Double-balloon enteroscopy in small bowel tumors: A Chinese single-center study

Small Bowel Cancer in Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that frequently affects the small bowel. Individuals diagnosed with CD are at increased risk of developing bowel cancer compared to the general population. Small bowel cancer is a rare but significant CD complication. Adenocarcinoma represents the most prevalent of these neoplasms, followed by neuroendocrine tumors and sarcomas. The primary risk factors identified are being of the male sex, disease duration, previous surgical intervention, perianal disease, and chronic inflammation. The precise etiology remains unclear. Another crucial issue concerns the role of immunomodulators and advanced therapies. By inhibiting inflammation, these therapies can reduce the risk of cancer, which is often initiated by the inflammation-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence. In accordance with the most recent guidelines, it is not necessary to conduct surveillance in patients with small bowel cancer among CD patients, as it is considered a rare disease. Nevertheless, it is of significant importance for gastroenterologists to be aware of this potential CD complication, as well as the patients who are most at risk of developing it. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of CD-SBC, focusing on epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis, and the role of advanced therapies in CD-SBC.

Resistance to Anti-HER2 Therapies in Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that interacts with multiple signaling pathways related to cellular growth and proliferation. Overexpression or amplification of HER2 is linked to various malignancies, and there have been decades of research dedicated to targeting HER2. Despite the landmark ToGA trial, progress in HER2-positive gastrointestinal malignancies has been hampered by drug resistance. This review examines current HER2 expression patterns and therapies for gastroesophageal, colorectal, biliary tract, and small bowel cancers, while dissecting potential resistance mechanisms that limit treatment effectiveness.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma of the jejunum detected by double contrast enhanced ultrasound: a case report of a novel ultrasound modality

Background

Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma (SBA) is rare, occult and life-threatening malignancy in digestive system. Given low incidence and nonspecific symptoms, SBA is frequently detected in later stages. Double contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS) is an innovative imaging technique applied to visualize the gastrointestinal tract, merging intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound with oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound. In this case, DCEUS was utilized and successfully detected an SBA of the jejunum.

Case presentation

A Chinese woman, aged 64, sought consultation in the gastroenterology department at our hospital, reporting symptoms of abdominal pain. Three months before entering the hospital, she underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy which suggested chronic gastritis, and she was treated with oral drugs. However, her symptoms were not relieved, and even worsened. To further investigate, DCEUS was performed. The oral contrast agent dilated the luminal space of the upper gastrointestinal tract, resolving the hindrance caused by gas in the gastrointestinal tract and creating an acoustic window for scanning. Through this acoustic window, oral agent contrast-enhanced ultrasound (OA-CEUS) revealed a localized thickening of jejunal intestinal wall measuring 4x3 cm. Following intravenous injection of ultrasound contrast agent, the jejunal lesion exhibited faster enhancement and heterogeneous hyper-enhancement. Finally, the patient underwent jejunal tumor resection. Pathological examination revealed a jejunal adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

The timely diagnosis of SBA can be challenging. DCEUS may have the potential to contribute to diagnosis and detailed evaluation of SBA, particularly in cases involving jejunum. Further researches are needed to fully explore the benefits of DCEUS in the standard diagnostic approach for small bowel diseases.

Clinical features and prognosis of malignant small bowel tumors: Experience from a university hospital in Chile

BACKGROUND

Small bowel tumors (SBT) are infrequent and represent a small proportion of digestive neoplasms. There is scarce information about SBT in Latin America.

AIM

To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and survival of malignant SBTs.

METHODS

Retrospective observational study of adult patients with histopathological diagnosis of SBT between 2007 and 2021 in a university hospital in Chile.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients [51.9% men; mean age 57 years] with SBT. Histological type: neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (43.7%, n=38), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) (21.8%, n=19), lymphoma (17.2%, n=15) and adenocarcinoma (AC) (11.5%, n=10). GIST was more frequent in duodenum (50%; n=12) and NET in the ileum (65.8%; n=25). Metastasis was observed in 17 cases, most commonly from colon and melanoma. Nausea and vomiting were significantly more often observed in AC (p=0.035), as well as gastrointestinal bleeding in GIST (p=0.007). The most common diagnostic tools were CT and CT enteroclysis with an elevated diagnostic yield (86% and 94% respectively). The 5-year survival of GIST, NET, lymphoma and AC were 94.7% (95%CI: 68.1-99.2), 82.2% (95%CI: 57.6-93.3), 40.0% (95%CI: 16.5-82.8) and 25.9% (95%CI: 4.5-55.7%), respectively. NET (HR 6.1; 95%CI: 2.1-17.2) and GIST (HR 24.4; 95%CI: 3.0-19.8) were independently associated with higher survival compared to AC, adjusted for age and sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Malignant SBT are rare conditions and NETs are the most common histological subtype. Clinical presentation at diagnosis, location or complications may suggest a more probable diagnosis. GIST and NET are associated with better survival compared to other malignant subtypes.

Successful treatment with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy as the first‑line regimen in advanced small bowel adenocarcinoma harboring HER2 amplification: A report of two cases

Therapeutic options are limited for individuals with unresectable or metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA), necessitating palliative chemotherapy. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification or protein overexpression in SBA is exceedingly rare. HER2 amplification mutations/overexpression serves as a potential target for treatment in various malignancies. However, research on targeted therapies for SBA with HER2 mutation is lacking. In this context, the present study reports two cases of advanced SBA with a HER2 amplification mutation. Both patients received the anti-HER2 agent trastuzumab in combination with an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen as a first-line treatment. Following disease progression, trastuzumab was used in conjunction with other palliative chemotherapy regimens. Notably, anti-HER2 treatment resulted in significantly extended overall survival times without the occurrence of serious treatment-related adverse events. The overall survival times of the two patients were 31 and 15 months. Additionally, a review of the existing literature was conducted with regard to the effectiveness of anti-HER2 agents in the treatment of advanced SBA. It can be concluded that it is imperative to ascertain the HER2 status prior to the initiation of palliative treatment.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma in neoterminal ileum in setting of stricturing Crohn’s disease: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Small bowel adenocarcinomas (SBA) are rare malignancies with exceedingly low survival rates, with different presentation in Crohn’s disease (CD). CD-induced SBA poses diagnostic challenges given overlapping presentation with stricturing CD and lack of diagnostics for early detection. Moreover, guidance is lacking on the impact of recently approved therapeutics in CD on SBA management. Here, we aim to highlight the future of CD-induced SBA management and discuss the potential merit of balloon enteroscopy and genetic testing for earlier detection.

CASE SUMMARY

We report the case of a 60-year-old female with longstanding Crohn’s ileitis, presenting with acute obstructive symptoms attributed to stricturing phenotype. Her obstructive symptoms were refractory to intravenous (IV) steroids, with further investigation via computed tomography enterography not providing additional diagnostic yield. Ultimately, surgical resection revealed SBA in the neoterminal ileum, with oncologic therapy plan created. However, this therapy plan could not be initiated due to continued obstructive symptoms attributed to active CD. Ultimately, infused biologic therapy was initiated, but her obstructive symptoms continued to remain dependent on IV corticosteroids. Review of diagnostics by a multidisciplinary care team suggested metastatic disease in the peritoneum, lending to a shift in the goals of care to comfort.

CONCLUSION

With the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of concurrent SBA and CD, multidisciplinary care and algorithmic management can optimize outcomes.

Endoscopic and histological characteristics of small bowel tumors diagnosed by double-balloon enteroscopy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) allows for the diagnoses and treatment of small bowel tumors (SBTs). This study aimed to evaluate the utility of DBE for the diagnosis and treatment of SBTs.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with SBTs who underwent DBE were included in this study. According to their endoscopic appearances, they were categorized as polyps or masses, and according to their histological characteristics, they were categorized as benign or malignant SBTs.

RESULTS

A total of 704 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and 90 (12.8%) were diagnosed with SBTs. According to their endoscopic appearance, 48 (53.3%) had polyps and 42 (46.7%) had masses. Additionally, 53 (58.9%) and 37 (41.1%) patients had malignant and benign SBTs, respectively, depending on their histological characteristics. Patients diagnosed with polyps were younger than those diagnosed with masses (p<0.001). Patients diagnosed with benign SBTs were younger than those diagnosed with malignant SBT (p<0.001). Overall, histological diagnosis was determined using DBE in 73 (81.1%) patients.

CONCLUSION

DBE is a useful method for diagnosing SBTs. Additionally, the histological type of the lesion can be determined using DBE.

Clinical Features and Management of Small Bowel Masses Detected During Device-Assisted Enteroscopy: A Multi-Center Experience

Background

Small bowel mass lesions (SBMLs) are rare, span a range of different histologies and phenotypes, and our understanding of them is limited. Some lesions occur in patients with recognized polyposis syndromes and others arise sporadically. The current literature regarding SBMLs is limited to small retrospective studies, case reports, and small case series. This large multi-center study aims to understand the various clinical presentations, histologies and management options for SBMLs.

Methods

After obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, electronic records were used to identify all device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) performed for luminal small bowel evaluation in adult patients at three US referral centers (Duke, LSU and UMass) from January 1, 2014, to October 1, 2020. We identified all patients within this cohort in whom a SBML was detected. Using a focused electronic medical record chart review, we collected patient, procedure, and lesion-related data and used descriptive statistics to explore relationships between these data and outcomes.

Results

A total of 218 patients (49 at Duke, 148 at LSU, and 21 at UMass) in this cohort had at least one SBML found on DAE. The most common presenting symptoms were iron-deficiency anemia/bleeding (73.3%) and abnormal imaging (33.6%). Thirty-five percent of patients had symptoms for more than a year prior to their diagnosis. Most patients (71.6%) underwent video capsule endoscopy (VCE) prior to DAE and 84% of these exams showed the lesion. The lesion was seen less frequently (48.9%) on computed tomography (CT) scan performed prior to DAE. The majority of lesions were found on antegrade (56%) or retrograde (29.8%) double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). The most common lesion phenotypes were submucosal (41.3%) and pedunculated (33%) with a much smaller number being sessile (14.7%) or obstructing/invasive (11%). They were found equally as commonly in the jejunum (46.3%) and ileum (49.5%). Most lesions were 10 - 20 mm in size (47%) but 22.1% were larger than 20 mm. The most common histologies were neuroendocrine tumors (NETs, 20.6%) and hamartomas (20.6%). Primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel was rare, constituting only 5% of lesions. The majority of polyps (78.4%) were sporadic, compared to 21.7% associated with a polyposis or hereditary cancer syndrome, most commonly Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (18.3%). After DAE, 37.6% were advised to undergo surgical resection and 48% were advised to undergo endoscopic surveillance or no further management because of benign histology or successful endoscopic resection.

Conclusions

In this multi-center retrospective study we found that SBMLs are more likely to be sporadic than syndromic, medium in size and either pedunculated or submucosal. NETs and hamartomas predominated and symptoms, most commonly anemia, can be present for more than a year prior to diagnosis. Close to one half of lesions required either no further intervention or only endoscopic surveillance.

Single-centre empirical analysis of double-balloon enteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases: A retrospective study of 466 cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases (SBDs) has always been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases.

METHOD

The clinical data of 466 patients who underwent double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the Endoscope Center of Gastroenterology Department of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2020 were analysed retrospectively. The factors included age, sex, indications, endoscopic treatment results, pathological results, discharge diagnosis and so on.

RESULTS

A total of 370 patients underwent 466 double-balloon enteroscopies, among whom 274 underwent one examination and 96 received two-way examinations (oral and transanal approaches). Abnormalities were detected in 299 cases, with a detection rate of 80.81% (299/370). The common indications were occult gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (30.8%, 114/370) and abdominal pain (28.3%, 105/370). The diagnosis rates were 64.9% and 77.1%, respectively. The common positive findings included nonspecific inflammation/erosion (60 cases), ulcers (34 cases), diverticulum (32 cases), polyps (26 cases) and Crohn's disease (CD) (24 cases). The common tumours were lymphoma(12 cases), adenocarcinoma(11 cases) and stromal tumour(8 cases). Lymphoma was mostly located in the ileum, while stromal tumours and adenocarcinoma were mostly located in the duodenum and jejunum. The main endoscopic intervention measures were haemostasis and polypectomy, including haemostatic clip, argon plasma coagulation (APC), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic trap resection, endoscopic foreign body extraction and other operations, without serious complications.

CONCLUSION

DBE has a high success rate in the diagnosis and treatment of some SBDs, and it is a safe and effective management method.

Adenocarcinoma of the Jejunum: A Case Report and Literature Review

Small intestine cancers account for 1-3% of all gastrointestinal tumors, with only 11-25% of these tumors located in the jejunum. We report the case of a woman who has been experiencing abdominal pain for the last six months, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and appearance of dark-colored stools, who has lost 20 kg in weight during the last few months. Laboratory findings indicated anemia and no significant changes were identified in the abdominal ultrasound. By endoscopic examination of the stomach and duodenum and by colonoscopy, no infiltrations were found. Serum markers were elevated and CT scan of the abdomen showed thickening of a part of the jejunum wall with swollen lymph nodes in the mesentery, along the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta, in the retroperitoneal space. By opening the abdominal cavity, we observed an infiltration in the initial part of the jejunum with an infiltration of the entire wall. Resection of the jejunum with related mesenthery, vessels and lymph nodes therein was performed. Histopathology revealed an invasive adenocarcinoma of the small intestine, with an invasion of all layers of the wall and mesentery. Adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy was introduced, 6 cycles in total, and following each cycle, tumor markers have been constantly decreasing. No relapse has been identified after nine months. Due to often deep position in the small intestine, atypical symptomatology and lack of screening, an early diagnosis is difficult. Surgical resection of the affected small intestine followed by an additional chemotherapy is the optimal treatment strategy.

Diagnosis and therapy using double-balloon endoscopy for small bowel disease: experience from a Chinese tertiary hospital

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) for small bowel disease (SBD).

Methods

The clinical and endoscopic data of patients who underwent DBE in a Chinese tertiary hospital from January 2006 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups by age: the young group (<45 years), middle-aged group (45–65 years), and older group (>65 years).

Results

In total, 1177 patients who underwent 2134 DBE procedures were included. The anterograde and retrograde route was used in 1111 and 1023 procedures, respectively. The most common reason for performing DBE was suspected small bowel bleeding (SSBB) (53.1%), and the most common SBD was Crohn's disease (CD) (18.1%). Hemostasis was the predominant endoscopic therapy (54.3%). The total complication rate was 0.8%. The incidence of CD was highest in the young group, and the incidence of tumors was highest in the older group; these findings were consistent both among the overall patient population and among patients with SSBB.

Conclusions

DBE is effective and safe for the diagnosis and treatment of SBD and is considered to have great potential as a first-line method for diagnosing SBD.

Roles of Capsule Endoscopy and Device-Assisted Enteroscopy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Small-Bowel Tumors

With the development of capsule endoscopy (CE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE), the incidence of small-bowel tumors has increased and the characteristics of these tumors have changed. In addition, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for small-bowel tumors have diversified. CE is a simple, noninvasive method that aid in the visualization the entire small bowel. CE is considered the initial approach for small-bowel tumors. DAE can be used to perform endoscopic procedures such as bleeding control, polypectomy, stent insertion, and tattooing, as well as for diagnosis through visualization or tissue sampling. Therapeutic intervention with DAE is particularly useful in polyposis syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. This review will discuss the roles of CE and DAE in the diagnosis and treatment of small-bowel tumors.

Jejunal Submucosal Hemangioma as a Cause of Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report

Small intestinal hemangiomas are uncommon tumors that frequently present with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Diagnosis, detection, and treatment can be challenging and may require surgical intervention. An 81-year-old female presented with melena. Video capsule endoscopy revealed active bleeding in the proximal jejunum and push enteroscopy identified a polypoid nodule with central umbilication. The patient underwent laparoscopic resection and jejunal submucosal hemangioma was detected. Submucosal hemangiomas are a rare cause of GIB. As the most common site of submucosal hemangiomas is the mid-jejunum, they are not easy to detect. Surgical intervention is usually required for a definitive diagnosis and definitive treatment.

Clinical characteristics of small bowel tumors diagnosed by double-balloon endoscopy: Experience from a Chinese tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To determine the characteristics of small bowel tumors (SBTs) in patients underwent double balloon endoscopy (DBE) and to compare the clinical value of DBE with other diagnostic tools.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in patients underwent DBE procedures from March 2008 to April 2017.The demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with SBTs were recorded, while the diagnosis of SBTs was achieved either by DBE biopsy or surgical specimens.

RESULTS

One thousand one hundred and two patients (761 males, range 3-85 years) were enrolled in this study, with 1140 procedures completed in total. 99/1102 patients (9.0%) had SBTs, including benign polyps (20, 20.2%), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) (24, 24.2%), lymphomas (13, 13.1%), adenocarcinoma (39, 39.4%), and neuroendocrine tumors (3, 3.0%). The most common clinical symptom for benign polyps was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (75.0%). But among patients with malignant SBTs, the main indication for DBE was chronic abdominal pain (43.8%), followed by OGIB (36.3%), vomit (10.0%), abnormal images (6.3%) and diarrhea (3.8%) (P<0.001). Moreover, SBTs were primarily located in the jejunum alone (40/99, 40.4%). DBE had better sensitivity (89.2%), specificity (95.2%), positive predictive value (PPV) (90.0%), and negative predictive value (NPV) (94.8%) than other tools for suspected SBTs.

CONCLUSION

Small bowel tumor is mainly located in jejunum and with OGIB and abdominal pain as major complaints. DBE is a reliable method for the diagnosis of SBTs compared with other diagnostic tools.

Device-assisted enteroscopy: An update on techniques, clinical indications and safety

After more than 15 years since its introduction into clinical practice, indications for device-assisted enteroscopy have greatly expanded. Alongside the consolidated indications such as the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel bleeding, Crohn's disease, hereditary polyposis, small-bowel tumors and complicated celiac disease, device-assisted enteroscopy is nowadays largely used to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with altered anatomy, stent placement, retrieval of foreign bodies, direct insertion of jejunal feeding tubes, and in selected cases of incomplete colonoscopy. This has been made possible by the technical improvements of the enteroscopes and accessories and by the widespread use of the method. Device-assisted enteroscopy endotherapy currently offers a safe and effective alternative to major surgery and often represents the preferred option for treatment of small-bowel pathology. Its safety profile is favourable even in the elderly patient, provided that it is performed in high-volume and experienced centers. The evolution of the enteroscopy technique is a challenge for the future and could be facilitated by the new enteroscopes models. These prototypes need a thorough clinical and safety assessment especially for the complex therapeutic procedures. Large prospective, multicenter studies should be performed to assess whether the use of device-assisted enteroscopy leads to improved patients' long-term outcomes.

Endoscopic characteristics of small intestinal malignant tumors observed by balloon-assisted enteroscopy

BACKGROUND

Capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) enable visualization of rare small bowel conditions such as small intestinal malignant tumors. However, details of the endoscopic characteristics of small intestinal malignant tumors are still unknown.

AIM

To elucidate the endoscopic characteristics of small intestinal malignant tumors.

METHODS

From March 2005 to February 2017, 1328 BAE procedures were performed at Keio University Hospital. Of these procedures, malignant tumors were classified into three groups, Group 1: epithelial tumors including primary small intestinal cancer, metastatic small intestinal cancer, and direct small intestinal invasion by an adjacent organ cancer; Group 2: small intestinal malignant lymphoma; and Group 3, small intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We systematically collected clinical and endoscopic data from patients’ medical records to determine the endoscopic characteristics for each group.

RESULTS

The number of patients in each group was 16 (Group 1), 22 (Group 2), and 6 (Group 3), and the percentage of solitary tumors was 100%, 45.5%, and 100%, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients’ clinical background parameters including age, symptoms, and laboratory data were not significantly different between the groups. Seventy-five percent of epithelial tumors (Group 1) were located in the upper small intestine (duodenum and ileum), and approximately 70% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (Group 3) were located in the jejunum. Solitary protruding or mass-type tumors were not seen in malignant lymphoma (Group 2) (P < 0.001). Stenosis was seen more often in Group 1, (68.8%, 27.3%, and 0%; Group 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P = 0.004). Enlarged white villi inside and/or surrounding the tumor were seen in 12.5%, 54.5%, and 0% in Group 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The differential diagnosis of small intestinal malignant tumors could be tentatively made based on BAE findings.

Small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a retrospective study of 32 cases at a single center and review of the literature

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare tumor of the small bowel, which can be difficult to diagnose and has a varied clinical outcome.

Purpose

This is a retrospective review of the diagnosis, management, and clinical outcome of 32 patients diagnosed with primary small bowel GIST from a single center and a comparison of the findings with previously published cases.

Patients and methods

Retrospective review of data from patient clinical records, endoscopic and imaging findings, surgical procedures, tumor histology and immunohistochemistry, and clinical outcome was conducted.

Results

Data of 32 patients with a median age of 56 years including 50% men and women were reviewed. The majority (29/32) were symptomatic at presentation, with the main symptom being gastrointestinal bleeding (15/32). Imaging detection rates included ultrasound (0%), magnetic resonance imaging (0%), computed tomography (54.8%), computed tomography angiography (71.4%), and double-balloon enteroscopy (88.9%). The mean tumor diameter was 5.3 cm; 4 tumors were located in the duodenum, 21 in the jejunum, and 7 in the ileum. Based on the tumor size and mitotic index, 5 (15.6%), 15 (46.9%), 0 (0%), and 12 (37.5%) patients were classified into very low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups. Immunohistochemistry showed positive expression for CD117 (100%), CD34 (81.2%), DOG1 (93.8%), smooth muscle actin (37.5%), S100 (9.4%), and desmin (6.2%). Twenty-five patients (78.1%) were treated with open surgical tumor resection; seven patients (21.9%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. Postoperative complications that occurred in seven patients (21.9%) were resolved with conservative management. Four patients were treated with postoperative imatinib. At median follow-up of 30 months, two patients were died.

Conclusion

The findings from this case series, combined with the findings from previously published cases, provide an update on the current status of the diagnosis and the therapeutic approaches that might lead to improvement in prognosis for patients who present with primary small bowel GIST.

The Use of Balloon-assisted Enteroscopy at a Large Volume Centre: A Retrospective Analysis

Objectives

Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) is increasingly used for the evaluation of small bowel disorders. We quantified local diagnostic and therapeutic yields of BAE in patients with suspected small bowel diseases.

Methods

Adult patients undergoing BAE between January 2010 and July 2015 at McGill University Health Centre were included. Procedures were identified using a prospectively maintained database. Patients were excluded if procedure report was unavailable. Electronic medical records were reviewed. Analyses were restricted to patients who did not have a previous BAE.

Results

BAE was performed in 453 patients, including 421 anterograde cases. Patients had a mean age of 61.0 ± 17.5 years. Most common indications for referral were obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (n=207, 45.7%), abnormal imaging (n=88, 19.4%), suspected small bowel neoplasia (SBN) (n=39, 8.6%) and Crohn’s disease (CD) (n=31, 6.8%). A diagnosis was established in 216 procedures (47.7%). A pre-endoscopic indication of CD (odds ratio [OR]: 3.78; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.60–8.90), OGIB (OR: 3.69, 95% CI, 2.03–6.71), suspected SBN (OR: 2.45; 95% CI, 1.06–5.65) and previous VCE (OR: 9.33; 95% CI, 3.24–26.90) were associated with abnormal findings. A therapeutic procedure was performed in 126 cases (28.3%). OGIB (OR: 7.00; 95% CI, 3.83–12.81), previous video capsule endoscopy (VCE) (OR: 7.86; 95% CI, 2.93–21.04) and suspected SBN (OR: 6.30; 95% CI, 2.58–21.04) were associated with performance of a therapeutic intervention. Complication rate was 1.6%, with bleeding in seven cases and one perforation.

Conclusions

In carefully selected patients, such as those with OGIB, Crohn’s disease and previous VCE, BAE was a safe procedure that led to the identification of abnormal findings and therapeutic interventions.

The role of pre-operative imaging and double balloon enteroscopy in the surgical management of small bowel neuroendocrine tumors: Is it necessary?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Pre-operative localization of small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNET) is important for operative planning. The aim was to determine the effectiveness of pre-operative imaging and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in identifying extent of disease.

METHODS

Database review identified 85 patients with primary SBNET between 2006 and 2013. Analysis included patients who underwent imaging, endoscopy, and surgery at our institution.

RESULTS

Average age was 60.7 years. Sixty-six (77.1%) patients had a primary NET in the ileum. Seventy-two patients (67.3%) underwent CT, 47 (46.7%) had MRI, 44 (46.7%) had somatostatin receptor imaging (SRI), and 41 (39.3%) underwent DBE. The sensitivity of each in identifying the NET was 59.7% for CT, 54% for MRI, 56% for SRI, and 88.1% for DBE. Eighteen (21.2%) patients had primary tumors not identified on imaging. Of these 18, 13 underwent DBE, and 12 of 13 (92.3%) DBEs identified the primary lesion. DBE was significantly better at identifying the primary NET than CT, MRI or SRI (P = 0.004, 0.007, and 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

Most SBNETs are identified with a combination of imaging modalities. In those with unidentified primary tumors after imaging, DBE should be considered as it may provide valuable information as to the location of the primary tumor.

Preoperative detection and localization of small bowel hemangioma: Two case reports

Among the various diagnostic modalities for small bowel hemangioma, video capsule endoscopy (VCE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) can be recommended as part of the work-up in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). DBE is superior to VCE in the accuracy of diagnosis and therapeutic potential, while in most cases total enteroscopy cannot be achieved through only the antegrade or retrograde DBE procedures. As treatment for small bowel bleeding, especially spout bleeding, localization of the lesion for the decision of DBE insertion facilitates early treatment, such as endoscopic hemostatic clipping, allowing patients to avoid useless transfusion and the worsening of their disease into life-threatening status. Applying endoscopic India ink marking prior to laparoscopic surgical resection is a particularly useful technique for more minimally invasive treatment. We report two cases of small bowel hemangioma found in examinations for OGIB that were treated with combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic modalities.

An update on small bowel endoscopy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The breakthrough success of capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy has inspired researchers to test and push the boundary of these technologies. The authors herein summarize the latest and most significant studies with clinical impact.

RECENT FINDINGS

Competing capsule endoscopy models have enriched the platform of this wireless device. The role of capsule endoscopy in Crohn's disease is expanding as we learn more of the significance of disease distribution and response to treatment. The benefit of capsule endoscopy in abdominal pain has previously been sceptical, but may have a role. Device-assisted enteroscopy demonstrates significant benefit in the management of patients with Crohn's disease and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. On the contrary, long-term data suggest that endotherapy to small bowel angioectasia may not be as beneficial to patients as we once thought. The role of device-assisted enteroscopy in novel territory, including coeliac disease and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, continues to be tested.

SUMMARY

The limit of capsule endoscopy and enteroscopy is yet to be reached. Accumulating long-term data alludes to the benefits of our current practice while spawning novel indications for small bowel endoscopy.

Small Bowel Neoplasms and Polyps

The small intestine is a relatively privileged organ that only rarely develops malignant or even benign tumors. Given this rarity, the relative inaccessibility of the organ during routine endoscopic procedures, and the typical absence or nonspecific nature of clinical manifestations, these tumors often go undiagnosed. Treatment and prognosis are tailored to each histological subtype of tumor. This chapter will discuss the epidemiology, presentation, diagnostics, and management for the most common small bowel tumors, and will highlight the importance of recognizing patients at higher risk of small bowel neoplasia.

Overtube-assisted enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy for the diagnosis of small-bowel polyps and tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Several studies have evaluated the utility of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) for patients with small-bowel disease showing inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of overtube-assisted enteroscopy (OAE) as well as the diagnostic concordance between OAE and CE for small-bowel polyps and tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in which the results of OAE were compared with the results of CE for the evaluation of small-bowel polyps and tumors. When data for surgically resected lesions were available, the histopathological results of OAE and surgical specimens were compared. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of small-bowel polyps and tumors were analyzed. Secondarily, the rates of diagnostic concordance and discordance between OAE and CE were calculated.

RESULTS

There were 15 full-length studies with a total of 821 patients that met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were as follows: 0.89 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.84 - 0.93), with heterogeneity χ(2) = 41.23 (P = 0.0002) and inconsistency (I (2)) = 66.0 %; 0.97 (95 %CI 0.95 - 0.98), with heterogeneity χ(2) = 45.27 (P = 0.07) and inconsistency (I (2)) = 69.1 %; 16.61 (95 %CI 3.74 - 73.82), with heterogeneity Cochrane's Q = 225.19 (P < 0.01) and inconsistency (I (2)) = 93.8 %; and 0.14 (95 %CI 0.05 - 0.35), with heterogeneity Cochrane's Q = 81.01 (P < .01) and inconsistency (I (2)) = 82.7 %, respectively. A summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) curve was constructed, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.97.

CONCLUSION

OAE is an accurate test for the detection of small-bowel polyps and tumors. OAE and CE have a high diagnostic concordance rate for small-bowel polyps and tumors. This study was registered in the PROSPERO international database (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) with the study number CRD42015016000.

Detection of small bowel tumor based on multi-scale curvelet analysis and fractal technology in capsule endoscopy

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has been a revolutionary technique to noninvasively inspect gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases, especially small bowel tumor. However, it is a tedious task for physicians to examine captured images. To develop a computer-aid diagnosis tool for relieving the huge burden of physicians, the intestinal video data from 89 clinical patients with the indications of potential tumors was analyzed. Out of the 89 patients, 15(16.8%) were diagnosed with small bowel tumor. A novel set of textural features that integrate multi-scale curvelet and fractal technology were proposed to distinguish normal images from tumor images. The second order textural descriptors as well as higher order moments between different color channels were computed from images synthesized by the inverse curvelet transform of the selected scales. Then, a classification approach based on support vector machine (SVM) and genetic algorithm (GA) was further employed to select the optimal feature set and classify the real small bowel images. Extensive comparison experiments validate that the proposed automatic diagnosis scheme achieves a promising tumor classification performance of 97.8% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity in the selected images from our clinical data.

Multidetector CT Enterography versus Double-Balloon Enteroscopy: Comparison of the Diagnostic Value for Patients with Suspected Small Bowel Diseases

Aim. To compare the diagnostic value of multidetector CT enterography (MDCTE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for patients with suspected small bowel diseases. Methods. From January 2009 to January 2014, 190 patients with suspected small bowel diseases were examined with MDCTE and DBE. The characteristics of the patients, detection rates, diagnostic yields, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were described and analyzed. Results. The overall detection rates of DBE and MDCTE were 92.6% and 55.8%, respectively (P<0.05), while the overall diagnostic yields were 83.2% and 33.7%, respectively (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of DBE were all higher than those of MDCTE. DBE had a higher diagnostic yield for OGIB (87.3% versus 20.9%, P<0.05). The diagnostic yields of DBE were higher than those of MDCTE for inflammatory diseases, angioma/angiodysplasia, and diverticulums, while being not for gastrointestinal tumors/polyps. Conclusions. The diagnostic value of DBE for small bowel diseases is better than that of MDCTE as a whole, but if gastrointestinal tumors are suspected, MDCTE is also needed to gain a comprehensive and accurate diagnosis.

Small Bowel Metastatic Cancer Observed With Double Balloon Enteroscopy in a Patient With a Past History of Multiple Cancers

Small bowel tumors are very rare and generally malignant. As a result of the anatomical location and nonspecific manifestations of small bowel tumors, they are very difficult to diagnose. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy is a relatively noninvasive method compared to surgical resection, and allows for real-time observation, tissue confirmation with biopsy, and interventional procedures. Here, we report the case of a 69-year-old woman with a small bowel metastatic carcinoma observed with double balloon enteroscopy (DBE). She had a history of multiple cancers including ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer. The antegrade DBE procedure was performed before surgery for biopsy tissue confirmation. The patient underwent small bowel resection, and the final diagnosis was the same as that determined by preoperative biopsy. The final diagnosis was metastatic small bowel cancer originating from a cancer of the breast. This is the first detailed report of the preoperative diagnosis of small intestinal metastatic breast cancer by DBE.

Decreasing iron-related indexes without anaemia in a patient with genetic haemochromatosis

Present case report refers to a 48-year-old man with genetic haemochromatosis (C282Y mut/mut) diagnosed at the age of 26. After aggressive iron depleting regimen carried out up to normalization of iron-related indexes, he received a maintenance regimen based on regular phlebotomies for about 20 years. In 2014, a marked reduction of both serum ferritin and transferrin saturation percent, without concomitant anaemia, was noted on two different occasions at 5-month interval. An obscure occult GI bleeding was suspected, but both upper and lower GI tract endoscopy were negative for abnormal findings, as also was a detailed abdominal US scan. The persistence of low iron-related indexes prompted the physicians to perform a videocapsule endoscopy, which showed an ulcerative bleeding lesion in the small bowel, not confirmed however by both anterograde and retrograde double-balloon enteroscopy. Further MRI and PET allowed the identification of a 3.5 cm large lesion, located outside the small bowel wall, suspected to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). A further laparoscopic procedure allowed the resection of 10 cm of midileum, which included the mass, fully consistent with GIST at pathology.

Characteristics of Small Intestinal Diseases on Single-Balloon Enteroscopy: A Single-Center Study Conducted Over 6 Years in China

The small intestine has been considered inaccessible for a long term. The development of single-balloon endoscopy has greatly improved the diagnosis and treatment possibilities for small intestinal diseases.In this study, we aimed to explore the demographic characteristics and small intestinal diseases of patients who underwent single-balloon enteroscopy between 2009 and 2014 at our endoscopy center. We determined the enteroscopic findings for each small intestinal disease and the most susceptible age groups.In total, 186 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 45.87 ± 15.77 years. Patients who underwent single-balloon enteroscopy were found to have neoplasms (most common age group: 14-45 years, most common lesion location: jejunum), lymphoma (46-59 and 60-74 years, ileum), protuberant lesions (45-59 years, jejunum), inflammation (14-45 and 46-59 years, ileum), benign ulcers (14-45 years, jejunum), diverticulum (14-45 years, ileum), vascular malformations (60-74 years, jejunum), polyps (14-45 years, jejunum), Crohn's disease (14-45 years, jejunum), hookworm infection (14-45 years, jejunum), lipid pigmentation (14-45 and 46-59 years, jejunum), undetermined bleeding (46-59 years, ileum), or undetermined stenosis (31 years, duodenum). Each small intestinal disease had distinct enteroscopic findings.

Rare gastrointestinal lymphomas: The endoscopic investigation

Gastrointestinal lymphomas represent up to 10% of gastrointestinal malignancies and about one third of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The most prominent histologies are mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, the gastrointestinal tract can be the site of rarer lymphoma subtypes as a primary or secondary localization. Due to their rarity and the multifaceted histology, an endoscopic classification has not been validated yet. This review aims to analyze the endoscopic presentation of rare gastrointestinal lymphomas from disease diagnosis to follow-up, according to the involved site and lymphoma subtype. Existing, new and emerging endoscopic technologies have been examined. In particular, we investigated the diagnostic, prognostic and follow-up endoscopic features of T-cell and natural killer lymphomas, lymphomatous polyposis and mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, plasma cell related disease, gastrointestinal lymphomas in immunodeficiency and Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Contrarily to more frequent gastrointestinal lymphomas, data about rare lymphomas are mostly extracted from case series and case reports. Due to the data paucity, a synergism between gastroenterologists and hematologists is required in order to better manage the disease. Indeed, clinical and prognostic features are different from nodal and extranodal or the bone marrow (in case of plasma cell disease) counterpart. Therefore, the approach should be based on the knowledge of the peculiar behavior and natural history of disease.

Different roles of capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy in obscure small intestinal diseases

AIM: To compare the roles of capsule endoscopy (CE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the diagnosis of obscure small bowel diseases.

METHODS: From June 2009 to December 2014, 88 patients were included in this study; the patients had undergone gastroscopy, colonoscopy, radiological small intestinal barium meal, abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan and mesenteric angiography, but their diagnoses were still unclear. The patients with gastrointestinal obstructions, fistulas, strictures, or cardiac pacemakers, as well as pregnant women, and individuals who could not accept the capsule-retention or capsule-removal surgery were excluded. Patients with heart, lung and other vital organ failure diseases were also excluded. Everyone involved in this study had undergone CE and DBE. The results were divided into: (1) the definite diagnosis (the diagnosis was confirmed at least by one of the biopsy, surgery, pathology or the drug treatment effects with follow-up for at least 3 mo); (2) the possible diagnosis (a possible diagnosis was suggested by CE or DBE, but not confirmed by the biopsy, surgery or follow-up drug treatment effects); and (3) the unclear diagnosis (no exact causes were provided by CE and DBE for the disease). The detection rate and the diagnostic yield of the two methods were compared. The difference in the etiologies between CE and DBE was estimated, and the different possible etiologies caused by the age groups were also investigated.

RESULTS: CE exhibited a better trend than DBE for diagnosing scattered small ulcers (P = 0.242, Fisher’s test), and small vascular malformations (χ² = 1.810, P = 0.179, Pearson χ² test), but with no significant differences, possible due to few cases. However, DBE was better than CE for larger tumors (P = 0.018, Fisher’s test) and for diverticular lesions with bleeding ulcers (P = 0.005, Fisher’s test). All three hemangioma cases diagnosed by DBE in this study (including sponge hemangioma, venous hemangioma, and hemangioma with hamartoma lesions) were all confirmed by biopsy. Two parasite cases were found by CE, but were negative by DBE. This study revealed no obvious differences in the detection rates (DR) of CE (60.0%, 53/88) and DBE (59.1%, 52/88). However, the etiological diagnostic yield (DY) difference was apparent. The CE diagnostic yield was 42.0% (37/88), and the DBE diagnostic yield was 51.1% (45/88). Furthermore, there were differences among the age groups (χ² = 22.146, P = 0.008, Kruskal Wallis Test). Small intestinal cancer (5/6 cases), vascular malformations (22/29 cases), and active bleeding (3/4 cases) appeared more commonly in the patients over 50 years old, but diverticula with bleeding ulcers were usually found in the 15-25-year group (4/7cases). The over-25-year group accounted for the stromal tumors (10/12 cases).

CONCLUSION: CE and DBE each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The appropriate choice depends on the patient’s age, tolerance, and clinical manifestations. Sometimes CE followed by DBE is necessary.

Role of double-balloon enteroscopy in malignant small bowel tumors

AIM: To assess the double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) role in malignant small bowel tumors (MSBT).

METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study performed in a single center. All consecutive patients who underwent a DBE with final diagnosis of a malignant neoplasm from 2004 to 2014 in our referral center were included. Patient demographic and clinical pathological characteristics were recorded and reviewed. MSBT diagnosis was achieved either by DBE directed biopsy with multiple tissue sampling, endoscopic findings or histological analysis of surgical specimen. We have analyzed double-balloon enteroscopy impact in outcome and clinical course of these patients.

RESULTS: Of 627 patients, 28 (4.5%) (mean age = 60 ± 17.3 years) underwent 30 procedures (25 anterograde, 5 retrograde) and were diagnosed of a malignant tumor. Patients presented with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 19, 67.9%), occlusion syndrome (n = 7, 25%) and diarrhea (n = 1, 3.6%). They were diagnosed by DBE biopsy (n = 18, 64.3%), histological analysis of surgical specimen (n = 7, 25%) and unequivocal endoscopic findings (n = 2, 7.1%). Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n = 8, 28.6%), adenocarcinoma (n = 7, 25%), lymphoma (n = 4, 14.3%), neuroendocrine tumor (n = 4, 14.3%), metastatic (n = 3, 10.7%) and Kaposi sarcoma (n = 1, 3.6%) were identified. DBE modified outcome in 7 cases (25%), delaying or avoiding emergency surgery (n = 3), modifying surgery approach (n = 2) and indicating emergency SB partial resection instead of elective approach (n = 2).

CONCLUSION: DBE may be critical in the management of MSBT providing additional information that may be decisive in the clinical course of these patients.

Interventional digital subtraction angiography for small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors with bleeding

AIM: To retrospectively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of interventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for bleeding small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2013, small bowel tumors in 25 consecutive patients undergoing emergency interventional DSA were histopathologically confirmed as GIST after surgical resection. The medical records of these patients and the effects of interventional DSA and the presentation and management of the condition were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS: Of the 25 patients with an age range from 34- to 70-year-old (mean: 54 ± 12 years), 8 were male and 17 were female. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, including tarry or bloody stool and intermittent melena, was observed in all cases, and one case also involved hematemesis. Nineteen patients required acute blood transfusion. There were a total of 28 small bowel tumors detected by DSA. Among these, 20 were located in the jejunum and 8 were located in the ileum. The DSA characteristics of the GISTs included a hypervascular mass of well-defined, homogeneous enhancement and early developed draining veins. One case involved a complication of intussusception of the small intestine that was discovered during surgery. No pseudoaneurysms, arteriovenous malformations or fistulae, or arterial rupture were observed. The completely excised size was approximately 1.20 to 5.50 cm (mean: 3.05 ± 1.25 cm) in maximum diameter based on measurements after the resection. There were ulcerations (n = 8), erosions (n = 10), hyperemia and edema (n = 10) on the intra-luminal side of the tumors. Eight tumors in patients with a large amount of blood loss were treated with transcatheter arterial embolization with gelfoam particles during interventional DSA.

CONCLUSION: Emergency interventional DSA is a useful imaging option for locating and diagnosing small bowel GISTs in patients with bleeding, and is an effective treatment modality.

Jejunal Cancer with WRN Mutation Identified from Next-Generation Sequencing: A Case Study and Minireview

Small bowel cancer is a rare, gastrointestinal cancer originating from the small intestines. Carcinogenesis in the jejunum, the middle segment of the small intestines, occurs less commonly than in the duodenum and ileum. Despite the increasing incidences globally, the cancer is still poorly understood, which includes lack of pathological understanding and etiological reasoning, as it seems to exhibit both similarities and differences with other types of cancers. A 76-year-old Asian man was presented with abdominal pain, which was later attributed to an adenocarcinoma in the jejunum. Initial immunoreactive staining results found no connections to colorectal cancer. The microsatellite instability test was further examined by immunohistochemistry which revealed them to be wild-type. From our exome-capture sequencing results, mutations of WRN may be important as they represent the only genetic defect in this jejunal cancer. The patient has since undergone surgical resection of his cancer and is currently being treated with chemotherapy. The pathology, genomic markers, and treatments are described along with literature review.

Capsule endoscopy: Current practice and future directions

Capsule endoscopy (CE) has transformed investigation of the small bowel providing a non-invasive, well tolerated means of accurately visualising the distal duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Since the introduction of small bowel CE thirteen years ago a high volume of literature on indications, diagnostic yields and safety profile has been presented. Inclusion in national and international guidelines has placed small bowel capsule endoscopy at the forefront of investigation into suspected diseases of the small bowel. Most commonly, small bowel CE is used in patients with suspected bleeding or to identify evidence of active Crohn’s disease (CD) (in patients with or without a prior history of CD). Typically, CE is undertaken after upper and lower gastrointestinal flexible endoscopy has failed to identify a diagnosis. Small bowel radiology or a patency capsule test should be considered prior to CE in those at high risk of strictures (such as patients known to have CD or presenting with obstructive symptoms) to reduce the risk of capsule retention. CE also has a role in patients with coeliac disease, suspected small bowel tumours and other small bowel disorders. Since the advent of small bowel CE, dedicated oesophageal and colon capsule endoscopes have expanded the fields of application to include the investigation of upper and lower gastrointestinal disorders. Oesophageal CE may be used to diagnose oesophagitis, Barrett’s oesophagus and varices but reliability in identifying gastroduodenal pathology is unknown and it does not have biopsy capability. Colon CE provides an alternative to conventional colonoscopy for symptomatic patients, while a possible role in colorectal cancer screening is a fascinating prospect. Current research is already addressing the possibility of controlling capsule movement and developing capsules which allow tissue sampling and the administration of therapy.

Tumors of the angle of Treitz: A single-center experience

AIM: To explore the feasibility and oncologic outcomes of segmental jejunal resection on the left side of the mesenteric vessels in patients with tumors of the angle of Treitz using data from a single center.

METHODS: Thirteen patients with tumors of the angle of Treitz who underwent surgery at our institution were prospectively followed. A segmental jejunal resection on the left side of the mesenteric vessels was performed in all patients. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor samples were examined. The primary end point of this analysis was disease-free survival.

RESULTS: In this study, there were 8 males and 5 females (mean age, 50.1 years; range, 36-74 years). The mean tumor size was 8.1 cm (range, 3.2-15 cm). Histologic examination showed 11 gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and 2 adenocarcinomas. Five of the GIST patients presented with potential low risk, and 6 presented with intermediate and high risk, according to the National Institutes of Health criteria. One potentially high-risk patient showed tumor progression at 46 mo and died 52 mo after surgery. One patient with locally advanced adenocarcinoma received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy, but the disease progressed, and the patient died 9 mo after surgery. One GIST patient without progression died 16 mo after surgery because of a postoperative intestinal obstruction. The median overall survival rate was 84.6 mo, and the median disease-free survival rate was 94.5 mo.

CONCLUSION: The overall survival of patients with tumors of the angle of Treitz was encouraging even when the tumor size was relatively large. A segmental resection on the left side of the mesenteric vessels is considered to be a reliable and curative option for tumors of the angle of Treitz.

Clinical value of double balloon endoscopy in small intestinal diseases

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic value and safety of double balloon endoscopy (DBE) in small intestinal diseases.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 123 patients who underwent DBE under conscious sedation anesthesia with suspected small intestinal diseases from January 2009 to February 2013 was performed. Oral and anal DBE was performed in 52 and 55 patients, respectively, while 16 patients underwent a combination of both approaches. Endoscopic tissue biopsy of suspicious lesions was performed routinely.

RESULTS: The overall diagnostic yield of DBE was 75.6% (93/123), with nonspecific intestinal inflammations in 37 patients and Crohn's diseases in 17 patients. There were benign or malignant tumors in 13 patients, including small intestine adenocarcinoma in 5 patients, stromal tumors and lymphomas in 3, lipomas in 2, and polyps in 11 (including inflammatory polyps in 8 and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in 3), vascular diseases in 6 (including vascular malformations in 4 and angiotelectasia in 2), ulcers in 4 and other lesions in 5 (including lymphangiectasia, small intestinal diverticulum, Behcet's disease, entericintussusception and portal hypertensive enteropathy). In addition, there were three cases of external compressive lesions. The overall therapeutic yield of DBE was 9.8% (12/123), including endoscopic snare and electric coagulation or cutting in all polyps and clipping (with a titanium clip) in one case of vascular malformation with active bleeding. There were no severe complications such as bleeding, perforation, and pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION: DBE is a method with high diagnostic value, safety and reliability for small intestinal diseases, and can be used for endoscopic treatment.