Artificial intelligence and capsule endoscopy: automatic detection of enteric protruding lesions using a convolutional neural network.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: capsule endoscopy (CE) revolutionized the study of the small intestine. Nevertheless, reviewing CE images is time-consuming and prone to error. Artificial intelligence algorithms, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN), are expected to overcome these drawbacks. Protruding lesions of the small intestine exhibit enormous morphological diversity in CE images. This study aimed to develop a CNN-based algorithm for the automatic detection small bowel protruding lesions. METHODS: a CNN was developed using a pool of CE images containing protruding lesions or normal mucosa from 1,229 patients. A training dataset was used for the development of the model. The performance of the network was evaluated using an independent dataset, by calculating its sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values. RESULTS: a total of 18,625 CE images (2,830 showing protruding lesions and 15,795 normal mucosa) were included. Training and validation datasets were built with an 80 %/20 % distribution, respectively. After optimizing the architecture of the network, our model automatically detected small-bowel protruding lesions with an accuracy of 92.5 %. CNN had a sensitivity and specificity of 96.8 % and 96.5 %, respectively. The CNN analyzed the validation dataset in 53 seconds, at a rate of approximately 70 frames per second. CONCLUSIONS: we developed an accurate CNN for the automatic detection of enteric protruding lesions with a wide range of morphologies. The development of these tools may enhance the diagnostic efficiency of CE.

Design of a Convolutional Neural Network as a Deep Learning Tool for the Automatic Classification of Small-Bowel Cleansing in Capsule Endoscopy.

Background and objectives: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a non-invasive method to inspect the small bowel that, like other enteroscopy methods, requires adequate small-bowel cleansing to obtain conclusive results. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been seen to offer important benefits in the field of medical imaging over recent years, particularly through the adaptation of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to achieve more efficient image analysis. Here, we aimed to develop a deep learning model that uses a CNN to automatically classify the quality of intestinal preparation in CE. Methods: A CNN was designed based on 12,950 CE images obtained at two clinical centers in Porto (Portugal). The quality of the intestinal preparation was classified for each image as: excellent, ≥90% of the image surface with visible mucosa; satisfactory, 50-90% of the mucosa visible; and unsatisfactory, <50% of the mucosa visible. The total set of images was divided in an 80:20 ratio to establish training and validation datasets, respectively. The CNN prediction was compared with the classification established by consensus of a group of three experts in CE, currently considered the gold standard to evaluate cleanliness. Subsequently, how the CNN performed in diagnostic terms was evaluated using an independent validation dataset. Results: Among the images obtained, 3633 were designated as unsatisfactory preparation, 6005 satisfactory preparation, and 3312 with excellent preparation. When differentiating the classes of small-bowel preparation, the algorithm developed here achieved an overall accuracy of 92.1%, with a sensitivity of 88.4%, a specificity of 93.6%, a positive predictive value of 88.5%, and a negative predictive value of 93.4%. The area under the curve for the detection of excellent, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory classes was 0.98, 0.95, and 0.99, respectively. Conclusions: A CNN-based tool was developed to automatically classify small-bowel preparation for CE, and it was seen to accurately classify intestinal preparation for CE. The development of such a system could enhance the reproducibility of the scales used for such purposes.

Artificial intelligence and colon capsule endoscopy: Automatic detection of ulcers and erosions using a convolutional neural network.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has become a minimally invasive alternative for conventional colonoscopy. Nevertheless, each CCE exam produces between 50 000 and 100 000 frames, making its analysis time-consuming and prone to errors. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) architecture with high performance in image analysis. This study aims to develop a CNN model for the identification of colonic ulcers and erosions in CCE images. METHODS: A CNN model was designed using a database of CCE images. A total of 124 CCE exams performed between 2010 and 2020 in two centers were reviewed. For CNN development, a total of 37 319 images were extracted, 33 749 showing normal colonic mucosa and 3570 showing colonic ulcers and erosions. Datasets for CNN training, validation, and testing were created. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated regarding its sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and area under the curve. RESULTS: The network had a sensitivity of 96.9% and a specificity of 99.9% specific for the detection of colonic ulcers and erosions. The algorithm had an overall accuracy of 99.6%. The area under the curve was 1.00. The CNN had an image processing capacity of 90 frames per second. CONCLUSIONS: The developed algorithm is the first CNN-based model to accurately detect ulcers and erosions in CCE images, also providing a good image processing performance. The development of these AI systems may contribute to improve both the diagnostic and time efficiency of CCE exams, facilitating CCE adoption to routine clinical practice.

Capsule enteroscopy versus radionuclide scintigraphy for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: capsule enteroscopy (CE) and 99mTc red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy are frequently used in the investigation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). There are few data comparing both diagnostic modalities. This study aimed to assess the performance of CE and scintigraphy for the diagnosis of OGIB. METHODS: patients who underwent CE and scintigraphy for OGIB were selected and analyzed retrospectively. The hemorrhagic potential of CE findings was rated using Saurin's classification. The concordance between both diagnostic techniques for bleeding detection and localization was analyzed. RESULTS: eighty-five patients (62 % female), with a median age of 63 years, were included in the study. Capsule enteroscopy identified 37 patients (43 %) with high hemorrhagic potential (P2) lesions. Most scintigraphy exams were positive for gastrointestinal bleeding (82 %). No concordance was found in the detection of lesions with hemorrhagic potential between CE and scintigraphy (kappa < 0). The distribution of P0, P1 and P2 findings was similar in patients with positive or negative scintigraphy (p = 0.526). There was no agreement regarding the location of P2 findings in CE and the bleeding detected by scintigraphy (kappa < 0). Patients with P2 lesions had significantly lower median levels of hemoglobin (p = 0.002) at presentation. No significant differences were found in hemoglobin values between patients with positive and negative scintigraphy (p = 0.058). CONCLUSION: significant diagnostic discrepancy was observed between CE and scintigraphy. The findings of CE correlated better with hemoglobin values at presentation than scintigraphy results. Therefore, scintigraphy does not appear to be useful in the diagnostic workup of OGIB.

Comparison in the Diagnostic Yield between "Pillcam SB3" Capsule Endoscopy and "OMOM Smart Capsule 2" in Small Bowel Bleeding: A Randomized Head-to-Head Study.

INTRODUCTION: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is the first-line tool for diagnosis of small bowel bleeding. There are some studies that have compared different types of CE. OMOM CE is one of the newest in the market and has not been compared with other types of CE. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of the Pillcam SB3 and OMOM CE in small bowel bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, comparative, randomized, and blinded study. Patients with suspected small bowel bleeding were included. All the patients were given both types of CE in random order. Diagnostic yield and functionality between the 2 types of CE were analyzed. RESULTS: We included 44 patients, 54.5% were female with a median age of 63.5 years. Battery time was significantly longer with SB3 (816.5 vs. 700.5 min, p < 0.001), and the download time was shorter with OMOM (33 vs. 132 min, p < 0.001). Both CEs presented 1 failure. The cause of the bleeding was identified in 39 SB3 (88.6%) and in 34 OMOM CE (77.3%) (p = 0.256). P2 lesions were observed in 32 SB3 (72.7%) and in 29 OMOM CE (65.9%) (p = 0.784). The agreement between both CEs for P2 lesions was moderate (κ = 0.628). CONCLUSIONS: Pillcam SB3 and OMOM devices are safe procedures and have a similar diagnostic yield. Significant differences were observed in the battery life and download time with both CEs.

A case-control study demonstrates an improved visualization when capsule endoscopy is performed after preparation with polyethylene glycol and ascorbic acid.

BACKGROUND: capsule endoscopy is increasingly used to obtain images of the gastrointestinal tract, although the best preparation for this type of exploration remains unclear. AIMS: the aim of this study was to compare the results of capsule endoscopy explorations performed after a basic preparation with a clear liquid diet, reduced iron intake and fasting or following preparation with a polyethylene glycol (PEG)/ascorbate solution. METHODS: the results obtained from a prospective intervention group that used a PEG/ascorbate solution to prepare for capsule endoscopy were compared with those from a retrospective group of patients who followed a more basic preparation. The quality of visualization was assessed with the Park score, the visualization of the mucosal surface and the cleanliness of the intestinal lumen were assessed. The capsule transit time in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract was also evaluated. RESULTS: a significant improvement in the quality of small intestine visualization was observed in individuals prepared with the PEG/ascorbate solution as opposed to the basic preparation. In fact, there were significant differences in the two separate components that contribute to the overall visualization score, with better mucosa visualization and lumen content scores in the intervention group, thus reflecting an improved performance. The presence of diabetes appeared to affect the results of these explorations, at least when using the PEG/ascorbate preparation. CONCLUSIONS: preparation with a PEG/ascorbate solution improved the results of capsule endoscopy when compared to a basic preparation, without the inconvenience of the more stringent preparations used for colonoscopies.

Gastric caustic injury after organophosphate poisoning.

An 83-year-old male was brought to the Emergency Room after ingesting an unknown dose of dimethoate, an organophosphate pesticide. He had been previously diagnosed with depression but there were no previous suicide attempts. The admission Glasgow Coma Scale score was 3 and he had miotic pupils and copious oropharyngeal secretions. The patient was hemodynamically stable, mildly tachypneic (respiratory rate 22/minute) and nonfebrile. Laboratory workup revealed a normal complete blood count (Hb 15 g/dl, platelets 178,000/µl), normal liver tests and no coagulopathy. Low acetylcholinesterase levels confirmed organophosphate poisoning. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) under treatment with obidoxime.

Endoscopic diagnosis of primary and recurrent mantle cell lymphomas.

A 64-year-old male presented to our center with epigastric pain, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss and anemia on a laboratory study. An abdominal ultrasound revealed thickening of the gastric walls. Upper endoscopy demonstrated a 40 mm ulcerated lesion at the incisura angularis. A biopsy of the lesion revealed a lymphocytic infiltrate expressing CD5, CD20 and cyclin D1, typical of mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL).

Deep Learning and Device-Assisted Enteroscopy: Automatic Detection of Gastrointestinal Angioectasia.

Background and Objectives: Device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) allows deep exploration of the small bowel and combines diagnostic and therapeutic capacities. Suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding is the most frequent indication for DAE, and vascular lesions, particularly angioectasia, are the most common etiology. Nevertheless, the diagnostic yield of DAE for the detection of these lesions is suboptimal. Deep learning algorithms have shown great potential for automatic detection of lesions in endoscopy. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model for the automatic detection of angioectasia DAE images. Materials and Methods: A convolutional neural network (CNN) was developed using DAE images. Each frame was labeled as normal/mucosa or angioectasia. The image dataset was split for the constitution of training and validation datasets. The latter was used for assessing the performance of the CNN. Results: A total of 72 DAE exams were included, and 6740 images were extracted (5345 of normal mucosa and 1395 of angioectasia). The model had a sensitivity of 88.5%, a specificity of 97.1% and an AUC of 0.988. The image processing speed was 6.4 ms/frame. Conclusions: The application of AI to DAE may have a significant impact on the management of patients with suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding.

Small bowel enteroscopy - A joint clinical guideline by the Spanish and Portuguese small-bowel study groups.

The present evidence-based guidelines are focused on the use of device-assisted enteroscopy in the management of small-bowel diseases. A panel of experts selected by the Spanish and Portuguese small-bowel study groups reviewed the available evidence focusing on the main indications of this technique, its role in the management algorithm of each indication, and its diagnostic and therapeutic yield. A set of recommendations was issued accordingly.

Is capsule colonoscopy the solution for incomplete conventional colonoscopy?

The era of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) started in 2007. Few years later second-generation CCE (CCE-2) (Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA) was launched, featuring an improved optical system allowing for nearly 360° coverage via two 172° angle cameras, and adaptive frame rate function (ranging from 4 to 35 images per second depending on capsule motion). At present the main clinical indications for CCE are: a) completion of incomplete colonoscopy; b) polyp detection; and c) investigation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Pelvic organ prolapse surgical management in Portugal and FDA safety communication have an impact on vaginal mesh.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery has lately gained importance in gynecological practice. This study aims to characterize the evolution of POP surgical procedures conducted in Portugal in the last decade and the impact of an FDA 2011 safety communication on mesh POP surgeries. METHODS: Trends in the surgical management of POP were assessed using the Portuguese National Medical Registry. We considered all records of women with diagnosis of genital prolapse from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2012. Additionally, we also conducted a survey among members of the Portuguese Society of Urogynecology to evaluate current practices in the surgical management of POP. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2012, 46,819 diagnoses of genital prolapse were registered, with a 105 % increase during the study period (2,368 in 2000 to 4,941 in 2012). POP mesh surgery represented only 6 % of total prolapse diagnoses, but mesh use greatly increased up to 2011, when only a slight increase was registered. Among gynecologists who responded to the questionnaire, there was considerable variability on the procedures of choice to treat POP. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents performed vaginal mesh POP surgery, but only 27 % of those actually reported having changed their practice after the FDA 2011 safety communication. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical procedures for POP conducted in Portugal greatly increased over the last decade. The use of surgical meshes is still limited, but despite FDA safety communication it has increased over the years, with a slight increase in 2012, which illustrates the need for further analyses in the coming years.

Revolutionizing Women's Health: A Comprehensive Review of Artificial Intelligence Advancements in Gynecology.

Artificial intelligence has yielded remarkably promising results in several medical fields, namely those with a strong imaging component. Gynecology relies heavily on imaging since it offers useful visual data on the female reproductive system, leading to a deeper understanding of pathophysiological concepts. The applicability of artificial intelligence technologies has not been as noticeable in gynecologic imaging as in other medical fields so far. However, due to growing interest in this area, some studies have been performed with exciting results. From urogynecology to oncology, artificial intelligence algorithms, particularly machine learning and deep learning, have shown huge potential to revolutionize the overall healthcare experience for women's reproductive health. In this review, we aim to establish the current status of AI in gynecology, the upcoming developments in this area, and discuss the challenges facing its clinical implementation, namely the technological and ethical concerns for technology development, implementation, and accountability.

Artificial Intelligence and Panendoscopy-Automatic Detection of Clinically Relevant Lesions in Multibrand Device-Assisted Enteroscopy.

Device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) is capable of evaluating the entire gastrointestinal tract, identifying multiple lesions. Nevertheless, DAE's diagnostic yield is suboptimal. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are multi-layer architecture artificial intelligence models suitable for image analysis, but there is a lack of studies about their application in DAE. Our group aimed to develop a multidevice CNN for panendoscopic detection of clinically relevant lesions during DAE. In total, 338 exams performed in two specialized centers were retrospectively evaluated, with 152 single-balloon enteroscopies (Fujifilm®, Porto, Portugal), 172 double-balloon enteroscopies (Olympus®, Porto, Portugal) and 14 motorized spiral enteroscopies (Olympus®, Porto, Portugal); then, 40,655 images were divided in a training dataset (90% of the images, n = 36,599) and testing dataset (10% of the images, n = 4066) used to evaluate the model. The CNN's output was compared to an expert consensus classification. The model was evaluated by its sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), accuracy and area under the precision recall curve (AUC-PR). The CNN had an 88.9% sensitivity, 98.9% specificity, 95.8% PPV, 97.1% NPV, 96.8% accuracy and an AUC-PR of 0.97. Our group developed the first multidevice CNN for panendoscopic detection of clinically relevant lesions during DAE. The development of accurate deep learning models is of utmost importance for increasing the diagnostic yield of DAE-based panendoscopy.

Deep learning and minimally invasive inflammatory activity assessment: a proof-of-concept study for development and score correlation of a panendoscopy convolutional network.

Background: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a valuable tool for assessing inflammation in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The current standard for evaluating inflammation are validated scores (and clinical laboratory values) like Lewis score (LS), Capsule Endoscopy Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CECDAI), and ELIAKIM. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have made it possible to automatically select the most relevant frames in CE. Objectives: In this proof-of-concept study, our objective was to develop an automated scoring system using CE images to objectively grade inflammation. Design: Pan-enteric CE videos (PillCam Crohn's) performed in CD patients between 09/2020 and 01/2023 were retrospectively reviewed and LS, CECDAI, and ELIAKIM scores were calculated. Methods: We developed a convolutional neural network-based automated score consisting of the percentage of positive frames selected by the algorithm (for small bowel and colon separately). We correlated clinical data and the validated scores with the artificial intelligence-generated score (AIS). Results: A total of 61 patients were included. The median LS was 225 (0-6006), CECDAI was 6 (0-33), ELIAKIM was 4 (0-38), and SB_AIS was 0.5659 (0-29.45). We found a strong correlation between SB_AIS and LS, CECDAI, and ELIAKIM scores (Spearman's r = 0.751, r = 0.707, r = 0.655, p = 0.001). We found a strong correlation between LS and ELIAKIM (r = 0.768, p = 0.001) and a very strong correlation between CECDAI and LS (r = 0.854, p = 0.001) and CECDAI and ELIAKIM scores (r = 0.827, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that the AI-generated score had a strong correlation with validated scores indicating that it could serve as an objective and efficient method for evaluating inflammation in CD patients. As a preliminary study, our findings provide a promising basis for future refining of a CE score that may accurately correlate with prognostic factors and aid in the management and treatment of CD patients.

Artificial intelligence in Crohn's disease: the development of an automated score for disease activity evaluation This study introduces an innovative AI-based approach to evaluate Crohn's Disease. The AI system automatically analyzes images from capsule endoscopy, focusing on finding ulcers and erosions to measure disease activity. The research reveals a robust correlation between the AI-generated score assessing inflammation in the small bowel and traditional clinical scores. This suggests that the AI solution could be a quicker and more consistent way to evaluate Crohn's Disease, speeding up the evaluation process and reducing manual scoring variability. While promising, the study acknowledges limitations and emphasizes the need for further validation with larger groups of patients. Overall, it represents a crucial step toward integrating AI into gastroenterology, offering a glimpse into a future of more objective and personalized Crohn's Disease evaluation.

Deep learning and capsule endoscopy: Automatic multi-brand and multi-device panendoscopic detection of vascular lesions.

Background and study aims Capsule endoscopy (CE) is commonly used as the initial exam for suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding after normal upper and lower endoscopy. Although the assessment of the small bowel is the primary focus of CE, detecting upstream or downstream vascular lesions may also be clinically significant. This study aimed to develop and test a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model for panendoscopic automatic detection of vascular lesions during CE. Patients and methods A multicentric AI model development study was based on 1022 CE exams. Our group used 34655 frames from seven types of CE devices, of which 11091 were considered to have vascular lesions (angiectasia or varices) after triple validation. We divided data into a training and a validation set, and the latter was used to evaluate the model's performance. At the time of division, all frames from a given patient were assigned to the same dataset. Our primary outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and an area under the precision-recall curve (AUC-PR). Results Sensitivity and specificity were 86.4% and 98.3%, respectively. PPV was 95.2%, while the NPV was 95.0%. Overall accuracy was 95.0%. The AUC-PR value was 0.96. The CNN processed 115 frames per second. Conclusions This is the first proof-of-concept artificial intelligence deep learning model developed for pan-endoscopic automatic detection of vascular lesions during CE. The diagnostic performance of this CNN in multi-brand devices addresses an essential issue of technological interoperability, allowing it to be replicated in multiple technological settings.

Deep Learning in High-Resolution Anoscopy: Assessing the Impact of Staining and Therapeutic Manipulation on Automated Detection of Anal Cancer Precursors.

INTRODUCTION: High-resolution anoscopy (HRA) is the gold standard for detecting anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) precursors. Preliminary studies on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) models to this modality have revealed promising results. However, the impact of staining techniques and anal manipulation on the effectiveness of these algorithms has not been evaluated. We aimed to develop a deep learning system for automatic differentiation of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion vs low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in HRA images in different subsets of patients (nonstained, acetic acid, lugol, and after manipulation). METHODS: A convolutional neural network was developed to detect and differentiate high-grade and low-grade anal squamous intraepithelial lesions based on 27,770 images from 103 HRA examinations performed in 88 patients. Subanalyses were performed to evaluate the algorithm's performance in subsets of images without staining, acetic acid, lugol, and after manipulation of the anal canal. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the curve were calculated. RESULTS: The convolutional neural network achieved an overall accuracy of 98.3%. The algorithm had a sensitivity and specificity of 97.4% and 99.2%, respectively. The accuracy of the algorithm for differentiating high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion vs low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion varied between 91.5% (postmanipulation) and 100% (lugol) for the categories at subanalysis. The area under the curve ranged between 0.95 and 1.00. DISCUSSION: The introduction of AI to HRA may provide an accurate detection and differentiation of ASCC precursors. Our algorithm showed excellent performance at different staining settings. This is extremely important because real-time AI models during HRA examinations can help guide local treatment or detect relapsing disease.

Double-balloon enteroscopy in the management of patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: a retrospective cohort multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the clinical impact of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in patients with Peutz- Jeghers syndrome (PJS).The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of DBE in the management of small-bowel polyps in PJS patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective cohort study, which included all consecutive patients diagnosed with PJS who underwent DBE for polypectomy between January 2006 and August 2012. In all cases, previous videocapsule enteroscopy had shown at least one polyp ≥ 10 mm in size. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (13 men; median age 36 years; 14 with prior laparotomy) underwent 46 DBE procedures (1 to 5 per patient, 44 via oral route). Polypectomy was performed in 39/46 DBEs. A total of 214 polyps were removed (median-size 30 mm), with a median number of polypectomies per procedure of 5.0 (range 1-18). The estimated maximum-sizes of resected polyps significantly decreased at each session: 30.0, 25.0, 20.0, 15.0, and 17.5 mm (p = 0.02). In 7 DBEs no polypectomy was performed (4-only minor polyps detected; 3-endoscopic irresecability). Complications occurred in 3/39 of therapeutic procedures (2-minor delayed bleeding; 1-mucosal tear), all of them dealt with conservative or endoscopic therapy. Six patients underwent elective surgery post DBE due to polyps not amenable for endoscopic resection. There were no small-bowel polyp related complications during a median follow-up of 56.5 months. CONCLUSION: DBE showed to be a safe and effective technique in the management of small-bowel polyps in PJS patients, allowing a presymptomatic and non-surgical approach.

Predicting Factors of Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized after Esophageal Foreign Body or Caustic Injuries: The Experience of a Tertiary Center.

Ingestion of foreign bodies (IFB) and ingestion of caustic agents are frequent non-hemorrhagic causes of endoscopic urgencies, with the potential for severe complications. This study aimed to evaluate the predicting factors of the clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized as a result of IFB or ingestion of caustics (IC). This was a retrospective single-center study of patients admitted for IFB or IC between 2000 and 2019 at a tertiary center. Demographic and clinical data, as well as preliminary exams, were evaluated. Also, variables of the clinical outcomes, including the length of stay (LS) and other inpatient complications, were assessed. Sixty-six patients were included (44 IFB and 22 IC). The median LS was 7 days, with no differences between the groups (p = 0.07). The values of C-reactive protein (CRP) upon admission correlated with the LS in the IFB group (p < 0.01) but not with that of those admitted after IC. In the IFB patients, a diagnosis of perforation on both an endoscopy (p = 0.02) and CT scan (p < 0.01) was correlated with the LS. The Zargar classification was not correlated with the LS in the IC patients (p = 0.36). However, it was correlated with antibiotics, nosocomial pneumonia and an increased need for intensive care treatment. CT assessment of the severity of the caustic lesions did not correlate with the LS. In patients admitted for IFB, CRP values may help stratify the probability of complications. In patients admitted due to IC, the Zargar classification may help to predict inpatient complications, but it does not correlate with the LS.

Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma in a Patient with Crohn's Disease: The Role of Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy.

Introduction: Small bowel adenocarcinoma is a rare but well-known complication of Crohn's disease. Diagnosis can be challenging, as clinical presentation may mimic an exacerbation of Crohn's disease and imaging findings may be indistinguishable from benign strictures. The result is that the majority of cases are diagnosed at the time of operation or postoperatively at an advanced stage. Case Presentation: A 48-year-old male with a previous 20-year history of ileal stenosing Crohn's disease presented with iron deficiency anemia. The patient reported melena approximately 1 month earlier but was currently asymptomatic. There were no other laboratory abnormalities. Anemia was refractory to intravenous iron replacement. The patient underwent computerized tomography enterography, which revealed multiple ileal strictures with features suggesting underlying inflammation and an area of sacculation with circumferential thickening of adjacent bowel loops. Therefore, the patient underwent retrograde balloon-assisted small bowel enteroscopy, where an area of irregular mucosa and ulceration was found at the region of ileo-ileal anastomosis. Biopsies were performed and histopathological examination revealed tubular adenocarcinoma infiltrating the muscularis mucosae. The patient underwent right hemicolectomy plus segmental enterectomy of the anastomotic region where the neoplasia was located. After 2 months, he is asymptomatic and there is no evidence of recurrence. Discussion: This case demonstrates that small bowel adenocarcinoma may have a subtle clinical presentation and that computed tomography enterography may not be accurate enough to distinguish benign from malignant strictures. Clinicians must, therefore, maintain a high index of suspicion for this complication in patients with long-standing small bowel Crohn's disease. In this setting, balloon-assisted enteroscopy may be a useful tool when there is raised concern for malignancy, and it is expected that its more widespread use could contribute to an earlier diagnosis of this severe complication.

Introdução: O adenocarcinoma do intestino delgado é uma complicação rara mas bem estabelecida da doença de Crohn. O seu diagnóstico pode ser desafiante, na medida em que a apresentação clínica pode mimetizar uma agudização da doença de Crohn e os achados imagiológicos podem ser indistinguíveis de estenoses benignas. Em consequência, a maioria dos casos são diagnosticados durante ou após a cirurgia em estadio avançado. Descrição do caso: Um homem de 48 anos com antecedentes de doença de Crohn ileal estenosante, com 20 anos de evolução, apresentou-se com anemia ferropénica. O doente referia melenas aproximadamente um mês antes, mas encontrava-se atualmente assintomático. Não apresentava outras alterações laboratoriais de relevo. A anemia era refratária a suplementação com ferro endovenoso. Foi submetido a enterografia por tomografia computorizada, que revelou múltiplas estenoses ileais com caraterísticas sugestivas de atividade inflamatória e uma área de saculação com espessamento circunferencial das ansas de intestino delgado adjacentes. Assim, foi submetido a enteroscopia assistida por balão, onde se identificou uma área de mucosa irregular e ulceração na região da anastomose ileo-ileal. Biópsias desta área revelaram a presença de adenocarcinoma tubular com infiltração até à muscularis mucosae. O doente foi submetido a hemicolectomia direita com enterectomia segmentar da região da anastomose onde a neoplasia se encontrava localizada. Ao fim de 2 meses, o doente encontra-se assintomático e sem evidência de recorrência. Discussão: Este caso demonstra que o adenocarcinoma do intestino delgado pode ter uma apresentação clínica subtil e que a enterografia por tomografia computorizada pode não ter precisão suficiente para distinguir estenoses benignas de neoplasias malignas. Os clínicos devem, portanto, manter um elevado índice de suspeição diagnóstica para esta complicação em doentes com doença de Crohn ileal de longa duração. Neste contexto, a enteroscopia assistida por balão pode ser uma ferramenta útil em casos de suspeita de neoplasia maligna, esperando- se que possa contribuir para um diagnóstico mais precoce desta complicação severa.