Giant villous adenoma of rectum- what is the malignant potential and what is the optimal treatment? A case and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Villous adenomas are dubiously benign lesions, which are difficult to interpret because of their malignant potential. Distal villous adenomas present with bleeding or mucus discharge. Giant adenomas are not amenable for endoscopic or transanal resection. Only few isolated cases have been reported by laparoscopic resection. We present our case of a circumferential giant villous adenoma of the rectum managed successfully by laparoscopic ultra-low anterior resection with colo-anal anastomosis with a review of literature in regard to their malignant potential. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old lady presented with complaints of painless bleeding per rectum and a fleshy mass protruding from the anal canal which on digital rectal examination appeared a large soft velvety flat mass with mucus discharge. Colonoscopy showed circumferential irregular, friable, edematous mucosa in rectum extending for 15 cm. Computed tomography showed a large heterogeneously enhancing polypoid mass lesion in the rectal wall involving the entire rectum. The patient underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection with colo-anal anastomosis and protecting loop ileostomy. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed villous adenoma of the rectum with moderate to severe dysplasia. DISCUSSION: Villous adenomas are sessile growths lined by dysplastic glandular epithelium, whose risk of malignancy is especially high up to 50% when greater than 2 cm in size. Large size, villous content, and distal location are all associated with severe dysplasia in colorectal adenomas. Large villous rectal tumors, particularly of circumferential type pose a great challenge for endoscopic or transanal removal. Henceforth, open or laparoscopic surgery is required for these cases. CONCLUSION: Giant rectal villous polyps are usually unresectable by endoscopic methods or transanal endoscopic microsurgery and are associated with a high rate of unsuspected cancer which requires a formal radical oncologic resection. As per current data, the combined risk of dysplasia/malignancy is about 83% with 50% risk of dysplasia and frank malignancy in 33% of cases of giant rectal villous adenomas of more than 8 cm in size. Laparoscopic colorectal resection is safe and effective.

One-year risk for advanced colorectal neoplasia: U.S. versus U.K. risk-stratification guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines from the United Kingdom and the United States on risk stratification after polypectomy differ, as do recommended surveillance intervals. OBJECTIVE: To compare risk for advanced colorectal neoplasia at 1-year colonoscopy among patients cross-classified by U.S. and U.K. surveillance guidelines. DESIGN: Pooled analysis of 4 prospective studies between 1984 and 1998. SETTING: Academic and private clinics in the United States. PATIENTS: 3226 postpolypectomy patients with 6- to 18-month follow-up colonoscopy. MEASUREMENTS: Rates of advanced neoplasia (an adenoma ≥1 cm, high-grade dysplasia, >25% villous architecture, or invasive cancer) at 1 year, compared across U.S. and U.K. risk categories. RESULTS: Advanced neoplasia was detected 1 year after polypectomy in 3.8% (95% CI, 2.7% to 4.9%) of lower-risk patients and 11.2% (CI, 9.8% to 12.6%) of higher-risk patients by U.S. criteria. According to U.K. criteria, 4.4% (CI, 3.3% to 5.4%) of low-risk patients, 9.9% (CI, 8.3% to 11.5%) of intermediate-risk patients, and 18.7% (CI, 14.8% to 22.5%) of high-risk patients presented with advanced neoplasia; U.K. high-risk patients comprised 12.1% of all patients. All U.S. lower-risk patients were low-risk by U.K. criteria; however, more patients were classified as low-risk, because the U.K. guidelines do not consider histologic features. Higher-risk U.S. patients were distributed across the 3 U.K. categories. Among all patients with advanced neoplasia, 26.3% were reclassified by the U.K. criteria to a higher-risk category and 7.0% to a lower-risk category, with a net 19.0% benefiting from detection 2 years earlier. Overall, substitution of U.K. for U.S. guidelines resulted in an estimated 0.03 additional colonoscopy every 5 years per patient. LIMITATIONS: Patients were enrolled 15 to 20 years ago, and quality measures for colonoscopy were unavailable. Patients lacking follow-up colonoscopy or with surveillance colonoscopy after 6 to 18 months and those with cancer or insufficient baseline adenoma characteristics were excluded (2076 of 5302). CONCLUSION: Application of the U.K. guidelines in the United States could identify a subset of high-risk patients who may warrant a 1-year clearing colonoscopy without substantially increasing rates of colonoscopy. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: European Union Public Health Programme.

The frequency of advanced adenoma in consulting patients: a nationwide survey in Iceland (2003-2006).

AIM: To assess the frequency of advanced colorectal adenomas in consulting patients in Iceland. METHOD: The histological configuration of colorectal adenomas (CRA) found in 3603 patients was classified into tubular (TA), villous (VA) and serrated (SA) and the degree of neoplastic severity into low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), carcinoma in situ (CIS), intramucosal carcinoma (IMC) and submucosal carcinoma (SMC). Advanced CRA were those showing HGD, CIS, IMC and/or SMCs. In patients with two or more adenomas, the adenoma with the highest degree of epithelial neoplasia was selected to record cases. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2006 a total of 19424 endoscopic examinations (13572 colonoscopies and 5852 sigmoidoscopies) were performed in Iceland (mean, 4856 endoscopies per year). At histology a mean of 759.3 CRA per year were found. Thus, CRA were found in 15.6% of the colorectal endoscopies performed per year. Out of the 3037 CRA studied, 67% were TA, 29% VA and the remaining 4% SA. LGD was present in 79%, HGD in 15%, CIS in 2.4%, IMC in 1.9% and SMC in 1.9%. Consequently, out of 3037 CRA investigated, 652 (21.5%) were advanced CRA; 71% of these showed HGD, 11% CIS, 9% IMC and 9% SMC. Two-thirds of the 652 advanced CRA were advanced VA, and more than three-quarters of 58 advanced CRA with SMC, were advanced VA. CONCLUSION: Advanced VA displaying intraepithelial neoplasia (HGD and CIS) showed a propensity to evolve into invasive carcinoma. Accordingly, VA displaying HGD and CIS might be regarded as biological markers for predicting colorectal cancer risk. This is the first study in which the frequency of CRA and advanced CRA detected in consulting patients is reported on a nationwide basis.

[Diseases associated with bloodstream infections caused by the new species included in the old Streptococcus bovis group]. / Cuadros clínicos asociados a bacteriemia causada por las nuevas especies incluidas en el antiguo grupo Streptococcus bovis.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify possible diseases associated with bloodstream infections caused by new species of S. bovis group isolated in blood cultures and by studying patient records METHODS: Forty-four consecutive blood culture isolates initially designated S. bovis were further characterised using phenotypic methods Patient records were examined. RESULTS: We identified 15 Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus, 24 Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus, and 5 Streptococcus infantarius isolates in 44 BSI episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The association between S. bovis bacteraemia and endocarditis and/or colon carcinoma is highly dependent on the causative species. Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus is a surrogate for endocarditis and/or bowel disease, whereas Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus is a surrogate for hepato-biliary disease.

Prognostic significance of high-grade dysplasia in colorectal adenomas.

AIM: Colonoscopy to detect and remove polyps has contributed to a reduction in colorectal carcinoma. Three-year follow up is recommended for patients considered to be at high risk (at least three adenomas, adenoma ≥ 1 cm, villous or high-grade features). Our study focused on patients diagnosed with high-grade dysplasia with regard to initial management and follow up. METHOD: A search of patients who had had endoscopic removal of a high-grade adenoma was carried out. Patients with the following were excluded: follow up of < 1 year, polyposis syndromes, prior colon cancer and a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma within 6 months following initial diagnosis. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients treated between 1999 and 2007 for high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in a colorectal adenoma were identified. Over a median follow-up period of 4 years, 53 (64%) developed further adenomatous polyps. Among these, 7% had an adenoma with HGD or an adenocarcinoma. In all these patients, the initial high-grade adenoma was > 1 cm in diameter. Initial follow-up colonoscopy was performed on average 7 months following the initial diagnosis. Ten per cent of patients underwent prophylactic segmental resection, and 6% received argon laser therapy. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that patients who have a colorectal adenoma > 1 cm with HGD may be at high risk of developing further adenomas with HGD or carcinoma. Close follow up is warranted.

Is metabolic syndrome a risk factor for colorectal adenoma?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Epidemiologic studies provide evidence for a link between obesity or diabetes and the risk for colorectal cancer. However, there is a lack of information about the relationship between metabolic syndrome and colorectal adenoma. Therefore, we investigated whether metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for colorectal adenoma. METHODS: We did a study for consecutive subjects who underwent colonoscopy as a screening exam at the Center for Health Promotion, Samsung Medical Center, from March 2004 to December 2005. According to the modified ATP III criteria, metabolic syndrome was diagnosed. We classified a total of 2,531 subjects into the adenoma group (n = 731) and the control group (n = 1,800), including normal colonoscopic finding, nonpolyp benign lesions, or histologically confirmed hyperplastic polyp. RESULTS: The prevalence for metabolic syndrome was 17% in the adenoma group and 11% in the control group. On the multiple logistic regression analyses, metabolic syndrome was found to be associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.93). Also, waist circumference among the individual components of metabolic syndrome was an independent risk factor for colorectal adenoma. An increased risk for metabolic syndrome was more evident for proximal than distal colon, for multiple (>/=3), and for advanced adenoma in the adenoma group. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome was associated with colorectal adenoma. Abdominal obesity of the individual components of metabolic syndrome was an important risk factor for colorectal adenoma.

Simultaneous laparoscopic treatment for diseases of the gallbladder, stomach, and colon.

We describe a successful simultaneous laparoscopic treatment of a gallstone and gastric and colonic neoplasms. The patient was a 72-year-old man with epigastric discomfort. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a gallstone 2 cm in diameter. Gastroscopy revealed a 3-cm protruding submucosal tumor in the gastric fundus and colonoscopy revealed a 2-cm sessile lesion in the sigmoid colon. He underwent simultaneous laparoscopic treatment of the 3 organs because of the high risk of perforation or bleeding after gastric or colonic resection. This required the use of 5 ports, and a 3.5-cm incision was made in the left lower quadrant to access the 3 organs. The laparoscopic procedures consisted of cholecystectomy, partial stapled resection of the gastric fundus, and partial resection of the sigmoid colon. The histopathologic diagnoses were chronic cholecystitis, leiomyoma of the stomach, and tubulovillous adenoma with severe dysplasia of the colon. The operation took 183 minutes and blood loss was minimal. The patient started oral intake from the second postoperative day and was discharged uneventfully. He had from no postoperative complications or abdominal symptoms during a 15-month follow-up period. To our knowledge, this is a first successful clinical report of simultaneous laparoscopic treatment of 3 organ disorders.

Villous adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum: a clinicopathologic study of 36 cases.

Some colorectal adenocarcinomas show villous architecture with morphologic similarities to tubulovillous or villous adenomas. We reviewed 420 consecutive colorectal adenocarcinoma resection specimens and found that 95 tumors (23%) showed areas of villous architecture. Thirty-six tumors (8.6%) in 35 patients showed more than 50% villous architecture and were designated villous adenocarcinomas. Only 42% of the villous adenocarcinomas showed severe atypia and only 44% of the available pre-resection biopsies of these tumors were diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. Epithelial islands in desmoplastic stroma (EIDS) may be helpful in the diagnosis of these tumors. EIDS were found in 97% of the resection specimens for villous adenocarcinomas and none of 62 resection specimens for tubulovillous or villous adenomas. The presence of EIDS showed a 67% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 100% predictive value in the diagnosis of villous adenocarcinoma in a blinded review of villous tumors. On review of the pre-resection biopsies of villous adenocarcinoma without a final diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, 40% showed EIDS. Clinical follow-up of the 35 patients with villous adenocarcinoma showed that only one died of colorectal adenocarcinoma (median follow-up, 46 months). This sole patient dying of colorectal adenocarcinoma showed a synchronous advanced stage of nonvillous adenocarcinoma at the time of diagnosis. Villous adenocarcinoma is a diagnostically challenging subset of colorectal adenocarcinoma, which appears to be associated with a favorable prognosis. Classifying these tumors as a special type of colorectal cancer may facilitate the development of diagnostic adjuncts and optimal treatment protocols.

Incidence and pathogenesis of villous tumors of the gallbladder, and their relation to cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and pathogenesis of villous tumors of the gallbladder, and their relation to cancer. Five hundred and thirty-three cases of cholecystectomy and 1300 randomly selected autopsy cases, mainly elderly individuals, were investigated. Gallbladders were fixed in 10% formalin after operation or at autopsy, followed by macroscopic study. In cases of villous tumors, the entire gallbladder was cut into 5-mm-thick serial sections, embedded in paraffin, cut to 4-microns, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and histologically studied. To investigate cancer-associated antigens, i.e., carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, deparaffinized sections were examined by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical technique with anti-CEA and anti-CA 19-9 antibodies. Villous tumor was found in two resected cases (0.38%) and in one autopsy case (0.08%). Histologically, one of the villous tumors consisted mainly of a proliferation of lining epithelia; the other two consisted mainly of a proliferation of glands. In all three cases, the patients had had accompanying chronic or acute inflammation and two were accompanied by cholecystolithiasis, which made us aware of the importance of inflammation or trauma from stones in the pathogenesis of such neoplasms. Although no apparent cancerous epithelium was observed in any of these tumors by studying H&E specimens, moderate structural and cellular atypism was found in one of them. The atypical epithelium in this case was positively stained for CEA and CA 19-9. It was concluded that villous tumor should be considered to be a premalignant lesion.

Villous tumors of the duodenum: reappraisal of local vs. extended resection.

Benign villous tumors of the duodenum are often managed by transduodenal local excision. Risk of local recurrence, coupled with improving safety of radical pancreaticoduodenectomy, has prompted reexamination of the roles of conservative and radical operations. The aim of this study was to determine long-term outcome after local and extended resection in order to identify factors to consider in planning operative strategy. Eighty-six patients (mean age 64 years) with villous tumors of the duodenum managed surgically from 1980 to 1997 were reviewed. Histologic findings, size, presence of polyposis syndromes, and extent of resection were correlated with outcome. Villous tumors were benign adenomas in 64 patients (74%), contained carcinoma in situ in three (4%), and invasive carcinoma in 19 (22%). The presence of cancer was not known preoperatively in 9 (47%) of the 19 with invasive carcinoma. Operative treatment included transduodenal local excision in 53 patients, pancreaticoduodenectomy in 20, pancreas-sparing duodenectomy in five, full-thickness excision in four, and other in six. Among the 50 patients with benign tumors managed by local excision, 17 had a recurrence with actuarial rates of 32% at 5 years and 43% at 10 years; four of the recurrences (24%) were adenocarcinomas. The recurrence rate was influenced by the presence of a polyposis syndrome but not by tumor size. Recurrence of benign villous tumors after local excision is common and may be malignant. Pancreaticoduodenectomy is appropriate for villous tumors containing cancer and may be considered an alternative for select patients with benign villous tumors of the duodenum. If local excision is performed, regular postoperative endoscopic surveillance is mandatory.

Colorectal carcinoma in ulcerative colitis is decreasing in Scandinavian countries.

A total of 31 cases with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and colorectal carcinoma were retrieved from the files of the Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm between 1951 and 1998. Sections from 16 colectomy specimens (operable cases) and 15 biopsies obtained at laparotomy (inoperable cases), were available for the study. Of the 31 patients reported here, 22 (71%) were 49 years of age or younger at the time of surgery for carcinoma. In comparison only 47 (5.5 %) of the 855 colorectal carcinomas without UC reported in the Stockholm area in 1990 were 49years of age oryounger. When this hospital was a referral Center (1951 through 1969) 18 cases of carcinoma in UC were operated between 1951 and 1960 (1.8 patients/year), but only 4 between 1961 and 1969 (0.44 patients/year). During the surveillance period of 29 years (1970 to March 1998) only 9 patients (0.31 cases/year) were found to have carcinoma complicating UC. Notably, 8 of the 9 patients were operated on between 1970 and December 1989 (0.42 patients/year), but only one case between January 1990 and March 1998 (0.11 patients/year). The data presented indicate that the frequency of carcinoma cases in pancolitics has decreased at this hospital, not only during the referral period, from 1.8 patients/year during the 50's to 0.40 patients/year during the 60's, but also during the surveillance period (from 0.44 patients/year/during the 70's and 80's to 0.11 patients/year between 1990 and March 1998). This, despite the incidence of UC in the Stockholm County remained stable for the past 40 years (4.2 to 5 patients/10(5) inhabitants) and that the population in the Stockholm County has steady increased since 1950. A review of the present literature indicated that the ris for colorectal carcinoma in pancolitics is presently decreasing, not only in Sweden but also in other Scandinavian countries.

Screening colonoscopy in the asymptomatic 50- to 59-year-old population.

BACKGROUND: In an effort to decrease the death rate from colorectal cancer, a multitude of medical societies and task forces recommend routine screening for colorectal cancer beginning at age 50. Yet, there is no consensus as to the best and most cost-effective screening method. Medicare now pays for screening colonoscopies for its average risk beneficiaries [3]. Many insurance companies, however, will not cover this test in younger patients. We therefore reviewed our institution's colonoscopy experience with asymptomatic 50- to 59-year-olds, with negative fecal occult blood tests and negative family histories. METHODS: Between January 1999 and January 2002, 4779 colonoscopies were performed at our institution. The charts for 619 persons 50-59 years of age were retrospectively reviewed, with 91 patients meeting the strict requirements of this study. We defined polyps with high-grade neoplasias as those with villous or tubulovillous components, and cancerous lesions included those with carcinoma in situ. The distal colon was defined as the rectum and sigmoid colon. RESULTS: There was a 58% incidence of neoplastic polyps in this younger asymptomatic population. More than 4% of our subjects had high-grade neoplasias or cancerous lesions. In the absence of any distal findings, flexible sigmoidoscopy would have missed up to 38% of these polyps. CONCLUSIONS: The findings generally support the recommendations by the American College of Gastroenterology for average-risk patients to preferentially undergo a screening colonoscopy at age 50 in lieu of other methods.

[Malignant villous neoplasms of the large intestine]. / Zlokachestvennye vorsinchatye novoobrazovaniia tolstoi kishki.

An investigation of 532 villous tumors of the colon resected in 490 patients has shown that malignant tumors take place more often in patients with an increased volume of the villous component and the size of the tumor, in patients with more distal localization of adenoma in the colon and in adult people. In 38% of the patients the villous formation was removed through the endoscope, 12% of the patients were subjected to transanal dissection of the rectum tumor and 47.8%--to different operations with resection of the intestine.

[The incidence and clinical characteristics of proximal colonic polyps when the polyps are noted on rectosigmoid colon by colonoscopy].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and second leading cause of cancer death overall. Recently, there has been an emphasis on primary screening for colorectal cancer with colonoscopy. In this study, we aimed to address clinical characteristics and incidence of colonic polyps according to location. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2010, 6,417 total colonoscopic examinations were performed at Boramae Hospital in Seoul, Korea. We reviewed these patients retrospectively. The distal colon was defined as the rectosigmoid junction. RESULTS: Overall, 1,972 patients (31.3%) had one of more colorectal polyps. Total of 4,445 patients were excluded from this study because of combined advanced colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or familial adenomatous polyposis. Patients who had only proximal polyps were 633 (32.1%), 530 patients (26.9%) had both proximal and distal polyps, and 809 patients (41.0%) had polyps only in the rectosigmoid region. The prevalence of the proximal polyps in patients with rectosigmoid polyps was found to be significantly related to the male gender and elderly patients. However, the prevalence of the proximal colonic polyps was not related to the size and number of rectosigmoid polyps. In 530 patients with both rectosigmoid and proximal colonic polyps, the characteristics of proximal colonic polyps as size and number were similar to those of rectosigmoid polyps. Advanced proximal adenomas without distal polyps were found in 25 (29.4%) patients whom were associated with size and pathology. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend total colonoscopic examination in all patients regardless of the size and number, especially in elderly males.

Treatment strategies and outcomes for rectal villous adenoma from a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze a 13-year, single-surgeon experience with villous adenoma of the rectum with respect to procedure, complications, recurrence, and cancer incidence. DESIGN: Retrospective review of patient and tumor characteristics, procedure, recurrence, and complications. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent excision of rectal villous adenoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complication, recurrence, and malignancy rates. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients underwent 30 transanal and 10 transabdominal excisions. Mean age was 66 years (range, 41-86 years) and mean follow-up was 25 months (range, 0.5-132 months). Mean tumor size was 3.0 cm (range, 0.5-11 cm) and the mean distance of the tumor from the anal verge was 4.9 cm (range, 0-10 cm). Preoperatively, 18 (45%) lesions harbored low-grade dysplasia while 17 (43%) had high-grade dysplasia. Postoperative pathology was discordant in 50% of patients, including 5 of 40 lesions (13%) that were recategorized as invasive cancer. Tumor size did not correlate with malignancy. The complication rate was significantly lower in transanal compared with transabdominal excisions (3.6% vs 50%, P = .005). There were 4 (12.5%) benign recurrences, all after transanal excisions. CONCLUSIONS: Complete excision is warranted for rectal villous adenomas, as biopsies were accurate only 50% of the time, and 1 in 8 patients had unsuspected cancer found after excision. Transanal excision with negative margins is associated with low recurrence and complication rates and is the preferred approach, even with large lesions.

[Results of coloscopy screening in 2005--an Internet-based documentation]. / Ergebnisse der Vorsorge-Koloskopie 2005--Internet-basierte Dokumentation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In October 2002 screening coloscopy was introduced into the National Cancer Prevention Programme in Germany. The results of an online registry are presented here. METHODS: Data from consecutive screening colonoscopies in the practices of the 280 participating gastroenterologists, performed in asymptomatic subjects, were collected in an online registry. Number and histology of colorectal polyps and carcinomas, complication rates of colonoscopy and polypectomy were registered. Advanced adenoma was defined as an adenoma >10 mm in diameter, with villous or tubulovillous histology, or presence of high-grade dysplasia. RESULTS: A total of 109989 colonoscopies (43% in males) were evaluated from October 2003 to July 2005. Tubular and villous adenomas were found in 16.2% and 3.8%, respectively, whereas invasive cancers were diagnosed in 0.7%. Advanced adenomas amounted to 6.1%.The majority of carcinomas were detected in early stages (UICC stages I and II in 48 and 22 %, respectively). -In most of the polyps immediate polypectomy was carried out. The complication rate was low and no deaths were observed: cardiopulmonary complications occurred in 0.10% of the colonoscopies, bleeding in 0.79% of polypectomies most of which were managed endoscopically (surgery in 0.04% of polypectomies). Perforation occurred in 0.02% of the colonoscopies and 0.10% of polypectomies. CONCLUSIONS: Neoplasias of the colon were detected in about 20% of persons who had taken part in a colonoscopy screening programme: most of the lesions were immediately removed by polypectomy. The high rate of early stages of colorectal cancers detected by screening colonoscopy is an indirect indicator of mortality reduction. In Germany screening colonoscopy has a low risk.

Incidence of advanced adenomas at surveillance colonoscopy in patients with a personal history of colon adenomas: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines stratify patients with a personal history of adenomas as low risk (ie, 1-2 small [<10 mm] adenomas at index colonoscopy) or high risk (> or =3 small adenomas or advanced adenoma at index colonoscopy) for recurrent advanced adenomas. Guidelines recommend longer intervals between surveillance colonoscopies for low-risk patients, but physicians frequently perform surveillance colonoscopy at shorter intervals for these patients. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to perform a meta-analysis about the incidence of advanced adenomas at 3-year surveillance colonoscopy among high- and low-risk patients. METHODS: Computer searches of MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE, and EMBASE were performed to identify appropriate studies. Study selection criteria were (1) study design--prospective or registry-based study, (2) study population--patients with a personal history of adenomas, and (3) intervention--completion of surveillance colonoscopy at an interval of > or =2 years. Data were extracted on (1) incidence of advanced adenomas at surveillance colonoscopy, (2) interval between colonoscopies, and (3) risk factors associated with recurrent adenomas. After the validity of study design was assessed and independent, duplicate data extraction was performed from selected trials, summary relative risks (RR) for the incidence of advanced adenomas at 3-year colonoscopy were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met study selection criteria, but only 5 studies stratified surveillance colonoscopy results according to findings at the index colonoscopy. Patients with > or =3 adenomas at index colonoscopy were more likely to have recurrent advanced adenomas than were patients with 1 to 2 adenomas: RR 2.52, 95% CI 1.07-5.97. Patients with adenomas with high-grade dysplasia at index colonoscopy were also at increased risk for recurrent advanced adenomas: RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.06-3.19. In the individual studies, increasing size of adenomas and increasing number of adenomas at index colonoscopy were the most commonly reported risk factors associated with recurrent advanced adenomas. No studies stratified surveillance colonoscopy results according to the definitions of low risk and high risk used in current guidelines. CONCLUSION: Few published studies stratify the incidence of advanced adenomas at surveillance colonoscopy according to index colonoscopy findings. In the future, large prospective studies or studies using pooled data from existing randomized controlled trial databases or polyp registries should be used to better define which patients are at low risk for advanced adenoma recurrence.

Treatment options for villous adenoma of the ampulla of Vater.

INTRODUCTION: Duodenal villous adenoma arising from the ampulla of Vater has a high risk of malignant development. Excluding associated malignant disease prior to resection of an adenoma of the ampulla is not always possible. Therefore, the surgical procedure of choice to treat this rare tumour is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively results of treatment of villous adenoma arising from ampulla of Vater with dysplasia or associated carcinoma limited to the ampulla. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1985 to 1996, eight patients have been diagnosed with ampullary villous adenoma suitable for resection. We have reviewed treatment, morbidity, mortality, follow-up and final outcome. RESULTS: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) was performed in 4 patients. Transduodenal ampullectomy and endoscopic resection was performed in 2 patients each. There was no perioperative mortality. None of the patients had biliary, pancreatic or intestinal leakage but two patients who underwent PD had minor postoperative complications. The mean follow-up was 44 (range: 6-132) months. Villous adenoma was associated with adenocarcinoma in 50% of the cases (4/8 patients). During the follow-up both patients who underwent transduodenal ampullectomy developed recurrent disease. All patients initially treated by PD are alive without evidence of recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of villous adenoma of the ampulla must be individualized within certain limits. In our series, PD achieve good results and it appears to be the procedure of choice in order to treat villous adenomas with proved presence of carcinoma, carcinoma in situ or severe dysplasia. Endoscopic or local resection may be appropriate for small benign tumours in high risk patients.

Adenoma of the papillae of Vater. Report of eleven cases.

Eleven patients with a preoperative diagnosis of adenoma of the papillae of Vater were followed up during the fifteen-year period from 1984 till 1998 in the Oulu University Hospital. Seven patients were treated primarily by transduodenal excision without any recurrences so far. One of these seven patients was found to have adenocarcinoma in a histological examination. Active surgery for adenoma of the papillae of Vater is recommended because of the precancerous nature of the lesion, and because malignancy cannot always be detected by endoscopic biopsies. Transduodenal excision could be recommend for patients at high operative risk, especially in cases with small adenomas and low-grade dysplasia, where histologically free resection margins can be achieved, but pancreaticoduodenectomy should still be performed on patients at low operative risk.

Follow-up of patients with hyperplastic polyps of the large bowel.

BACKGROUND: Adenomatous colonic polyps are accepted as premalignant lesions. There is controversy regarding the significance of the hyperplastic polyp. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of further polyps in patients with only hyperplastic polyps on a first colonoscopy in comparison with patients without polyps and with adenomatous polyps. METHODS: Ninety patients had only hyperplastic polyps (group I). These patients were paired according to age and sex with subjects having no polyps (group II) and with patients having adenomas (group III). RESULTS: Fifty-six patients in group I had at least one follow-up examination. New polyps were found in 46.4% in group I versus 15.5% in group II (p < 0.001) and 50% in group III (NS). In group I, 30.7% of new polyps were hyperplastic and 69.3% were adenomas. In fact, 32.2% of group I patients developed further adenomas (mean 1.5 +/- 0.8 adenomas). These adenomas occurred 1 to 4 years after the first polypectomy (mean 2.4 +/- 0.8 years). Most of these adenomas were small and tubular, but 16.6% were villous or had severe dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Patients with hyperplastic polyps were 2.4 times more likely to have further adenomas than were those without polyps.