FIT negative clinic as a safety net for low-risk patients with colorectal cancer: impact on endoscopy and radiology utilisation-a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to triage symptomatic primary care patients who have unexplained symptoms but do not meet the criteria for a suspected lower gastrointestinal cancer pathway. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FIT was used to triage patients referred with urgent 2-week wait (2ww) cancer referrals instead of a direct-to-test strategy. FIT-negative patients were assessed and safety netted in a FIT negative clinic. Methods: We reviewed case notes for 622 patients referred on a 2ww pathway and seen in a FIT negative clinic between June 2020 and April 2021 in a tertiary care hospital. We collected information on demographics, indication for referral, dates for referral, clinic visit, investigations and long-term outcomes. Results: The average age of the patients was 71.5 years with 54% female, and a median follow-up of 2.5 years. Indications for referrals included: anaemia (11%), iron deficiency (24%), weight loss (9%), bleeding per rectum (5%) and change in bowel habits (61%). Of the cases, 28% (95% CI 24% to 31%) had endoscopic (15%, 95% CI 12% to 18%) and/or radiological (20%, 95% CI 17% to 23%) investigations requested after clinic review, and among those investigated, malignancy rate was 1.7%, with rectosigmoid neuroendocrine tumour, oesophageal cancer and lung adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: A FIT negative clinic provides a safety net for patients with unexplained symptoms but low risk of colorectal cancer. These real-world data demonstrate significantly reduced demand on endoscopy and radiology services for FIT-negative patients referred via the 2ww pathway.

Prevalence and long-term outcome of sub-clinical primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is closely associated with inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis (UC), with an increased risk of biliary and colorectal malignancy. We sought to clarify the prevalence, characteristics and long-term outcome of sub-clinical PSC diagnosed by magnetic resonance cholangiogram (MRC) in patients with UC and normal liver biochemistry, with or without colorectal dysplasia (CRD). METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, 70 patients with UC and normal liver function (51 extensive UC, 19 CRD), 28 healthy volunteers (negative controls) and 28 patients with PSC and cholestasis (positive controls) underwent MRC and blood evaluation. MRC scans were interpreted blindly by two radiologists who graded individually, the scans as definitive for PSC, possible for PSC or normal. Clinical outcome was assessed by blood monitoring, abdominal imaging and endoscopic surveillance. RESULTS: 7/51 (14%) with extensive UC and 4/19 (21%) with CRD had biliary abnormalities on MRC consistent with PSC. 7/11 (64%) with sub-clinical PSC had isolated intrahepatic duct involvement. Sub-clinical PSC was associated with advanced age (P = .04), non-smoking (P = .03), pANCA (P = .04), quiescent colitis (P = .02), absence of azathioprine (P = .04) and high-grade CRD (P = .03). Inter-observer (kappa = 0.88) and intra-observer (kappa = 0.96) agreement for MRC interpretation was high. No negative controls were assessed as definite PSC, 4/28 were considered on blinding as possible PSC. During follow-up of sub-clinical PSC (median 10.1(3.1-11.9) years), four patients developed abnormal liver biochemistry, two had radiological progression of PSC and seven developed malignancy, including two biliary and one colorectal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of sub-clinical PSC appears high in patients with extensive UC and normal liver biochemistry, with or without CRD. Disease progression and malignancy were identified on long-term follow-up. MRC should be considered for all patients with extensive UC or CRD to stratify surveillance.

Thoracic involvement in IgG4-related disease in a UK-based patient cohort.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multi-system fibro-inflammatory disorder with classical histopathological findings, often in the context of elevated serum IgG4 levels. The thoracic manifestations of IgG4-RD are numerous and can mimic several common and better known conditions. The objective of this study was to outline the frequency and nature of thoracic involvement in a prospective cohort of IgG4-RD patients who met defined diagnostic criteria. Over 40% of IgG4-RD patients had clinicoradiological and/or histological evidence of thoracic involvement, predominantly mediastinal lymphadenopathy, the majority associated with multi-system disease outside the chest. Thoracic involvement was associated with a higher serum IgG4 level, potentially representing greater disease activity or spread. Our data highlight the diverse nature of thoracic IgG4-RD, and the importance of knowledge and recognition of the condition among respiratory physicians who are likely to encounter this disease entity on an increasing basis.