly deciphered, and the advent of machine-learning approaches will be the next step towards the generation of personalized approaches for cancer medicine. The present manuscript wants to give a broad perspective on some of the biological evidence derived from the largest sequencing attempts on human cancers so far, discussing advantages and limitations of this approach and its power in the era of machine learning.

Factors influencing diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in pancreatic and biliary tumors.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is influenced by several factors, primarily operator expertise. Formal training in EUS-FNA, as suggested by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines, is not always available and is often expensive and time-consuming. In this study we evaluate factors influencing the diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic EUS-FNA. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 557 consecutive EUS-FNAs were evaluated. Several variables relating to the procedures were considered to calculate the EUS-FNA performance over eight years. RESULTS: A total of 308 out of 557 EUS-FNAs were selected. Overall sensitivity of EUS-FNA was 66% (95% CI: 60.8-71.8), specificity 100%, and diagnostic accuracy 69% (95% CI: 64.0-74.4). An increase in diagnostic accuracy was observed to >90% using a new fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needle and in the case of simultaneous sampling of primary and metastatic lesions. Diagnostic accuracy >80% was observed after 250 procedures, in the absence of rapid on-site cytopathological examination (ROSE). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the FNB needle, operator skill, and double EUS-FNA sampling are associated with high diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: The learning curve for EUS-FNA may be longer and a considerable number of procedures are needed to achieve high diagnostic accuracy in the absence of ROSE. However, the use of FNB needles and the simultaneous sampling of primary and metastatic lesions can rapidly improve the diagnostic accuracy of the procedure.

A Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasia and Neuroendocrine Appendiceal Collision Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Incidental appendiceal neoplasms account for 1-2% of appendectomies. Mucinous neoplasms and carcinoids are the most frequent lesions, with an incidence of 0.6% and 0.3-0.9%, respectively. Appendiceal collision tumors are extremely rare and result from the proliferation of 2 different cellular lines. This report describes a young woman with a collision tumor composed of a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasia (LAMN) and an appendiceal neuroendocrine tumor (ANET). CASE REPORT A 31-year-old woman was admitted to our institution presenting with abdominal pain and dysuria. After ultrasound assessment of a dilated appendix with wall thickening and distension by anechogenic material, a diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made. The patient, after a period of antibiotic therapy and observation, underwent an urgent laparoscopic appendectomy due to worsening condition. Surprisingly, the histological exam revealed a Tis LAMN extending from the base of the appendix to the resection margins, and a T3 grade-1 ANET, chromogranin-A and synaptophysin-positive, with a Ki67 less than 1%. On the basis of histological examination and European Neuroendocrine Tumor Network guidelines, in light of the positive LAMN resection margin and ANET mesoappendiceal invasion, after multidisciplinary team discussion, an elective laparoscopic hemicolectomy was indicated. The patient is now in good condition following a regular 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS A collision LAMN and ANET is an exceedingly rare condition. The heterogeneity of clinical presentation and lack of solid evidence seem to recommend a tailored management. Laparoscopy is a safe and useful tool in localized mass excision.

Clinical care pathway program versus open-access system: a study on appropriateness, quality, and efficiency in the delivery of colonoscopy in the colorectal cancer.

Open-access colonoscopy (OAC), whereby the colonoscopy is performed without a prior office visit with a gastroenterologist, is affected by inappropriateness which leads to overprescription and reduced availability of the procedure in case of alarming symptoms. The clinical care pathway (CCP) is a healthcare management tool promoted by national health systems to organize work-up of various morbidities. Recently, we started a CCP dedicated to colorectal cancer (CRC), including a colonoscopy session for CRC diagnosis and prevention. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness, the quality, and the efficiency in the delivery of colonoscopy with the open-access system and a CCP program in the CRC. Quality indicators for colonoscopy in subjects in the CCP were compared to referrals by general practitioners (OAC) or by non-gastroenterologist physicians (non-gastroenterologist physician colonoscopy, NGPC). Attendance rate to colonoscopy was greater in the CCP group and NGPC group than in the OAC group (99%, 99%, and 86%, respectively). Waiting time in the CCP group was shorter than in the OAC group (3.88 ± 2.27 vs. 32 ± 22.31 weeks, respectively). Appropriateness of colonoscopy prescription was better in the CCP group than in the OAC group (92 vs. 50%, respectively). OAC is affected by the lack of timeliness and low appropriateness of prescription. A CCP reduces the number of inappropriate colonoscopies, especially for post-polypectomy surveillance, and improves the delivery of colonoscopy in patients requiring a fast-track examination. The high rate of inappropriate OAC suggests that this modality of healthcare should be widely reviewed.

Tips for TIPS: A combined percutaneous and transjugular approach for intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement after liver transplant.

A 39-year-old female, liver transplanted for Autosomic Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) developed refractory ascites early after surgery, with frequent need of large-volume paracentesis. This was associated with severe sarcopenia and kidney impairment. Liver biopsy showed a sinusoidal congestion with a significant enlargement of hepatic portal veins. This picture suggested the diagnosis of vascular obstructions. Due to an unfavorable passage through the piggy-back surgical anastomosis and the angle between the hepatic veins and the portal branches, a conventional placement of a transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was not feasible. An alternative approach was pursued with success, using a combined percutaneous-transjugular approach and achieving a complete recovery of ascites, sarcopenia and renal function.

Histological scores in inflammatory bowel disease.

The role of histology in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not yet been well defined. Endoscopic mucosal healing has been proposed as a predictor of the clinical course of IBD and it is indeed considered one of the main therapeutic targets. However, it does not necessarily imply histological healing. Histological remission has been reported to be associated with a better clinical outcome than endoscopic remission only in IBD patients. These observations support the view that histology plays a role as a potential therapeutic target in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Histological scores being able to quantify the degree of microscopic activity are needed for this purpose. In the era of biologics, indication for proper treatment may benefit from the assessment of clinical and endoscopic activity, as well as histological scores. Such scores may allow us to quantify the microscopic mucosal response to treatment and to define complete healing in IBD. A validated histological score in IBD may lead to the definition of microscopic activity in clinical practice, trials and investigational settings. Several attempts to develop such scores have been reported, but few are currently used and none is applied worldwide in clinical practice. The present review summarizes the main histological scores currently used for assessing IBD activity.

Liquid biopsies and cancer omics.

The development of the sequencing technologies allowed the generation of huge amounts of molecular data from a single cancer specimen, allowing the clinical oncology to enter the era of the precision medicine. This massive amount of data is highlighting new details on cancer pathogenesis but still relies on tissue biopsies, which are unable to capture the dynamic nature of cancer through its evolution. This assumption led to the exploration of non-tissue sources of tumoral material opening the field of liquid biopsies. Blood, together with body fluids such as urines, or stool, from cancer patients, are analyzed applying the techniques used for the generation of omics data. With blood, this approach would allow to take into account tumor heterogeneity (since the circulating components such as CTCs, ctDNA, or ECVs derive from each cancer clone) in a time dependent manner, resulting in a somehow "real-time" understanding of cancer evolution. Liquid biopsies are beginning nowdays to be applied in many cancer contexts and are at the basis of many clinical trials in oncology.

High Smad7 in the early post-operative recurrence of Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: In Crohn's disease (CD), one of the major inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in human beings, there is over-expression of Smad7, an intracellular inhibitor of the suppressive cytokine TGF-ß1. The aim of this study was to assess whether Smad7 over-expression occurs in the early and/or late phases of CD. METHODS: Mucosal samples were taken from the neo-terminal ileum of CD patients undergoing ileocolonic resection, with or without (early CD) post-operative endoscopic recurrence, and terminal ileum of CD patients with long-standing disease undergoing intestinal resection (late CD). Smad7 was examined by immunohistochemistry and cytokine expression was analysed by flow-cytometry. RESULTS: Before the appearance of endoscopic lesions, the mucosa of the neo-terminal ileum contained high number of Smad7-expressing cells in both the epithelial and lamina propria compartments. Transition from this stage to endoscopic recurrence was marked by persistence of high number of Smad7-positive cells, which reduced significantly in the late stages of the disease, where Smad7 expression remained, however, greater than that seen in normal controls. In samples with early lesions, Smad7 expression positively correlated with the number of interferon-γ-secreting cells. CONCLUSIONS: Smad7 induction is an early event in the inflammatory sequence occurring in CD, thus suggesting that knockdown of Smad7 can help prevent post-operative recurrence.

Cancer predictive studies.

The identification of individual or clusters of predictive genetic alterations might help in defining the outcome of cancer treatment, allowing for the stratification of patients into distinct cohorts for selective therapeutic protocols. Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial childhood tumour, clinically defined in five distinct stages (1-4 & 4S), where stages 3-4 define chemotherapy-resistant, highly aggressive disease phases. NB is a model for geneticists and molecular biologists to classify genetic abnormalities and identify causative disease genes. Despite highly intensive basic research, improvements on clinical outcome have been predominantly observed for less aggressive cancers, that is stages 1,2 and 4S. Therefore, stages 3-4 NB are still complicated at the therapeutic level and require more intense fundamental research. Using neuroblastoma as a model system, here we herein outline how cancer prediction studies can help at steering preclinical and clinical research toward the identification and exploitation of specific genetic landscape. This might result in maximising the therapeutic success and minimizing harmful effects in cancer patients.

Completely Isolated Enteric Duplication Cyst and Incidental Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Appendix: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Completely isolated enteric duplication cysts (CIDCs) are rare malformations that can occur at any site in the gastrointestinal system. This report describes a woman with a CIDC and an incidental appendiceal neuroendocrine tumor (ANET). CASE REPORT A 26-year-old woman who presented with dysmenorrhea was assessed by ultrasound (US), which revealed a pelvic mass. Other imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), failed to clarify the origin of the mass. Intraoperative findings during diagnostic laparoscopy revealed an isolated, ovaloid mass with autonomous peristalsis and a short pedicle towards the root of the ileal mesentery. In addition, the appendix appeared enlarged with a hardened consistency. The mass was resected and an appendectomy performed laparoscopically. The pelvic mass was diagnosed as a CIDC and the appendix was incidentally found to contain a pT3Nx carcinoid tumor. Based on histological examination and guidelines of the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Network (ENET), the patient later underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. CONCLUSIONS CIDC in adulthood is very rare, especially when combined with an incidentally discovered pT3Nx appendiceal carcinoid tumor. Neither US nor MRI was able to provide a precise preoperative diagnosis. Diagnostic laparoscopy clarified the nature of the mass and revealed a lesion missed during the preoperative workup. Because of the diagnosis of ANET, the patient subsequently underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the right colon with diffuse signet-ring mucinous component.

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most frequent human malignant neoplasms. Besides the most common histological types, colorectal adenosquamous carcinoma is very rare, being microscopically constituted by tumoural glandular and squamous components. The diagnosis of primary colon adenosquamous carcinoma requires the exclusion of a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and the extension of a primary squamous cell carcinoma from the anal-rectum junction. We report a case of primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the ascending colon in a 62-year-old Caucasian man affected by long-standing ulcerative colitis. Peritumoural lymph nodes and distant metastasis were present. We reported also a diffuse signet-ring mucinous component, which has not been previously observed. Moreover, we investigated microsatellite and all-RAS/B-RAF status, p16 and p53 protein expression, and the molecular presence of human papillomavirus DNA in all the morphologically distinct components, in order to suggest pathogenetic factors influencing the aggressive prognosis of colon adenosquamous carcinoma.

Uterine Leiomyoma with Massive Lymphoid Infiltrate in a Patient with History of Assisted In-Vitro Fertilization.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the gynecological tract. Massive lymphocytic infiltration has been reported rarely in uterine leiomyomas and it has been described as a pathogenetic correlation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. Uterine leiomyomas with massive lymphoid infiltration have to be differentiated from non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We report a case of a woman without a history of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment, who presented with a uterine leiomyoma that increased in size after the procedure of assisted in-vitro fertilization, and associated with massive nodular lymphoid infiltrate simulating, morphologically, a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Uterine leiomyoma with massive lymphocytic infiltration is a very rare entity, probably of reactive significance, which has to be differentiated from diseases that need a systemic therapeutic approach.

Clinical Utility of Plasma KRAS, NRAS and BRAF Mutational Analysis with Real Time PCR in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients-The Importance of Tissue/Plasma Discordant Cases.

BACKGROUND: Tumor tissue (T) mutational analysis represents the standard for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); however, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detected by liquid biopsy in plasma (PL) can better represent tumor heterogeneity. METHODS: mCRC patients undergoing standard first-line chemotherapy with known T-KRAS/NRAS/BRAF status were enrolled in the present prospective study. PL mutations were assessed within 2 weeks before chemotherapy start with real time PCR and correlated with T status and Progression free survival (PFS). Clinical and biochemical variables including also total number of tumor lesions (TNL) and the sum of maximum diameter (SMD) of all lesions were assessed as potential predictors of T/PL discordance. RESULTS: Among 45 enrolled patients, all BRAF mutations were concordant between T and PL and there were 20% of patients RAS discordant: 9% wild type in T and mutated in PL and 11% mutated in T and wild type in PL. T mutations were significantly associated to median PFS (mPFS of 4.5, 8.3 and 22.9 months for T-BRAF mutated, T-RAS mutated, and T-wild type patients, respectively, p for trend 0.00014). PL mutations further refined prognosis: RAS wild type in T and mutated in PL had significantly shorter PFS than concordant RAS wild type in T and PL: mPFS 9.6 vs. 23.3 months, respectively, p = 0.02. Patients RAS mutated in T and wild type in PL had longer PFS than concordant RAS mutated in T and PL: 24.4 vs. 7.8 months, respectively, p = 0.008. At a multivariate cox regression analysis for PFS, PL mutations were independent prognostic factor superior to T analysis (HR 0.13, p = 0.0008). At multivariate logistic regression analysis TNL and SMD were significant predictors of discordant cases. CONCLUSIONS: PL mutational analysis allows a better prognostication than T analysis alone and could help in mCRC treatment management.

Contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound diagnosis of the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) are a frequent incidental finding during an ultrasound or other radiological investigations. As PCNs may have a potential of malignancy, a precise differential diagnosis between a malignant and benign lesion is crucial to define appropriate management of patients with this kind of lesions. Radiology, with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, may not be conclusive in the diagnostic assessment of PCNs. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), a simple and relatively low invasive technique, is able to identify intra-cystic worrisome features suggesting malignancy. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the cystic fluid or of intra-cystic tissue nodule during EUS is an adjunctive procedure for reaching a conclusive diagnosis. As EUS-FNA is burdened by complications, the use of intravenous contrast may increase the diagnostic accuracy of EUS allowing in many cases a correct diagnosis of PCN at high risk of malignancy, without additional risk of complication during the procedure. The present report deals with the case of a cystic lesion found by CT scan in the pancreatic head of a 59-year-old woman suffering from mild epigastric pain. Once submitted to EUS, malignant nature of PCN was suspected due to the finding of a typical worrisome feature, the presence of a mural nodule. The intravenous administration of contrast medium during the EUS confirmed malignancy and the patient was immediately sent to the surgeon for pancreatic resection. Histology revealed an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, with areas of high-grade dysplasia in the main and secondary ducts, progressed toward an invasive carcinoma.

Inflammatory bowel disease versus Chlamydia trachomatis infection: a case report and revision of the literature.

Infectious proctitis may mimic inflammatory bowel disease, particularly when limited to the rectum. The present case report includes findings from a 50-year-old man, soldier, referring to our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unit with a diagnosis of rectal Crohn's disease, refractory to conventional treatments. Mild anemia, hypergammaglobulinemia and HIV-antibodies seronegativity were detected. Entero-MRI and stool examinations were negative. Ileocolonoscopy detected few rectal ulcers with irregular edges. Endosonography showed marked thickening of the rectal wall and enlarged perirectal lymphnodes. Nodal and rectal fine needle aspirate did not show atypia (PAN CK-). Rectal biopsies showed flogistic granular tissue (PAN CK-): Warthin-Starry stain was negative. Previous Treponema pallidum infection was detected. Clinical history revealed habits at risk for sexually transmitted infection. Rectal swabs for RT-PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Herpes Simplex Virus 1-2 lead to a diagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum. Doxycycline 100 mg and Azitromicyn 500 mg t.i.d. were given for 21 days, followed by negativity for RT-PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis at rectal swabs. Complete disappearance of symptoms and mucosal healing occurred. Due to the increased frequency of infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infection (including lymphogranuloma venereum) should be considered as possible differential diagnosis when assessing patients with inflammatory bowel disease limited to the rectum.