Risk factor analysis and prediction model to establish recurrence or progression of non-functioning pituitary adenomas in men after transnasal sphenoidal surgery.

This paper aims to analyze the risk factors for the recurrence or progression of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) in male patients after transnasal sphenoidal surgery and to develop a predictive model for prognosis. Clinical and follow-up data of 126 male patients with NFPAs treated by transnasal sphenoidal surgery from January 2011 to January 2021 in Fuzhou 900th Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Lasso regression analysis was used to screen the best predictors, and the predictors were further screened by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the nomogram prediction model was constructed. The performance of the model was verified by three aspects: discrimination, calibration and clinical utility by using the consistency index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, clinical decision curve (DCA) and Clinical impact curve (CIC). Out of 126 cases, 7 (5.56%) showed postoperative tumor recurrence, and 18 (14.29%) exhibited postoperative residual regrowth (progression). Age (P = 0.024), maximum tumor diameter (P < 0.001), modified Knosp grade (P < 0.001), resection extent (P < 0.001), Ki67 (P < 0.001), pressure symptom (P < 0.001), Pre-op hypopituitarism (P = 0.048), Post-op new hypopituitarism (P = 0.017) showed significant differences among the recurrence group, the progression group, and the alleviation group. Three independent risk factors (Ki67, modified Knosp grade, and resection extent) affecting postoperative remission were used to construct a predictive model for long-term postoperative failure to remit. The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.823, suggesting that the model had a high discriminatory power, and the AUC of the area under the ROC curve was 0.9[95% CI (0.843, 0.958)]. A nomogram prediction model based on modified Knosp grading (grades 3B-4), resection extent (partial resection), and Ki-67 (≥ 3%) predicts the recurrence or progression of NFPAs in men after transnasal sphenoidal surgery.

Unravelling a hidden pathology of a vertebral fracture in a teenage girl.

BACKGROUND: Although the skeleton remains a common target of primary hyperparathyroidism, the classic bone disease "osteitis fibrosa cystica" is currently rare due to early diagnosis. This case represents severe classic bone manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism due to delayed diagnosis and delayed medical attention. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old young female was symptomatically managed for chronic back pain and nonspecific bone pain in the small joints of both hands over 2 months by a general practitioner. The patient had delayed seeking for treatment for 3 months. Later, she was evaluated for tuberculosis, hematological malignancies and rheumatic disorders following a fractured T12 vertebra and underwent pedicle screw fixation. However, clinical examination and investigations, including biochemistry, imaging and histology, ruled out the above conditions. Unfortunately, serum calcium level was not performed at the initial presentation. Later, primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed on the basis of moderate hypercalcaemia and elevated intact PTH levels (2064 pg/ml). She had sufficient vitamin D levels and normal kidney function. Her DXA scan revealed severe secondary osteoporosis with the lowest Z score of -8 at the total lumbar spine. Ultrasonography of the thyroid revealed a hypo echoic mass in the left lower neck, and localization studies with technetium-99 m sestamibi and 4D-CT revealed a left inferior parathyroid adenoma (1.6 × 1.5 × 1.6 cm). CT scan also revealed brown tumors in the mandible and vertebrae and diffuse bony changes in the skull, sternum, humerus and vertebrae. Her radiographs revealed subperiosteal bone resorption on the radial aspects of the middle and distal phalanges and brown tumors in both the ulna and fibula. We excluded MEN and other hereditary syndromes in our patient with a personal and family history and with a normal pituitary hormone profile because of poor resources for genetic testing. She underwent parathyroid adenoma excision, and the postoperative period was complicated with hungry bone syndrome, requiring high doses of calcium and active vitamin D supplements. These supplements were gradually weaned off over 6 months, and she recovered with normal biochemical investigations. Histology revealed parathyroid adenoma without malignant features. CONCLUSION: In developing countries where routine calcium screening is not available, clinicians should be aware of various manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism to allow diagnosis as soon as possible without delay to prevent further progression, as it is a treatable condition.

Cognitive function in pituitary adenoma patients: A cross-sectional study.

Various factors may affect cognition in patients with pituitary adenoma, including size and extension of the tumor, degree of pituitary hormone deficiencies, and treatment of the tumor, most often being transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate cognitive function in patients with clinically significant pituitary adenoma and to identify factors influencing cognition. Sixty-eight patients with pituitary adenoma were included. Of these, 31 patients were evaluated before TSS and 37 patients 12 months following TSS. Cognitive function was evaluated by using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Patients had lower mean scores on cognitive assessment compared to age-adjusted normative data. Variability in cognition, analyzed by linear regression analysis, was explained by sex, educational level, and self-perceived fatigue, but not by pituitary hormone deficiencies, diabetes insipidus, or surgical treatment. Our results are in line with previous findings, namely that pituitary adenoma affects cognition. To better evaluate the factors affecting cognition, longitudinal studies are recommended. Such studies would allow for within-individual comparisons, effectively controlling for the considerable influence of sex and education on test results.

Predictors of Durable Remission After Successful Surgery for Cushing Disease: Results From the Multicenter RAPID Registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cushing disease (CD) affects mortality and quality of life along with limited long-term remission, underscoring the need to better identify recurrence risk. The identification of surgical or imaging predictors for CD remission after transsphenoidal surgery has yielded some inconsistent results and has been limited by single-center, single-surgeon, or meta-analyses studies. We sought to evaluate the multicenter Registry of Adenomas of the Pituitary and Related Disorders (RAPID) database of academic US pituitary centers to assess whether robust nonhormonal recurrence predictors could be elucidated. METHODS: Patients with treated CD from 2011 to 2023 were included. The perioperative and long-term characteristics of CD patients with and without recurrence were assessed using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Of 383 patients with CD from 26 surgeons achieving postoperative remission, 288 (75.2%) maintained remission at last follow-up while 95 (24.8%) showed recurrence (median time to recurrence 9.99 ± 1.34 years). Patients with recurrence required longer postoperative hospital stays (5 ± 3 vs 4 ± 2 days, P = .002), had larger average tumor volumes (1.76 ± 2.53 cm 3 vs 0.49 ± 1.17 cm 3 , P = .0001), and more often previously failed prior treatment (31.1% vs 14.9%, P = .001) mostly being prior surgery. Multivariable hazard prediction models for tumor recurrence found younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, P = .002) and Knosp grade of 0 (OR = 0.09, reference Knosp grade 4, P = .03) to be protective against recurrence. Comparison of Knosp grade 0 to 2 vs 3 to 4 showed that lower grades had reduced risk of recurrence (OR = 0.27, P = .04). Other factors such as length of stay, surgeon experience, prior tumor treatment, and Knosp grades 1, 2, or 3 failed to reach levels of statistical significance in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: This multicenter study centers suggests that the strongest predictors of recurrence include tumor size/invasion and age. This insight can help with patient counseling and prognostication. Long-term follow-up is necessary for patients, and early treatment of small tumors may improve outcomes.

AB031. Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for functional pituitary adenoma: shifting paradigms towards pseudocapsule-based resection.

BACKGROUND: Functional pituitary adenomas (PAs) manifest as intricate clinical syndromes, and surgery emerges as the principal intervention to mitigate associated morbidity and mortality. The endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) approach stands as the preferred method for addressing PAs, with postoperative remission acting as a pivotal prognostic factor. METHODS: This study seeks to evaluate the influence of different surgical techniques and complications of ETS on functional PAs, focusing on both Acromegaly and Cushing's disease (CD). Patient records, including characteristics, perioperative assessments, postoperative complications, and follow-up data, were systematically gathered. Tumor resection methods were categorized into: (I) complete pseudocapsule resection; and (II) complete piecemeal resection. Post-surgery, daily monitoring of serum cortisol levels continued for a consecutive 3-day period until values of 2 µg/dL or less were achieved. Growth hormone levels were reassessed 12 weeks later, targeting a level of <0.14 g/L. A follow-up enhanced magnetic resonance imaging examination was conducted 3 months post-surgery to confirm the absence of residual tumors. RESULTS: The study identified 46 patients (23 with acromegaly and 13 with CD) who underwent endoscopic surgery between 2020 and 2023. Twenty-six patients underwent piecemeal resection (January 2020 to December 2022), while 10 patients underwent complete pseudocapsule removal (January to December 2023). No significant changes in surgical complications were observed between the two techniques. No instances of carotid artery injury, epistaxis, intracranial infection, or loss of olfaction were reported. In the pseudocapsule group, one patient experienced transient vision loss. Notably, 80% of patients in the pseudocapsule group achieved remission as compared to 57.7% in the piecemeal group. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudocapsule-based resection exhibited a remarkable remission rate, a low complication rate, and an absence of recurrence in functional adenoma patients. Despite the limited number of cases and our early experience, further studies are warranted to validate its effectiveness and safety.

AB054. Pituitary abscess: a case report of patient after two-time endonasal endoscopic transphenoid approach for pituitary adenoma.

BACKGROUND: Endonasal endoscopic approach (EEA) has become an integral part of neurosurgery, particularly for managing various pathologies involving the sellar and parasellar region and removing lesion in that area. But there is a rare condition in this area that not so common in literature is pituitary abscess (PA) after EEA for pituitary adenoma. CASE DESCRIPTION: A healthy 57-year-old man presented with a recurrent of bitemporal hemianopsia, persistent hypoadrenocorticism. In the history, he underwent two times of endonasal endoscopic transphenoid to remove pituitary adenoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a sphenoid and sellar lesion with suprasellar extension and compression of the optic chiasm, with homogenous signal inside. Endoscopic transphenoid surgery was performed and the lesion was found is an abscess inside sphenoid and sellar with frank pus was obtained. But culture of the fluid was negative. After the operation, the patient was treated with antibiotics. His symptoms resolved after EEA, he improved visual field at this time but still in hypoadrenocorticism condition. An MRI was obtained after the operation to reveal that the lesion in sphenoid and sellar totally removed. We report on a rare case of a PA after two times of endonasal endoscopic transphenoid surgery of pituitary adenoma, and discuss the management of these conditions. We report a patient that came with us with recurrent of bitemporal hemianopsia and persistent hypoadrenocorticism. The patient undergone endonasal endoscopic sphenoid two times in the past. He didn't have clinical signs of infection. Imaging feature on MRI was high T2 and also high on T1 with homogenous signal inside with size 3.2 cm × 3.2 cm. Another EEA for this patient was performed to remove abscess and obtain pus from the lesion, but the result of culture was negative. He improved visual field but still in hypoadrenocorticism. CONCLUSIONS: In this case we report on a rare complication of transphenoid surgery, a PA progresses after EEA for a pituitary tumor. With this clinical experience, the correct diagnosis of PA before surgery, so it is a key leading to an exactly treatment for this condition. endonasal endoscopic transphenoid approach to drainage and removing abscess, and using antibiotics are necessary to improve the outcome of PA.

[Visual rehabilitation treatment for a patient with hemifield slide after pituitary adenoma resection: a case report].

The patient is a 28-year-old male who presented with hemifield slide for 10 months following surgery for a large pituitary adenoma. A comprehensive ophthalmological examination and visual function tests were conducted, including best corrected visual acuity, visual field, stereopsis, accommodative convergence, Worth four-dot test, and prism cover test for quantifying strabismus, along with assessments using a depression scale and a visual function questionnaire. Rehabilitation plans included applying press-on prisms to correct vertical strabismus, binocular vision training, and saccadic training. After rehabilitation, the patient was able to maintain binocular single vision at near and intermediate distances, experienced improved visual comfort, and showed significant improvements in scores on the depression scale and visual function questionnaire.

Comparison of cold snare endoscopic mucosal resection and hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection for small colorectal polyps: a randomized controlled trial.

Incomplete resection rates vary among endoscopists performing cold snare polypectomy. Cold snare endoscopic mucosal resection (CS-EMR) is the technique of cold resection after submucosal injection to reduce incomplete resection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CS-EMR for small colorectal polyps compared to hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection (HS-EMR). Preplanned sample size required 70 polyps to CS-EMR group or HS-EMR group, respectively. Patients with polyps sized 6-9 mm were randomly allocated to either the CS-EMR or the HS-EMR group. The primary outcome was residual or recurrent adenoma (RAA) rate. A total of 70 and 68 polyps were resected using CS-EMR and HS-EMR, respectively. In the intention-to-treat population, the RAA rate was 0% in the CS-EMR group and 1.5% in the HS-EMR group (risk difference [RD], - 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] - 4.34 to 1.39). En bloc resection rate was 98.6% and 98.5% (RD, - 0.04; 95% CI - 4.12 to 4.02); the R0 resection rate was 55.7% and 82.4% (RD, - 27.80; 95% CI - 42.50 to - 13.10). The total procedure time was 172 s (IQR, 158-189) in the CS-EMR group and 186 s (IQR, 147-216) in the HS-EMR group (median difference, - 14; 95% CI - 32 to 2). Delayed bleeding was 2.9% vs 1.5% (RD, 1.37; 95% CI - 3.47 to 6.21) in both groups, respectively. CS-EMR was non-inferior to HS-EMR for the treatment of small colorectal polyps. CS-EMR can be considered one of the standard methods for the removal of colorectal polyps sized 6-9 mm.

[Clinical characteristics of appendix orifice polyps and the effect endoscopic super minimally invasive treatment].

To analyze the clinical characteristics of appendiceal orifice polyps and the effect of endoscopic super minimally invasive treatment. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the general situation (age and sex), the classification of appendiceal orifice polyps, the treatment method under endoscope, postoperative pathology and postoperative complications in patients who underwent resection of appendiceal orifice polyps at the Peking University First Hospital and the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. A total of 47 patients were included, consisting of 28 males and 19 females, with 35-86 (61±12) years. Appendiceal orifice polyps were classified into four types: type 0 (14 cases), type 1 (15 cases), type 2 (12 cases), and type 3 (6 cases). Among the endoscopic morphologies, 22 cases were granular laterally spreading tumors. Endoscopic mucosal dissection was performed in 37 cases. Postoperative appendiceal stent placement was performed in 1 case. The pathological types of polyps included adenoma in 15 cases, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in 10 cases, intramucosal carcinoma in 4 cases, submucosal carcinoma in 5 cases, inflammatory polyps in 1 cases, and sessile serrated lesion in 12 cases. Curative resection was performed in 44 cases. There were no postoperative complications such as bleeding, perforation, or acute appendicitis. The pathology of appendiceal polyps is mostly precancerous lesions, and the treatment scheme of endoscopic super minimally invasive resection is both safe and effective.

Contralateral Transmaxillary Corridor Used in Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Resecting Adenoma Invading the Retrocarotid Area of the Cavernous Sinus and Beyond: Surgical Anatomy, Patient Selection Algorithm, and Illustrative Cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The cavernous internal carotid artery (cICA) and its branches can make it challenging to approach the lateral portion of the retrocarotid area of the cavernous sinus (RcACS) and surrounding areas during the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). This can sometimes require more invasive transcranial approaches, causing a higher risk of complications. We sought to explore the feasibility of adding a contralateral transmaxillary (CTM) corridor to improve access to the RcACS during EEA. METHODS: We performed EEA and CTM extensions on 6 cadavers (12 sides) using image guidance. The depth of the surgical corridor, the surgical exposure, the angle of attack, and the trajectory to the anterior genu of the cICA were measured. Two illustrative clinical cases are presented. RESULTS: Compared with the contralateral transnasal approach, the CTM corridor provided a 10.76 (5.32)-mm shorter distance ( P < .001), 36.23% (20.70%) larger surgical exposure ( P < .001), and a 24.6° (3.4°) more parallel trajectory to the anterior genu of the cICA ( P < .001). The mean angle of the lateral nasal wall line and the middle eye line was equal to the mean angle of the contralateral transnasal ( P = .075) and CTM ( P = .262) approaches, respectively. The CTM corridor allowed us to achieve near-total resection of the RcACS and beyond in 2 invasive adenomas with significant lateral extension. CONCLUSION: The CTM corridor is a feasible addition to standard EEA to access the RcACS and beyond, providing a more medial-to-lateral trajectory and improved access. The middle eye line can be used as a reference to help select patients for this approach.

Middle Ear Neuroendocrine Tumor: Case Report of a Tympanic Adenoma.

Middle ear neuroendocrine tumors (MeNETs) are an exceptionally rare occurrence. These benign tumors stem from the tympanic mucosa and can easily be misinterpreted by the clinician and the pathologist. Clinical characteristics, otoscopic findings and medical imaging in these cases are non-specific. We present a case of a 60-year-old male patient with bilateral hearing loss following recent coronavirus disease 2019 disease. Diagnostic work-up revealed a soft tissue neoplasm of the left middle ear. Surgical resection of the tumor mass with implantation of a partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) was the main modality of treatment. Middle ear neuroendocrine tumors was confirmed through positive immunohistochemistry for neuroendocrine tumor markers. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging 12 months after the surgery reported no tumor recurrence or significant residual disease with a stable PORP. Our report highlights challenges in diagnosing and treating these rare tumors, while emphasizing surgical resection pitfalls and resulting improvement of quality of life of the patient. We recommend a through followup of patients with unclear soft tissue masses in the middle ear to obtain a definitive diagnosis.

Ectopic parathyroid adenoma proved by diagnostic CT.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the most prevalent cause of hypercalcaemia, affecting 0.3% of the population. The only curative procedure is parathyroidectomy. Ectopic adenomas are challenging to localize and frequently result in persistent PHPT. This is a case report of a 29-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with PHPT prior to neck surgery and reoperated with bilateral neck exploration. However, the PHPT was not cured, until diagnostic CT with contrast had helped localizing a 1 cm ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the right horn of the thymus gland. The adenoma was then removed successfully.

Early detection of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Multiple endocrine neoplasias (MENs) are a group of hereditary diseases involving multiple endocrine glands, and their prevalence is low. MEN type 1 (MEN1) has diverse clinical manifestations, mainly involving the parathyroid glands, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and pituitary gland, making it easy to miss the clinical diagnosis. CASE SUMMARY: We present the case of a patient in whom MEN1 was detected early. A middle-aged male with recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea was admitted to the hospital. Blood tests at admission revealed hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia, and emission computed tomography of the parathyroid glands revealed a hyperfunctioning parathyroid lesion. Gastroscopy findings suggested a duodenal bulge and ulceration. Ultrasound endoscopy revealed a hypoechoic lesion in the duodenal bulb. Further blood tests revealed elevated levels of serum gastrin. Surgery was performed, and pathological analysis of the surgical specimens revealed a parathyroid adenoma after parathyroidectomy and a neuroendocrine tumor after duodenal bulbectomy. The time from onset to the definitive diagnosis of MEN1 was only approximately 1 year. CONCLUSION: For patients who present with gastrointestinal symptoms accompanied by hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia, clinicians need to be alert to the possibility of MEN1.

Hypopituitarism after gamma knife radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas: long-term results from a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of new-onset hypopituitarism after gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for pituitary adenomas in a single center. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 241 pituitary adenoma patients who underwent GKRS from 1993 to 2016 were enrolled. These patients had complete endocrine, imaging, and clinical data before and after GKRS. The median follow-up time was 56.0 (range, 12.7-297.6) months. RESULTS: Fifty patients (20.7%) developed new-onset hypopituitarism after GKRS, including hypogonadism (n = 22), hypothyroidism (n = 29), hypocortisolism (n = 20), and growth hormone deficiency (n = 4). The median time to new-onset hypopituitarism was 44.1 (range, 13.5-141.4) months. The rates of new-onset hypopituitarism were 7%, 16%, 20%, 39%, and 45% at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. For those patients treated with a single GKRS, sex (p = 0.012), suprasellar extension (p = 0.048), tumor volume (≥ 5 cm3) (p < 0.001), tumor progression (p = 0.001), pre-existing hypopituitarism (p = 0.011), and previous surgery (p = 0.009) were significantly associated with new-onset hypopituitarism in univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, tumor volume (≥ 5 cm3) and tumor progression were associated with new-onset hypopituitarism (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.401, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.708-6.773, p < 0.001 and HR = 3.594, 95% CI = 1.032-12.516, p = 0.045, respectively). For patients who received 2 or more times GKRS, no risk factors associated with new-onset hypopituitarism were found. CONCLUSION: New-onset hypopituitarism was not uncommon after GKRS for pituitary adenomas. In this study, large tumor volume (≥ 5 cm3) and tumor progression were associated with new-onset hypopituitarism after a single GKRS.

Cutis verticis gyrata in a patient with acromegaly: an unusual case and review of literature.

Acromegaly is a rare systemic syndrome induced by the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor type one (IGF1). It is responsible for changes in the skeletal and soft tissue systems and it almost always occurs because of a pituitary adenoma. Amongst the skin complications related to acromegaly, cutis verticis gyrate (CVG) is occasionally found. It is a skin condition characterized by excessive growth of the skin of the scalp, resulting in furrows and folds. Only a few cases of this uncommon association have been reported in the literature. The present clinical case illustrates typical CVG associated with acromegaly. Imaging revealed a pituitary macroadenoma lesion and hormonal evaluation revealed elevated IGF1 and hypopituitarism. The patient underwent a transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary adenoma and the histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The diagnosis of CVG is clinical, so radiologic assessments are generally not necessary. The management of acromegaly associated with CVG depends on controlling the serum levels of GH and IGF1. In some cases, specific injections or surgery can be used to minimize CVG.

[Clinical observation of 7 cases of functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumor treated by endoscopic transnasal selective resection of the cavernous sinus medial wall].

The clinical data of 7 patients (3 males and 4 females) with functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumor treated by endoscopic transnasal resection of the cavernous sinus medial wall from May to October 2023 in the Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China were retrospectively analyzed. They ranged in age from 29 to 60, with an average age of 45. The clinical diagnosis was acromegaly in 5 cases and Cushing's disease in 2 cases. There were 1 cases of microadenoma and 6 cases of macroadenoma. Knosp grade: Grade 1 adenoma in 3 cases, grade 2 adenoma in 3 cases and grade 3A adenoma in 1 case. Intraoperative resection of cavernous sinus medial wall was performed on the side of tumor. Five cases were determined to be invaded by tumor, and 2 cases were uncertain. No internal carotid artery injury occurred in all patients. The average intraoperative blood loss was 156 ml, and no patient was transfused. Postoperative endocrine remission was found in 6 cases, and tumor cells were found in 6 cases by pathological examination of the medial wall of cavernous sinus. No serious complications occurred in all patients. For Knosp grade 1-3 functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumor surgery, if there is no clear false envelope or normal pituitary between the tumor and the cavernous sinus medial wall during the operation, the cavernous sinus medial wall should be actively removed to improve the postoperative endocrine remission rate.

A Retrospective Study of 290 Patients with Resectable Benign and Malignant Gastric Neoplasms to Compare Postoperative Outcomes of Endoscopic Resection with and without the Internal Traction Method Using a Spring-and-Loop with Clip (S-O Clip).

BACKGROUND The spring-and-loop with clip (S-O clip) consists of a spring and a nylon loop located on one side of the claws of the clip, and is used in gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to allow countertraction. This retrospective study included 290 patients with early gastric neoplasms (eGNs) and aimed to compare postoperative outcomes of ESD with and without the use of the S-O clip. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the data of 347 patients with eGN who underwent ESD, with or without an S-O clip, at our institution between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2023. Overall, 290 patients were analyzed after excluding ineligible participants. The control group (n=149; adenoma: 1, carcinoma: 148) underwent ESD without an S-O clip between April 2017 and March 2020, while the S-O group (n=141; adenoma: 4, carcinoma: 137) used the clip between April 2020 and March 2023. Primary outcomes included procedure time, en bloc resection rate, and complete resection rate. Subgroup analysis for examined procedure time concerning endoscopist expertise, submucosal fibrosis, and neoplasm locations. RESULTS The S-O group had a shorter procedure time (44.4±23.9 vs 61.1±40.9 min, P<0.001) and a higher complete resection rate (97.9% vs 92.6%, P<0.05) than the control group. Subgroup analysis revealed that the S-O clip significantly reduced procedure time for trainees compared to the control group (40.8±18.3 vs 61.1±35.6 min, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The scheduled use of S-O clips in gastric ESD is effective in improving procedural time and complete resection rates, benefiting endoscopists across all experience levels.

Early follow-up colonoscopy after colorectal cancer resection detects significant pathology.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy is a key component of surveillance after colorectal cancer (CRC) resection. Surveillance intervals for colonoscopy vary across the world, with a limited evidence-base to support guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the timing and outcome of colonoscopies after CRC resection. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study on prospectively collected data. Included adult patients under surveillance following CRC resection. Patients with organ transplant, inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer syndromes were excluded. The outcomes of the first (up to) three follow-up colonoscopies were audited and classified for presence of advanced neoplasia (advanced adenoma or adenocarcinoma). RESULTS: 980 patients underwent at least one follow-up colonoscopy with a median time to first colonoscopy of 12.4 months. The findings included 2.7% CRC and 13.2% advanced adenoma. Older age, stage IV disease, and synchronous cancers at surgery were significantly associated with a finding of advanced neoplasia at first colonoscopy. 562 patients underwent a second colonoscopy (median of 35 months after the first surveillance colonoscopy) with findings of 1.8% CRC and 11.4% advanced adenoma. Advanced adenoma on prior colonoscopy was associated with finding advanced neoplasia at the second colonoscopy. 288 patients underwent a third colonoscopy (median of 37 months from the preceding colonoscopy), with similar outcomes of advanced neoplasia being associated with advanced adenoma at the previous colonoscopy. 43 (4.4%) patients developed CRC whilst on surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: Timely surveillance after CRC resection is important for detecting advanced neoplasia, and prolonged intervals between colonoscopies in the early years after surgery should be avoided.