Is annual screening by fecal immunochemical test necessary after a recent colonoscopy?

Objective: The population-based colorectal cancer screening guidelines in Japan recommend an annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT). However, there is no consensus on the need for annual FIT screening for patients who recently performed a total colonoscopy (TCS). Therefore, we evaluated the repeated TCS results for patients with positive FIT after a recent TCS to assess the necessity of an annual FIT. Methods: We reviewed patients with positive FIT in opportunistic screening from April 2017 to March 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: those who had undergone TCS within the previous 5 years (previous TCS group) and those who had not (non-previous TCS group). We compared the detection rates of advanced neoplasia and colorectal cancer between the two groups. Results: Of 671 patients, 151 had received TCS within 5 years and 520 had not. The detection rates of advanced neoplasia in the previous TCS and non-previous TCS groups were 4.6% and 12.1%, respectively (p < 0.01), and the colorectal cancer detection rates were 0.7% and 1.5%, respectively (no significant difference). The adenoma detection rates were 33.8% in the previous TCS group and 40.0% in the non-previous TCS group (no significant difference). Conclusions: Only a few patients were diagnosed with advanced neoplasia among the patients with FIT positive after a recent TCS. For patients with adenomatous lesions on previous TCS, repeated TCS should be performed according to the surveillance program without an annual FIT. The need for an annual FIT for patients without adenomatous lesions on previous TCS should be prospectively assessed in the future.

Initial experience of transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using newly designed device delivery system.

Transpapillary gallbladder biopsy has been reported for the diagnosis of gallbladder disease, and this procedure requires special biopsy forceps or a large-diameter pusher catheter. We retrospectively examined consecutive patients who underwent transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using a newly designed device delivery system (Endosheather; Piolax Medical Device, Kanagawa, Japan). We evaluated 11 patients (median age, 71 years [28-85]) who underwent transpapillary gallbladder biopsy from June 2021 to July 2022. The selective gallbladder cannulation and delivery system insertion success rate was 90.9% (10/11). The target lesion biopsy success rate was 63.6% (7/11). The biopsy time (i.e., time to completion of biopsy after successful guidewire placement) was 8.7 (5.4-32.7) min. In 1 patient in whom all 6 gallbladder bile juice cytology results were benign, the biopsy result was suspicious of adenocarcinoma. The final diagnosis for this patient was gallbladder cancer. Adverse events occurred in 2 patients. In 1 patient, acute cholecystitis occurred and required emergency surgery. Transpapillary gallbladder biopsy using the Endosheather is a potential option for the diagnosis of gallbladder disease. A good indication for this technique is considered to be wall thickening at the gallbladder fundus, where it is difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions by imaging modalities such as ultrasonography or endoscopic ultrasound. The addition of transpapillary gallbladder biopsy may be advantageous when performing bile juice cytology using a nasogallbladder drainage tube for the diagnosis of gallbladder disease.

Case of needle tract seeding during preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable pancreatic cancer.

Reports of needle tract seeding (NTS) as a complication of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) have been increasing. To date, most of the reported cases of NTS have been diagnosed during the postoperative follow-up period. Herein, we report a case of NTS that occurred during preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy after EUS-FNA for resectable pancreatic cancer. The patient underwent transgastric EUS-FNA for a pancreatic tail tumor. He was diagnosed as having resectable pancreatic cancer and received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After completion of the chemotherapy, computed tomography showed a thick-walled cyst-like structure appearing between the pancreas and the gastric wall. Combined resection revealed adenocarcinoma invasion into the cyst-like structure. Based on the clinical course, and surgical and pathological findings, the condition was diagnosed as NTS. It is thus crucial that after EUS-FNA, a detailed review of the imaging findings be conducted in the preoperative period. If adhesions between the stomach and the pancreas are observed after transgastric EUS-FNA, combined resection of the gastric wall should be considered.

Localized Rectal Amyloidosis with Morphologic Changes from the Submucosal Tumor to the Ulcerative Lesion That Led to Hematochezia During Observation.

A 75-year-old woman visited our hospital with constipation. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor in the rectum. She was followed up as a case of mucosal prolapse syndrome. Six years later, she was referred to our hospital due to hematochezia and abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed that the submucosal tumor had an ulcerative appearance with bleeding. Low anterior resection was performed. Amyloid protein deposition was detected from the submucosa to subserosa. Other organs showed no evidence of amyloidosis; we therefore diagnosed the patient with localized rectal amyloidosis. This is a rare case of symptomatic localized rectal amyloidosis whose long-term progression was able to be endoscopically observed.

Medical radiation exposure during gastrointestinal enteral metallic stent placement: Post hoc analysis of the REX-GI study.

Background and Aim: Recently, the use of various endoscopic procedures performed under X-ray fluoroscopy guidance has increased. With the popularization of such procedures, diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) have been widely accepted as the global standard for various procedures with ionizing radiation. The Radiation Exposure from Gastrointestinal Fluoroscopic Procedures (REX-GI) study aimed to prospectively collect actual radiation exposure (RE) data and establish DRLs in gastrointestinal endoscopy units. In this post hoc analysis of the REX-GI study, we established DRLs for each disease site by analyzing cases of gastrointestinal enteral metallic stent placement. Methods: The REX-GI study was a multicenter, prospective observational study conducted to collect actual RE data during gastrointestinal enteral metallic stent placement. To establish DRL values for three disease sites, namely the esophagus, gastroduodenum, and colon, we examined fluoroscopy time (FT; min), number of X-ray images, air kerma at the patient entrance reference point (K a,r; mGy), and the air kerma-area product (P KA; Gy cm2) during enteral metallic stent placement. Results: Five-hundred and twenty-three stenting procedures were performed. The DRL values of FT (min) and the number of X-ray images for the esophagus/gastroduodenum/colon were 9/16/18 min and 9/15/11 min, respectively. Furthermore, the DRL values of K a,r and P KA for each disease site were 43.3/120/124 mGy and 10.3/36.6/48.4 Gy cm2, respectively. Among the procedures, esophageal stents were significantly associated with the lowest values (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The characteristics of RE vary according to disease site among gastrointestinal enteral metallic stent placements. Thus, it is desirable to set DRL values based on the disease site.

Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy to manage gastric outlet obstruction associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection of large gastric epithelial neoplasms: A two-case report.

We report on two patients with stasis symptoms, including vomiting and nausea that were caused by deformity, stenosis, and decreased gastric peristalsis associated with artificial ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In both cases, the symptoms remained unresolved despite repetitive endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). Therefore, laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy was performed. Soon after the procedure, their food intake was improved. Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy can be an option for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction induced by a large field of gastric ESD that is refractory to EBD.

Endoscopic Nasobiliary Drainage Comparable with Endoscopic Biliary Stenting as a Preoperative Drainage Method for Malignant Hilar Biliary Obstruction: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage (PEBD) for malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) is widely accepted. Recent PEBD consists of endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD), conventional endoscopic biliary stenting (CEBS) with plastic stents across the papilla, and endoscopic biliary inside stenting (EBIS) with plastic stents above the papilla, while ENBD is the primary procedure in Asian countries. Thus, we aimed to compare the efficacy of ENBD with those of CEBS and EBIS as a means of PEBD for MHBO. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with MHBO who underwent upfront surgery between January 2011 and December 2018 in a multicenter setting. The outcome measures were cumulative dysfunction of PEBD, risk factors for PEBD dysfunction, and adverse events. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 219 patients, comprising 163 males (74.4%); mean age, 69.7 (±7.6) years; Bismuth-Corlette (BC) classification I, II, IIIa, IIIb, and IV in 68, 49, 43, 30, and 29 patients, respectively; and diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer in 188 and 31 patients, respectively. PEBD procedures were performed in 160 patients with ENBD, 31 patients with CEBS, and 28 patients with EBIS. PEBD dysfunction occurred in 58 patients (26.5%), and the cumulative dysfunction rates were not significantly different among PEBD methods (p = 0.60). Multivariate analysis showed that BC-IV was significantly associated with the occurrence of PEBD dysfunction (hazard ratio = 2.10, p = 0.02). The adverse event rates were not significantly different among PEBD groups (p = 0.70). CONCLUSION: ENBD as a means of PEBD for MHBO is comparable with CEBS and EBIS in rates of dysfunction and adverse events.

Does second-look endoscopy reduce the bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection for patients receiving antithrombotic therapy?

BACKGROUND: In patients with average risk of bleeding, second-look endoscopy does not reportedly reduce bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, effectiveness of second-look endoscopy for patients with a high risk of bleeding, such as those who are taking antithrombotic agents, is unclear. Hence, this study aims to clarify the effectiveness of second-look endoscopy for patients with antithrombotic therapy. METHODS: We studied 142 consecutive patients with 173 gastric epithelial neoplasms who were routinely taking antithrombotic agents and were treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection at Tonan Hospital between November 2013 and December 2019. They were classified into two groups: those with second-look endoscopy (SLE group, 69 patients with 85 lesions) and those without second-look endoscopy (non-SLE group, 73 patients with 88 lesions). The incidence of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding was compared between the SLE and non-SLE groups. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in the rate of patients undergoing single antiplatelet therapy, single anticoagulant therapy, and multiple therapy between the SLE and non-SLE groups (SLE group vs. non-SLE group; 32 [46.4%], 16 [23.2%], and 21 [30.4%] patients vs. 37 [50.7%], 20 [27.4%], and 16 [21.9%] patients, respectively; p = 0.50). Post-endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding incidence was 21.7% (15/69) and 21.9% (16/73) in the SLE and non-SLE groups, respectively, and did not significantly differ between the two groups (p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: For patients taking antithrombotic agents, the incidence of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding was not reduced by second-look endoscopy.

Comparison of clinicopathological features and long-term prognosis between mixed predominantly differentiated-type and pure differentiated-type early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that mixed predominantly differentiated-type (MD) early gastric cancer (EGC) might have more malignant potential than pure differentiated-type (PD) EGC. However, no study has analyzed all differentiated-type EGC cases treated endoscopically and surgically. This study aimed to compare the differences in clinicopathological features and long-term prognosis between MD- and PD-EGC. METHODS: We evaluated all patients with differentiated-type EGCs who were treated endoscopically and surgically in our hospital between January 2010 and October 2014. The clinicopathological features and long-term prognosis of MD-EGC were compared with those of PD-EGC. RESULTS: A total of 459 patients with 459 lesions were evaluated in this study; of them, 409 (89.1%) and 50 (10.9%) were classified into the PD and MD groups, respectively. Submucosal invasion was found in 96 (23.5%) patients of the PD group and in 33 (66.0%) patients of the MD group (p < 0.01). The rates of positive lymphatic and vascular invasion and ulceration were significantly higher in the MD group than in the PD group (p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with lymph node metastasis was also significantly higher in the MD group than in the PD group (5 (10%) vs 6 (1.5%), p < 0.01). The 5-year overall and EGC-specific survival rates in the PD group were 88.3 and 99.5%, respectively, while they were 94.0 and 98.0% in the MD group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MD-EGC has more malignant potential than PD-EGC. However, the long-term prognosis of MD-EGC is good and is not significantly different from that of PD-EGC when treated appropriately.

True significance of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases GnT-III, V and α1,6 fucosyltransferase in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer.

It is well known that numerous cancer-related changes occur in glycans that are attached to glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans on the cell surface and these changes in structure and the expression of the glycans are largely regulated by glycosyl-transferases, glycosidases, nucleotide sugars and their related genes. Such structural changes in glycans on cell surface proteins may accelerate the progression, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Among the over 200 known glycosyltransferases and related genes, ß 1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) (the MGAT5 gene) and α 1,6 fucosyltransferase (FUT8) (the FUT8 gene) are representative enzymes in this respect because changes in glycans caused by these genes appear to be related to cancer metastasis and invasion in vitro as well as in vivo, and a number of reports on these genes in related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have also appeared. Another enzyme, one of the N-glycan branching enzymes, ß1,4 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) (the MGAT3 gene) has been reported to suppress EMT. However, there are intermediate states between EMT and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) and some of these genes have been implicated in both EMT and MET and are also probably in an intermediate state. Therefore, it would be difficult to clearly define which specific glycosyltransferase is involved in EMT or MET or an intermediate state. The significance of EMT and N-glycan branching glycosyltransferases needs to be reconsidered and the inhibition of their corresponding genes would also be desirable in therapeutics. This review mainly focuses on GnT-III, GnT-V and FUT8, major players as N-glycan branching enzymes in cancer in relation to EMT programs, and also discusses the catalytic mechanisms of GnT-V and FUT8 whose crystal structures have now been obtained.

Association of second surveillance colonoscopy findings with index and first surveillance colonoscopy results.

OBJECTIVE: Although there have been established guidelines for first surveillance colonoscopy (FSC) after a polypectomy, there is no consensus on performing a second surveillance colonoscopy (SSC), especially in Asian countries. This study aimed to investigate the association of SSC findings with index total colonoscopy (TCS) and FSC results. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study involving 1928 consecutive Japanese patients who had received three or more colonoscopies. High-risk colonoscopic findings were defined as advanced adenoma (≥10 mm in size, with a villous histology or high-grade dysplasia) or more than three adenomas, whereas low-risk findings were defined as one to two non-advanced adenomas. On the basis of index TCS results, the patients were divided into three groups: no adenomas (NA) (n = 888), low-risk (LR) (n = 476), and high-risk (HR) (n = 564) groups, respectively. RESULTS: In the NA group, the rate of high-risk findings on SSC was significantly higher in patients with high-risk or low-risk findings on FSC than in those with no adenoma (7.7% and 7.9% vs 2.2%, P < 0.05). Patients in the LR and HR groups with high-risk findings on FSC had a significantly higher risk on SSC than those with low-risk findings or no adenoma on FSC (LR group: 28.6%, 9.4%, and 5.9%, respectively, P < 0.01; HR group: 34.5%, 18.8%, and 7.9%, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Index TCS and especially FSC findings were predictive of SSC results. The study results may be useful for determining appropriate intervals for surveillance colonoscopy in Asian countries.

Inutility of endoscopic sphincterotomy to prevent pancreatitis after biliary metal stent placement in the patients without pancreatic duct obstruction.

Background: The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) has been reported to be significantly higher in patients without main pancreatic duct (MPD) obstruction who undergo transpapillary biliary metal stent (MS) placement than in those with ordinary ERCP setting.Objective: To evaluate the benefit of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) prior to MS placement in preventing PEP in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) without MPD obstruction.Materials and methods: In total, 160 patients who underwent initial MS placement for MBO were enrolled. Eighty-two patients underwent ES immediately prior to MS placement, whereas 78 underwent MS placement without ES. An inverse probability of treatment weighting method was adopted to adjust the differences of the patients' characteristics. The primary outcome was the incidence of PEP. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of other adverse events (bleeding, cholangitis, perforation and stent dislocation) and time to recurrent biliary obstruction.Results: The incidence of PEP was 26.8% in the ES and 23.1% in the non-ES (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] [95%CI]: 1.22, [0.60-2.51], adjusted OR [95%CI]: 1.23, [0.53-2.81], p = .63). Logistic-regression analysis revealed no factors that could be attributed to the occurrence of PEP. The incidence of other adverse events was not different between the groups. The median time to recurrent biliary obstruction was 131 (2-465) days and 200 (4-864) days in the ES and non-ES, respectively (p = .215).Conclusions: ES prior to MS placement for patients with distal MBO without MPD obstruction does not reduce the incidence of PEP.

Multicentre prospective observational study protocol for radiation exposure from gastrointestinal fluoroscopic procedures (REX-GI study).

INTRODUCTION: Recently, the use of various endoscopic procedures under X-ray fluoroscopic guidance, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), interventional endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), enteral endoscopy and stenting, has been rapidly increasing because of the minimally invasive nature of these procedures compared with that of surgical intervention. With the spread of CT and fluoroscopic interventions, including endoscopic procedures under X-ray guidance, high levels of radiation exposure (RE) from medical imaging have led to major concerns throughout society. However, information about RE related to these image-guided procedures in gastrointestinal endoscopy is scarce, and the RE reference levels have not been established. The aim of this study is to prospectively collect the actual RE dose and to help establish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in the field of gastroenterology in Japan. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicentre, prospective observational study that is being conducted to collect the actual RE from treatments and diagnostic procedures, including ERCP, interventional EUS, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, enteral metallic stent placement and enteral tube placement. We will measure the total fluoroscopy time (min), the total dose-area product (Gycm2) and air-kerma (mGy) of those procedures. Because we are collecting the actual RE data and identifying the influential factors through a prospective, nationwide design, this study will provide guidance regarding the DRLs of ERCP, interventional EUS, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, enteral metallic stent placement and enteral tube placement. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Toyonaka Municipal Hospital (25 April 2019). The need for informed consent will be waived via the opt-out method of each hospital website. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000036525.

Endocuff-Assisted versus Cap-Assisted Colonoscopy Performed by Trainees: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The adenoma detection rate (ADR) of screening colonoscopies performed by trainees is often lower than that of colonoscopies performed by experts. The effcacy of cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC) in adenoma detection is well documented, especially that of CACs performed by trainees. Endocuff, a new endoscopic cap, is reportedly useful for adenoma detection; however, no trials have compared the effcacy of Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy (EAC) and CAC conducted by trainees. Therefore, the present study retrospectively compared the effcacy between EAC and CAC in trainees. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study involving 305 patients who underwent either EAC or CAC performed by three trainees between January and December 2018. We evaluated the ADR, mean number of adenomas detected per patient (MAP), cecal intubation rate, cecal intubation time, and occurrence of complications between the EAC and CAC groups. RESULTS: The ADR was significantly higher in the EAC group than in the CAC group (54.3% vs. 37.3%, p=0.019), as was the MAP (1.36 vs. 0.74, p=0.003). No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to the cecal intubation rate or cecal intubation time. No major complications occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that EAC exhibits increased ADR and MAP compared to CAC when performed by trainees.

Non-negligible rate of needle tract seeding after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Needle tract seeding after preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for pancreatic body and tail cancer has been reported. This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes, including the needle tract seeding ratio, of patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic body and tail cancer diagnosed preoperatively by EUS-FNA. METHODS: This retrospective, observational cohort study assessed patients from three university hospitals and 11 tertiary referral centers. All patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for invasive cancer of the pancreatic body and tail between January 2006 and December 2015 were identified and reviewed. Needle tract seeding rate, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 301 total patients analyzed, 176 underwent preoperative EUS-FNA (EUS-FNA group) and 125 did not (non-EUS-FNA group). The median follow-up periods of the EUS-FNA group and non-EUS-FNA group were 32.8 and 30.1 months. Six patients (3.4%) in the EUS-FNA group were diagnosed as having needle tract seeding. The 5-year cumulative needle tract seeding rate estimated using Fine and Gray's method was 3.8% (95% CI 1.6-7.8%). The median RFS or OS was not significantly different between the EUS-FNA group and the non-EUS-FNA group (23.7 vs 16.9 months: P = 0.205; 48.0 vs 43.9 months: P = 0.392). CONCLUSION: Although preoperative EUS-FNA for pancreatic body and tail cancer has no negative effect on RFS or OS, needle tract seeding after EUS-FNA was observed to have a non-negligible rate. (UMIN000030719).

Natural History of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Diagnosed During Observation of Other Organ Cancers.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a rapidly progressive malignancy that exhibits an extremely poor prognosis, with most cases diagnosed at an advanced stage. To date, few reports have explored the natural history of PDAC, and the period leading up to the detection of PDAC as a tumor with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) remains unclear. Here, we report 3 PDAC cases diagnosed incidentally by repeating imaging examinations during observation of other organ cancers. CASE REPORT Two patients were undergoing postoperative follow-up for colorectal cancer; owing to the elevation of serum CA19-9 or dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, both cases were finally diagnosed with PDAC. Another patient was administered neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a gastrointestinal stromal tumor; the fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the pancreas with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for the treatment assessment led to the diagnosis of PDAC. All patients underwent frequent CECT for assessment of other diseases, and PDAC became visible with CECT within 3-4 months of the appearance of indirect findings of PDAC. CONCLUSIONS The period leading up to the detection of PDAC as a tumor with CECT was approximately 3-4 months. These cases suggest that additional imaging examinations should be performed when the indirect findings of PDAC are noted. This report adds value to the literature by elucidating the natural course of PDAC.

Prospective, multicenter, observational study of tissue acquisition through EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy using a 25G Franseen needle.

BACKGROUND: Recently, EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a Franseen needle was developed for histological tissue acquisition. However, the yield of a 25G Franseen needle when acquiring histological core tissue has been unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter, and observational cohort study that included 100 solid lesions scheduled for EUS-FNB using a 25G Franseen needle at eight centers in Hokkaido, Japan. Only EUS-FNB specimens acquired at the first pass were evaluated without a rapid on-site evaluation. The tissue acquisition rate, acquisition rate of an adequate specimen for histological assessment, the quality of tissue sample, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy, and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 100 solid lesions in 100 patients. The patients were 57 males and 43 females with a median age of 70 years. The technical success rate was 100%. The tissue acquisition rate was 95.0%. The acquisition rate of an adequate specimen for histological assessment was 82.0%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy were 87.0%, 100%, 100%, 40.0%, and 88.0%, respectively. The adverse event rate was 1.0%, and it was reported in only one patient who had a moderate pancreatic fistula. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNB using the 25G Franseen needle was feasible, and adequate histological core tissue samples were acquired with this method.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early squamous cell carcinoma in the anal canal and Lugol chromoendoscopy for assessment of the lateral margin.

A 66-year-old man underwent follow-up colonoscopy after colon polypectomy. The retroflexed view of the anal canal with white-light imaging revealed a whitish, slightly elevated lesion on the dentate line and an ill-defined flat lesion. A biopsy of the whitish elevation revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was planned. The lateral margin of the SCC was identified by spraying with Lugol's iodine, and the tumor was resected en bloc with no complications. The pathological findings were SCC in situ with parakeratosis in the whitish elevation and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in the ill-defined flat lesion, which exhibited a wide iodine-unstained area by chromoendoscopy. Early SCC in the anal canal is a rare gastrointestinal cancer, and Lugol chromoendoscopy helped visualize the tumor margin for ESD.

Atypical presentation of a cushion sign-positive stomach gastrointestinal stromal tumor with cystic formation: A case report.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) typically appear as solid masses, and cystic formation is uncommon. Most stomach GISTs with cystic formation progress outside the gastric wall and are frequently misdiagnosed as epigastric cystic tumors derived from pancreas or liver. An asymptomatic 72-year-old male underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a submucosal tumor (SMT), approximately 50 mm in diameter, at the anterior wall of the gastric angle. The SMT was very soft with positive cushion sign. Endoscopic ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed that the SMT was a cystic tumor with solid component. Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery were performed to remove the tumor. Histopathological analysis revealed that the tumor was a GIST with cystic formation. To the best of our knowledge, this the first documented case of a cushion sign-positive stomach GIST with cystic formation, which had mainly developed inside the stomach. This case suggests that we should keep in mind the possibility of cystic formation of GIST when the tumor has a solid component, even if it appears as a cushion sign-positive SMT.