Colon capsule endoscopy compared with other modalities in the evaluation of pediatric Crohn's disease of the small bowel and colon

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Colon Capsule Endoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has regained popularity for lower gastrointestinal investigations since the COVID-19 pandemic. While there have been systematic reviews and meta-analyses on colonic polyp detection using CCE, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence concerning colonic inflammation. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CCE for colonic inflammation, predominantly ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Cochrane Library) for studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy between CCE and optical endoscopy as the standard reference. A bivariate random effect model was used for the meta-analysis. Results: From 3797 publications, 23 studies involving 1353 patients were included. Nine studies focused on UC, and ten focused on CD. For UC, CCE showed a pooled sensitivity of 92% (95% CI, 88-95%), a specificity of 71% (95% CI, 35-92%), and an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.97). For CD, the pooled sensitivity was 92% (95% CI, 89-95%), and the specificity was 88% (95% CI, 84-92%), with an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.76-0.98). Overall, for inflammatory bowel disease, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 90% (95% CI, 85-93%), 76% (95% CI, 56-90%), and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.94-0.97), respectively. Conclusions: Despite the challenges around standardised disease scoring and the lack of histological confirmation, CCE performs well in diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease. It demonstrates high sensitivity in both UC and Crohn's terminal ileitis and colitis and high specificity in Crohn's disease. Further studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of other colonic inflammatory conditions.

A Treat-to-Target Strategy Guided by Pan-Enteric Evaluation in Children With Crohn's Disease Improves Outcomes at 2 Years

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It is uncertain whether a treat-to-target approach could be an effective strategy for improving outcomes in children with Crohn's disease (CD). Previously, we reported mucosal healing (MH) and deep remission rates throughout the intestinal tract by performing 3 pan-enteric capsule assessments and using a treat-to-target strategy over 52 weeks in children with CD. This report describes the outcomes of this approach at 104 weeks.

METHODS

Children with known CD who completed the 52-week protocol repeated pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (PCE) at 104 weeks. Results at weeks 52 and 104 were compared, and long-term outcomes between patients, with and without MH, were calculated using an intention-to-treat analysis of clinical relapse, need for steroids, treatment escalation, hospitalization, and surgery.

RESULTS

Of the previous study cohort of 48 patients, 46 (96%) were available for this extension study (28 [61%] of 46 with MH and 18 [39%] of 46 without MH at 52 weeks). When evaluated at 104 weeks, MH was maintained in 93% of patients with MH at 52 weeks. In the intention-to-treat analysis, complete MH at 52 weeks was associated with reduced risk of steroid use (log-rank P < .0001), treatment escalation (log-rank P < .0001), hospitalization (log-rank P < .0001), and clinical relapse (log-rank P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

When a PCE-based, treat-to-target strategy is employed, MH is sustainable (93%) over a 1-year period and is correlated with improved patient outcomes, including reduced need for steroids, treatment escalation, hospitalization, and clinical relapses at 104 weeks.ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03161886.

Pan-Enteric Capsule Endoscopy: Current Applications and Future Perspectives

Background

The role of capsule endoscopy in the evaluation of the small bowel is well established, and current guidelines position it as a first-line test in a variety of clinical scenarios. The advent of double-headed capsules further enabled the endoscopic assessment of colonic mucosa and the opportunity for a one-step noninvasive examination of the entire bowel (pan-enteric capsule endoscopy [PCE]).

Summary

We reviewed the technical procedure and preparation of patients for PCE, as well as its current clinical applications and future perspectives. In non-stricturing and non-penetrating Crohn's disease affecting the small bowel and colon, PCE monitors disease activity by assessing mucosal healing, a major treatment outcome, with a higher diagnostic yield than cross-sectional imaging or conventional colonoscopy. Also in ulcerative colitis, double-headed capsules have been used to monitor disease activity noninvasively. Currently, validated scoring systems have been specifically devised for these double-headed capsules and permit a standardized assessment of the inflammatory burden. In suspected mid-lower digestive bleeding, some exploratory studies have demonstrated the feasibility and high diagnostic yield of PCE, which may work as a filter indicating which patients may benefit of further invasive procedures, namely, for planned hemostatic procedures. The possibility of using PCE is also discussed in the context of polyposis syndromes with simultaneous involvement of the small intestine and colon.

Key Messages

PCE is a feasible, effective, and safe diagnostic procedure to evaluate the small bowel and colon. It has been increasingly explored in the setting of inflammatory bowel diseases and, more recently, in suspected mid-lower digestive bleeding. PCE is expected to reduce the demand for invasive procedures and expand the scope of noninvasive intestinal evaluation in the coming future.

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.

Small Intestinal Contrast Ultrasonography (SICUS) in Crohn's Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The diagnosis of Crohn's Disease (CD) is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, endoscopy, and imaging data. In Small Intestine Contrast Ultrasonography (SICUS), the ingestion of a macrogol solution as an oral contrast medium may optimize image quality. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SICUS for CD. A literature search was performed in August 2023. We selected only studies where SICUS was compared to a technique that allows the assessment of the whole gastrointestinal tract, such as an MRE, a CT scan, or a surgical evaluation. We estimated pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio for positive and negative tests (PLR/NLR) of SICUS. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC) were drawn, and pooled areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Five studies with 325 CD patients were included. SICUS showed a pooled sensitivity for the diagnosis of 95% (95% confidence interval CI 89-99%), a specificity = 77% (95% CI 60-90%), and the AUC was 0.94. SICUS demonstrated a pooled sensitivity for strictures of 78% (95% CI 63-88%) and a specificity = 96% (95% CI 85-99%), with AUC = 0.93. For abscesses, SICUS demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 59-100%) and a specificity of 90% (95% CI 74-98%). Fistulae were detected with a pooled sensitivity of 77% (95% CI 46-95%) and a specificity of 92% (95% CI 75-99%). SICUS demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance compared to the gold standard despite some clinical scenarios (stenosis/fistulae) showing suboptimal diagnostic effectiveness.

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.

Artificial intelligence and colon capsule endoscopy: Automatic detection of ulcers and erosions using a convolutional neural network

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has become a minimally invasive alternative for conventional colonoscopy. Nevertheless, each CCE exam produces between 50 000 and 100 000 frames, making its analysis time-consuming and prone to errors. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) architecture with high performance in image analysis. This study aims to develop a CNN model for the identification of colonic ulcers and erosions in CCE images.

METHODS

A CNN model was designed using a database of CCE images. A total of 124 CCE exams performed between 2010 and 2020 in two centers were reviewed. For CNN development, a total of 37 319 images were extracted, 33 749 showing normal colonic mucosa and 3570 showing colonic ulcers and erosions. Datasets for CNN training, validation, and testing were created. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated regarding its sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and area under the curve.

RESULTS

The network had a sensitivity of 96.9% and a specificity of 99.9% specific for the detection of colonic ulcers and erosions. The algorithm had an overall accuracy of 99.6%. The area under the curve was 1.00. The CNN had an image processing capacity of 90 frames per second.

CONCLUSIONS

The developed algorithm is the first CNN-based model to accurately detect ulcers and erosions in CCE images, also providing a good image processing performance. The development of these AI systems may contribute to improve both the diagnostic and time efficiency of CCE exams, facilitating CCE adoption to routine clinical practice.

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.

Advances in Pediatric Diagnostic Endoscopy: A State-of-the-Art Review

Pediatric endoscopy has revolutionized the way we diagnose and treat gastrointestinal disorders in children. Technological advances in computer processing and imaging continue to affect endoscopic equipment and advance diagnostic tools for pediatric endoscopy. Although commonly used by adult gastroenterologists, modalities, such as endomicroscopy, image-enhanced endoscopy, and impedance planimetry, are not routinely used in pediatric gastroenterology. This state-of-the-art review describes advances in diagnostic modalities, including image-enhanced endoscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography, endo functional luminal imaging probes, wireless motility/pH capsule, wireless colon capsule endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and discusses the basic principles of each technology, including adult indications and pediatric applications, safety cost, and training data.

The Role of Capsule Endoscopy in Crohn's Disease: A Review

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a predilection for the small bowel. Although awareness of this disorder has increased over the years, it remains a diagnostic challenge for many physicians. This is exacerbated by the rising incidence and high recurrence rate following therapy in certain individuals. It is currently agreed that a multimodality approach is the best one, but with the advent of new modalities, that could be changing. Furthermore, given its impact on the mental health of patients and the cost of treatment, it is pertinent that we arrive at not only convenient but accurate modalities in its diagnosis and management. Among these investigative modalities is the relatively novel capsule endoscopy (CE) that not only provides a more patient-friendly alternative but avoids the need for invasiveness. Asides from its diagnostic capability, its influence on therapy and monitoring of known CD patients following treatment has been shown. This article has reviewed the current literature comparing the relevance of CE with other available modalities in diagnosing CD patients. We explored its therapeutic impact and how it influences monitoring post-treatment in CD. This article also discusses the complications of CE and the possible solutions to these complications in the future.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the incidence rates of adverse events after digestive endoscopy in children

BACKGROUND

With the widespread use of digestive endoscopy in children, a variety of adverse events (AEs) have occurred after digestive endoscopy. However, there are notable differences in the incidence of adverse reactions in digestive endoscopy in children at present, which makes it difficult to assess the safety of digestive endoscopy in children.

METHODS

Studies related to digestive endoscopy in children were screened from January 2005 to October 2021 from PubMed, Web of Science, Spring, CNKI, and Science Direct databases. RevMan5.3 and Stata were employed to carry out meta-analysis on the incidence of adverse respiratory events, myoclonus, abdominal pain, fever, bleeding, chest pain, sore throat, vomiting, and delayed capsule discharge after digestive endoscopy in children. The article quality was evaluated by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The chi-square test and I² were adopted to test literature heterogeneity, and the article publication bias was assessed by displaying an inverted funnel plot as a funnel plot.

RESULTS

In all, 15 articles were included, involving a total of 27,770 children. In all, 15 articles were included, involving a total of 27,770 children. The risk ratio (RR) value of adverse respiratory events after digestive endoscopy in children was 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17 to 1.47, P<0.00001]; the odds ratio (OR) value of the incidence of myoclonus was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.46, P=0.04); the incidence of abdominal pain was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.11 to 1.27, P<0.00001); the incidence of fever was 1.09 (95% CI: 1.06 to 1.12, P<0.00001); the incidence of bleeding was 1.24 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.64, P=0.13); the incidence of chest pain was 1.06 (95% CI: 1.03 to 1.09, P<0.0001); incidence of sore throat was 1.11 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.18, P=0.0004); incidence of vomiting was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.06 to 1.21, P=0.0001); and the incidence of delayed capsule expulsion was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.00 to 1.40, P=0.05).

DISCUSSION

The incidence of AEs after digestive endoscopy in children was low, which can be used in the diagnosis and therapy of digestive system diseases in children.

Capsule Endoscopy versus Magnetic Resonance Enterography for Evaluation of Pediatric Small Bowel Crohn’s Disease: Prospective Study

Background: Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) are currently used for the evaluation of small bowel involvement in pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD). Several studies have been conducted to investigate the usefulness and diagnostic accuracy of each test. However, only a few studies have been conducted to compare the performance of both tests in the assessment of pediatric small bowel CD upon diagnosis and during follow-up. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic consistency of CE and MRE for the evaluation of pediatric small bowel CD at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. Methods: Fifteen patients with pediatric CD were recruited for this study. They underwent MRE and CE concomitantly at the time of diagnosis and 10–12 weeks and one year after induction therapy for CD. MRE was interpreted using MRE global score (MEGS) and bowel wall inflammation severity diffusion-weighted imaging score (BWI-DWIS), whereas CE was interpreted using Lewis’s score (LS). The two diagnostic modalities were then compared. Results: Eleven patients completed MRE and CE at the time of diagnosis. Analysis of the results showed that LS had a strong correlation with MEGS and BIS-DWIS (ρ = 0.633, p = 0.037, and ρ = 0.629, p = 0.038, respectively). Nine patients completed three MREs and three CEs. LS significantly decreased throughout the sessions (p = 0.044), whereas MEGS and BIS-DWIS did not show any statistically significant changes. When LS was compared with MEGS and BIS-DWIS, both MRE indicators showed statistically significant differences throughout the sessions. Conclusions: At the time of diagnosis, the severity indexes of MRE and CE showed very good agreement. However, throughout management, MRE and CE did not show consistent changes.

Adherence to the bowel cleansing regimen for pan-enteric capsule endoscopy in patients with suspected Crohn's disease and factors affecting the image quality

OBJECTIVE

Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (CE) is an attractive diagnostic approach in patients examined for Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to examine the adherence to the recommended bowel cleansing regimen and determine clinical factors affecting the image quality.

METHODS

In a prospective blinded trial, patients with suspected CD were examined with the PillCam Crohn's capsule after bowel preparation with 2 + 2 L of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium phosphate booster. The image quality was graded on a four-point scale. A good or excellent image quality defined a diagnostic procedure.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients participated. The mean volume of PEG was 2.5 L (CI 2.3-2.8). Ten patients (17%) were able to drink all 4 L of PEG, and 44 patients (75%) ingested ≥2 L. The image quality was poor, fair, good or excellent in 0%, 29.3%, 29.3% and 41.4%, respectively. The mean volume of PEG was 1.9 L (CI 1.4-2.4), 2.2 L (CI 1.8-2.7) and 3.2 L (CI 2.8-3.5) in patients with a fair, good or excellent image quality (p < .001). In a regression analysis, only the volume of PEG was associated with the obtained image quality (r_s=0.52; p < .001). The diagnostic yield was equal in patients with a diagnostic or non-diagnostic procedure (43.9% and 47.1%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients examined with pan-enteric CE for suspected CD, the volume of PEG is the major factor affecting the image quality. Although few patients are able to ingest the recommended volume, the diagnostic yield is not affected.

Assessment of endoscopic response using pan-enteric capsule endoscopy in Crohn's disease; the Sensitivity to Change (STOC) study

BACKGROUND

The potential use of pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (pan-CE) to evaluate mucosal changes during treatment has not been evaluated. We aimed to assess the ability of pan-CE to measure changes in mucosal disease activity before and after starting biologic treatment in Crohn's disease patients.

METHODS

In this two-center prospective study, patients with clinical and biochemical signs of active Crohn's disease underwent pan-CE before and 8 to 12 weeks after treatment initiation with infliximab, adalimumab or vedolizumab. Endoscopic disease activity was assessed using the simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD) and the Crohn's disease endoscopic index of severity (CDEIS), expanded with two segments (i.e., the jejunum and pre-terminal ileum). Occurrence of endoscopic remission (i.e., absence of ulcers) and endoscopic response (i.e., 50% decrease in SES-CD and CDEIS scores compared to baseline) was assessed and the standardized effect size was calculated.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (50% females) completed the study. Endoscopic remission was observed in 6 out of 22 (27%) patients and 13/22 patients (59%) showed an endoscopic response for both the SES-CD and CDEIS score. Median SES-CD and CDEIS scores decreased from 16.0 (IQR 10.0 - 24.0) to 6.0 (IQR 2.8 - 12.0, p = .001) and from 7.1 (IQR 4.6 - 11.2) to 3.0 (IQR 0.9 - 6.0, p = .001), respectively. The standardized effect size was 1.44 and 1.24 for the SES-CD and CDEIS, respectively. No adverse events related to pan-CE were reported.

CONCLUSION

Pan-CE was a useful technique to assess changes in mucosal disease activity in Crohn's disease patients.

Usefulness of ultrasonography for small intestinal evaluations in pediatric Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) for Crohn's disease is useful; however, its use has some limitations, such as invasiveness when endoscopic assistance is required in patients who cannot swallow the capsule, and the burden of interpretation on a physician. In contrast, intestinal ultrasonography (IUS) is a non-invasive modality for children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of IUS for pediatric patients with established Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Small bowel capsule endoscopy and IUS findings from the same period in pediatric patients with established Crohn's disease were analyzed retrospectively. First, we compared the Lewis score (LS), small bowel endoscopic activity, and IUS findings by small bowel wall thickness (SBWT) and mesenteric lymph node size (MLNS). Second, we compared the performance of IUS findings with those of some biomarkers.

RESULTS

In 22 procedures, SBWT and MLNS were correlated with LS (r = 0.52, P < 0.05, and r = 0.45, P < 0.05, respectively). Small bowel wall thickness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and fecal calprotectin levels had the highest accuracy (81.8%, 81.8%, and 81.8%, respectively). The combination of SBWT and MLNS had the highest positive predictive value and negative predictive value (100% and 83.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal ultrasonography findings, including SBWT and MLNS, are useful for monitoring small bowel lesions in pediatric patients with established Crohn's disease. We suggest first evaluating small bowel inflammation by IUS in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease before SBCE because IUS is less invasive than SBCE.

Colon Capsule Endoscopy in the Assessment of Mucosal Healing in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) undergo frequent endoscopic procedures, with visualization of the gastrointestinal mucosa central to treatment decision-making. Subsequently, a noninvasive alternative to optical colonoscopy (OC) would be welcomed. One such technology is capsule endoscopy, including the PillCam COLON 2 (PCC2), though research validating its use in ileocolonic CD is limited. This study aims to compare PCC2 with ileocolonoscopy (OC) in assessing mucosal CD through use of a standardized scoring system.

METHODS

At an Australian tertiary hospital, same-day PCC2 and ileocolonoscopy results of 47 CD patients, with known nonstricturing disease, were prospectively collected and analyzed for correlation and agreement. Deidentified recordings were reported by a single expert gastroenterologist. Mucosal disease was quantified using the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD). The SES-CD results of paired endoscopic modalities were compared in total per bowel segment and per SES-CD variable.

RESULTS

Of 47 PCC2 recordings, 68% were complete, fully assessing terminal ileum to rectum, and OC was complete in 89%. Correlation (r) between total SES-CD scores was strongest in the terminal ileum (r = 0.77, P < .001), with the SES-CD variable of "ulcer detection" showing the strongest agreement. The PCC2 (vs OC) identified additional ulcers in the terminal ileum; ascending, transverse, and descending colon; and rectum; scores were 5 (1), 5 (3), 1 (1), 2 (1), and 2 (2), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The PCC2 shows promise in assessing ileocolonic mucosa, especially in proximal bowel segments, with greater reach of visualization in the small bowel. Given the resource and safety considerations raised by the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, capsule endoscopy has particular significance.This article aims to contribute to the limited body of research surrounding the validity of capsule endoscopy technology in assessing ileocolonic mucosa in Crohn's Disease patients. In doing so, an alternative option for patients enduring frequent endoscopies is given potential.

Image-Enhanced Capsule Endoscopy Improves the Identification of Small Intestinal Lesions

Image-enhanced endoscopy is useful for diagnosing and identifying lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, image-enhanced endoscopy has become a breakthrough technology that has attracted significant attention. This image enhancing technology is available for capsule endoscopy, which is an effective tool for small intestinal lesions and has been applied in flexible spectral color enhancement technology and in contrast capsule like narrow-band imaging. In this field, most researchers focus on improving the visibility and detection of small intestinal lesions. This review summarizes previous studies on image-enhanced capsule endoscopy and aims to evaluate the efficacy of this technology.

Monitoring established Crohn's disease with pan-intestinal video capsule endoscopy in Europe: clinician consultation using the nominal group technique

OBJECTIVE

Monitoring established Crohn's disease (CD) through a "treat-to-target" strategy aims to reduce and prevent long-term bowel damage and disability. Despite the availability of different monitoring techniques, there is a current lack of integrated evidence to guide optimal monitoring in terms of appropriate tools and timing. Pan-intestinal video capsule endoscopy (PCE) enables non-invasive and direct visualization of the entire intestinal tract with proven safety and efficacy. This study aims to generate insights on the value of PCE for monitoring established CD from the physician's perspective.

METHODS

The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to create discussion around pre-defined research questions aimed at identifying target patient populations for PCE, benefits of PCE in terms of improving disease management, comparative benefits of PCE over standard of care, research priorities to ratify the use of PCE, and hurdles to PCE utilization. A NGT panel was held in Brussels, Belgium in October 2018 with 9 gastroenterology experts. Data were collected from multiple rankings of statements to the research questions and analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

Consensus indicated that PCE is differentiated from other diagnostic tools, allowing for non-invasive and direct visualization of the luminal intestinal tract in one single procedure. Participants agreed that PCE is beneficial for mapping and grading established CD in all patients, enabling individual and tailored treatment decision-making. Time required to read PCE results was identified as the main utilization hurdle by participants. Well-designed studies are needed to confirm improved outcomes amongst patients with CD managed through a PCE-guided approach.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, using the NGT, generated expert opinion on the value of PCE for monitoring established CD in terms of target patient populations and benefits compared to other diagnostic modalities. Participants perceived PCE to facilitate a "treat-to-target" strategy for CD management. Further research is needed to support this value perception.

Capsule Endoscopy in Children

Since its clearance for use throughout the world, capsule endoscopy (CE) has become an important diagnostic tool, helping us to understand and document both normal and abnormal findings in the small intestine, especially in children, since CE usually can be employed without sedation or radiation. The indications in children and adults are similar, though their relative frequencies are different, with evaluation of potential and known inflammatory bowel disease the most common in the pediatric population, with CE also yielding increased diagnostic certainty compared to radiographic studies and surrogate biomarkers. Newer capsules now create opportunities to expand that understanding and our practices so that we can learn when and how to employ CE and pan-enteric CE to better monitor and guide therapy. It will take further studies to determine the best uses for CE and how to select the appropriate candidates, especially with ongoing concern about capsule ingestion vs. placement, the potential for capsule retention (particularly in known Crohn's disease), still elusive optimal methods for bowel cleansing, and the most meaningful scoring for research and clinical use.

Diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance enterography and ultrasound in children with inflammatory bowel diseases: a diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and ultrasound (US) can be used to diagnose inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in children. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of MRE and US in pediatric patients with IBD.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for eligible studies published up to June 1, 2020. The outcomes were the performances of MRE and US at the segment and patient levels. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curves value (SROC) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Eight studies (340 children) were included. Compared with the reference standard, MRE showed pooled sensitivity of 93.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 90.0-95.4%), specificity of 94.6% (95% CI: 92.1-96.5%), PLR of 11.146 (95% CI: 5.027-24.713), NLR of 0.094 (95% CI: 0.057-0.155), and DOR of 134.21 (95% CI: 40.72-442.29), with a SROC of 0.9721. Similar results were observed at the patient and segment levels. Compared with the reference standard, US had pooled sensitivity of 84.1% (95% CI: 69.9-93.4%), specificity of 82.9% (95% CI: 66.4-93.4%), PLR of 4.924 (95% CI: 2.351-10.310), NLR of 0.207 (95% CI: 0.103-0.413), and DOR of 25.919 (95% CI: 7.63-88.07), but only two studies were included. US (reader 1) had a similar diagnostic value to US (reader 2).

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis shows that MRE has good performance in detecting IBD in pediatric patients. Only two studies used US, and additional studies are necessary to confirm the diagnostic performance of US for IBD in children.

KEY POINTS

• MRE has good performance in the detection of IBD in pediatric patients. • Similar results were observed at the patient and segment levels for MRE. • Only two studies were included for US, without differentiating patient/segment.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy in children and adults: How do they differ?

Gastrointestinal endoscopy has grown dramatically over the past century, and with subsequent improvements in technology and anaesthesia, it has become a safe and useful tool for evaluation of GI pathology in children. There are substantial differences between paediatric and adult endoscopy beyond size, including: age-related patho-physiology and the different spectrum of diseases in children. Literature on endoscopic procedures in children is sparse but significant. The present review aims at describing the current knowledges on paediatric endoscopy practice and highlights the main areas of differences between paediatric and adult practice.

Current status of colon capsule endoscopy

While both the annual incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer are slowly but steadily decreasing in the United States, the incidence of such malignancy is increasing in Japan. Thus, controlling colorectal cancer in Japan is a major concern. In 2006, colon capsule endoscopy was first introduced by Eliakim et al. First-generation colon capsule endoscopy had a moderate sensitivity for detecting polyps of more than 6 mm. Thus, second-generation colon capsule endoscopy was developed to achieve higher sensitivity. Colonoscopy is the gold standard tool for colorectal cancer surveillance. With an improvement in the imaging function, the performance of second-generation colon capsule endoscopy is almost as satisfactory as that of colonoscopy. Certain situations, such as incomplete colonoscopy and contraindication for use of sedation, can benefit from colon capsule endoscopy. Colon capsule endoscopy requires a more extensive bowel preparation than colonoscopy and computed tomography colonography because it requires laxatives not only for bowel cleansing but also for promoting the excretion of the capsule. Another problem with colon capsule endoscopy includes the burden of reading and interpretation and overlook of the lesions. Currently, the development of automatic diagnosis of colon capsule endoscopy using artificial intelligence is still under progress. Although the available guidelines do not support the use of colon capsule endoscopy for inflammatory bowel disease, the possible application of colon capsule endoscopy is ulcerative colitis. This review article summarizes and focuses on the current status of colon capsule endoscopy for colorectal cancer screening and the possibility for its applicability on inflammatory bowel disease.

Economic analysis of the adoption of capsule endoscopy within the British NHS

Objective

Identification of a cost-effective treatment strategy is an unmet need in Crohn’s disease (CD). Here we consider the patient outcomes and cost impact of pan-intestinal video capsule endoscopy (PVCE) in the English National Health Service (NHS).

Design

An analysis of a protocolized CD care pathway, informed by guidelines and expert consensus, was performed in Microsoft Excel. Population, efficacy and safety data of treatments and monitoring modalities were identified using a structured PubMed review with English data prioritized. Costs were taken from the NHS and Payer Provided Services (PSS) 2016–17 tariffs for England and otherwise literature. Analysis was via a discrete-individual simulation with discounting at 3.5% per annum.

Setting

NHS provider and PSS perspective

Participants

4000 simulated CD patients

Interventions

PVCE versus colonoscopy ± magnetic resonance enterography (MRE)

Main outcome measures

Costs in 2017 GBP and quality-adjusted life years (QALY)

Results

The mean, total 20-year cost per patient was £42 266 with colonoscopy ± MRE and £38 043 with PVCE. PVCE incurred higher costs during the first 2 years due to higher treatment uptake. From year 3 onwards, costs were reduced due to fewer surgeries. Patients accrued 10.67 QALY with colonoscopy ± MRE and 10.96 with PVCE. PVCE dominated (less cost and higher QALY) colonoscopy ± MRE and was likely (>74%) to be considered cost-effective by the NHS. Results were similar if a lifetime time horizon was used.

Conclusions

PVCE is likely to be a cost-effective alternative to colonoscopy ± MRE for CD surveillance. Switching to PVCE resulted in lower treatment costs and gave patients better quality of life.

Recommendations of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) on the use of abdominal ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease

Ultrasound has an excellent diagnostic performance when Crohn's disease is suspected, when performing an activity assessment, or determining the extension and location of Crohn's disease, very similar to other examinations such as MRI or CT. It has a good correlation with endoscopic lesions and allows the detection of complications such as strictures, fistulas or abscesses. It complements colonoscopy in the diagnosis and, given its tolerance, cost and immediacy, it can be considered as a good tool for disease monitoring. In ulcerative colitis, its role is less relevant, being limited to assessing the extent and activity when it is not possible with other diagnostic techniques or if there are doubts with these. Despite its advantages, its use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not widespread in Spain. For this reason, this document reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the technique to promote knowledge about it and implementation of it in IBD Units.

Usefulness of panoramic 344°-viewing in Crohn's disease capsule endoscopy: a proof of concept pilot study with the novel PillCam™ Crohn's system

BACKGROUND

A new capsule endoscopy (CE) system featuring two advanced optics for 344°-viewing and a prolonged operative time has been recently developed for Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Hence, we evaluated, for the first time, the performance of this novel CE and the add-on value of the 344°-viewing in a multi-center real-life setting.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with suspected or established CD received the PillCam™ Crohn's System as supplementary diagnostic work-up focused on the small-bowel between June 2017 and June 2018. Technical and clinical data, including the panenteric CE diagnostic yield, the Lewis score and the impact of small-bowel findings on clinical management during a 6-months follow-up (new diagnosis, staging or treatment upgrade) were collected, thereby evaluating the added value of the 344° panoramic-view (lesions detected by camera A and B) over the standard 172°-view (lesions detected by one camera only).

RESULTS

Among 41 patients (aged 43 ± 20 years), 73% underwent CE for suspected CD and 27% for established CD. The rate of complete enteroscopy was 90%. No technical failure or retention occurred. Compared to the standard 172° view, the panoramic 344°-view revealed a greater number of patients with a relevant lesion (56.1% vs. 39.0%; P = 0.023), resulting in higher Lewis score (222,8 vs. 185.7; P = 0.031), and improved clinical management (48.8% vs. 31.7%, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

The panoramic 344°-view increases small-bowel CE accuracy, thereby improving the clinical management of CD patients with mild small-bowel active disease. This system should be regarded as a new standard for both small-bowel diagnosis and monitoring in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Colon Capsule Endoscopy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Colon capsule endoscopy was initially introduced in 2006. Since the results of a prospective study to evaluate first-generation colon capsule endoscopy efficacy for the detection of colonic neoplasia were unsatisfactory, second-generation colon capsule endoscopy was developed and reported in 2009. In this review article, we provide an overview of the current state of colon capsule endoscopy for evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease in a clinical setting and describe our clinical experience with this technology and its application. Among the various types of inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis is the primary target for application of colon capsule endoscopy. Nevertheless, the initial results of studies using first-generation colon capsule endoscopy to evaluate inflammation were unclear. More recently, second-generation colon capsule endoscopy has provided higher accuracy for assessment of inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. Colon capsule endoscopy enables noninvasive observation (with reduced volume preparation) of mucosal inflammation severity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Capsule Retention in Crohn's Disease: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The main factor that limits wider utilization of capsule endoscopy (CE) in Crohn's disease (CD) is the potential risk of retention. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate capsule retention rates in adult and pediatric CD and determine if retention risk is reduced in established CD (ECD) with patency capsule (PC) or magnetic resonance/computed tomography (MR/CT) enterography.

METHODS

Studies of CD patients undergoing CE that reported retention were identified. Pooled estimates for retention rates and relative risk in ECD to suspected CD (SCD) were calculated. All hypothesis tests were 2-sided; statistical significance was set at a P value of <0.05.

RESULTS

In the overall CD cohort, retention rates were 3.32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.62%-4.2%): 4.63% (95% CI, 3.42%-6.25%) and 2.35% (95% CI, 1.31%-4.19%) in ECD and SCD, respectively. Retention rates were 3.49% (95% CI, 2.73%-4.46%) and 1.64% (95% CI, 0.68%-3.89%) in adult and pediatric CD, respectively. Retention risk in adult ECD was 3.4 times higher than SCD, but there was no difference in retention risk in pediatric ECD compared with SCD. Retention rates in ECD were decreased after patency capsule (2.88%; 95% CI, 1.74%-4.74%) and MR/CT enterography (2.32%; 95% CI, 0.87%-6.03%).

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with older literature, this meta-analysis demonstrates lower CE retention rates in SCD and ECD. Retention rates in pediatric CD were lower than in adult CD. Retention rates in adult ECD were higher than SCD, but there were no differences between pediatric ECD and SCD. Retention rates in ECD were lower after negative PC or MR/CT enterography.

A Treat to Target Strategy Using Panenteric Capsule Endoscopy in Pediatric Patients With Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Pan-enteric capsule endoscopy (PCE) is effective for assessment of small intestinal and colonic Crohn's disease (CD) in pediatric patients. We aimed to determine whether PCE can be used to monitor mucosal healing and deep remission, in a treat to target strategy for pediatric patients with CD.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of 48 children with a diagnosis of CD at a tertiary care pediatric gastroenterology unit; 46 patients were included in the final analysis. Biomarker, imaging, and PCE analyses were performed at baseline and after 24 and 52 weeks. Small bowel and colonic mucosal healing were defined by Lewis scores <135 and simple endoscopic score for CD ≤1, respectively. Clinical remission was defined as defined as a pediatric CD activity index score <10 and biomarker-based remission based on normal levels of biomarkers; deep remission was defined as a combination of clinical remission, biomarker-based remission, and mucosal healing. Treatments were adjusted based on findings from PCE (imaging was considered only for patients with negative findings from PCE). Therapies were introduced, optimized, switched, or combined at the discretion of treating clinicians. The primary outcome was the ability of PCE to assess mucosal healing and deep remission at 3 timepoints and to guide a treat to target strategy.

RESULTS

PCE detected inflammation in 34 patients (71%) at baseline, 22 patients (46%) at week 24, and 18 patients (39%) at week 52 (P for comparison among timepoints <.05). Findings from PCE led to a change in therapy for 34 patients (71%) at baseline and 11 patients (23%) at 24 weeks, whereas only 2 patients with negative results from PCE (4%) changed therapies based on findings from imaging. When the treat to target strategy was applied, proportions of patients with mucosal healing and deep remission increased from 21% at baseline, to 54% at week 24, to 58% at week 52 (P for comparison among timepoints <.05); 2 patients (4%) did not respond to treatment.

CONCLUSION

In a prospective study of 48 children with CD, we found a treat to target strategy, based on findings from PCE, to significantly increase the proportions of patients with mucosal healing and deep remission.

CLINICAL TRIAL

gov no: NCT03161886.

Comparison of the use of wireless capsule endoscopy with magnetic resonance enterography in children with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) are equally accepted modalities for noninvasive screening of small bowel involvement (SBI) in children with Crohn’s disease (CD) and indeterminate colitis (IC) albeit there is a paucity of data comparing the two and thereby guiding the clinician in selecting the ideal diagnostic approach. Therefore, the goal of this study is to provide additional evidence for capsule endoscopy role in the evaluation of established Crohn’s disease exacerbation compared to MRE in relation to Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), and histological indices.

AIM

To prospectively compare the findings of MRE and WCE and their agreement with PCDAI or histology in children with CD or IC.

METHODS

Consecutive patients diagnosed with CD and IC were screened for inclusion. After informed consent, patient’s demographic and clinical data was abstracted. The current pediatric disease activity index (PCDAI) and endoscopic findings were included. Patients underwent MRE and WCE including preprocedural patency capsule within a maximum of 7 d of each other. Pathological presence of active small bowel disease in ileal and duodenal biopsies were collected if the endoscopy was performed within 2 mo of the WCE study. Patients who failed to pass the PC were excluded from the study. WCE was read by two different experienced gastroenterologists (Attard TM and Colombo JM) blinded to each other's findings and to the findings on MRE (Mardis NJ). Agreement between WCE reviewers, WCE and MRE findings and concordance between positive PCDAI and SBI based on MRE compared with WCE was computed.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients were included in the study, 18 withdrew and 27 (20 males and 20 CD), mean age (standard deviation) 13.46 (2.4) years, completed the study protocol. There were no instances of capsule retention. Concordance between gastroenterologist reviewers was excellent for the diagnosis of small intestinal CD with good correlation between the two Lewis scores (r = 0.875, P < 0.001). Concordance between WCE and MRE was poor (69%). In CD patients, when both MRE and WCE were compared using PCDAI > 10 as the standard reference reflecting active small intestinal CD, the sensitivity of MRE and WCE were 100% and 83% respectively and the specificity of MRE and WCE were 57.14% and 78.6%, respectively. If the histology in ileum or/and duodenum was used as the reference for active small bowel involvement, WCE had a higher specificity as compared to MRE (83.3% vs 50%). In patients with Crohn’s disease, those with a positive PCDAI (> 10) were more likely to have a positive WCE as compared to those with a negative PCDAI (83% vs 21%; P = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

We suggest that MRE and WCE have a complementary role in the assessment of SBI in CD. WCE detected SBI with a much higher specificity while MRE had a higher sensitivity.

Evaluation of a new pan-enteric video capsule endoscopy system in patients with suspected or established inflammatory bowel disease - feasibility study

Background and study aims  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects the small bowel and colon. Endoscopic evaluation of these organs is essential. The new pan-enteric Crohn's capsule (PCC) system is customized for complete coverage of IBD lesions in the entire bowel, allowing assessment and follow-up of disease severity and extent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functionality of the PCC system in patients with suspected or established IBD. Patients and methods  This was a prospective five-center feasibility study assessing the performance of PCC. Subjects ingested PCC after patency assurance with standard bowel preparation plus boosts. The primary endpoint was successful procedure, that is, video creation and report generation in accordance with methodology. Secondary endpoints were subjective coverage of the entire bowel, duration of reading time, video quality and occurrence of adverse events. Results  Forty-one patients were included in the study with a mean age of 40.8 years ± 15.5, 46 % of whom were males. Seventy-one percent of patients had established Crohn's disease (CD) and 53 % had active disease. Cleansing was graded good/excellent in 95 %. All 41 videos met the primary endpoint. There was no retention, 83 % reached the toilet while still recording. Thirty-one percent of patients with CD had proximal disease. Bowel coverage was graded 6.7 ± 0.6 and 6.1 ± 1.3 (1 - 7, unconfident - confident), image quality 6.1 ± 0.8 (1 - 7, poor - excellent), and reading time 3.7 ± 1.4 (1 - 7, very short to very long). Conclusions  The PCC system is a minimally invasive system allowing extensive evaluation of the entire bowel in patients with IBD.

Capsule endoscopy: Current status and role in Crohn’s disease

Capsule endoscopy (CE) has proved to be an important non-invasive tool for diagnosis and monitoring Crohn’s disease patients. It has the advantage of excellent visualization of digestive tract mucosa, a good tolerability and safety in well-selected patients. The risk of retention can be diminished by good selection of patients using imaging techniques and by the use of patency capsule. The aim of a capsule examination is not only an early diagnosis but also a very good stratification of prognosis, thus directing the treatment strategy for either a step up or top-down approach and also permitting the optimization of the treatment depending on the findings. When symptoms and biomarkers point to a change in the disease’s activity we can either adjust the treatment directly as recommended in CALM study or choose in selected patients to visualize the digestive mucosa through a CE and take a decision afterwards. The appearance of the new capsule from Medtronic-the Pillcam Crohn’s might be an important step forward in diagnosis, evaluating disease extent, the severity of the disease, prognosis, management in a treat to target approach, with treatment modifications according to the data from CE examination. Serial examinations in the same patient can be compared and a more objective evaluation of the lesions modification from one exam to another can be performed. We present the latest developments and current status and evidence that in selected patients capsule can be a tool in a treat to target approach.

Endoscopy in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Position Paper on Behalf of the Porto IBD Group of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Endoscopy is a central tool for the evaluation and management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the last few decades, gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy has undergone significant technological developments including availability of pediatric-size equipment, enabling comprehensive investigation of the GI tract in children. Simultaneously, professional organization of GI experts have developed guidelines and training programs in pediatric GI endoscopy. This prompted the Porto Group on Pediatric IBD of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition to develop updated guidelines on the role of GI endoscopy in pediatric IBD, specifically taking into considerations of recent advances in the diagnosis, disease stratification, and novel therapeutic targets in these patients.

Colon capsule endoscopy for inflammatory bowel disease

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is designed for direct visualization of the colonic mucosa through passive propulsion. The role of CCE in the detection of colonic polyps has been extensively evaluated. As mucosal healing has emerged as a pivotal target for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there is increasing data to suggest that CCE can also be used in the monitoring of mucosal inflammation in patients with active IBD, particularly in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Despite advantages such as its non-invasive nature, patient's comfort, safety, and access to anatomical regions not easily reached by conventional endoscopy, CE has limitations including the lack of ability to obtain biopsies or therapeutic capabilities and no control over movement. In this review, the role and diagnostic value of CCE on diagnosis and monitoring of UC and CD patients, its safety and limitations are discussed.

Recent Advance in Colon Capsule Endoscopy: What's New?

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a relatively new diagnostic procedure for patients with suspected colonic diseases. This convenient,noninvasive method enables the physician to explore the entire colon without significant discomfort to the patient. However, while CCEcan be performed painlessly without bowel air insufflation, the need for vigorous bowel preparation and other technical limitationsexist. Due to such limitations, CCE has not replaced conventional colonoscopy. In this review, we discuss historical and recentadvances in CCE including technical issues, ideal bowel preparation, indications and contraindications and highlight further technicaladvancements and clinical studies which are needed to develop CCE as a potential diagnostic tool.

Detecting inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease - how does ultrasound compare to magnetic resonance enterography using standardised scoring systems?

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) is the current gold standard for imaging in inflammatory bowel disease, but ultrasound (US) is a potential alternative.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether US is as good as MRE for the detecting inflamed bowel, using a combined consensus score as the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in children and adolescents <18 years with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at a tertiary and quaternary centre. We included children who underwent MRE and US within 4 weeks. We scored MRE using the London score and US using a score adapted from the METRIC (MR Enterography or Ultrasound in Crohn's Disease) trial. Four gastroenterologists assessed an independent clinical consensus score. A combined consensus score using the imaging and clinical scores was agreed upon and used as the reference standard to compare MRE with US.

RESULTS

We included 53 children. At a whole-patient level, MRE scores were 2% higher than US scores. We used Lin coefficient to assess inter-observer variability. The repeatability of MRE scores was poor (Lin 0.6). Agreement for US scoring was substantial (Lin 0.95). There was a significant positive correlation between MRE and clinical consensus scores (Spearman's rho = 0.598, P=0.0053) and US and clinical consensus scores (Spearman's rho = 0.657, P=0.0016).

CONCLUSION

US detects as much clinically significant bowel disease as MRE. It is possible that MRE overestimates the presence of disease when using a scoring system. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a clinical consensus reference standard in paediatric IBD imaging studies.

Diagnostic Performance of Magnetic Resonance Enterography for Detection of Active Inflammation in Children and Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Diagnostic Meta-analysis

Importance

Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography has the advantage over other techniques of being noninvasive, lacking ionizing radiation, and demonstrating excellent soft-tissue contrast to evaluate pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of MR enterography for detection of active inflammation in children and adolescents with known or suspected IBD.

Data Sources

A search of MEDLINE and EMBASE up to January 2, 2017, was performed to identify studies. Search terms included child, pediatric, adolescent, Crohn disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and magnetic resonance enterography. The search was limited to English-language publications.

Study Selection

Studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of MR enterography for detection of active inflammation in pediatric patients with known or suspected IBD were selected. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of the selected articles.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

The study was performed and reported in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Pooled summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity were calculated using hierarchical logistic regression modeling.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The diagnostic performance of MR enterography for detection of active inflammation in pediatric patients with known or suspected IBD was the primary outcome. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed.

Results

Eighteen original articles involving a total of 687 patients were included. The summary sensitivity was 83% (95% CI, 75%-89%), the summary specificity was 93% (95% CI, 90%-95%), and the area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93-0.97). The Higgins I2 statistics demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in terms of sensitivity (I2 = 84.1%) and specificity (I2 = 68.8%). Based on per-patient analysis, the summary sensitivity was 86% (95% CI, 78%-91%) and specificity was 91% (95% CI, 82%-96%). In meta-regression, among the various potential covariates, scanner manufacturer was associated with study heterogeneity.

Conclusions and Relevance

Magnetic resonance enterography, which is a noninvasive, radiation-free modality, demonstrates high diagnostic performance in the diagnosis of active inflammation in pediatric patients with IBD, especially at the per-patient level.

The impact of panenteric capsule endoscopy on the management of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, in most patients involving the small and large bowel. In recent years, with the use of small bowel video capsule endoscopy (SBCE), it has become clear that in 50% or more of adults with established CD there is not only distal but also proximal small bowel involvement that suggests poor prognosis. A great deal of effort has been put into early diagnosis and stratification of patients into low versus high risk, thus directing treatment from step-up, or accelerated step-up, to top-down therapies. SBCE has been used for assessment of small bowel pathologies for over 15 years, mainly for occult gastrointestinal bleeding and suspected CD. In recent years, a colonic capsule, with cameras on both sides and a wider angle of view, has been developed and is used by some to survey both small and large bowel. Recently the same capsule, with adjustments, has been released in Europe, concentrating (with specialized software) on inflammatory bowel disease. In this review I summarize the new data regarding the use of SBCE as well as the small bowel colon (SBC) versions of capsule endoscopy in established CD and the ways these could alter the management of such patients.

Diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy versus magnetic resonance enterography and small bowel contrast ultrasound in the evaluation of small bowel Crohn's disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Capsule endoscopy (CE), magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and small bowel (SB) intestinal contrast ultrasound (SICUS) are the modalities of choice for SB evaluation. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic yield (DY) of CE to MRE and SICUS in detection and monitoring of SB CD through meta-analysis of the available literature.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search for trials comparing the accuracy of CE, MRE and SICUS for detection of active SB inflammation in patients with suspected and/or established CD. Only prospective studies comparing CE with another additional diagnostic modality were included in the final analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the DY of the three modalities were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 112 studies were retrieved; following selection, 13 studies were eligible for analysis. The DY of CE for detection of active SB CD was similar to that of MRE (10 studies, 400 patients, OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.83-1.67) and SICUS (5 studies, 142 patients, OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.51-1.53). The outcomes were similar for the subgroups of suspected versus established CD and adult versus pediatric patients. CE was superior to MRE for proximal SB CD (7 studies, 251 patients, OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.2-6.48); the difference vs SICUS was not significant.

CONCLUSION

CE, MRE and SICUS have similar DY for detection of SB CD in both suspected and established CD. CE is superior to MRE for detection of proximal SB disease, however the risk of capsule retention should be considered.

Recent advances in pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy: an overview

Pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy has become a fundamental component of health care for infants and children. New imaging technologies and creative extraluminal applications have brought exciting and clinically important benefits to pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy. Areas covered: The impact of different new technologies in pediatric endoscopy and focused on improvements in mucosa visualization and the application of new noninvasive tools and procedures to avoid biopsies or surgery are reviewed. Expert commentary: Enhancement in mucosal visualization and reduction of anesthesia and biopsies are the main goals that guide the endoscopy development in pediatrics. The advent of newer imaging modalities has allowed clinicians to characterize and evaluate subtle mucosal lesions better, while advancements in current endoscopes have created the opportunity to monitor chronic conditions noninvasively. Continued expansion of these modalities seems certain, with increased utilization in pediatric gastroenterology.

Colon capsule endoscopy: toward the future

Colon capsule endoscopy is a wireless and minimally invasive technique for visualization of the whole colon. With recent improvements of technical features in second-generation systems, a more important role for colon capsule endoscopy is rapidly emerging. Although several limitations and drawbacks are yet to be resolved, its usefulness as a tool for colorectal cancer screening and monitoring disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases has become more apparent with increased use. Further investigations, including multicenter trials, are required to evaluate the substantial role of the colon capsule in managing colorectal diseases.

Inflammatory Disorders of the Small Bowel

The most common small bowel inflammatory disorders include Crohn disease, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) enteropathy, and celiac disease. Capsule endoscopy, computed tomography enterography, and magnetic resonance enterography have a complementary role in the diagnosis of Crohn disease and evaluation of patients with established Crohn disease. The higher risk of capsule retention with known Crohn disease and NSAID enteropathy can be minimized by cross-sectional imaging or the patency capsule. The main role of deep enteroscopy is tissue diagnosis, endoscopic management of small bowel lesions and strictures, and retrieval of retained capsules.

Capsule endoscopy for the diagnosis and follow up of Crohn's disease: a comprehensive review of current status

Capsule endoscopy (CE) has revolutionized the diagnosis and monitoring of small bowel Crohn’s disease (CD). The procedure is patient friendly and noninvasive, and compared to cross-sectional imaging, CE allows a direct and detailed evaluation of the entire small bowel mucosa with a high sensitivity for the earliest lesions of CD. Today, CE is the leading modality for visualizing the small bowel in suspected CD, and validated activity indices are available for the follow up of patients with established CD. CE of the entire gastrointestinal tract (panenteric CE) was recently introduced as a new diagnostic approach in patients examined for CD, and preliminary results are promising. There are important limitations, involving mainly capsule retention. Furthermore, a diagnostic criterion for CD has never been validated, and lesions detected by CE are not specific for CD. Hence, concern has been raised about a low specificity compared to other diagnostic modalities. Important questions about the optimal bowel preparation, selection of patients for CE and the optimal reading protocol remain to be clarified. The aim of this review is to evaluate the performance of CE for diagnosing CD and assess disease activity in known CD; to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CE to that of cross-sectional imaging; to discuss limitations; and to define the place of CE in the diagnostic algorithm in suspected or known CD.