Sporadic adenoma in ulcerative colitis: endoscopic resection is an adequate treatment

Adenomas in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are associated with an increased risk of advanced neoplasia

BACKGROUND

It is still unclear whether inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with adenomas have a higher risk of developing high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or colorectal cancer (CRC) than non-IBD patients with sporadic adenomas. We compared the risk of advanced neoplasia (AN, defined as HGD or CRC) in IBD patients with adenomas to IBD patients without adenomas and patients without IBD with adenomas.

METHODS

IBD patients with a histological adenoma diagnosis (IBD + adenoma), age-matched IBD patients without adenoma (IBD-nonadenoma), and adenoma patients without IBD (nonIBD + adenoma) were enrolled in this study. Medical charts were reviewed for adenoma characteristics and development of AN. The endoscopic appearance of the adenomas was characterized as typical (solitary sessile or pedunculated) or atypical (all other descriptions).

RESULTS

A total of 110 IBD + adenoma patients, 123 IBD-nonadenoma patients, and 179 nonIBD + adenoma patients were included. Mean duration of follow-up was 88 months (SD ±41). The 5-year cumulative risks of AN were 11%, 3%, and 5% in IBD + adenoma, IBD-nonadenoma, and nonIBD + adenoma patients, respectively (P < 0.01). In IBD patients atypical adenomas were associated with a higher 5-year cumulative risk of AN compared to IBD patients with typical adenomas (18% vs. 7%, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients with a histological diagnosis of adenoma have a higher risk of developing AN than adenoma patients without IBD and IBD patients without adenomas. The presence of atypical adenomas in particular was associated with this increased risk, although patients with typical adenomas were found to carry an additional risk as well.

Comparison of high definition with standard white light endoscopy for detection of dysplastic lesions during surveillance colonoscopy in patients with colonic inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Dysplasia in colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often multifocal and flat. High-definition (HD) colonoscopy improves adenoma detection rates by improving the ability to detect subtle mucosal changes. The utility of HD colonoscopy in dysplasia detection in patients with IBD has not been reported so far. We aimed to compare the yield of dysplastic lesions detected by standard definition (SD) white light endoscopy with HD endoscopy.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients with long-standing (>7 years) colonic IBD undergoing surveillance colonoscopy at Nottingham University Hospital was studied between September 2008 and February 2010. Details of diagnosis, duration of disease, and outcomes of the colonoscopy were collected from the endoscopy database, electronic patient records, and patient notes.

RESULTS

There were 160 colonoscopies (101 ulcerative colitis [UC] and 59 Crohn's disease [CD]) in the SD group and 209 colonoscopies (147 UC and 62 CD) in the HD group. The groups were well matched for all demographic variables. Thirty-two dysplastic lesions (27 on targeted biopsy) were detected in 24 patients in the HD group and 11 dysplastic lesions (six on targeted biopsy) were detected in eight patients the SD group. The adjusted prevalence ratio of detecting any dysplastic lesion and dysplastic lesion on targeted biopsy was 2.21 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-4.45) and 2.99 (95% CI 1.16-7.79), respectively, for HD colonoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

HD colonoscopy improves targeted detection of dysplastic lesions during surveillance colonoscopy of patients with colonic IBD in routine clinical practice. Randomized controlled studies are required to confirm these findings.

Outcome of sporadic adenomas and adenoma-like dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis undergoing polypectomy

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients are at increased risk of colorectal dysplasia and cancer. Few studies have examined the clinical outcomes of dysplastic polyps resembling sporadic adenomas that are removed with endoscopic polypectomy.

METHODS

A centralized diagnostic index identified patients evaluated between 1994 and 2004 with UC and polypoid dysplasia who were followed from the time of polypectomy until the most recent colonoscopy. They were stratified into two groups by polyp occurrence, either within (adenoma-like dysplasia) or outside (sporadic adenoma) the most proximal endoscopic or histologic extent of colitis. The endpoints of interest were the development of subsequent colorectal neoplasia, flat dysplasia, or cancer. The cumulative probabilities of these endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the association with clinical factors assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients were found to have polypoid dysplasia; of these, 77 underwent polypectomy. The cumulative probability of subsequent colorectal neoplasia in polypectomy patients was 18% at 1 year and 69% at 5 years. After polypectomy, cumulative incidence of cancer or flat dysplasia was 2% at 1 year and 13% at 5 years. The proportional hazards models indicated that these outcomes were not significantly associated with polyp type, primary sclerosing cholangitis, family history of colorectal cancer, 5-aminosalicylate use, extent of colitis, or duration of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

While polypectomy may be safe for the management of adenomas occurring in most UC patients, the 5-year cumulative incidence of a combined endpoint (cancer or flat dysplasia) was 13%. Such patients should be followed closely.

Cancer surveillance strategies in ulcerative colitis: the need for modernization

The risk of colorectal cancer is increased in patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis. Traditional surveillance has centered around regular standard white-light colonoscopy, with multiple biopsies aimed at detecting dysplasia or the identification of early cancer. This has resulted in only a modest reduction in cancer incidence and mortality. A better understanding of disease risk factors may allow endoscopic resources to be more focused on patients at higher risk. In addition, advanced endoscopic techniques have the potential to improve dysplasia detection, minimize the need for routine biopsies, and allow for the removal of dysplastic lesions, avoiding the need for surgery. Techniques such as magnification colonoscopy, chromoendoscopy, narrow band imaging, autofluorescence, and confocal endomicroscopy may all have a role to play in improving the benefits of endoscopic surveillance. Revised endoscopic surveillance strategies are proposed, incorporating aspects of risk stratification, a well-established practice in noncolitis-related colorectal cancer screening, and some of these new technologies.

Cancer risk in IBD: How to diagnose and how to manage DALM and ALM

The risk of developing neoplasia leading to colorectal cancer is significantly increased in ulcerative colitis (UC) and most likely in Crohn’s disease. Several endoscopic surveillance strategies have been implemented to identify these lesions. The main issue is that colitis-associated neoplasms often occurs in flat mucosa, often being detected on taking random biopsies rather than by identification of these lesions via endoscopic imaging. The standard diagnostic procedure in long lasting UC is to take four biopsies every 10 cm. Image enhancement methods, such as chromoendoscopy and virtual histology using endomicroscopy, have greatly improved neoplasia detection rates and may contribute to reduced random biopsies by taking targeted “smart” biopsies. Chromoendoscopy may effectively be performed by experienced endoscopists for routine screening of UC patients. By contrast, endomicroscopy is often only available in selected specialized endoscopic centers. Importantly, advanced endoscopic imaging has the potential to increase the detection rate of neoplasia whereas the interplay between endoscopic experience and interpretation of histological biopsy evaluation allows the physician to make a proper diagnosis and to find the appropriate therapeutic approach. Colitis-associated intraepithelial neoplasms may occur in flat mucosa of endoscopically normal appearance or may arise as dysplasia-associated lesion or mass (DALM), which may be indistinguishable from sporadic adenomas in healthy or non-colitis mucosa [adenoma-like mass (ALM)]. The aim of this review was to summarize endoscopic and histological characteristics of DALM and ALM in the context of therapeutic procedures.

[Polypoid dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease: differential diagnosis and further diagnostic and therapeutic approaches]

Polypoid dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is categorized as DALM (dysplasia associated lesion or mass) or ALM (adenoma-like mass). DALMs are etiologically related to the underlying inflammatory disease, have a high risk of cancer and remain an indication for colectomy. Sporadic adenomas occur coincidentally according to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. They are adequately treated by polypectomy. More recently, a special group of lesions has been termed as "adenoma-like DALM" which shows a morphological overlap with sporadic adenomas in spite of arising against the background of chronic IBD. Adenoma-like DALMs may possess a lower risk of malignancy in contrast to non-adenoma-like DALMs. They may be treated adequately by polypectomy and continued monitoring if the lesion has been excised completely and there is no evidence of flat dysplasia elsewhere in the colon.

Non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms in ulcerative colitis

The incidence of colorectal cancer associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) increases with time. It is imperative to identify dysplasia-associated lesions or masses (DALM) and non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms (NP-CRN) to reduce the morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer associated with UC. Recent findings suggest most dysplastic lesions in UC can be considered as visible under careful endoscopic observation. To find NP-CRN in UC, the careful examination of well-prepared mucosa and noting subtle differences is necessary. Magnifying chromoendoscopy, therefore, can be useful to endoscopically diagnose these subtle findings. The authors believe that targeted biopsies during chromoendoscopy will increasingly be used and replace random biopsies in the future.

Ulcerative colitis practice guidelines in adults: American College Of Gastroenterology, Practice Parameters Committee

Guidelines for clinical practice are aimed to indicate preferred approaches to medical problems as established by scientifically valid research. Double-blind placebo controlled studies are preferable, but compassionate-use reports and expert review articles are used in a thorough review of the literature conducted through Medline with the National Library of Medicine. When only data that will not withstand objective scrutiny are available, a recommendation is identified as a consensus of experts. Guidelines are applicable to all physicians who address the subject regardless of specialty training or interests and are aimed to indicate the preferable but not necessarily the only acceptable approach to a specific problem. Guidelines are intended to be flexible and must be distinguished from standards of care, which are inflexible and rarely violated. Given the wide range of specifics in any health-care problem, the physician must always choose the course best suited to the individual patient and the variables in existence at the moment of decision. Guidelines are developed under the auspices of the American College of Gastroenterology and its Practice Parameters Committee and approved by the board of trustees. Each has been intensely reviewed and revised by the Committee, other experts in the field, physicians who will use them, and specialists in the science of decision analysis. The recommendations of each guideline are therefore considered valid at the time of composition based on the data available. New developments in medical research and practice pertinent to each guideline will be reviewed at a time established and indicated at publication to assure continued validity. The recommendations made are based on the level of evidence found. Grade A recommendations imply that there is consistent level 1 evidence (randomized controlled trials), grade B indicates that the evidence would be level 2 or 3, which are cohort studies or case-control studies. Grade C recommendations are based on level 4 studies, meaning case series or poor-quality cohort studies, and grade D recommendations are based on level 5 evidence, meaning expert opinion.

Diagnosis and management of dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease of the colon

To minimize the possibility of developing lethal colorectal cancer (CRC) in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's colitis, patients are usually enrolled in a program of dysplasia surveillance. The success of a surveillance program depends on the identification of patients with dysplasia and timely referral for colectomy. While a number of issues might stand in the way of a surveillance system achieving its maximal effect (less than ideal agreement in the interpretation of biopsy specimens, sampling error by endoscopists, delays in referral to surgery, and patient drop-out among others), circumstantial evidence supports the concept that colonoscopic dysplasia surveillance is an effective means of reducing CRC mortality and morbidity while minimizing the application of colectomy for cancer prevention. This review critically appraises key issues in the diagnosis and management of dysplasia in UC and Crohn's disease as well as adjunct efforts to prevent CRC in inflammatory bowel disease.

Chromoscopy-guided endomicroscopy increases the diagnostic yield of intraepithelial neoplasia in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Because of the large number of biopsy specimens, surveillance colonoscopy in ulcerative colitis (UC) is currently time consuming and significant flat lesions still may be missed. In this study we assessed the value of combined chromoscopy and endomicroscopy for the diagnosis of intraepithelial neoplasias in a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

A total of 161 patients with long-term UC in clinical remission were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to undergo conventional colonoscopy or chromoscopy with endomicroscopy. Eight patients were excluded because of insufficient bowel preparation. In the conventional colonoscopic group (n = 73), random biopsy examinations and targeted biopsy examinations were performed. In the endomicroscopy group (n = 80), circumscribed mucosal lesions were identified by chromoscopy and evaluated for targeted biopsy examination by endomicroscopy. The primary outcome analysis was based on the detection of neoplasias.

RESULTS

By using chromoscopy with endomicroscopy, 4.75-fold more neoplasias could be detected (P = .005) than with conventional colonoscopy, although 50% fewer biopsy specimens (P = .008) were required. If only circumscribed lesions would have been biopsied in the first group, the total number of biopsy specimens could have been reduced by more than 90%. A total of 5580 confocal endomicroscopic images from 134 circumscribed lesions were compared with histologic results. The presence of neoplastic changes could be predicted by endomicroscopy with high accuracy (sensitivity, 94.7%; specificity, 98.3%; accuracy, 97.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Endomicroscopy based on in vivo histology can determine if UC lesions identified by chromoscopy should undergo biopsy examination, thereby increasing the diagnostic yield and reducing the need for biopsy examinations. Thus, chromoscopy-guided endomicroscopy may lead to significant improvements in the clinical management of UC.

Incidence and prognosis of colorectal dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study from Olmsted County, Minnesota

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The risk, fate, and ideal management of colorectal dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain debated. We estimated the incidence, long-term outcome, and risk factors for progression of colorectal dysplasia (adenomas [adenoma-associated lesions or masses (ALMs)], flat dysplasia, and dysplasia-associated lesions or masses [DALMs]) in a population-based IBD cohort from Olmsted County, Minnesota.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify cohort patients with colorectal dysplasia. Medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical characteristics. Histology slides were reviewed by a pathologist blinded to previous pathology reports. The cumulative incidence of dysplasia was estimated, and the association between patient characteristics and recurrence/progression of dysplasia was assessed using proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine (4%) IBD patients developed flat dysplasia (n = 8), DALMs (n = 1), ALMs in areas of IBD (n = 18), or ALMs outside areas of IBD (n = 2). Among 6 patients with flat low-grade dysplasia (fLGD) who did not undergo colectomy, none progressed during a median of 17.8 (range 6-21) years of observation with a median of 3 (range 0-12) surveillance colonoscopies. Four (22%) patients with ALMs in areas of IBD who did not undergo surgery developed LGD or DALMs. Primary sclerosing cholangitis and dysplasia located proximal to the splenic flexure were significantly associated with risk for recurrence/progression of dysplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based cohort study from Olmsted County, Minnesota did not confirm an increased risk of cancer related to fLGD, whereas 22% of patients with ALMs in areas of IBD developed fLGD or DALMs.