Changing trends in polypoid colorectal cancer diagnosed by colonoscopy.

AIM: This study analysed trends in polypoid colorectal cancer (PCRC) diagnosed by colonoscopy during the period 1995-2008 and compared the patterns observed in the years 2005-2008 with 1995-1998. METHOD: In the period 1995-2008, 24,245 colonoscopies were performed and 1041 patients with PCRC were diagnosed: pediculated (n = 220) or sessile (n = 821). RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 68.3 ± 11.6 years. Males were more likely to have PCRC (males 62.6%vs females 37.4%; P < 0.0001). Significantly more pediculated PCRCs were located in the distal colon (P < 0.001). In the 2005-2008 period the prevalence of PCRC among patients undergoing colonoscopy decreased, the number of polypectomies increased significantly (P < 0.0001) and the pediculated PCRC location changed, with a significant increase in right-sided lesions. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PCRC in patients undergoing colonoscopy decreased, with a significant increase in the number of polypectomies in the last decade. Pediculated PCRCs were more often located in the left colon and sessile PCRCs in the right colon. From the period 1995-1998 to 2005-2008 the location of pediculated PCRCs changed, with an increase in right-sided lesions.

Endoscopist experience as a risk factor for colonoscopic complications.

AIM: We aimed to determine the incidence of colonic perforation (CP) following colonoscopy and postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) in a teaching hospital, assessing the influence of endoscopist experience as a risk factor. METHOD: All colonoscopies performed between 1995 and 2008 were reviewed. Demographic data, endoscopic procedure information, incidence of CP and PPB, and endoscopist experience were recorded. RESULTS: In the 14-year period, 25,214 endoscopic colonic procedures were performed, and 3991 patients underwent polypectomy. The overall CP risk was 0.51/1000 procedures; and PPB 14.7/1000. The relative risk (RR) ratio of complications was 2.8/1000 procedures. The RR rate was highest for endoscopists performing less than 591 procedures per year (4.0/1000 [95% CI, 3.7-4.3] vs 2.9/1000 [95% CI, 2.6-3.2]), P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The complication rate after colonoscopy was comparable to that previously reported. Colonoscopy carried out by a low-volume endoscopist was independently associated with bleeding and perforation.

Cytomegalovirus infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that, in inflammatory bowel disease, cytomegalovirus behaves in the intestine as a nonpathogenic bystander, and even its finding in intestinal mucosa has unclear clinical relevance. We report our experience with a small series of patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease and cytomegalovirus infection and their clinical outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine patients with moderate-severe attacks of inflammatory bowel disease did not respond to i.v. prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) for a mean of 24 days. Four of these patients were further treated with i.v. cyclosporine A (4 mg/kg/day). Cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed in two patients after resection for treatment failure. In the remaining patients, cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed in endoscopic mucosal biopsies and i.v. ganciclovir was then administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 2-3 wk. Five of these patients went into clinical remission, allowing corticosteroid and cyclosporine A discontinuation. Follow-up biopsies were performed and in all cases cytomegalovirus could not be detected in the colonic tissue. Two patients needed to be treated with intravenous cyclosporine A after antiviral therapy because of persistence of clinical symptoms despite the elimination of cytomegalovirus infection. CONCLUSIONS: Cytomegalovirus infection may play a role in the natural history of refractory inflammatory bowel disease and in some of its complications. The clearance of cytomegalovirus in colonic mucosa may lead some of these patients to remission.

[Medullary aplasia, sarcoidosis, and malacoplakia. A case report (author's transl)]. / Aplasia medular, sarcoidosis y malacoplaquia. A propósito de un caso.

A 49-year-old man presented medullary aplasia, sarcoidosis, and malacoplakia as evidenced by biopsy. This is apparently the first case of this association to be described in the literature. Medullary aplasia is basically an aplasia of the erythroid series, though it may be a pure aplasia of the red cells alone. A histologic study of the left testicle removed because of an infectious orchiepidydimitis led to the discovery of malacoplakia. Skin nodules appeared later; two of them were extirpated and revealed the existence of sarcoidosis. There was no evidence of sarcoidosis at any other level. The immune mechanism involved in pure red cell aplasia with or without thymoma are well known. The association of malacoplakia and sarcoidosis, two similar conditions, is closely related to alterations in cell immunity. The possibility that common immune factors were present in this patient. After eliminating different therapeutic approaches used in other cases, an immunosuppresive therapy was applied.