Development of quality indicators for endoscopic eradication therapies in Barrett's esophagus: the TREAT-BE (Treatment with Resection and Endoscopic Ablation Techniques for Barrett's Esophagus) Consortium

Cryotherapy versus radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus with or without early esophageal neoplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the first-line therapy for dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE). Therefore, cryotherapy has emerged as an alternative treatment option. This study aimed to compare the efficacies of these two techniques based on the rates of complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) and dysplasia (CE-D). Adverse events and recurrence have also been reported.

METHODS

An electronic search was conducted using the Medline (PubMed), Embase, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases until December 2022. Studies were included comparing cryotherapy and RFA for treating dysplastic BE with or without early esophageal neoplasia. This study was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Three retrospective cohort studies involving 627 patients were included. Of these, 399 patients underwent RFA, and 228 were treated with cryotherapy. There was no difference in CE-IM (risk difference [RD], -0.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.25 to 0.19; p=0.78; I2=86%) as well as in CE-D (RD, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.15 to 0.09; p=0.64; I2=70%) between the groups. The absolute number of adverse events was low, and there was no difference in the recurrence rate.

CONCLUSION

Cryotherapy and RFA were equally effective in treating dysplastic BE, with or without early esophageal neoplasia.

Incidence of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Mortality, and Esophagectomy in Barrett's Esophagus Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Eradication Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) is the preferred treatment for Barrett's esophagus (BE)-related neoplasia patients. However, the impact of EET on critical outcomes, outside of clinical trials and registry data, remains scarcely studied. We aimed to assess real-world practice patterns and clinical outcomes among BE patients undergoing EET.

METHODS

TriNetX is a large research network comprising linked inpatient and outpatient electronic-health record-derived data from over 80,000,000 patients. Patients with a diagnosis of BE from 2015 to 2020 were identified and included if they underwent EET during the study period. The primary outcome was the progression to EAC after index EET. Secondary outcomes included rate of esophagectomy, and all-cause mortality. All outcomes were stratified by baseline histology. The incidence of EAC and all-cause mortality were reported in person-years and adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS

A total of 4114 patients were analyzed. Distribution of baseline histology was as follows: NDBE (11.8%), LGD (21.4%), HGD (26.4%), EAC (20.8%), and unspecified (19.6%). The total incidence of EAC after index EET was 6.01 per 1000 person-years (PY) for the entire cohort with the highest rate in HGD patients (12.9/1000 PY). The incidence of all-cause mortality was 13.23 per 1000 PY with the highest rates in EAC patients (25.1 per 1000 PY). Rates of esophagectomy were < 1% for all grades of dysplasia.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide "real-world" data on critical outcomes for BE patients undergoing EET, demonstrating a low risk of incident EAC, all-cause mortality, and need for esophagectomy.

Location and appearance of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus recurrence after endoscopic eradication therapy: no additional yield from random biopsy sampling neosquamous mucosa

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Surveillance after complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CRIM) is essential. Current recommendations are to sample visible lesions first, followed by random 4-quadrant biopsy sampling of the original Barrett's esophagus (BE) length. To inform post-CRIM surveillance protocols, we aimed to identify the anatomic location, appearance, and histology of BE recurrences.

METHODS

We performed an analysis of 216 patients who achieved CRIM after endoscopic eradication therapy for dysplastic BE at a Barrett's Referral Unit between 2008 and 2021. The anatomic location, recurrence histology, and endoscopic appearance of dysplastic recurrences were evaluated.

RESULTS

After a median of 5.5 years (interquartile range, 2.9-7.2) of follow-up after CRIM, 57 patients (26.4%) developed nondysplastic BE (NDBE) recurrence and 18 patients (8.3%) developed dysplastic recurrence. From 8158 routine surveillance biopsy samplings of normal-appearing tubular esophageal neosquamous epithelium, the yield for recurrent NDBE or dysplasia was 0%. One hundred percent of dysplastic tubular esophageal recurrences were visible and in BE islands, whereas 77.8% of gastroesophageal junction dysplastic recurrences were nonvisible. Four distinct endoscopic features suspicious for recurrent advanced dysplasia or neoplasia were identified: buried or subsquamous BE, irregular mucosal pattern, loss of vascular pattern, and nodularity or depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The yield of routine surveillance biopsy sampling of normal-appearing tubular esophageal neosquamous epithelium was zero. BE islands with indistinct mucosal or loss of vascular pattern, nodularity or depression, and/or signs of buried BE should raise clinician suspicion for advanced dysplasia or neoplasia recurrence. We suggest a new surveillance biopsy sampling protocol with a focus on meticulous inspection, followed by targeted biopsy sampling of visible lesions and random 4-quadrant biopsy sampling of the gastroesophageal junction.

High Proportions of Newly Detected Visible Lesions and Pathology Grade Change Among Patients with Barrett's Esophagus Referred to Expert Centers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic eradication therapy for Barrett's esophagus (BE)-related neoplasia is increasingly being performed at tertiary and community centers. While it has been suggested that these patients should be evaluated at expert centers, the impact of this practice has not been evaluated. We aimed to assess the impact of referral of BE-related neoplasia patients to expert centers by assessing the proportion of patients with change in pathological diagnosis and visible lesions detected.

METHODS

Multiple databases were searched until December 2021 for studies of patients with BE referred from the community to expert center. The proportions of pathology grade change and newly detected visible lesions at expert centers were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed based on baseline histology and other relevant factors.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included (1630 patients). The pooled proportion of pathology grade change after expert pathologist review was 47% (95% CI 34-59%) overall and 46% (95% CI 31-62%) among patients with baseline low-grade dysplasia. When upper endoscopy was repeated at an expert center, the pooled proportion of pathology grade change was still high 47% (95% 26-69%) overall and 40% (95% CI 34-45%) among patients with baseline LGD. The pooled proportion of newly detected visible lesions was 45% (95% CI 28-63%) and among patients referred with LGD was 27% (95% CI 22-32%).

CONCLUSION

An alarmingly high proportion of newly detected visible lesions and pathology grade change were found when patients were referred to expert centers supporting the need for centralized care for BE-related neoplasia patients.

Endoscopic features of low-grade dysplastic Barrett's

Background and study aims Barrett's esophagus (BE) with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) is considered usually endoscopically invisible and the endoscopic features are not well described. This study aimed to: 1) evaluate the frequency of visible BE-LGD; 2) compare rates of BE-LGD detection in the community versus a Barrett's referral unit (BRU); and 3) evaluate the endoscopic features of BE-LGD. Patients and methods This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively observed cohort of 497 patients referred to a BRU with dysplastic BE between 2008 and 2022. BE-LGD was defined as confirmation of LGD by expert gastrointestinal pathologist(s). Endoscopy reports, images and histology reports were reviewed to evaluate the frequency of endoscopically identifiable BE-LGD and their endoscopic features. Results A total of 135 patients (27.2%) had confirmed BE-LGD, of whom 15 (11.1%) had visible LGD identified in the community. After BRU assessment, visible LGD was detected in 68 patients (50.4%). Three phenotypes were observed: (A) Non-visible LGD; (B) Elevated (Paris 0-IIa) lesions; and (C) Flat (Paris 0-IIb) lesions with abnormal mucosal and/or vascular patterns with clear demarcation from regular flat BE. The majority (64.7%) of visible LGD was flat lesions with abnormal mucosal and vascular patterns. Endoscopic detection of BE-LGD increased over time (38.7% (2009-2012) vs. 54.3% (2018-2022)). Conclusions In this cohort, 50.4% of true BE-LGD was endoscopically visible, with increased recognition endoscopically over time and a higher rate of visible LGD detected at a BRU when compared with the community. BRU assessment of BE-LGD remains crucial; however, improving endoscopy surveillance quality in the community is equally important.

Natural Language Processing Can Automate Extraction of Barrett's Esophagus Endoscopy Quality Metrics

Objectives

To develop an automated natural language processing (NLP) method for extracting high-fidelity Barrett's Esophagus (BE) endoscopic surveillance and treatment data from the electronic health record (EHR).

Methods

Patients who underwent BE-related endoscopies between 2016 and 2020 at a single medical center were randomly assigned to a development or validation set. Those not aged 40 to 80 and those without confirmed BE were excluded. For each patient, free text pathology reports and structured procedure data were obtained. Gastroenterologists assigned ground truth labels. An NLP method leveraging MetaMap Lite generated endoscopy-level diagnosis and treatment data. Performance metrics were assessed for this data. The NLP methodology was then adapted to label key endoscopic eradication therapy (EET)-related endoscopy events and thereby facilitate calculation of patient-level pre-EET diagnosis, endotherapy time, and time to CE-IM.

Results

99 patients (377 endoscopies) and 115 patients (399 endoscopies) were included in the development and validation sets respectively. When assigning high-fidelity labels to the validation set, NLP achieved high performance (recall: 0.976, precision: 0.970, accuracy: 0.985, and F1-score: 0.972). 77 patients initiated EET and underwent 554 endoscopies. Key EET-related clinical event labels had high accuracy (EET start: 0.974, CE-D: 1.00, and CE-IM: 1.00), facilitating extraction of pre-treatment diagnosis, endotherapy time, and time to CE-IM.

Conclusions

High-fidelity BE endoscopic surveillance and treatment data can be extracted from routine EHR data using our automated, transparent NLP method. This method produces high-level clinical datasets for clinical research and quality metric assessment.

Identification of visible lesions during surveillance endoscopy for Barrett's esophagus: a video-based survey study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Visible lesion (VL) detection is essential in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). We sought to assess the rate of VL detection by academic and community endoscopists using high-definition white-light endoscopy (HD-WLE) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) during surveillance endoscopy.

METHODS

Fifty endoscopists were invited to participate in a prospective video survey study. Participants viewed 25 standardized clips of patients referred for endoscopic therapy. Participants noted identification of anatomic landmarks and VLs using HD-WLE and NBI and reported practice-level data. The criterion standard of VL identification was established by consensus of 5 BE experts. Our primary outcome was the rate of VL identification using HD-WLE and NBI.

RESULTS

Forty-four of 50 participants completed the study (22 academic and 22 community). Compared with the criterion standard, participants did not identify 28% (HD-WLE) and 31% (NBI) of VLs. Community endoscopists had more experience (>5 years in practice: community 85% vs academic 54.5%, P = .041; >5 surveillance endoscopies a month: community 85% vs academic 31.8%, P = .046). Across all participants, VL detection using NBI improved significantly with a minimum of 5 surveillance endoscopies per month (area under the curve = .72; 95% confidence interval, .56-.85; P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite improved endoscope resolution and availability of virtual chromoendoscopy, the overall rate of VL detection remains low. Identification of VLs using NBI may be volume dependent. Further education and training efforts focused on VL detection during BE surveillance endoscopy are needed.

Wide Variability in Dysplasia Detection Rate and Adherence to Seattle Protocol and Surveillance Recommendations in Barrett' Esophagus: A Population-Based Analysis using the GIQuIC National Quality Benchmarking Registry

INTRODUCTION

Variability in adherence rates to the Seattle protocol and to surveillance interval recommendations, established quality indicators (QIs) in Barrett's esophagus (BE), are unknown.

METHODS

We evaluated endoscopist and site-based adherence rates to these QIs from 1/2018-5/2021 using the GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC) national registry with matched endoscopy and pathology data.

RESULTS

Across 153 practices with 572 endoscopists performing 20,155 endoscopies, adherence to Seattle protocol varied by endoscopists (median 93.8%, IQR 18.9%) and by site (median 90.0%, IQR 20.1%). Adherence to appropriate surveillance intervals for nondysplastic BE also varied by endoscopist (median 82.4%, IQR 36.3%) and site (median 77.2%, IQR 29.8%). Overall dysplasia detection rate was 3.1% and varied among endoscopists and sites.

CONCLUSION

These US population-based results can serve as a benchmark for quality initiatives and intervention trials aimed at improving outcomes for BE patients.

Global variations in diagnostic guidelines for Barrett's esophagus

Endoscopic diagnosis of gastroesophageal junction and Barrett's esophagus is essential for surveillance and early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma and esophagogastric junction cancer. Despite its small size, the gastroesophageal junction has many inherent problems, including marked differences in diagnostic methods for Barrett's esophagus in international guidelines. To define Barrett's esophagus, gastroesophageal junction location should be clarified. Although gastric folds and palisade vessels are landmarks for identifying this junction, they are sometimes difficult to observe due to air entry or reflux esophagitis. The possibility of diagnosing a malignancy associated with Barrett's esophagus <1 cm, identified using palisade vessels, should be re-examined. Nontargeted biopsies of Barrett's esophagus are commonly used to detect intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and cancer as described in the Seattle protocol. Barrett's esophagus with intestinal metaplasia has a high risk of becoming cancerous. Furthermore, the frequency of cancer in patients with Barrett's esophagus without intestinal metaplasia is high, and the guidelines differ on whether to include the presence of intestinal metaplasia in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. Use of advanced imaging technologies, including narrow-band imaging with magnifying endoscopy and linked color imaging, is reportedly valid for diagnosing Barrett's esophagus. Furthermore, artificial intelligence has facilitated the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus through its deep learning and image recognition capabilities. However, it is necessary to first use the endoscopic definition of the gastroesophageal junction, which is common in all countries, and then elucidate the characteristics of Barrett's esophagus in each region, for example, length differences in the risk of carcinogenesis with and without intestinal metaplasia.

Endoscopic eradication therapy for Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia: a final 10-year report from the UK National HALO Radiofrequency Ablation Registry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Long-term durability data for effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) are lacking.

METHODS

We prospectively collected data from 2535 patients with BE (mean length, 5.2 cm; range, 1-20) and neoplasia (20% low-grade dysplasia, 54% high-grade dysplasia, 26% intramucosal carcinoma) who underwent RFA therapy across 28 UK hospitals. We assessed rates of invasive cancer and performed detailed analyses of 1175 patients to assess clearance rates of dysplasia (CR-D) and intestinal metaplasia (CR-IM) within 2 years of starting RFA therapy. We assessed relapses and rates of return to CR-D (CR-D2) and CR-IM (CR-IM2) after further therapy. CR-D and CR-IM were confirmed by an absence of dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia on biopsy samples taken at 2 consecutive endoscopies.

RESULTS

Ten years after starting treatment, the Kaplan-Meier (KM) cancer rate was 4.1% with a crude incidence rate of .52 per 100 patient-years. CR-D and CR-IM after 2 years of therapy were 88% and 62.6%, respectively. KM relapse rates were 5.9% from CR-D and 18.7% from CR-IM at 8 years, with most occurring in the first 2 years. Both were successfully retreated with rates of CR-D2 of 63.4% and CR-IM2 of 70.0% 2 years after retreatment. EMR before RFA increased the likelihood of rescue EMR from 17.2% to 41.7% but did not affect the rate of CR-D, whereas rescue EMR after RFA commenced reduced CR-D from 91.4% to 79.7% (χ²P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

RFA treatment is effective and durable to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma. Most treatment relapses occur early and can be successfully retreated.

Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Liquid Nitrogen Spray Cryotherapy for the Eradication of Dysplasia in Barrett's Esophagus

INTRODUCTION

Current guidelines recommend endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for Barrett's esophagus (BE) with dysplasia and intramucosal adenocarcinoma using either radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy (LNSC). The aims of this multicenter study are to compare the rate and number of treatment sessions of RFA vs. LNSC to achieve CE-D and CE-IM and assess outcomes for those who switched therapy.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with BE undergoing EET. Demographics, baseline variables, endoscopy details, and histology information were abstracted.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-two patients were included in this study with 100 patients in the RFA group and 62 patients in the LNSC group. The rate of CE-D and CE-IM did not differ between the RFA group and LNSC group (81% vs. 71.0%, p = 0.14) and (64% vs. 66%, p = 0.78), respectively. The number of sessions to achieve CE-D and CE-IM was higher with LNSC compared to RFA (4.2 vs. 3.2, p = 0.05) and (4.8 vs. 3.5, p = 0.04), respectively. The likelihood of developing recurrent dysplasia was higher among patients who did not achieve CE-IM (12%) compared to those who did achieve CE-IM (4%), p = 0.04. Similar findings were found in those who switched treatment modalities.

DISCUSSION

EET is highly effective in eradication of Barrett's associated dysplasia and neoplasia. Both RFA and LNSC achieved similar rates of CE-D and CE-IM although LNSC required more sessions. Also, achievement of CE-IM was associated with less recurrence rates of dysplasia.

Quantitative analysis of submucosal excision depth in endoscopic resection for early Barrett's cancer

BACKGROUND : Following endoscopic resection of early-stage Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEA), further oncologic management then fundamentally relies upon the accurate assessment of histopathologic risk criteria, which requires there to be sufficient amounts of submucosal tissue in the resection specimens. METHODS : In 1685 digitized tissue sections from endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) performed for 76 early BEA cases from three experienced centers, the submucosal thickness was determined, using software developed in-house. Neoplastic lesions were manually annotated. RESULTS : No submucosa was seen in about a third of the entire resection area (mean 33.8 % [SD 17.2 %]), as well as underneath cancers (33.3 % [28.3 %]), with similar results for both resection methods and with respect to submucosal thickness. ESD results showed a greater variability between centers than EMR. In T1b cancers, a higher rate of submucosal defects tended to correlate with R1 resections. CONCLUSION : The absence of submucosa underneath about one third of the tissue of endoscopically resected BEAs should be improved. Results were more center-dependent for ESD than for EMR. Submucosal defects can potentially serve as a parameter for standardized reports.

Diagnosis and Management of Barrett's Esophagus: An Updated ACG Guideline

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a common condition associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. BE is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a highly lethal cancer with an increasing incidence over the last 5 decades. These revised guidelines implement Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology to propose recommendations for the definition and diagnosis of BE, screening for BE and esophageal adenocarcinoma, surveillance of patients with known BE, and the medical and endoscopic treatment of BE and its associated early neoplasia. Important changes since the previous iteration of this guideline include a broadening of acceptable screening modalities for BE to include nonendoscopic methods, liberalized intervals for surveillance of short-segment BE, and volume criteria for endoscopic therapy centers for BE. We recommend endoscopic eradication therapy for patients with BE and high-grade dysplasia and those with BE and low-grade dysplasia. We propose structured surveillance intervals for patients with dysplastic BE after successful ablation based on the baseline degree of dysplasia. We could not make recommendations regarding chemoprevention or use of biomarkers in routine practice due to insufficient data.

The evolution of endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus is the condition in which a metaplastic columnar epithelium replaces the stratified squamous epithelium that normally lines the distal esophagus. The condition develops as a consequence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease and predisposes the patient to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis and management of Barrett’s esophagus have undergone dramatic changes over the years and continue to evolve today. Endoscopic eradication therapy has revolutionized the management of dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinoma by significantly reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with the prior gold standard of therapy, esophagectomy. The purpose of this review is to highlight current principles in the management and endoscopic treatment of this disease.

Endoscopic Submucosal Tunnel Dissection as a Novel Therapeutic Technique in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus

With the ameliorated resectability prowess of endoscopic techniques, a myriad of diseases previously treated by major ablative surgeries are now endoscopically curable. Endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection (ESTD) is a relatively new technique that has diversified endoscopic application. Although ESTD has frequently been used for the resection of esophageal neoplastic lesions, the clinical evidence pertaining to its efficacy in the treatment of circumferential Barrett’s esophagus remains sparse. In this study, we evaluated ESTD as a potential therapeutic technique in patients with Barrett’s esophagus-related high-grade dysplasia. The tunneling strategy helped achieve complete en bloc resection at an increased dissection speed, without any procedural complications. This article illustrates that ESTD can be a feasible, safe, and effective treatment for dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus. Future research should aim to stratify the potential risks and complications associated with this optimization of endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients with superficial esophageal lesions.

Barrett's esophagus: current standards in advanced imaging

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) continues to be one of the fastest rising incident cancers in the Western population with the majority of patients presenting with late stage disease and associated with a dismal 5-year survival rate. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only identifiable precursor lesion to EAC. Strategies to screen for and survey BE are critical to detect earlier cancers and reduce morbidity and mortality related to EAC. A high-quality endoscopic examination with careful inspection of the Barrett's segment and adherence to the Seattle protocol for tissue sampling are critical. Advanced imaging modalities offer the potential to improve dysplasia detection, predict histopathology in real time and guide endoscopic eradication therapy (EET). Several technologies have been studied and although most are not yet recommended for routine clinical practice, high definition white light endoscopy (HD-WLE) as well as chromoendoscopy (including virtual chromoendoscopy) improved dysplasia detection in numerous studies supporting their use. Future studies should evaluate the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing detection of dysplasia in BE patients.

A Practical Approach to Refractory and Recurrent Barrett's Esophagus

Endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) is recommended for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated neoplasia and is effective in achieving complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM). However, BE that is refractory to EET, defined as partial or no improvement in dysplasia after less than or equal to 3 ablative sessions, and the development of recurrence post-EET is not uncommon. Identification of refractory BE or recurrent intestinal metaplasia should prompt esophageal physiologic testing and modification of antireflux strategy, as appropriate. In patients who ultimately fail standard EET despite optimization of reflux control, salvage EET with alternate modalities may need to be considered.

Measuring Quality in Barrett's Esophagus: Time to Embrace Quality Indicators

Endoscopic eradication therapy is a safe and effective therapy that has revolutionized the management of patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE)-related neoplasia. Despite this, there remains significant heterogeneity in clinical practice with consequent variation in patient outcomes. The aim of this article was to align consensus statements based on the best available evidence and expert opinion from the United States and United Kingdom to develop robust and measurable quality indicators that help to ensure patients with BE-related neoplasia receive the highest possible quality of care uniformly.

Systematic review of the published guidelines on Barrett's esophagus: should we stress the consensus or the differences?

Multiple guidelines on Barrett's esophagus (BE) have being published in order to standardize and improve clinical practice. However, studies have shown poor adherence to them. Our aim was to synthetize, compare, and assess the quality of recommendations from recently published guidelines, stressing similarities and differences. We conducted a search in Pubmed and Scopus. When different guidelines from the same society were identified, the most recent one was considered. We used the GRADE system to assess the quality of evidence. We included 24 guidelines and position/consensus statements from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, British Society of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology, Australian guidelines, and Asia-Pacific consensus. All guidelines defend that BE should be diagnosed when there is an extension of columnar epithelium into the distal esophagus. However, there is still some controversy regarding length and histology criteria for BE diagnosis. All guidelines recommend expert pathologist review for dysplasia diagnosis. All guidelines recommend surveillance for non-dysplastic BE, and some recommend surveillance for indefinite dysplasia. While the majority of guidelines recommend ablation therapy for low-grade dysplasia without visible lesion, others recommend ablation therapy or endoscopic surveillance. However, controversy exists regarding surveillance intervals and biopsy protocols. All guidelines recommend endoscopic resection followed by ablation therapy for neoplastic visible lesion. Several guidelines use the GRADE system, but the majority of recommendations are based on low and moderate quality of evidence. Although there is considerable consensus among guidelines, there are some discrepancies resulting from low-quality evidence. The lack of high-quality evidence for the majority of recommendations highlights the importance of continued well-conducted research in this field.

Recurrence Is Rare Following Complete Eradication of Intestinal Metaplasia in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus and Peaks at 18 Months

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There have been few studies describing the long-term durability of complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE)-related neoplasia who received endoscopic eradication therapy (EET). Data are needed to guide surveillance interval protocols and identify patients at risk for recurrence. We assessed the rate of recurrence of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, histologic features, and outcomes after recurrence of CE-IM, and identified factors associated with recurrence.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of 807 patients with BE who underwent EET, which produced CE-IM, at 4 tertiary-care referral centers, from January 2013 to October 2018. Kaplan-Meier estimates of cumulative incidence rates (IR) of recurrence were calculated for up to 5 years following CE-IM and were stratified by baseline level of histology. Density estimates of recurrence were used to determine the change in the rate of recurrence over time. We conducted logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with recurrence.

RESULTS

Intestinal metaplasia recurred in 121 patients (15%; IR, 5.2/100 person-years), and dysplasia recurred in 41 patients (5.1%; IR, 1.8/100 person-years), after a median follow-up time of 2317 person-years. The rate of recurrence was not constant and the time to any recurrence converged to a normal distribution; recurrences peaked at 1.6 y after patients had CE-IM. Baseline high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.19), presence of reflux symptoms (aOR, 12.1) or hiatal hernia (aOR, 13.8), and number of sessions required to achieve CE-IM (aOR, 1.8) were associated with recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

In a prospective study of a large cohort of patients with BE undergoing EET, we found a low rate of recurrence after CE-IM. The rate of recurrence peaked at 1-2 y after CE-IM. These findings indicate that aggressive surveillance might not be necessary more than 1 y after CE-IM and should be considered in surveillance guidelines. Clinicaltrials.gov no: NCT02634645.

Endoscopic eradication therapy for Barrett's oesophagus: state of the art

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Barrett's oesophagus is the only identifiable precursor lesion to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The stepwise progression of Barrett's oesophagus to dysplasia and invasive carcinoma provides the opportunity to intervene and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this lethal cancer. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for the management of Barrett's oesophagus related neoplasia. The primary goal of EET is to achieve complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) followed by enrolment of patients in surveillance protocols to detect recurrence of Barrett's oesophagus and Barrett's oesophagus related neoplasia.

RECENT FINDINGS

EET depends on early and accurate detection and diagnosis of Barrett's oesophagus related neoplasia. All visible lesions should be resected followed by ablation of the remaining Barrett's epithelium. After treatment, patients should be enrolled in endoscopic surveillance programmes. For nondysplastic Barrett's oesophagus, surveillance alone is recommended. For low-grade dysplasia, both surveillance and ablation are reasonable options and should be decided on an individual basis according to patient risk factors and preferences. EET is preferred for high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal carcinoma. For T1b oesophageal adenocarcinoma, esophagectomy remains the standard of care, but endoscopic therapy can be considered in select cases.

SUMMARY

EET is now standard of care and endorsed by societal guidelines for the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus related neoplasia. Future studies should focus on risk stratification models using a combination of clinical data and biomarkers to identify ideal candidates for EET, and to predict recurrence. Optimal therapy for T1b cancer and surveillance strategy after CE-IM are topics that require further study.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett's Esophagus: Have We Gone Too Far, or Not Far Enough?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition of the esophagus associated with an increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective first-line treatment for dysplastic BE and early stage EAC. This report reviews clinically relevant evidence published over the last 3 years regarding RFA for BE.

RECENT FINDINGS

Our use of this technology has simultaneously gone too far, in that many patients who may not derive a benefit from these treatments are receiving them, and not far enough, in that many patients who would be eligible for ablative therapy never undergo screening exams to assess them for dysplastic BE, or do not have endoscopic therapy considered part of the treatment of superficial invasive cancer. Research to better identify patients with BE, risk stratify those patients, improve the quality of RFA treatment, and inform surveillance practices has the potential to optimize the benefit of RFA, and minimize the harms, costs, and risks.

Endoscopists systematically undersample patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus: an analysis of biopsy sampling practices from a quality improvement registry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Guidelines recommend systematic biopsy sampling in Barrett's esophagus (BE) to reduce sampling error. Adherence to this biopsy sampling protocol has been suggested as a quality indicator; however, estimates of adherence are not available. Using a national registry, we assessed adherence and identified predictors of adherence to biopsy sampling protocols.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the GI Quality Improvement Consortium Registry that included procedure indication, demographics, endoscopy, and pathology results. Patients with an indication of BE screening/surveillance or an endoscopic finding of BE were included. Adherence to the Seattle protocol was assessed by dividing BE length by number of pathology jars, with a ratio ≤2.0 with rounding down (lenient definition) or rounding up (stringent definition) for odd BE lengths considered adherent. Variables associated with adherence were assessed using generalized estimating equations to control for clustering within individual physicians.

RESULTS

Of 786,712 EGDs assessed, 58,709 (7.5%) EGDs in 53,541 patients met inclusion criteria (mean age, 61.3 years; 60.4% men; 90.2% white; mean BE length, 2.3 cm). When the lenient and stringent definitions for adherence were used, 87.8% and 82.7% of EGDs were adherent, respectively. Increasing BE length was the most significant predictor of nonadherence (odds ratio, .69; 95% confidence interval, .67-.71). Other predictors were increasing age, male gender, increasing American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and practice location. Performance of EGD by nongastroenterologist physicians was associated with nonadherence (odds ratio, .07; 95% confidence interval, .06-.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 20% of endoscopies performed in BE patients were not adherent to the Seattle protocol. As BE length increases, endoscopists become less compliant with odds of nonadherence increasing by 31% with every 1-cm increase in length.

Quality indicators for Barrett's endotherapy (QBET): UK consensus statements for patients undergoing endoscopic therapy for Barrett's neoplasia

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic therapy for the management of patients with Barrett's oesophagus (BE) neoplasia has significantly developed in the past decade; however, significant variation in clinical practice exists. The aim of this project was to develop expert physician-lead quality indicators (QIs) for Barrett's endoscopic therapy.

METHODS

The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used to combine the best available scientific evidence with the collective judgement of experts to develop quality indicators for Barrett's endotherapy in four subgroups: pre-endoscopy, intraprocedure (resection and ablation) and postendoscopy. International experts, including gastroenterologists, surgeons, BE pathologist, clinical nurse specialist and patient representative, participated in a three-round process to develop 15 QIs that fulfilled the RAND/UCLA definition of appropriateness.

RESULTS

17 experts participated in round 1 and 20 in round 2. Of the 24 proposed QIs in round 1, 20 were ranked as appropriate (put through to round 2) and 4 as uncertain (discarded). At the end of round 2, a final list of 15 QIs were scored as appropriate.

CONCLUSIONS

This UK national consensus project has successfully developed QIs for patients undergoing Barrett's endotherapy. These QIs can be used by service providers to ensure that all patients with BE neoplasia receive uniform and high-quality care.

Acute Pancreatitis Task Force on Quality: Development of Quality Indicators for Acute Pancreatitis Management

INTRODUCTION

Detailed recommendations and guidelines for acute pancreatitis (AP) management currently exist. However, quality indicators (QIs) are required to measure performance in health care. The goal of the Acute Pancreatitis Task Force on Quality was to formally develop QIs for the management of patients with known or suspected AP using a modified version of the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Methodology.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary expert panel composed of physicians (gastroenterologists, hospitalists, and surgeons) who are acknowledged leaders in their specialties and who represent geographic and practice setting diversity was convened. A literature review was conducted, and a list of proposed QIs was developed. In 3 rounds, panelists reviewed literature, modified QIs, and rated them on the basis of scientific evidence, bias, interpretability, validity, necessity, and proposed performance targets.

RESULTS

Supporting literature and a list of 71 proposed QIs across 10 AP domains (Diagnosis, Etiology, Initial Assessment and Risk Stratification, etc.) were sent to the expert panel to review and independently rate in round 1 (95% of panelists participated). Based on a round 2 face-to-face discussion of QIs (75% participation), 41 QIs were classified as valid. During round 3 (90% participation), panelists rated the 41 valid QIs for necessity and proposed performance thresholds. The final classification determined that 40 QIs were both valid and necessary.

DISCUSSION

Hospitals and providers managing patients with known or suspected AP should ensure that patients receive high-quality care and desired outcomes according to current evidence-based best practices. This physician-led initiative formally developed 40 QIs and performance threshold targets for AP management. Validated QIs provide a dependable quantitative framework for health systems to monitor the quality of care provided to patients with known or suspected AP.

The effect of presence of family members on the anxiety level of candidates for esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Anxiety and its control is a public health problem worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the effect of family members' presence on the anxiety level of patients who were candidates for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Methods: This randomized controlled trial study was performed in Shahid Chamran hospital in city of Saveh in IR Iran. In this study, 96 patients who were candidates for EGD and met the inclusion criteria were assigned into control and intervention groups by simple random sampling method. The demographic questionnaire and Spiel Berger's State and Trait Anxiety Questionnaire (STAI) were used to measure anxiety. Results: No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in the mean level of anxiety before intervention (p= 0.13). After intervention, the level of anxiety decreased significantly in the intervention group (p= 0.001). However, the mean level of anxiety was not significant in the control group after intervention (p= 0.09). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the presence of family members during endoscopy may reduce the patient's anxiety level, and thus it is recommended as a non-pharmaceutical, beneficial, and safe intervention.

An Interactive Web-Based Educational Tool Improves Detection and Delineation of Barrett's Esophagus-Related Neoplasia

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Endoscopic detection of early Barrett's esophagus-related neoplasia (BORN) is a challenge. We aimed to develop a web-based teaching tool for improving detection and delineation of BORN.

METHODS

We made high-definition digital videos during endoscopies of patients with BORN and non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus. Three experts superimposed their delineations of BORN lesions on the videos using special tools. In phase one, 68 general endoscopists from 4 countries assessed 4 batches of 20 videos. After each batch, mandatory feedback compared the assessors' interpretations with those from experts. These data informed the selection of 25 videos for the phase 2 module, which was completed by 121 new assessors from 5 countries. A 5-video test batch was completed before and after scoring of the four 5-video training batches. Mandatory feedback was as in phase 1. Outcome measures were scores for detection, delineation, agreement delineation, and relative delineation of BORN.

RESULTS

A linear mixed-effect model showed significant sequential improvement for all 4 outcomes over successive training batches in both phases. In phase 2, median detection rates of BORN in the test batch increased by 30% (P < .001) after training. From baseline to the end of the study, there were relative increases in scores of 46% for detection, 129% for delineation, 105% for agreement delineation, and 106% for relative delineation (all, P < .001). Scores improved independent of assessors' country of origin or level of endoscopic experience.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a web-based teaching tool for endoscopic recognition of BORN that is easily accessible, efficient, and increases detection and delineation of neoplastic lesions. Widespread use of this tool might improve management of Barrett's esophagus by general endoscopists.

A Survey of Expert Practice and Attitudes Regarding Advanced Imaging Modalities in Surveillance of Barrett's Esophagus

BACKGROUND

Published guidelines do not address what the minimum incremental diagnostic yield (IDY) for detection of dysplasia/cancer is required over the standard Seattle protocol for an advanced imaging modality (AIM) to be implemented in routine surveillance of Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients. We aimed to report expert practice patterns and attitudes, specifically addressing the minimum IDY in the use of AIMs in BE surveillance.

METHODS

An international group of BE experts completed an anonymous electronic survey of domains relevant to surveillance practice patterns and use of AIMs. The evaluated AIMs were conventional chromoendoscopy (CC), virtual chromoendoscopy (VC), volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE), confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), and wide-area transepithelial sampling (WATS^3D). Responses were recorded using five-point balanced Likert items and analyzed as continuous variables.

RESULTS

The survey response rate was 84% (61/73)-41 US and 20 non-US. Experts were most comfortable with and routinely use VC and CC, and least comfortable with and rarely use VLE, CLE, and WATS^3D. Experts rated data from randomized controlled trials (1.4 ± 0.9) and guidelines (2.6 ± 1.2) as the two most influential factors for implementing AIMs in clinical practice. The minimum IDY of AIMs over standard biopsies to be considered of clinical benefit was lowest for VC (15%, IQR 10-29%) and highest for VLE (30%, IQR 20-50%). Compared to US experts, non-US experts reported higher use of CC for BE surveillance (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These results should inform benchmarks that need to be met for guidelines to recommend the routine use of AIMs in the surveillance of BE patients.

Dysplasia severity is associated with poor quality of life in patients with Barrett's esophagus referred for endoscopic eradication therapy

Limited data exist regarding patient-reported outcomes and quality of life (QOL) experienced by patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) referred for endoscopic eradication therapy (EET). Specifically, the impact of grade of dysplasia has not been explored. The purpose of this study is to measure patient-reported symptoms and QOL and identify factors associated with poor QOL in BE patients referred for EET. This was a prospective multicenter study conducted from January 2015 to October 2017, which included patients with BE referred for EET. Participants completed a set of validated questionnaires to measure QOL, symptom severity, and psychosocial factors. The primary outcome was poor QOL defined by a PROMIS score >12. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with poor QOL. In total, 193 patients participated (mean age 64.6 years, BE length 5.5 cm, 82% males, 92% Caucasians) with poor QOL reported in 104 (53.9%) participants. On univariate analysis, patients with poor QOL had lower use of twice daily proton pump inhibitor use (61.5% vs. 86.5%, P = 0.03), shorter disease duration (4.9 vs. 5.9 years, P = 0.04) and progressive increase in grade of dysplasia (high-grade dysplasia: 68.8% vs. 31.3%, esophageal adenocarcinoma: 75.5% vs. 24.5%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that high-grade dysplasia was independently associated with poor QOL (OR: 5.57, 95% CI: 1.05, 29.5, P = 0.04). In summary, poor QOL is experienced by the majority of patients with BE referred for EET and the degree of dysplasia was independently associated with poor QOL, which emphasizes the need to incorporate patient-centered outcomes when studying treatment of BE-related dysplasia.

Point-Counterpoint: Screening and Surveillance for Barrett's Esophagus, Is It Worthwhile?

The exponential rise in incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), paired with persistently poor survival, continues to drive efforts to improve and optimize screening and surveillance practices. While advancements in endoscopic therapy have generated a shift in management and significantly improved the outcomes of patients with early-stage EAC, the majority of prevalent EAC continues to be diagnosed at advanced stages, remaining ineligible for curative therapy. Barrett's esophagus (BE) screening, when applied to high-yield target populations, using minimally or noninvasive accurate tests, followed by endoscopic surveillance to detect prevalent or incident dysplasia/EAC (which can then be treated successfully) is the cornerstone of the current BE management paradigm. While supported by some empiric evidence and attractive, this approach faces a number of challenges, which are also balanced by numerous recent advances in these areas. In this manuscript, we review the rationale, supportive evidence, current challenges, and recent progress in BE screening and surveillance.

Natural History of the Post-ablation Esophagus

Endoscopic ablative therapy including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represents the preferred management strategy for dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) and appears to diminish the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Limited data describe the natural history of the post-ablation esophagus. Recent findings demonstrate that recurrent intestinal metaplasia (IM) following RFA is relatively frequent. However, dysplastic BE and EAC subsequent to the complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM) are uncommon. Moreover, data suggest that the risk of recurrent disease is probably highest in the first year following CEIM. Recurrent IM and dysplasia are usually successfully eradicated with repeat RFA. Future studies may refine surveillance intervals and inform the length of time surveillance should be conducted following RFA with CEIM. Further data will also be necessary to understand the utility of chemopreventive strategies, including NSAIDs, in reducing the risk of recurrent disease.

Suboptimal Agreement Among Cytopathologists in Diagnosis of Malignancy Based on Endoscopic Ultrasound Needle Aspirates of Solid Pancreatic Lesions: A Validation Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Despite the widespread use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) to sample pancreatic lesions and the standardization of pancreaticobiliary cytopathologic nomenclature, there are few data on inter-observer agreement among cytopathologists evaluating pancreatic cytologic specimens obtained by EUS-FNA. We developed a scoring system to assess agreement among cytopathologists in overall diagnosis and quantitative and qualitative parameters, and evaluated factors associated with agreement.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study to validate results from our pilot study that demonstrated moderate to substantial inter-observer agreement among cytopathologists for the final cytologic diagnosis. In the first phase, 3 cytopathologists refined criteria for assessment of quantity and quality measures. During phase 2, EUS-FNA specimens of solid pancreatic lesions from 46 patients were evaluated by 11 cytopathologists at 5 tertiary care centers using a standardized scoring tool. Individual quantitative and qualitative measures were scored and an overall cytologic diagnosis was determined. Clinical and EUS parameters were assessed as predictors of unanimous agreement. Inter-observer agreement (IOA) was calculated using multi-rater kappa (κ) statistics and a logistic regression model was created to identify factors associated with unanimous agreement.

RESULTS

The IOA for final diagnoses, based on cytologic analysis, was moderate (κ = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.43-0.70). Kappa values did not increase when categories of suspicious for malignancy, malignant, and neoplasm were combined. IOA was slight to moderate for individual quantitative (κ = 0.007; 95% CI, -0.03 to -0.04) and qualitative parameters (κ = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.47-0.53). Jaundice was the only factor associated with agreement among all cytopathologists on multivariate analysis (odds ratio for unanimous agreement, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.1-26.89).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a suboptimal level of agreement among cytopathologists in the diagnosis of malignancy based on analysis of EUS-FNA specimens obtained from solid pancreatic masses. Strategies are needed to refine the cytologic criteria for diagnosis of malignancy and enhance tissue acquisition techniques to improve diagnostic reproducibility among cytopathologists.

Quality Indicators in Barrett's Esophagus: Time to Change the Status Quo

The push for high quality care in all fields of medicine highlights the importance of establishing and adhering to quality indicators.In response, several gastrointestinal societies have established quality indicators specific to Barrett's esophagus, which serve to createthresholds for performance while standardizing practice and guiding value-based care. Recent studies, however, have consistentlydemonstrated the lack of adherence to these quality indicators, particularly in surveillance (appropriate utilization of endoscopy andobtaining biopsies using the Seattle protocol) and endoscopic eradication therapy practices. These findings suggest that innovativeinterventions are needed to address these shortcomings in order to deliver high quality care to patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Endoscopic Eradication Therapy in Barrett's Esophagus

Endoscopic eradication therapy (EET), the standard of care for treatment of Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia and early neoplasia, consists of a combination of endoscopic resection and ablative modalities. Resection techniques primarily include endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection. Resection of nodular disease is generally followed by one of multiple ablative therapies among which radiofrequency ablation has the best evidence supporting safety and efficacy. These advanced endoscopic procedures require both experience and expertise in the cognitive and procedural aspects of EET. However, very few formal programs exist that teach endoscopists the necessary skills to perform EET in a safe, standardized, and efficacious manner. Case volume at both the endoscopist and center level has been shown to impact clinical outcomes based on limited data. As a result, some recent guidelines endorse case volume as a measure of competency. Quality indicators, which can be used as benchmarks for training and as part of pay for quality initiatives, have recently been derived for EET. However, quality metrics in EET have not been widely accepted, nor are they broadly used currently. While the efficacy of EET for BE is established, there is a need for application of quality metrics to both assure adequate training in these procedures, as well as to assess treatment outcomes. A standardized EET training curriculum during endoscopic training, with competency assessment of both new clinicians and endoscopists in practice has potential to improve care in EET.

Quality Indicators in Endoscopic Ablation for Barrett's Esophagus

OPINION STATEMENT

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a well-established premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC); a cancer that is associated with a poor 5-year survival rate. Several strategies have been explored in the context of reducing the burden of EAC. Endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) is considered the standard of care for the management of patients with BE with dysplasia and early neoplasia; a practice that has been endorsed by all gastroenterology societal guidelines. The effectiveness of EET has been demonstrated in multiple studies and contemporary management includes a combination of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of all visible lesions followed by eradication of the remaining BE using ablative techniques of which radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has the best evidence supporting effectiveness and safety. These techniques are being used increasingly at academic tertiary care centers and community practices. In this era of value-based health care, there is increased focus on the establishment, documentation, and reporting of quality indicators; indicators that are important to physicians, patients, and payers. The purpose of this review is to highlight the current status of quality indicators in EET for the management of patients with BE-related neoplasia and discuss the future steps required to ensure that these quality indicators are uniformly incorporated into practice.