I-SCAN targeted versus random biopsies in Barrett's oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy and effectiveness of targeted oesophageal biopsies in Barrett's oesophagus to detect dysplasia using new magnification techniques are unknown. Aim of this study was to investigate whether the combined use of acetic acid, magnification and electronic filters allows the same accuracy as the four-quadrant random biopsies pattern; pathologist interobserver agreement both in low grade and high grade dysplasia was also assessed. METHODS: Fifty-four consecutive patients newly diagnosed with Barrett's oesophagus were enrolled in a prospective study from a single endoscopy unit. Biopsies were evaluated by the local pathologist and by an expert pathologist from another pathology unit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Dysplasia detection rate and interobserver agreement for the histologic diagnosis of dysplasia. RESULTS: The use of acetic acid, magnification and electronic filters showed an unacceptably low dysplasia detection rate by the two pathologists (9.2% and 5.5% for targeted biopsies, respectively). The interobserver agreement for low grade dysplasia between pathologists was low (Cohen's K weighted=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: In an average setting, the standard four-quadrant method should still be preferred, along with the implementation of a routine second evaluation by an expert pathologist.

Ski/SnoN expression in the sequence metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma of Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a precancerous condition. However, the mechanisms underlying the transformation from metaplastic to dysplastic to adenocarcinomatous epithelium are still poorly understood. As loss of transforming growth factor-beta growth inhibition is considered a hallmark of several human neoplasms, we evaluated the expression of Ski and SnoN (proteins that antagonize transforming growth factor-beta signaling through physical interaction with Smad complex and by recruiting histone deacetylases), as markers of the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway, in BE with and without dysplasia. Biopsy samples from 37 patients (26 men, aged 60 +/- 8 years) with histologically proven BE were evaluated; 10 patients had concomitant low-grade dysplasia, 7 high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and 6 HGD associated with adenocarcinoma. Ski and SnoN expression was assessed immunohistochemically. Neither Ski nor SnoN was expressed in normal esophageal epithelium, but both were strongly expressed in BE tissue, with intense cytoplasmic positivity. Expression of these proteins decreased markedly in dysplastic areas in patients with low-grade dysplasia and was absent in those with HGD or HGD/adenocarcinoma. Ski and SnoN proteins are overexpressed in BE and may be involved in abnormal signaling elicited by transforming growth factor-beta in this epithelium, enhancing the tumorigenesis process. These observations might help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the BE tumorigenesis process.

Education improves colonoscopy appropriateness.

BACKGROUND: Appropriateness in GI endoscopy is critical to face the rising amount of demands. Education of physicians has been advocated to reduce the level of inappropriateness. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of an educational program in determining a reduction of inappropriate colonoscopies in an open access system. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: A single endoscopy unit in Italy. PATIENTS: A total of 495 consecutive outpatients referred to our endoscopy unit by family physicians for diagnostic colonoscopy before the educational course and 522 after its completion, for a total of 1017 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Inappropriate colonoscopy reduction rates, cost savings, and reduction of waiting lists were evaluated. RESULTS: With regard to inappropriate colonoscopies, the post-course group rate of inappropriateness was significantly lower than that of the pre-course group (P < or = .001). The economic savings for 1 year was estimated to be euro19,000. The reduction of the waiting list was about 15% of the original value. CONCLUSIONS: Education has a high incidence in reducing inappropriate colonoscopies in an open-access system determining reduction of costs and waiting lists.

Appropriateness of colonoscopy: diagnostic yield and safety in guidelines.

AIM: To evaluate if the guidelines for the appropriateness of performing colonoscopy by American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (AGSE) and Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED) yield a good diagnostic efficacy and do not present risks of missing important colonic pathologies in an Italian population sample. METHODS: A total of 1017 consecutive patients (560 men and 457 women; mean age 64.4 +/- 16 years) referred to an open-access endoscopy unit for colonoscopy from July 2004 to May 2006 were evaluated according to ASGE and SIED guidelines for appropriateness of performing the procedure. Diagnostic yield was defined as the percentage of relevant colonic pathologies of the total number of colonoscopies performed. RESULTS: About 85.2% patients underwent colonoscopy that was considered appropriate based on at least one ASGE or SIED criterion, while it was considered inappropriate for 14.8% of patients. The diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was significantly higher for appropriate colonoscopies (26.94% vs 10.6%, P < 0.001) than for inappropriate colonoscopies (5.3%). There was no missed colorectal cancer following the ASGE/SIED criteria. CONCLUSION: ASGE/SIED guidelines have shown a good diagnostic yield and the rate of missing relevant colonic pathologies seems very low. Unfortunately, the percentage of inappropriate referrals for colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system is still high, despite the number of papers published on the issue and the definition of international guidelines. Further steps are required to update and standardize the guidelines to increase their diffusion and to promote educational programs for general practitioners.