Diagnostic accuracy of pan-enteric capsule endoscopy and magnetic resonance enterocolonography in suspected Crohn's disease

Novel biomarker profiles to improve individual diagnosis and prognosis in patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease: protocol for the Nordic inception cohort study (NORDTREAT)

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, can be challenging to diagnose, and treatment outcomes are difficult to predict. In the NORDTREAT cohort study, a Nordic prospective multicentre study, we aim to identify novel molecular biomarkers of diagnostic value by assessing the diagnostic test accuracy (cross-sectionally), as well as the prognostic utility when used as prognostic markers in the long-term (cohort study). In the diagnostic test accuracy study, the primary outcome is a successful diagnosis using one or more novel index tests at baseline compared with the ECCO criteria as the reference standard. The composite outcome of the prognostic utility study is 'severe IBD' within 52 weeks from inclusion, defined as one or more of the following three events: IBD-related surgery, IBD-related hospitalisation or IBD-related death.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We aim to recruit 800 patients referred on suspicion of IBD to this longitudinal observational study, a collaboration between 11 inclusion sites in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Inclusion will occur from February 2022 until December 2023 with screening and baseline visits for all participants and three outcome visits at weeks 12, 26 and 52 after baseline for IBD-diagnosed patients. Biological material (blood, faeces, biopsies, urine and hair), clinical data and lifestyle information will be collected during these scheduled visits.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study will explore novel biomarkers to improve diagnostic accuracy and prediction of disease progression, thereby improving medical therapy and the quality of life for patients with IBD.The study is approved by the Ethics Committee (DK: S-20200051, v1.4, 16.10.2021; IS: VSNb2021070006/03.01, NO: 193064; SE: DNR 2021-05090) and the Danish Data Protecting Agency (20/54594). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, patient associations and presentations at international conferences.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05414578; Pre-results.

Pan-enteric Capsule Endoscopy to Characterize Crohn's Disease Phenotypes and Predict Clinical Outcomes in Children and Adults: The Bomiro Study

BACKGROUND

Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (PCE) provides useful information for the management of Crohn's disease (CD), especially in children. No study has evaluated the ability of PCE to characterize CD phenotypes and outcomes in children and adults.

METHODS

In a prospective multicenter observational study, we recruited patients with CD >6 years from 4 centers in Italy. Patients underwent clinical, biomarker assessment and PCE. Lesions were graded using the PCE system. For each segment, the most common lesion (MCL), the most severe lesion (MSL), and the extent of involvement were defined. Disease severity, extent, and clinical outcomes were compared between children and adults. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for negative outcomes in both age groups.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-four consecutive patients (adults/children: 144/50) were evaluated for a total of 249 procedures. Children were more likely to have extensive disease, particularly in the colon. Higher MCL scores were independently associated with treatment escalation (odds ratio [OR], 4.09; 95% CI, 1.80-9.25; P = .001), while >30% disease extent was more indicative of clinical and endoscopic relapse (OR, 2.98; 1.26-7.08; P = .013). Disease extent was the only factor associated with endoscopic recurrence in children (OR, 4.50; 95% CI, 1.47-13.77; P = .008), while severe lesions in adults provided a better predictor of treatment escalation (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.52-12.1; P = .006). Postexamination, PCE contributed to a change of therapy in 196/249 (79%) of the procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

PCE allowed the characterization of CD phenotypes in children and adults by assessing disease severity and extent, which are of different importance in predicting clinical outcomes in these age groups.

Capsule endoscopy and panendoscopy: A journey to the future of gastrointestinal endoscopy

In 2000, the small bowel capsule revolutionized the management of patients with small bowel disorders. Currently, the technological development achieved by the new models of double-headed endoscopic capsules, as miniaturized devices to evaluate the small bowel and colon [pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy (PCE)], makes this non-invasive procedure a disruptive concept for the management of patients with digestive disorders. This technology is expected to identify which patients will require conventional invasive endoscopic procedures (colonoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy), based on the lesions detected by the capsule, i.e., those with an indication for biopsies or endoscopic treatment. The use of PCE in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, namely Crohn's disease, as well as in patients with iron deficiency anaemia and/or overt gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, after a non-diagnostic upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), enables an effective, safe and comfortable way to identify patients with relevant lesions, who should undergo subsequent invasive endoscopic procedures. The recent development of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy to evaluate the upper GI tract, is a further step towards the possibility of an entirely non-invasive assessment of all the segments of the digestive tract, from mouth-to-anus, meeting the expectations of the early developers of capsule endoscopy.

Artificial Intelligence-assisted Analysis of Pan-enteric Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Suspected Crohn's Disease: A Study on Diagnostic Performance

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy [PCE] is a highly sensitive but time-consuming tool for detecting pathology. Artificial intelligence [AI] algorithms might offer a possibility to assist in the review and reduce the analysis time of PCE. This study examines the agreement between PCE assessments aided by AI technology and standard evaluations, in patients suspected of Crohn's disease [CD].

METHOD

PCEs from a prospective, blinded, multicentre study, including patients suspected of CD, were processed by the deep learning solution AXARO® [Augmented Endoscopy, Paris, France]. Based on the image output, two observers classified the patient's PCE as normal or suggestive of CD, ulcerative colitis, or cancer. The primary outcome was per-patient sensitivities and specificities for detecting CD and inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Complete reading of PCE served as the reference standard.

RESULTS

A total of 131 patients' PCEs were analysed, with a median recording time of 303 min. The AXARO® framework reduced output to a median of 470 images [2.1%] per patient, and the pooled median review time was 3.2 min per patient. For detecting CD, the observers had a sensitivity of 96% and 92% and a specificity of 93% and 90%, respectively. For the detection of IBD, both observers had a sensitivity of 97% and had a specificity of 91% and 90%, respectively. The negative predictive value was 95% for CD and 97% for IBD.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the AXARO® framework reduced the initial review time substantially while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy-suggesting its use as a rapid tool to rule out IBD in PCEs of patients suspected of Crohn's disease.

Utility of panenteric capsule endoscopy for the detection of small-bowel Crohn's disease in patients with a normal magnetic resonance enterography: A prospective observational pilot study

Background and Aim

Capsule endoscopy allows the direct visualization of the small bowel. We examined the diagnostic utility of a new modality, namely panenteric Crohn's capsule endoscopy (CE), in detecting active small-bowel Crohn's disease (CD) in those with normal magnetic resonance enterography (MRE).

Methods

We prospectively recruited patients with a diagnosis of CD or suspected small-bowel CD in whom the MRE was normal. Inclusion criteria included abdominal symptoms and abnormal serum or fecal biomarkers. The primary outcome was the detection of active small-bowel CD (measured through the Lewis score [LS]). Secondary outcomes included change in Montreal classification for those with a pre-existing CD diagnosis, change in medical therapy, clinical activity, and biomarkers at baseline and 6 months, and quality-of-life measures.

Results

A total of 22 patients with a diagnosis of CD or suspected new diagnosis were recruited, with CE complete to the caecum in 21 and 18/21 (86%) showing evidence of active small-bowel CD (LS > 135). Of the patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of CD, 9/11 (82%) had a change in Montreal classification. At 6 months following CE, 17/18 (94%) had clinician-directed change in therapy. This correlated with an improvement in the quality of life (P < 0.05 as per the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire), a reduction in the Harvey Bradshaw index (median: 7-4, P < 0.001), and favorable CRP and albumin response.

Conclusion

Crohn's CE is a useful diagnostic test for assessing active small-bowel CD when imaging is normal but clinical suspicion is high. Crohn's CE should be integrated into the diagnostic algorithm for small-bowel CD.

Update on Endoscopic Dysplasia Surveillance in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

As medical management of inflammatory bowel disease makes great advances, most patients with inflammatory bowel disease will have long life expectancies without need for total colectomy. With prolonged disease duration, however, there is increased risk of dysplasia leading to colorectal cancer. Multiple consensus and guideline documents have been published over the last decade with recommendations to optimize early detection and management of dysplastic lesions. Endoscopic technology has improved tremendously, even over the past few years. Previously invisible dysplasia has become visible in most cases with advanced imaging technologies that now allow for much clearer and more detailed mucosal inspection. New tools to facilitate endoscopic resection of visible lesions have also enabled patients to avoid colectomy, with resulting need to continue colon surveillance. There are limited or conflicting data leading to inconsistent recommendations regarding the need for random biopsies, the preferred endoscopic imaging technique, and surveillance intervals after resection of dysplasia. Similarly, there remains significant variability in the application of guidelines into daily practice and availability of and training with advanced imaging technologies. Here, we present a narrative review of which patients are at highest risk for dysplasia, the current guidelines on surveillance colonoscopy, factors affecting optimal mucosal visualization, enhanced imaging techniques, standardized reporting terminologies for surveillance colonoscopy, endoscopic management of dysplasia, indications for colectomy, and briefly on future potential technologies to assist in dysplasia detection.

Additional information obtained from mucosal biopsies is limited after pan-enteric capsule endoscopy in patients with suspected Crohn's disease

Background and study aims Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (CE) is an emerging alternative to ileo-colonoscopy for diagnosing Crohn's disease (CD). However, CE does not offer the opportunity to take biopsies to support the diagnosis. This study examined the additional information obtained with mucosal biopsies and the feasibility of CE as a single diagnostic procedure. Patients and methods This retrospective study was based on a prospective, blind multicenter trial in which patients with suspected CD were examined with ileo-colonoscopy plus segmental biopsies and CE. Histopathological findings were compared to the result of CE. Results A total of 107 patients with a complete CE were included in the analysis. CE was consistent with CD in 44 patients (41.1%) and ulcerative colitis in 10 patients (9.3%). Histopathology confirmed the result of CE in 39.3% of patients and added new diagnostic information in 6.5% of patients. A CE consistent with CD was histologically confirmed in 20.5% of patients. Biopsies most often showed non-specific inflammation (61.4%). Only one patient with a normal CE had a specific histological diagnosis (microscopic colitis). Biopsies altered the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis to CD in two patients, and in two patients with a normal CE, biopsies showed CD or ulcerative colitis. In one patient with lymphoma in the terminal ileum and cecum, CE was misinterpreted as CD. Conclusions In patients with suspected CD and an evident result of CE, the additional information obtained from biopsies is limited, and CE as a single diagnostic procedure might be feasible in selected patients. Biopsies are warranted, however, in patients with an atypical endoscopic appearance or suspected malignancy.

Intestinal ultrasound in patients with suspected Crohn's disease - results of a prospective evaluation by trainees

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) performed by experts is a valuable tool for the diagnostic work-up and monitoring of Crohn's disease (CD). However, concern about insufficient training and perceived high inter-observer variability limit the adoption of IUS in CD. We examined the diagnostic accuracy of trainee-performed IUS in patients with suspected CD.

METHOD

Patients recruited to a prospective trial investigating the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance enterocolonography (MREC) in patients with clinically suspected CD underwent IUS performed by trainees. The primary end-point was IUS per-patient sensitivity and specificity for ileocolonic CD determined by ileocolonoscopy.

RESULTS

129 patients with clinically suspected CD and a complete IC and IUS were included in the analysis. IUS detected signs of CD in 49 cases (small bowel 31, colon 15, small bowel, and colon 3). The sensitivity and specificity for detection of ileocolonic CD by trainee performed IUS improved during the first to the second half of the study period from 57.1% (CI 34.0-78.2) to 73.1% (CI 52.2-88.4) and 76.5% (CI 58.8-89.3) to 89.7% (CI 72.6-97.8). The overall sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing CD with IUS were 65.4% (CI 50.9-78.0) and 80.5% (CI 69.9-88.7). There was no difference in diagnostic performance between IUS and MREC for the detection of CD.

CONCLUSION

Trainees improved during the study, and IUS performance in disease detection corresponded to expert-evaluated MREC.Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03134586).

The Role of Endoscopy in the Diagnosis and Management of Small Bowel Pathology in Children

Small bowel evaluation has been transformed by capsule endoscopy and advances in small bowel imaging, which provide reliable and noninvasive means for assessing the mucosal surface. Device-assisted enteroscopy has been critical for histopathological confirmation and endoscopic therapy for a wide range of small bowel pathology that conventional endoscopy cannot reach. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the indications, techniques, and clinical applications of capsule endoscopy; device-assisted enteroscopy; and imaging studies for small bowel evaluation in children.

Endoscopic severity and classification of lesions with pan-enteric capsule endoscopy and ileocolonoscopy in ileocolonic Crohn's disease

Background and study aims  Recent evidence supports the use of pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (CE) for the diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to examine the agreement between CE and ileocolonoscopy (IC) for determining the severity and classification of lesions in ileocolonic CD. Patients and methods  In a prospective blinded multicenter study, patients with suspected CD were examined with CE and IC within 2 weeks. Ninety-nine participants with a full IC and CE were included in the analysis. The ileocolonic disease severity was assessed with the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD). Results  CD was diagnosed in 30 patients with IC and CE. The mean SES-CD was 9.8 (CI 7.9-11.8) and 10.6 (CI 8.2-13.1), respectively ( P  = 0.69). There was a substantial agreement (ICC 0.83, CI 0.68-0.92) and a strong correlation between SES-CD assessed with IC and CE (r _s  = 0.78, P  < 0.001). 55 bowel segments had ulcerations with both modalities (terminal ileum 24, right colon 12, transverse colon eight, left colon eight and rectum three). Mean sub-scores for ulcer size, area of ulcerated surface and area of affected surface did not differ between modalities. The inter-modality agreement (κ) was 0.46, 0.34 and 0.43, respectively ( P  < 0.001). Conclusions  There is a strong correlation between IC and CE for the severity of ileocolonic CD. The agreement for SES-CD sub-scores is fair to moderate. CE could be an alternative to IC for the assessment of endoscopic severity in selected patients with suspected CD.

Diagnostic accuracy of pan-enteric capsule endoscopy and magnetic resonance enterocolonography in suspected Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Magnetic resonance enterocolonography (MREC) and pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (CE) offers visualization of the entire gastrointestinal tract in a single examination. We examined the diagnostic accuracy of MREC and CE in patients with suspected Crohn's disease (CD).

METHOD

In a prospective, blinded, multicenter study, we included patients with clinically suspected CD. Patients were examined with MREC, CE, and ileocolonoscopy (IC) within 2 weeks. The primary outcome was per patient sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for ileocolonic CD. IC served as reference standard.

RESULTS

153 patients were included in the study and IC, MREC, and CE was performed in 152, 151, 133 patients, respectively. CD was diagnosed with IC in 59 (39%) patients (terminal ileum (TI) 22, colon 20, TI and colon 17). The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing ileocolonic CD with MREC was 67.9% (CI 53.7-80.1) and 76.3% (CI 65.2-85.3) (TI 76.9% and 85.6%; colon 27% and 93%) compared to 87.5% (CI 73.2-95.8) and 87.8% (CI 78.2-94.3) with CE (TI 96.6% and 87.5%; colon 75.0% and 93.0%). The sensitivity of CE was superior to that of MREC (p = 0.02). The patient experienced discomfort was equal with CE and MREC and significantly less than with IC.

CONCLUSION

In patients with suspected CD, CE has a high sensitivity for diagnosing CD in the TI and colon, which is superior to that of MREC. The sensitivity of MREC for diagnosing CD in the colon is poor. CE could be a patient-friendly alternative to IC in selected patients with suspected CD. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03134586.