Sonographic detection of massive colonic pseudopolyposis in inflammatory bowel diseases.

PURPOSE: Colonic pseudopolyps are a frequent finding in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet there are no published data describing the characteristics of pseudopolyposis in intestinal ultrasound (IUS). This study aimed at identifying the key features of pseudopolyposis in IUS. METHODS: This case-control study included 12 patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis with extensive left colon pseudopolyposis and 18 matched IBD patients without pseudopolyps at colonoscopy. Luminal (diameters, thickening, stratification, margins, and vascularity) and intraluminal (vascular signals at color Doppler), and extraluminal (mesenteric fat) parameters of the left colon were compared. Anonymized still images and videos of these patients were blindly reviewed to estimate the accuracy in detecting this condition. RESULTS: Among the IUS parameters assessed, the anteroposterior diameter ≥ 12 mm and the presence of luminal vascular signals were significantly correlated with pseudopolyposis. The detection of both these findings were able to detect extensive pseudopolyposis a sensitivity of 75% (CI 95%: 42.8-94.5%) and a specificity of 100% (CI 95%: 81.5-100%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study describing the IUS features of pseudopolyposis in IBD. The potential use of IUS to assess pseudopolyposis might have an impact on IUS monitoring and surveillance of IBD patients with condition.

Post-inflammatory Polyp Burden as a Prognostic Marker of Disease-outcome in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Post-inflammatory polyps [PIPs] are considered as indicators of previous episodes of severe inflammation and mucosal ulceration. Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], namely Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC], exhibit a perpetuating, relapsing and remitting pattern, and PIPs are a frequent sequela of chronicity. The aim of this study was to determine whether a high PIP burden is associated with a more severe disease course in patients with IBD. METHODS: This was a multinational, multicentre, retrospective study. IBD patients previously diagnosed with PIPs were retrieved from the endoscopic database of each centre. PIP burden was evaluated and associated with demographic and clinical data as well as factors indicating a more unfavourable disease course. RESULTS: A total of 504 IBD patients with PIPs were recruited [male: 61.9%]. The mean age at IBD diagnosis was 36.9 [±16.8] years. Most patients [74.8%] were diagnosed with UC. A high PIP burden was present in 53.4% of patients. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, a high PIP burden was independently associated with treatment escalation (hazard ratio [HR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.75; p = 0.024), hospitalization [HR 1.90; 95% CI 1.24-2.90; p = 0.003], need for surgery [HR 2.28; 95% CI 1.17-4.44, p = 0.02] and younger age at diagnosis [HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99; p = 0.003]. CONCLUSION: PIP burden was associated with a more severe outcome. Future prospective studies should focus on the characterization of PIP burden as to further risk stratify this patient cohort.

Increased risk of colorectal neoplasia in inflammatory bowel disease patients with post-inflammatory polyps: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with post-inflammatory polyps (PIPs) may carry an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia (CRN) including dysplasia and cancer. Current guidelines recommend active colonoscopy follow-up for these patients. However, the evidence for guidelines is still poor. In addition, some recent high-quality reports present a different view, which challenges the current guidelines. We hypothesize that IBD patients with PIPs are at increased risk of CRN. AIM: To evaluate the risk of CRN in IBD patients with and without PIPs. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed to identify studies that compared the risk of CRN in IBD patients with and without PIPs. In addition, we screened the reference lists and citation indices of the included studies. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratio (OR) was calculated using the random-effects model to explore the final pooled effect size of the included studies and determine whether PIPs increase the risk of CRN. Sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and assessment of publication bias were performed to examine the sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twelve studies with 5819 IBD patients, including 1281 (22.01%) with PIPs, were considered eligible for this meta-analysis. We found that IBD patients with PIPs were at an increased risk of CRN as compared to those without PIPs [OR 2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.43-2.83]. The results were similar when colorectal cancer was used as the study endpoint (OR 2.57; 95%CI: 1.69-3.91). Furthermore, the risk of CRN was still increased (OR 1.80; 95%CI: 1.12-2.91) when restricted to ulcerative colitis patients. Heterogeneity was high among the included studies (I² = 75%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the high heterogeneity was due to the study design. Sensitivity analysis showed that the main statistical outcomes did not essentially change after excluding any one of the included studies. No significant publication bias was found in the funnel plots. CONCLUSION: IBD patients with PIPs have an increased risk of CRN as compared with those without PIPs, which support the current guidelines. However, a high-quality randomized controlled trial is warranted.

Pseudopolyps in inflammatory bowel diseases: Have we learned enough?

Pseudopolyps are a well described entity in the literature and even though the exact pathogenesis of their formation is not completely understood, they are considered non-neoplastic lesions originating from the mucosa after repeated periods of inflammation and ulceration associated with excessive healing processes. Their occurrence is less common in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis, and their overall prevalence ranges from 4% to 74%; moreover, they are found more often in colon but have been detected in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract as well. When their size exceeds the arbitrary point of 1.5 cm, they are classified as giant pseudopolyps. Clinical evaluation should differentiate the pseudopolyps from other polypoid lesions, such as the dysplasia-associated mass or lesion, but this situation represents an ongoing clinical challenge. Pseudopolyps can provoke complications such as bleeding or obstruction, and their management includes medical therapy, endoscopy and surgery; however, no consensus exists about the optimal treatment approach. Patients with pseudopolyps are considered at intermediate risk for colorectal cancer and regular endoscopic monitoring is recommended. Through a review of the literature, we provide here a proposed classification of the characteristics of pseudopolyps.

Pólipos postinflamatorios y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Literature Review and Case Report of Post-Inflammatory Polyps and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

En pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) de larga duración, pueden aparecer pólipos postinflamatorios o seudopólipos, los cuales se presentan en los sitios en donde previamente hubo inflamación severa. Se describe el caso de un paciente con colitis ulcerativa de 5 años de evolución, en quien se encontró una poliposis postinflamatoria generalizada durante la colonoscopia de control. Se hace una revisión del significado de esta alteración, su clasificación y de su tratamiento.

Post-inflammatory polyps or “pseudopolyps” may occur in patients who have long-term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They occur at sites where severe inflammation had previously occurred. We describe the case of a patient who had suffered from ulcerative colitis for five years when generalized post-inflammatory polyposis was discovered during a follow-upl colonoscopy. We review the meaning of this condition as well as its classification and treatment