In vivo histopathology using endocytoscopy for non-neoplastic changes in the gastric mucosa: a prospective pilot study (with video).

BACKGROUND: Endocytoscopy (EC), as a novel ultrahigh magnification technology, enables in vivo histopathological diagnoses of the GI tract. EC is particularly exceptional when comparing dysplastic and neoplastic tissue with normal tissue. There are, however, no detailed data for minute or minimal changes in the gastric mucosa. OBJECTIVE: To describe non-neoplastic EC patterns of the gastric mucosa correlated with histopathological findings and to determine any relationship with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. DESIGN: A pilot prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS: Sixty-four participants undergoing upper endoscopy for various indications. METHODS: Antral mucosal patterns on EC were divided into 4 categories: type 1 (normal), each papilla/pit has round smooth structure; type 2 (gastritis), extended, notched, and distorted structure with some necrotic tissue; type 3(atrophy), neighboring papilla/pit take on a lobulated appearance; type 4 (intestinal metaplasia [IM]), goblet cells are identified in a completely stained crypt. Target biopsy specimens were obtained from the region identified with these patterns, and multiple HP tests were performed. RESULTS: HP positivity was 0%, 40.9%, 50.0%, and 58.3% in types 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of types 2+3+4 for HP positivity were 100％ and 42.5%, respectively. The positive predictive values of type 1 for normal, type 2 for chronic gastritis, type 3 for atrophic gastritis, and type 4 for IM were 100%, 62.5%, 40.0%, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of types 3+4 for atrophic gastritis to IM were 87.0% and 95.1%, respectively. LIMITATIONS: Small, single-center, pilot study. CONCLUSIONS: EC can differentiate gastric mucosal patterns of minimal, non-neoplastic change and appears to reliably exclude HP infection.

Utility of intrapapillary capillary loops seen on magnifying narrow-band imaging in estimating invasive depth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs) have been used to estimate histopathological atypia and the invasion depth of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of IPCLs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 358 consecutive patients with esophageal neoplasia on magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) were studied. The lesions were categorized according to the IPCL classification of Inoue et al. and were subsequently resected. Resected specimens were histopathologically analyzed to determine the invasion depth. The inter- and intraobserver agreements in the interpretation of IPCL images were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 446 lesions were diagnosed on M-NBI as IPCL type V lesions, which were further classified as 185 IPCL type V1, 109 type V2, 104 type V3, and 48 type Vn. Sensitivity and specificity of IPCL type V1-2 for invasion confined to the epithelium or lamina propria mucosa (m1-2) were 89.5 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 85.4 % - 92.7 %) and 79.6 % (95 %CI 72.3 % - 85.7 %), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of IPCL type V3 for invasion confined to the muscularis mucosa or slight submucosal invasion (m3-sm1) were 58.7 % and 83.8 %, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of IPCL type Vn for deeper invasion (sm2-3) were 55.8 % and 98.6 %, respectively. Interobserver agreement was substantial (κ = 0.609, 0.641, and 0.705), as was intraobserver agreement (κ = 0.705 and κ = 0.819). CONCLUSION: Changes in the morphology of IPCLs on M-NBI correlated with the depth of SCC invasion, and results were reproducible and reliable among observers. Identification of IPCL type V1-2 proved useful for the intraprocedural identification of m1-2 lesions, which are considered an absolute indication for endoscopic resection.

Control of severe strictures after circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal carcinoma: oral steroid therapy with balloon dilation or balloon dilation alone.

BACKGROUND: Recent technological advances have allowed superficially spreading intramucosal carcinomas of the esophagus to be successfully resected by circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection (cESD). After this procedure, esophageal strictures develop in most patients and are mainly treated by endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). OBJECTIVE: To compare oral steroids plus EBD with EBD alone for the management of benign esophageal strictures after cESD. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary-care referral center. PATIENTS: We studied 23 consecutive patients who underwent complete cESD for superficial esophageal carcinoma (22 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 adenocarcinoma associated with Barrett's esophagus). INTERVENTION: After cESD, patients were managed with EBD alone (EBD, n = 13) or with EBD and oral prednisolone (steroid + EBD, n = 10), 30 mg daily, started 2 days after cESD and gradually tapered and discontinued after 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Total number of EBD sessions and total EBD period (months). RESULTS: Steroid + EBD patients required fewer sessions (13.8 ± 6.9 vs 33.5 ± 22.9; P < .001) and a shorter management period (4.8 ± 2.3 vs 14.2 ± 17.5 months, P = .005) compared with the EBD group. An additional 3 patients received oral steroids a mean interval of 158 days after cESD. These patients required more EBD sessions (46.3 ± 30.0; P = .002), and the EBD period was significantly longer (17.5 ± 13.0 months; P = .005) than in the early steroid + EBD group. LIMITATIONS: Nonrandomized study; retrospective analysis. CONCLUSION: After cESD, oral steroid therapy dramatically reduced the need for EBD. We conclude that oral steroid therapy after EBD is an effective strategy for the management of esophageal strictures after complete cESD.

In vivo gastric mucosal histopathology using endocytoscopy.

AIM: To study the ability of endocytoscopy to identify normal gastric mucosa and to exclude Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. METHODS: Endocytoscopic examination of the gastric corpus and antrum was performed in 70 consecutive patients. Target biopsy specimens were also obtained from the assessed region and multiple H. pylori tests were performed. The normal endocytoscopy patterns of the corpus and antrum were divided into the normal pit-dominant type (n-Pit) or the normal papilla-dominant type (n-Pap), respectively characterized as either regular pits with capillary networks or round, smooth papillary structures with spiral capillaries. On the other hand, normal mucosa was defined as mucosa not demonstrating histological abnormalities, including inflammation and atrophy. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of n-Pit for normal mucosa in the gastric corpus were 94.4% and 97.1%, respectively, whereas those of n-Pap for normal mucosa in the antrum were 92.0% and 86.7%, respectively. The positive predictive values of n-Pit and n-Pap for H. pylori-negative tissue were 88.6% and 93.1%, respectively, and their negative predictive values for H. pylori-negative tissues were 42.9% and 41.5%, respectively. The inter-observer agreement for determining n-Pit and n-Pap for normal mucosa were 0.857 and 0.769, respectively, which is considered reliable. CONCLUSION: N-Pit and n-Pap, seen using EC, are considered useful predictors of normal mucosa and the absence of H. pylori infection.

In vivo histopathological assessment of the muscularis propria in achalasia by using endocytoscopy (with video).

BACKGROUND: The histopathology of the muscularis propria (MP) is unknown in patients with achalasia. Endocytoscopy (EC) was developed as an ultra-high magnification endoscopy, and the submucosal tunnel created during peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) not only provides access to the MP but also enables subsequent endoscopic assessment of the MP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In seven patients with achalasia (mean ±â€ŠSD; 35 ±â€Š18.1 years; men:women, 4:3) who underwent POEM (myotomy length: 12 ±â€Š2.2 cm), subsequent EC examination was performed from the mid-esophagus to the gastric side. EC images were compared to the results of histopathologic examination (two biopsies from the mid-esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter), which was the standard. RESULTS: In all patients, favorable EC images were obtained, and spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells were detected. In our series, we observed no notable features such as atrophy or hypertrophy of smooth muscle cells. In addition, the EC assessment was consistent with the results of biopsy. No complications were encountered during any of the procedures. CONCLUSION: In a clinical setting, real-time assessment of the MP using EC is feasible. This technique may play an important role in determining the pathology of achalasia and other diseases that affect gastrointestinal function.