Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Cancer of the Anal Transitional Zone in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Incidental Dysplasia During Total Proctocolectomy With Ileoanal Pouch: Is It Associated With Worse Outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. In cases of invisible or nonendoscopically resectable dysplasia found at colonoscopy, total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis can be offered with good long-term outcomes; however, little is known regarding cancer-related outcomes when dysplasia is found incidentally after surgery on final pathology.

METHODS

Using our prospectively collected pouch registry, we identified patients who had preoperative colonic dysplasia or dysplasia found only after colectomy. Patients with cancer preoperatively or after colectomy were excluded. Included patients were divided into 3 groups: PRE (+preoperative biopsy, negative final pathology), BOTH (+preoperative biopsy and final pathology), and POST (negative preoperative biopsy, +final pathology). Long-term outcomes in the 3 groups were assessed.

RESULTS

In total, 517 patients were included: PRE = 125, BOTH = 254, POST = 137. After a median follow-up of 12 years (IQR 3-21), there were no differences in overall, disease-free, or pouch survival between groups. Cancer/dysplasia developed in 11 patients: 3 (2%) in the PRE, 5 (2%) in the BOTH, and 3 (2%) in the POST group. Only 1 cancer-related death occurred in the entire cohort (PRE group). Disease-free survival at 10 years was 98% for all groups (P = .97). Pouch survival at 10 years was 96% for PRE, 99% for BOTH, and 97% for POST (P = .24).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidental finding of dysplasia on final pathology after proctocolectomy was not associated with worsened outcomes compared with preoperatively diagnosed dysplasia.

Endoscopic Evaluation of the Ileal Pouch

BACKGROUND

Structural and inflammatory adverse sequelae are common after restorative proctocolectomy and IPAA. On rare occasions, neoplasia can occur in patients with ileal pouches. Pouchoscopy plays a key role in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, disease monitoring, assessment of treatment response, surveillance, and delivery of therapy.

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review of the literature was performed, and principles and techniques of pouchoscopy were described.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases.

STUDY SELECTION

Relevant articles on endoscopy in ileal pouches published between January 2000 and May 2023 were included based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

INTERVENTION

Diagnostic, surveillance, and therapeutic endoscopy in ileal pouch disorders were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Accurate characterization of the ileal pouch in healthy or diseased states.

RESULTS

The main anatomic structures of a J- or S-pouch are the stoma closure site, prepouch ileum, inlet, tip of the "J," pouch body, anastomosis, cuff, and anal transition zone. Each anatomic location can be prone to the development of structural, inflammatory, or neoplastic disorders. For example, ulcers and strictures are common at the stoma closure site, inlet, and anastomosis. Leaks are commonly detected at the tip of the "J" and anastomosis. Characterization of the anastomotic distribution of inflammation is critical for the differential diagnosis of subtypes of pouchitis and other inflammatory disorders of the pouch. Neoplastic lesions, albeit rare, mainly occur at the cuff, anal transition zone, or anastomosis.

LIMITATIONS

This is a qualitative, not quantitative, review of mainly case series.

CONCLUSIONS

Most structural, inflammatory, and neoplastic disorders can be reliably diagnosed with a careful pouchoscopy. The endoscopist and other clinicians taking care of pouch patients should be familiar with the anatomy of the ileal pouch and be able to recognize common abnormalities. See video from symposium.

Long-term prognosis after stapled and hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomoses for familial adenomatous polyposis: a multicenter retrospective study

PURPOSE

The long-term prognosis of stapled and hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomoses in familial adenomatous polyposis patients in Japan remains unknown. This study aimed to compare the overall survival in familial adenomatous polyposis patients who underwent stapled or hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 12 institutions in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The clinical outcomes of 53 eligible familial adenomatous polyposis patients who underwent stapled (n = 24) and hand-sewn (n = 29) ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were compared.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 171.5 months. The incidence of adenoma in the remnant rectum or anal transitional zone and metachronous rectal cancer was significantly more common in stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (adenoma: stapled, 45.8%, vs. hand-sewn, 10.3%, p = 0.005; metachronous rectal cancer: 29.2%, vs. none, p = 0.002). The number of deaths was remarkably higher in stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (p = 0.002). Metachronous rectal cancer was the most common cause of death. Overall survival was worse in stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis than in hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (120 months, 90.7% vs. 96.6%; 240 months, 63.7% vs. 96.6%; p = 0.044). Cox regression analysis revealed the independent effects of preoperative advanced colorectal cancer and stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis on overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis negatively affected the overall survival of familial adenomatous polyposis patients. Therefore, hand-sewn ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is recommended for better prognosis in these patients.

The Incidence of Pouch Neoplasia Following Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the standard restorative procedure following proctocolectomy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who require colectomy. However, removal of the diseased colon does not eliminate the risk of pouch neoplasia. We aimed to assess the incidence of pouch neoplasia in IBD patients following IPAA.

METHODS

All patients at a large tertiary center with International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision/International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision codes for IBD who underwent IPAA and had subsequent pouchoscopy were identified using a clinical notes search from January 1981 to February 2020. Relevant demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and histologic data were abstracted.

RESULTS

In total, 1319 patients were included (43.9% women). Most had ulcerative colitis (95.2%). Out of 1319 patients, 10 (0.8%) developed neoplasia following IPAA. Neoplasia of the pouch was seen in 4 cases with neoplasia of the cuff or rectum seen in 5 cases. One patient had neoplasia of the prepouch, pouch, and cuff. Types of neoplasia included low-grade dysplasia (n = 7), high-grade dysplasia (n = 1), colorectal cancer (n = 1), and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (n = 1). Presence of extensive colitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, backwash ileitis, and rectal dysplasia at the time of IPAA were significantly associated with increased risk of pouch neoplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of pouch neoplasia in IBD patients who have undergone IPAA is relatively low. Extensive colitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and backwash ileitis prior to IPAA and rectal dysplasia at the time of IPAA raise the risk of pouch neoplasia significantly. A limited surveillance program might be appropriate for patients with IPAA even with a history of colorectal neoplasia.

Preoperative Simulation of Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Using a 3-Dimensional Printed Model

BACKGROUND

During restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer or dysplasia, ileal pouch-anal handsewn anastomosis (IAA) is preferred to avoid the risk of cancer development in the remaining rectal mucosa. However, there is a risk of the ileal pouch not reaching the anus with this procedure. Here, we created deformable 3-dimensional (3D) models for simulation.

METHOD

Six patients who underwent IAA without vessel ligation and 5 patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal canal double-stapled anastomosis (IACA) because the ileal pouch did not reach the anus were studied. A 3D printer was used to create deformable 3D models from the data obtained from computed tomography scans. The positional relationship among the mesenteric arteries, pubis, and coccyx were evaluated.

RESULT

The distance between the superior mesenteric artery root and the tip of the ileal artery was longer in the IAA group than that in the IACA group (IAA vs IACA: 26.2 ± 2.1 cm vs 20.9 ± 1.6cm). The distance from the tip of the ileal artery to the coccyx (IAA vs IACA: 6.7 ± 1.7 cm vs 12.1 ± 2.1 cm) and the distance from the tip of the ileal artery to the lower edge of the pubis (IAA vs IACA; 8.1 ± 1.3 cm vs 12.7 ± 2.4 cm) were longer in the IACA group than those in the IAA group.

CONCLUSIONS

We established a method for creating 3D deformable models of patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. These 3D models may be useful for preoperative simulation.

Clinical features and surgical selection in colitis-associated colorectal cancer with ulcerative colitis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients who underwent surgery for cancer/dysplasia with those who underwent surgery for refractory disease and to discuss the preoperative preparation for successful hand-sewn IPAA.

METHODS

Patients who underwent surgery for UC between January 2014 and December 2021 at Hyogo Medical University were included in the study. A total of 443 UC surgical cases were included in the study, which comprised 188 cancer/dysplasia patients and 255 refractory patients. Clinical records were compared retrospectively.

RESULTS

The proportion of surgical UC cases with cancer/dysplasia has been on the rise, accounting for approximately 40% in recent years. The duration of disease (months) was 186 (2-590) in the cancer/dysplasia group and 48 (1-580) in the refractory group (p = 0.02). UC severity (mild/moderate/severe) was 119/69/0 in the cancer/dysplasia group and 18/157/80 in the refractory group (p < 0.01). The four nutrition factors of weight (55.2 (32.7-99.6) kg: 49.9 (20.3-85.2) kg), body mass index (21.0 (13.9-32.5) kg/m2: 18.3 (11.4-34.1)kg/m2), serum albumin level (4.3 (2.7-5.0)g/dl: 3.4 (1.4-5.2)g/dl) and prognostic nutrition index (49.2 (33.2-61.2): 40.9 (17.4-61.1)) were significantly higher in the cancer/dysplasia group (p < 0.01). The degree of obesity was also significantly higher in the cancer/dysplasia group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

UC patients with cancer/dysplasia were more likely than refractory patients to have mild inflammation; they also had a longer duration of UC disease and better nutritional status.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Colorectal Cancer: Translational and Transformational Risks Posed by Exogenous Free Hemoglobin Alpha Chain, A By-Product of Extravasated Erythrocyte Macrophage Erythrophagocytosis

Colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's colitis (CC). Patients with IBD are at increased risk for colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CACRC) compared to the general population. CACRC is preceded by IBD, characterized by highly heterogenous, pharmacologically incurable, pertinacious, worsening, and immune-mediated inflammatory pathologies of the colon and rectum. The molecular and immunological basis of CACRC is highly correlated with the duration and severity of inflammation, which is influenced by the exogenous free hemoglobin alpha chain (HbαC), a byproduct of infiltrating immune cells; extravasated erythrocytes; and macrophage erythrophagocytosis. The exogenous free HbαC prompts oxygen free radical-arbitrated DNA damage (DNAD) through increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is exacerbated by decreased tissue antioxidant defenses. Mitigation of the Fenton Reaction via pharmaceutical therapy would attenuate ROS, promote apoptosis and DNAD repair, and subsequently prevent the incidence of CACRC. Three pharmaceutical options that attenuate hemoglobin toxicity include haptoglobin, deferoxamine, and flavonoids (vitamins C/E). Haptoglobin's clearance rate from plasma is inversely correlated with its size; the smaller the size, the faster the clearance. Thus, the administration of Hp1-1 may prove to be beneficial. Further, deferoxamine's hydrophilic structure limits its ability to cross cell membranes. Finally, the effectiveness of flavonoids, natural herb antioxidants, is associated with the high reactivity of hydroxyl substituents. Multiple analyses are currently underway to assess the clinical context of CACRC and outline the molecular basis of HbαC-induced ROS pathogenesis by exposing colonocytes and/or colonoids to HbαC. The molecular immunopathogenesis pathways of CACRC herein reviewed are broadly still not well understood. Therefore, this timely review outlines the molecular and immunological basis of disease pathogenesis and pharmaceutical intervention as a protective measure for CACRC.

Dysplasia at the Anal Transition Zone after IPAA

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a popular way of reconstruction the gastrointestinal tract after total proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. The pouch-anal anastomosis is usually stapled, which requires the preservation of a small amount of upper anal canal and lower rectum. This includes the anal transition zone (ATZ), a surprisingly small and irregular ring of tissue at and just above the dentate line. The ATZ and rectal cuff is prone to inflammation and neoplasia, particularly in patients who had a colon cancer or dysplasia at the time their large bowel was removed. This high-risk group needs ATZ/rectal cuff surveillance before and after the surgery. Those without colorectal dysplasia preoperatively are at low risk of developing ATZ/rectal cuff dysplasia postoperatively and follow-up can be more relaxed. Treatment of ATZ dysplasia is difficult and may mean mucosectomy, pouch advancement, pouch removal, or a redo pelvic pouch.

Ileoanal pouch cancers in ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Restorative proctocolectomy results in the formation of a pouch that adapts to a more colonic phenotype. The incidence of cancer of the pouch is thought to be low with most societal guidelines differing on their recommendations for surveillance.

AIMS

We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to report the incidence of cancer in all pouch patients.

METHODS

The Embase, Embase classic and PubMed databases were searched between June 1979- June 2021. A random effects model was performed to find the pooled incidence of pouch cancer. In addition, we also looked for risk factors for pouch cancers.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies were included. In 19,964 patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) the pooled incidence of pouch cancer was 0.0030 (95% CI: 0.0016 -0.0055). In 3741 patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) the pooled incidence of pouch cancer was 0.01 (95% CI: 0.01 - 0.02). In UC most pouch cancers were found to occur in the pouch body (0.59 (95% CI: 0.29-0.84)).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the pooled incidence of pouch cancer in UC is similar to that which was previously published, and this is the first meta-analysis to report a pooled incidence for pouch cancer in FAP.

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in elderly patients - is advanced age a contraindication?

Aim

We aimed to determine pouch function and retention rate for restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC) in elderly patients.

Methods

We identified patients over 50 years old subjected to IPAA for confirmed pathological UC from 1980 until 2016. Patients were grouped according to age: 50–59, 60–69 and 70+ years. Short and long‐term outcomes and quality of life (QOL) were compared among the groups.

Results

Six hundred and one patients were identified (399 (66.4%) between 50–59 181 (30.1%) between 60–69, and 21 (3.5%) over 70 years of age). More males were in the 70+ arm, and more two‐stage procedures were performed in this group. Wound infection increased with age (P = 0.023). There was a trend of more fistula and pouchitis in the 70+ patients (P = 0.052 and P = 0.055, respectively). Pouch failure rate increased with age, and it was statistically significant in the 70+ cohort (P = 0.015). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression showed that pelvic sepsis (HR 4.8 (95% CI 1.5–15.4), P = 0.009), fistula (HR 6.0 (95% CI 1.7–21.5), and mucosectomy with handsewn anastomosis (HR 4.5 (95% CI 1.4–14.7)), were independently associated with pouch failure. No difference was observed in the QOL among the groups, but pouch function was better for patients younger than 60 years.

Conclusion

In elderly patients with UC, IPAA may be offered with reasonable functional outcomes, and ileal pouch retention rates, as an alternative to the permanent stoma. Stapled anastomosis increases the chance of pouch retention and should be recommended as long as the distal rectum does not carry dysplasia.

The association between pre-colectomy thiopurine use and risk of neoplasia after ileal pouch anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis: a propensity score analysis

BACKGROUND

The risk of neoplasia of the pouch or residual rectum in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who undergo total proctocolectomy (TPC) with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) is incompletely investigated. Thiopurine use is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal neoplasia in patients with UC. We tested the hypothesis that thiopurine use prior to TPC may be associated with a reduced risk of primary neoplasia after IPAA.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients from a tertiary referral center from January 2008 to December 2017. Eligible patients with UC or IC underwent TPC with IPAA and had at least two pouchoscopies with biopsies ≥ 6 months after surgery. Propensity score analysis was conducted to match thiopurine exposed vs unexposed groups based on clinical covariates. Multivariable Cox regression analysis estimated the risk of neoplasia.

RESULTS

A total of 284 patients with UC or IC (57.4% male, median age 35.6 years) were analyzed. Ninety-seven patients (34.2%) were confirmed to have thiopurine exposure ≥ 12 weeks immediately prior to TPC ("exposed") and 187 (65.8%) were confirmed to have no thiopurine exposure for at least 365 days prior to TPC ("non-exposed"). Compared to non-exposed patients, patients with thiopurine exposure less often had dysplasia (7.2% vs 23.0%, p = 0.001) and had lower grades of dysplasia before colectomy. After IPAA, patients with neoplasia were older (44.0 vs 34.8 years, p = 0.03), more likely to have had dysplasia as colectomy indication (44.4% vs 15.4%, p = 0.007), and more likely to require pouch excision (55.6% vs 10.2%, p < 0.0001), compared to patients without neoplasia. On propensity-matched cohort analysis, no factors were significantly associated with risk of primary neoplasia.

CONCLUSION

Thiopurine exposure for at least the 12 weeks prior to TPC in patients with UC or IC does not appear to be independently associated with risk of primary neoplasia following IPAA.

Diagnosis and classification of ileal pouch disorders: consensus guidelines from the International Ileal Pouch Consortium

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is an option for most patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis who require colectomy. Although the construction of an ileal pouch substantially improves patients' health-related quality of life, the surgery is, directly or indirectly, associated with various structural, inflammatory, and functional adverse sequelae. Furthermore, the surgical procedure does not completely abolish the risk for neoplasia. Patients with ileal pouches often present with extraintestinal, systemic inflammatory conditions. The International Ileal Pouch Consortium was established to create this consensus document on the diagnosis and classification of ileal pouch disorders using available evidence and the panellists' expertise. In a given individual, the condition of the pouch can change over time. Therefore, close monitoring of the activity and progression of the disease is essential to make accurate modifications in the diagnosis and classification in a timely manner.