Colonoscopic localization accuracy for colorectal resections in the laparoscopic era

Preoperative localization of potentially invisible colonic lesions on the laparoscopic operation field: using autologous blood tattooing

PURPOSE

Preoperative colonoscopic (POC) localization is recommended for patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic colectomy for early colon cancer. Among the various localization method, POC tattooing localization has been widely used. Several dyes have been used for tattooing, but dye has disadvantages, including foreign body reactions. For this reason, we have used autologous blood tattooing for POC localization. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the autologous blood tattooing method.

METHODS

This study included patients who required POC localization of the colonic neoplasm among the patients who were scheduled for elective colon resection. The indication for localization was early colon cancer (clinically T1 or T2) or colonic neoplasms that could not be resected endoscopically. POC autologous blood tattooing was performed after saline injection, and 2 hemoclips were applied.

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients who underwent autologous blood tattooing and laparoscopic colectomy were included in this study. All POC localization sites were visible in the laparoscopic view. POC localization sites showed almost perfect agreement with intraoperative surgical findings. There were no complications like bowel perforation, peritonitis, hemoperitoneum, and mesenteric hematoma.

CONCLUSION

Autologous blood is a safe and effective agent for localizing materials that can replace previous dyes. However, a large prospective case-control study is required for the routine application of this procedure in early colon cancer or colonic neoplasms.

[Endoscopic tattooing of colorectal neoplasms and laparoscopic surgery: technical aspects and recommendations]

Accurate mapping of colorectal neoplasms is needed in many clinical situations. Intraoperative mapping of small lesions previously detected by endoscopy is often challenging, especially during laparoscopic surgery. Tumor location assessed during colonoscopy may be inaccurate because of limitations of the procedure. Small flat neoplasms with signs of invasiveness, which are hard to detect by palpation, hold a special place. The same situation is observed for nonradical endoscopic resection of malignant polyps or early cancer, when visual examination shows that the tumor masses have been completely resected but histological examination reveals the positive lateral or horizontal resection margin. Endoscopic tattooing is an effective, safe, and economically sound method to mark intraluminal colorectal neoplasms, which allows one to perform minimally invasive surgeries without using additional operating room resources.

Location of colorectal cancer: colonoscopy versus surgery. Yield of colonoscopy in predicting actual location

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

 Recent studies suggest that differences in biological characteristics and risk factors across cancer site within the colon and rectum may translate to differences in survival. It can be challenging at times to determine the precise anatomical location of a lesion with a luminal view during colonoscopy. The aim of this study is to determine if there is a significant difference between the location of colorectal cancers described by gastroenterologists in colonoscopies and the actual anatomical location noted on operative and pathology reports after colon surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 A single-center retrospective analysis of colonoscopies of patient with reported colonic masses from January 2005 to April 2014 (n = 380) was carried. Assessed data included demography, operative and pathology reports. Findings were compared: between the location of colorectal cancers described by gastroenterologists in colonoscopies and the actual anatomical location noted on operative reports or pathology samples.

RESULTS

 We identified 380 colonic masses, 158 were confirmed adenocarcinomas. Of these 123 underwent surgical resection, 27 had to be excluded since no specific location was reported on their operative or pathology report. An absolute difference between endoscopic and surgical location was found in 32 cases (33 %). Of these, 22 (23 %) differed by 1 colonic segment, 8 (8 %) differed by 2 colonic segments and 2 (2 %) differed by 3 colonic segments.

CONCLUSION

 There is a significant difference between the location of colorectal cancers reported by gastroenterologists during endoscopy and the actual anatomical location noted on operative or pathology reports after colon surgery. Endoscopic tattooing should be used when faced with any luminal lesions of interest.