Cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection as a salvage technique for challenging colorectal laterally spreading tumors.

BACKGROUND: Cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR-c) has emerged as a potential alternative to standard piecemeal wide-field EMR (WF-EMR) for the resection of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs). However, clear indications for this technique are still lacking. Our objective was to investigate the performance of salvage EMR-c after WF-EMR failure in the resection of large colorectal LSTs. METHODS: The data of consecutive patients undergoing WF-EMR for large colorectal LSTs (2015-2021) were analyzed in this single-center, retrospective, observational study. In the event of a WF-EMR failure, the procedure was switched to EMR-c in the same session. The efficacy of the two techniques was evaluated in terms of complete endoscopic resection, R0 resection, and recurrence rate. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, the data from 81 WF-EMRs were collected. Eighteen cases of WF-EMR failure were switched to EMR-c in the same session and complete endoscopic resection was achieved in 17/18 patients (94.4%). No statistically significant difference was observed between WF-EMR and salvage EMR-c in terms of macroscopic radicality (P = 0.40) and R0 resection (P = 0.12). However, recurrence was more common with EMR-c (44.4% vs. 23.5%; P = 0.05), as were adverse events, particularly intraprocedural bleeding (27.8% vs. 7.9%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: EMR-c is an effective salvage technique for challenging colorectal LSTs following WF-EMR failure. Due to the elevated risk of adverse events associated with this procedure, careful patient selection, endoscopic expertise, and close follow-up are strongly recommended.

Appendiceal collision tumors: case reports, management and literature review.

Appendiceal tumors are incidentally detected in 0.5% cases of appendectomy for acute appendicitis and occur in approximately 1% of all appendectomies. Here, we report two cases of appendiceal collision tumors in two asymptomatic women. In both cases, imaging revealed right-lower-quadrant abdominal masses, which were laparoscopically resected. In both cases, histological examinations revealed an appendiceal collision tumor comprising a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN). For complete oncological control, right hemicolectomy was performed in one patient for the aggressive behavior of NEN; however, histology revealed no metastasis. The other patient only underwent appendectomy. No further treatment was recommended. According to the latest guidelines, exact pathology needs to be defined. Proper management indicated by a multidisciplinary team is fundamental.

Adverse events in gastrointestinal endoscopy: Validation of the AGREE classification in a real-life 5-year setting.

BACKGROUND: The novel AGREE classification for adverse events (AEs) in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy has not yet been validated in a real-world setting. AIMS: Our study aims to evaluate the correlation between the grades of AEs in the ASGE and AGREE classifications and to assess the interobserver agreement of the two classification systems. METHODS: The correlation and association between the AE grades of the ASGE and AGREE classifications were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation test and the chi-squared analysis, respectively. A weighted Cohen's kappa coefficient analysis was performed to determine the interobserver agreement of both classification systems. RESULTS: We prospectively collected the AEs that occurred in our endoscopy unit over the past five years. A total of 226 AEs (226/84,863, 0.3%) occurred. There was a correlation between the ASGE and AGREE classifications (ρ = 0.61) and a moderately significant association (p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.7). The interobserver agreement for the ASGE classification was fair (kappa 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54, 0.67), whereas it was good for the AGREE classification (kappa 0.80, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The AGREE classification was validated for the first time in a real-world setting and showed a positive correlation and higher interobserver agreement than the ASGE classification.

Recurrence rates after piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection of large colorectal laterally spreading tumors.

Background: Piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (pEMR) is routinely employed for large laterally spreading tumors (LSTs). Recurrence rates following pEMR are still unclear, especially when cap-assisted EMR (EMR-c) is performed. We assessed the recurrence rates and recurrence risk factors post-pEMR for large colorectal LSTs, including both wide-field EMR (WF-EMR) and EMR-c. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent pEMR for colorectal LSTs ≥20 mm at our institution between 2012 and 2020. Patients had a post-resection follow-up period of at least 3 months. A risk factor analysis was carried out using the Cox regression model. Results: The analysis included 155 pEMR: 51 WF-EMR and 104 EMR-c, with a median lesion size of 30 (range: 20-80) mm and a median endoscopic follow up of 15 (range: 3-76) months. Overall, disease recurrence occurred in 29.0% of cases; there was no significant difference in recurrence rates between WF-EMR and EMR-c. Recurrent lesions were safely managed by endoscopic removal, and at risk analysis lesion size was the only significant risk factor for recurrence (mm; hazard ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.06, P=0.02). Conclusions: Recurrence of large colorectal LSTs after pEMR occurs in 29% of cases. This rate is mainly dependent on lesion size, and the use of a cap during pEMR has no effect on recurrence. Prospective controlled trials are needed to validate these results.

Real-time determination of gastric juice pH with EndoFaster® for atrophic gastritis assessment.

BACKGROUND: In patients with atrophic gastritis involving gastric body mucosa the pH value of gastric juice is distinctly increased, so that pH assessment would allow predict this precancerous lesion. We tested whether EndoFaster® - a device allowing real-time pH measure and H. pylori diagnosis - may optimize the need of taking gastric biopsies. METHODS: In this prospective, multicentre study, the accuracy of EndoFaster® for ruling out gastric atrophy involving corporal mucosa was assessed. Real-time pH and ammonium determination was performed by aspirating 3-6 ml gastric juice during endoscopy. Histology performed on 5 standard gastric biopsies was used as gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 1008 consecutive patients were observed in 12 centres. At histology, gastric body mucosa atrophy/metaplasia was detected in 65 (6.4%) cases, and a pH value >4.5 in the gastric juice was observed in 150 patients. The values of EndoFaster® performance in predicting the presence of atrophic gastritis were as follow: 51% sensitivity, 84% specificity, 18% PPV, 96% NPV, and 82% accuracy. The NPV value was not distinctly affected by neither ongoing proton pump inhibitor therapy nor H. pylori infection. By considering also data of ammonium concentrations, the values of EndoFaster® in detecting extensive atrophy on gastric mucosa were 74% sensitivity, 84% specificity, 24% PPV, 98% NPV, and 83% accuracy. CONCLUSION: The very high NPV of EndoFaster® might allow to safely rule out presence of atrophic gastritis, reducing the need of taking gastric biopsies in unselected patients managed in clinical practice.

Therapeutic strategies for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: State-of-the-art and future perspectives.

Although gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) have always been considered rare tumors, their incidence has risen over the past few decades. They represent a highly heterogeneous group of neoplasms with several prognostic factors, including disease stage, proliferative index (Ki67), and tumor differentiation. Most of these neoplasms express somatostatin receptors on the cell surface, a feature that has important implications in terms of prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy. Although International Guidelines propose algorithms aimed at guiding therapeutic strategies, GEP-NEN patients are still very different from one another, and the need for personalized treatment continues to increase. Radical surgery is always the best option when feasible; however, up to 80% of cases are metastatic upon diagnosis. Regarding medical treatments, as GEP-NENs are characterized by relatively long overall survival, multiple therapy lines are adopted during the lifetime of these patients, but the optimum sequence to be followed has never been clearly defined. Furthermore, although new molecular markers aimed at predicting the response to therapy, as well as prognostic scores, are currently being studied, their application is still far from being part of daily clinical practice. As they represent a complex disease, with therapeutic protocols that are not completely standardized, GEP-NENs require a multidisciplinary approach. This review will provide an overview of the available therapeutic options for GEP-NENs and attempts to clarify the possible approaches for the management of these patients and to discuss future perspectives in this field.

A comprehensive assessment of the impact of a colorectal cancer screening program in a northern Italian area.

BACKGROUND: The impact of a faecal immunochemical test-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program in terms of patient prognosis could be affected by lead-time bias, which artificially increases the survival of screen-detected patients due to the early diagnosis. AIMS: To provide a description of the impact of the CRC screening program in the Trentino Region (Italy), including the Cure Fraction (CF), a prognostic indicator not affected by lead-time bias. METHODS: The program started in 2008, inviting the resident population aged 50-69 years. In this retrospective cohort study, 1,697 CRC diagnosed between 2003 and 2014 in patients aged 50-69 years were classified as pre-screening (PS), screen-detected (SD), interval cancers (IC) and not-screen-detected (NSD). We compared groups by stage at diagnosis and CF. Trends in CRC mortality were reported. RESULTS: The proportion of stage I among SD cases was 51%, higher than PS (19%; OR 4.66, 95%CI 3.50-6.20), NSD (20.6%; OR 3.96, 95%CI 2.95-5.32) and IC (33.3%; OR 2.11, 95%CI 1.10-4.04). The CF of PS, NSD and SD cases was respectively 57% (95%CI 54-60%), 60% (95%CI 58-63%) and 93% (95%CI 89-96%). CRC mortality dropped from 40.7 to 25.6\100,000. CONCLUSION: The program significantly improved the prognosis of patients, decreasing CRC mortality and incidence of advanced CRCs.

Real-time EndoFaster improves Helicobacter pylori detection in chronic active gastritis.

Helicobacter pylori is the most frequent cause of chronic active gastritis (CAG), namely the first step for gastric cancer development. When infection is not detected at histology, another test is advised. EndoFaster is novel device that reveal the presence of H. pylori by determining ammonium concentration in the gastric juice during endoscopy. We evaluated whether this test may improve etiological diagnosis in CAG patients. In 595 consecutive patients who underwent upper endoscopy gastric juice was analysed with EndoFaster and standard biopsies were taken. CAG with typical bacteria was detected in 102 (17.1%) patients, and CAG without H. pylori was found in 36 (6.3%) cases. EndoFaster detected the infection in 22 (61.1%) of these patients. Neither ongoing proton pump inhibitor therapy nor previous eradication therapy affect the test accuracy. By using EndoFaster, another test to search for the infection in H. pylori-negative CAG patients may be avoided in more than 60% of cases, impacting on both patients discomfort and health resources use.

Optimizing the searching for H. pylori in clinical practice with EndoFasterⓇ.

BACKGROUND/AIM: H. pylori plays a major role in gastroduodenal diseases. Since its incidence is decreasing in developed countries, gastric biopsies were negative in several patients managed in clinical practice. We tested whether EndoFasterⓇ - a device allowing real-time H. pylori detection by gastric juice analysis - may optimize the need of biopsies. METHODS: In this prospective, multicentre study, the accuracy of EndoFasterⓇ for H. pylori detection was computed by using histology of gastric biopsies as a gold standard. RESULTS: Data of 525 consecutive patients were available, including 90 (17.1%) patients with infection. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy of EndoFasterⓇ were 87%, 84%, 53%, 97% and 85%, respectively. The overall accuracy of test was not affected neither by ongoing proton pump inhibitor therapy nor by previous eradication therapy. By using EndoFasterⓇ in our series, biopsy sampling could have been eventually avoided in a total of 279 patients, accounting for a reduction of 42.3%, accepting the risk of only 8 false negative cases. CONCLUSIONS: The very high NPV of EndoFasterⓇ might allow to safely halve the need of taking gastric biopsies in unselected patients managed in clinical practice, avoiding an unavailing consume of health resources.

Optimal timing of endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is the most common indication for urgent endoscopy, but the correct timing of endoscopy in these patients is still debated. Our systematic review with meta-analysis was aimed at investigating the potential clinical benefit of very early endoscopy for UGIB patients. We performed an electronic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library up to 23rd May 2020 and considered only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing management of UGIB patients by very early vs early endoscopy. Only five RCTs were considered eligible for quantitative analysis, with a total population of 926 cases (468 in the very early endoscopy arm and 458 in the early). The meta-analysis showed no statistically significant benefit for very early endoscopy compared to early endoscopy in terms of risk of rebleeding, mortality, ICU admission, blood transfusion, surgery and length of hospital stay. However, our results showed a significantly higher need for haemostatic treatment when very early endoscopy was performed (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06-1.42, p < 0.01) in comparison to early endoscopy.

Effectiveness and safety of underwater techniques in gastrointestinal endoscopy: a comprehensive review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Conventional endoscopic resection techniques such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), represent the standard of care for treatment of superficial gastrointestinal lesions. In 2012 a novel technique called underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (U-EMR) was described by Binmoeller and colleagues. This substantial variation from the standard procedure was afterwards applied at endoscopic submucosal dissection (U-ESD) and recently proposed also for peroral endoscopic myotomy (U-POEM) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (U-EFTR). METHODS: This paper aims to perform a comprehensive review of the current literature related to supporting the underwater resection techniques with the aim to evaluate their safety and efficacy. RESULTS: Based on the current literature U-EMR appears to be feasible and safe. Comparison studies showed that U-EMR is associated with higher "en-bloc" and R0 resection rates for colonic lesions, but lower "en-bloc" and R0 resection rates for duodenal non-ampullary lesions, compared to standard EMR. In contrast to U-EMR, little evidence supporting U-ESD are currently available. A single comparison study on gastric lesions showed that U-ESD had shorter procedural times and allowed a similar "en-bloc" resection rates compared to standard ESD. No comparison studies between U-ESD and ESD are available for colonic lesions. Finally, only some anecdotal experiences have been reported for U-POEM or U-EFTR, and the feasibility and effectiveness of these techniques need to be further investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective studies are necessary to better explore the advantages of underwater techniques compared to the respective standards of care, especially in the setting of U-ESD where consistent data are lacking and where standardization of the technique is needed.

Gastrointestinal tract injuries after thermal ablative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) represent the standard of care for patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are unfit for surgery. The incidence of reported adverse events is low, ranging from 2.4% to 13.1% for RFA and from 2.6% to 7.5% for MWA. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) injury is even more infrequent (0.11%), but usually requires surgery with an unfavourable prognosis. Due to its low incidence and the retrospective nature of the studies, the literature reporting this feared complication is heterogeneous and in many cases lacks information on tumour characteristics, comorbidities and treatment approaches. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old man who had undergone extended right hepatectomy for HCC was diagnosed with early disease recurrence with a small nodule compatible with HCC in the Sg4b segment of the liver with a subcapsular location. He was treated with percutaneous RFA and a few week later he was urgently admitted to the Surgery ward for abdominal pain and fever. A subcutaneous abscess was diagnosed and treated by percutaneous drainage. A fistulous tract was then documented by the passage of contrast material from the gastric antrum to the abdominal wall. The oesophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed a circular wall defect at the lesser curvature of gastric antrum, leading directly to the purulent abdominal collection. An over-the-scope clip (OTSC) was used to successfully close the defect. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of RFA-related GIT injury to have been successfully treated with an OTSC, which highlights the role of this endoscopic treatment for the management of this complication.

Priority and appropriateness of upper endoscopy out-patient referrals: Two-period comparison in an open-access unit.

BACKGROUND: In the early 2000s we introduced a prioritization model for referrals based on involvement of primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists. AIMS: Assess the application of that model of prioritisation, comparing gastroscopies performed 8 years apart, with respect to priority level, appropriateness and relevant endoscopic findings (REFs). METHODS: The studies included 247 and 354 out-patients, who had undergone gastroscopy in 2006 and in 2014, respectively. To reduce interspecialists variability, both studies were performed by the same specialist as investigator. RESULTS: In both years, most patients were assigned low-priority referral by PCPs (78.6% and 75.1% respectively). The agreement PCPs versus specialist on referral priority was moderate in 2006 (0.60, Landis-Koch scale 0.41-0.60) and high in 2014 (0.81, Landis-Koch scale 0.81-1.00). In both years we observed a similar rate of inappropriateness: 27.5% and 27.1%, respectively. Due to multiple logistic regression, the odds ratio (OR) for REF increased when: (i) very high-priority referral versus nopriority referral was indicated (8.813 OR, p = 0.0012), (ii) referral followed the guidelines (9.29 OR, p<0.0001), and (iii) agreement of priority occurred (1.911 OR, p = 0.0308). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted that the issues of low-priority referrals should be addressed in order to discontinue gastroscopy overusing and reduce related operational costs.

Appropriateness and yield of surveillance colonoscopy in first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients: A 5-year follow-up population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are few prospective data about the use of surveillance colonoscopy and the risk of recurrent neoplasia in first degree relatives (FDRs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We examined the use and yield of surveillance colonoscopy in a population-based screening program (Trentino, Italy) METHODS: 1252 FDRs have been included in this study. We calculated compliance (percentage of FDRs who underwent surveillance colonoscopy among those eligible), appropriateness of colonoscopy (appropriate if performed within 6 months of the guidelines recommended interval) and diagnostic yield for neoplasia. We compared these data with those of 765 individuals without a family history (FH) of CRC who underwent screening colonoscopy in the same period (controls). RESULTS: Compliance and appropriateness were higher in FDRs than in controls (93.0% vs. 48.0%; p < 0.001; 59.6% vs. 18.8%; p < 0.0001, respectively). Younger age, female sex, FH of CRC and both non-advanced adenomas (nAA) and advanced adenomas (AA) at screening colonoscopy were predictors of appropriate surveillance. The cumulative incidence of nAA and AA was similar in FDRs and controls (31.7% and 4.9% in FDRs, including three invasive cancers; 32.4% and 5.8% in controls, respectively). CONCLUSION: FH does not increase the risk of AA in a 5-year follow-up; appropriate surveillance practices in FDRs could be highly expected in an organized screening program.

Detection rate and predictive factors of sessile serrated polyps in an organised colorectal cancer screening programme with immunochemical faecal occult blood test: the EQuIPE study (Evaluating Quality Indicators of the Performance of Endoscopy).

OBJECTIVES: To assess detection rate and predictive factors of sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) in organised colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes based on the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). DESIGN: Data from a case series of colonoscopies of FIT-positive subjects were provided by 44 Italian CRC screening programmes. Data on screening history, endoscopic procedure and histology results, and additional information on the endoscopy centre and the endoscopists were collected, including the age-standardised and sex-standardised adenoma detection rate (ADR) of the individual endoscopists. The SSP detection rate (SSP-DR) was assessed for the study population. To identify SSP-predictive factors, multilevel analyses were performed according to patient/centre/endoscopist characteristics. RESULTS: We analysed 72 021 colonoscopies, of which 1295 presented with at least one SSP (SSP-DR 1.8%; 95% CI 1.7% to 1.9%). At the per-patient level, SSP-DR was associated with males (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.54) and caecal intubation (OR 3.75; 95% CI 2.22 to 6.34), but not with the FIT round. The presence of at least one advanced adenoma was more frequent among subjects with SSPs than those without (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.86 to 2.33). At the per-endoscopist level, SSP-DR was associated with ADR (third vs first ADR quartile: OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.35; fourth vs first quartile: OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.24 to 2.90). CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of SSPs and the lack of association with the FIT round argue against SSP as a suitable target for FIT-based organised programmes. Strict association of SSP-DR with the key colonoscopy quality indicators, namely caecal intubation rate and high ADR further marginalises the need for SSP-specific quality indicators in FIT-based programmes.

Full-spectrum (FUSE) versus standard forward-viewing colonoscopy in an organised colorectal cancer screening programme.

OBJECTIVE: Miss rate of polyps has been shown to be substantially lower with full-spectrum endoscopy (FUSE) compared with standard forward-viewing (SFV) colonoscopy in a tandem study at per polyp analysis. However, there is uncertainty on whether FUSE is also associated with a higher detection rate of colorectal neoplasia, especially advanced lesions, in per patient analysis. METHODS: Consecutive subjects undergoing colonoscopy following a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) by experienced endoscopists and performed in the context of a regional colorectal cancer population-screening programme were randomised between colonoscopy with either FUSE or SFV colonoscopy in seven Italian centres. Randomisation was stratified by gender, age group and screening history. Primary outcomes included detection rates of advanced adenomas (A-ADR), adenomas (ADR) and sessile-serrated polyps (SSPDR). RESULTS: Of 741 eligible subjects, 658 were randomised to either FUSE (n=328) or SFV (n=330) colonoscopy and included in the analysis. Overall, 293/658 and 143/658 subjects had at least one adenoma (ADR 44.5%) and advanced adenoma (A-ADR 21.7%), respectively, while SSP was the most advanced lesion in 18 cases (SSPDR 2.7%). ADR and A-ADR were 43.6% and 19.5% in the FUSE arm, and 45.5% and 23.9% in the SFV arm, with no difference for both ADR (OR for FUSE: 0.96, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.14) and A-ADR (OR for FUSE: 0.82, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.09). No difference in SSPDR or multiplicity was detected between the two arms. In the per polyp analysis, the mean number of adenomas and proximal adenomas per patient was 0.81±1.25 and 0.47±0.93 in the FUSE arm, and 0.85±1.33 and 0.48±0.96 in the SFV colonoscopy arm (p=NS for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference in ADR and A-ADR between FUSE and SFV colonoscopy was detected in a per patient analysis in FIT-positive patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN10357435.

Performance of different categories of operators in simulated diagnostic colonoscopy.

The possible involvement, although limited to the diagnostic phase of the procedure, of nonmedical staff (particularly endoscopy nurses) in lower digestive endoscopy has recently been suggested. Computer-based simulators have demonstrated objective evaluation of technical skills in digestive endoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate basic colonoscopy skills of endoscopy nurses (naive operators), as compared with junior physician staff and senior endoscopists, through a virtual reality colonoscopy simulator. In this single-center, prospective, nonrandomized study, 3 groups of digestive endoscopy operators (endoscopy nurses, junior doctors [<150 previous colonoscopies], expert doctors [>500 previous colonoscopies and >200/year]) completed six diagnostic cases generated by an endoscopic simulator (AccuTouch, Immersion Medical, Gaithersburg, MD). The performance parameters, collected by the simulator, were compared between groups. Five parameters have been considered for statistical analysis: time spent to reach the cecum; pain of any degree; severe/extreme pain; amount of insufflated air; percentage of visualized mucosa. Statistical analysis to compare the three groups has been performed by means of Wilcoxon test for two independent samples and by means of Kruskal-Wallis test for three independent samples (p < .05). Sixteen operators have been studied (six endoscopy nurses, five junior doctors, and five senior doctors); 96 colonoscopic procedures have been evaluated. Statistically significant differences between experts and naive operators were observed regarding time to reach the cecum and induction of severe/extreme pain, with both Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon test (p < .05); all other comparisons did not reach statistical significance. Although, as expected, expert doctors exceeded both junior doctors and naive operators in some relevant quality parameters of simulated diagnostic colonoscopies, the results obtained by less expert performers--and particularly by nursing staff--appear satisfactory as in regards to most of the considered quality parameters and suggest a potential value of this device in effectively teaching basic lower digestive endoscopy to beginners in a relatively short time.