White globe appearance is an endoscopic predictive factor for synchronous multiple gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: White globe appearance (WGA) is a small white lesion with a globular shape identified during magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging. However, the association between WGA and synchronous multiple gastric cancer (SMGC) remains unclear. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric cancer (GC) between July 2013 and April 2015 at our institution were eligible for this study. We excluded patients with a history of gastric tumor or gastrectomy. Patients who had more than 2 GCs in their postoperative pathological evaluation were classified as SMGC-positive, and patients who had at least 1 WGA-positive GC were classified as WGA-positive patients. The primary outcome was a comparison of the prevalence of WGA in patients classified as SMGC-positive and SMGC-negative. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the following variables: WGA, age, sex, atrophy, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status. RESULTS: There were 26 and 181 patients classified as SMGC-positive and SMGC-negative, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that WGA-positive classification (50% vs. 23%, P=0.008) and male sex (88% vs. 66%, P=0.02) were significant factors associated with SMGC classification, while age ≥65 years (81% vs. 81%, P>0.99), severe atrophy (46% vs. 46%, P>0.99), and H. pylori positivity (69% vs. 65%, P=0.8) were not. In the multivariate analysis, only WGA-positive classification (odds ratio 2.78, 95% confidence interval 1.16-6.67; P=0.02) was a significant independent risk factor for SMGC. CONCLUSIONS: Our exploratory study showed the possibility of WGA as a predictive factor for SMGC. In cases of WGA-positive gastric cancer, careful examination might be needed to diagnose SMGC.

Does previous biopsy lead to cancer overdiagnosis of superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors?

Background and study aims We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) in superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) regarding the absence or presence of biopsy before M-NBI diagnosis. Patients and methods Clinicopathological data were retrospectively reviewed for 99 SNADETs from 99 patients who underwent endoscopic resection. The 99 tumors were divided into the non-biopsy group (32 lesions not undergoing biopsy before M-NBI examination) and the biopsy group (67 lesions undergoing biopsy before M-NBI examination). We investigated the correlation between the M-NBI diagnosis and the histopathological diagnosis of the SNADETs in both groups. Results According to the modified revised Vienna classification, 31 tumors were classified as category 3 (C3) (low-grade adenoma) and 68 as category 4/5 (C4/5) (high-grade adenoma/cancer). The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of preoperative M-NBI diagnoses in the non-biopsy group vs the biopsy group were 88 % (95 % confidence interval: 71.0 - 96.5) vs 66 % (51.5 - 75.5), P  = 0.02; 95 % (77.2 - 99.9) vs 89 % (76.4 - 96.4), P  = 0.39; and 70 % (34.8 - 93.3) vs 14 % (3.0 - 36.3), P  < 0.01, respectively. Notably, in the biopsy group, the specificity of M-NBI in SNADETs was low at only 14 % because we over-diagnosed most C3 lesions as C4/5. M-NBI findings might have been compromised by the previous biopsy procedure itself. Conclusions In the non-biopsy group, the accuracy of M-NBI in SNADETs was excellent in distinguishing C4/5 lesions from C3. The M-NBI findings in SNADETs should be evaluated while carefully considering the influence of a previous biopsy.

[A case of Edwardsiella tarda colitis, which proved challenging to distinguish from immune-related adverse events with nivolumab].

The patient, a man in his 80s, presented with diarrhea following one year of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer with Nivolumab. CT results showed discontinuous wall thickening of the large bowel and cholangitis. Blood and stool culture tests ruled out immune-related adverse events and identified Edwardsiella tarda;bacterial colitis was diagnosed in the patient. This case confirmed that basic examination should not be neglected, and culture tests should be performed.

Optimal number of endoscopic biopsies for diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

Background and study aims No recommendations are available for optimal number of endoscopic biopsies for early gastric cancer (GC), and whether detection of early GC is improved by increasing the number of biopsy is unclear. We therefore evaluated the relationship between number of biopsies and diagnostic accuracy. Materials and methods We retrospectively evaluated 858 early GCs (623 from endoscopic submucosal dissection and 235 surgical specimens), which we classified as obtained after one, two, or three or more biopsies. We assessed diagnostic accuracy by number of biopsies, and in subgroups by tumor diameter, gross type, and surface color. Results Almost half the lesions were obtained after one biopsy each, 30 % after two biopsies, and 20 % after three or more biopsies. Although diagnostic accuracy increased with biopsy number, it was significantly greater for the two-biopsy group than the one-biopsy group, (92.5 % vs. 83.9 %, P  = 0.0009), but did not significantly differ between the two- and three or more-biopsy groups. This finding was seen when tumors were evaluated by size, but not by elevated type and surface color, for which more biopsies did not improve diagnostic accuracy. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that two or more biopsies was the independent significant factors for diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions Two biopsies are the optimal number required to diagnose early GC.

Assessment of epigenetic alterations in early colorectal lesions containing BRAF mutations.

To clarify the molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal serrated lesions, we assessed the DNA methylation of cancer-associated genes in a cohort of BRAF-mutant precancerous lesions from 94 individuals. We then compared those results with the lesions' clinicopathological features, especially colorectal subsites. The lesions included hyperplastic polyps (n = 16), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) (n = 15), TSAs with sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) (n = 6), SSAs (n = 49) and SSAs with dysplasia (n = 16). The prevalence of lesions exhibiting the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was lower in the sigmoid colon and rectum than in other bowel subsites, including the cecum, ascending, transverse and descending colon. In addition, several cancer-associated genes showed higher methylation levels within lesions in the proximal to sigmoid colon than in the sigmoid colon and rectum. These results indicate that the methylation status of lesions with BRAF mutation is strongly associated with their location, histological findings and neoplastic pathways. By contrast, no difference in aberrant DNA methylation was observed in normal-appearing background colonic mucosa along the bowel subsites, which may indicate the absence of an epigenetic field defect.

[Onset of Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone in a Gastric Cancer Patient on SOX Treatment].

A 78-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer was treated with S-1 and oxaliplatin chemotherapy. He developed hiccups and nausea, and was diagnosed with hyponatremia (serum Na: 120 mEq/L) on day 6 of the first treatment course. Because of his increased urinary Na excretion and relatively high ADH values, he was subsequently diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. The patient recovered after an infusion of hypertonic saline. Although S-1 was restarted, hyponatremia did not recur. We suspected adverse drug reactions to ACE inhibitors and K-sparing diuretics in our case of hyponatremia.