UEG week 2012 report: putting endoscopy into perspective

The 20th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEG week; 20 - 24 October 2012; Amsterdam, The Netherlands) offered, once again, the opportunity for delegates interested in gastrointestinal endoscopy to update their knowledge as colleagues from all over the world shared their experiences. Various interesting studies on endoscopic topics were presented, allowing participants to become better acquainted with recent advancements and research trends in gastrointestinal endoscopy. This report focuses on oral presentations and selected poster presentations and aims to review them in the light of recent literature.

UEGW 2010 Report. Putting endoscopy into perspective

The 18th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW), held in Barcelona in October 2010, marked a return to the traditional "stand-alone" UEGW meeting after the previous year's combined congress format of GASTRO 2009. Various abstracts on endoscopic subjects were presented, providing a unique opportunity for those interested in gastrointestinal endoscopy to not only become acquainted with the latest advancements and research in the field, but also to meet and exchange experiences with colleagues from all over the world. This report will focus mainly on oral presentations, with a few selected poster presentations, which will be reviewed briefly in the context of recent literature in the respective fields of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

UEGW Report 2008: putting endoscopy into perspective

The 16th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW), which was held in Vienna in October 2008, provided the opportunity for those interested in gastrointestinal endoscopy to be informed of the experience of colleagues throughout the world and to become acquainted with the latest advancements and research in the field. Many of these abstracts focused on innovations and new techniques, and numerous others concentrated on topics with an impact on everyday clinical practice. This report attempts to highlight mostly oral presentations but also a few selected poster presentations, and each will be briefly reviewed in the light of recent publications in the respective fields of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

A prospective randomised study on narrow-band imaging versus conventional colonoscopy for adenoma detection: does narrow-band imaging induce a learning effect?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Colonoscopy is an established method of colorectal cancer screening, but has an adenoma miss rate of 10-20%. Detection rates are expected to improve with optimised visualisation methods. This prospective randomised study evaluated narrow-band imaging (NBI), a new technique that may enhance image contrast in colon adenoma detection.

METHODS

Eligible patients presenting for diagnostic colonoscopy were randomly assigned to undergo wide-angle colonoscopy using either conventional high-resolution imaging or NBI during instrument withdrawal. The primary outcome parameter was the difference in the adenoma detection rate between the two techniques.

RESULTS

A total of 401 patients were included (mean age 59.4 years, 52.6% men). Adenomas were detected more frequently in the NBI group (23%) than in the control group (17%) with a number of 17 colonoscopies needed to find one additional adenoma patient; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.129). When the two techniques were compared in consecutive subgroups of 100 study patients, adenoma rates in the NBI group remained fairly stable, whereas these rates steadily increased in the control group (8%, 15%, 17%, and 26.5%, respectively). Significant differences in the first 100 cases (26.5% versus 8%; p = 0.02) could not be maintained in the last 100 cases (25.5% versus 26.5%, p = 0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

The increased adenoma detection rate means of NBI colonoscopy were statistically not significant. It remains speculative as to whether the increasing adenoma rate in the conventional group may have been caused by a training effect of better polyp recognition on NBI.

Esophageal capsule endoscopy in patients with suspected esophageal disease: double blinded comparison with esophagogastroduodenoscopy and assessment of interobserver variability

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The study aim was to compare the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in patients with suspected esophageal disease. Secondary aims were to assess interobserver variability of capsule endoscopy readings and safety.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 98 patients (53 men, 53 +/- 13 years) with an indication for EGD were included. The patient population was artificially enriched to include two thirds of patients with abnormal esophageal findings at EGD, which was followed by capsule endoscopy. Capsule recordings were blindly read by three endoscopists, one from the center that recruited the patient and two from the other center. Study outcomes were the findings described on EGD and capsule endoscopy, agreement between EGD and capsule endoscopy for findings, quality of the capsule recording, and interobserver agreement for capsule endoscopy quality and findings.

RESULTS

EGD was normal in 34 patients and showed esophageal findings in 62 (esophagitis 28, hiatus hernia 21, varices 21, Barrett's esophagus 11, others 7). Average esophageal transit time of the capsule was 361 +/- 393 seconds. Capsule endoscopy was normal in 36 patients but detected esophagitis in 23, hiatus hernia in 0, varices in 23, Barrett's esophagus in 18, and others in 4. The positive predictive value of capsule endoscopy was 80.0 % and the negative predictive value was 61.1 %. Overall agreement per patient was moderate between EGD and capsule endoscopy for the per-patient (kappa = 0.42) and per-findings (kappa = 0.40) analyses. Interobserver agreement between capsule endoscopy readings was moderate for findings (kappa = 0.39) and quality assessment (kappa = 0.24). No adverse event was observed after either EGD or capsule endoscopy.

CONCLUSION

In this study, despite artificial prevalence enrichment, capsule endoscopy showed a moderate sensitivity and specificity in the detection of esophageal diseases.

Evaluation of endocytoscopy in the surveillance of patients with Barrett's esophagus

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Surveillance for patients with Barrett's esophagus is time consuming and subject to sampling error. Guided biopsies from neoplastic areas invisible on conventional endoscopy may increase effectiveness of surveillance examination. We assessed the accuracy of endocytoscopy in correlation with histology.

METHODS

We analyzed 166 biopsy sites from 16 patients (13 male, mean age 62.1 years), without visible lesions, who presented for Barrett surveillance. Endocytoscopy images were recorded from pre-marked areas in the Barrett's segment using magnification x 1125 or x 450. Biopsies were taken from the same area to allow precise comparison with histology. Image sequences of each area were individually and blindly reviewed by a pathologist and a gastroenterologist. Major outcome variables included image quality, identification of neoplastic characteristics, and accuracy of endocytoscopy.

RESULTS

Adenocarcinoma was histologically diagnosed in 4.2% of biopsy sites, high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) in 16.9%, and low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) in 12.1 %. Adequate assessment of endocytoscopy images was impossible in 49% of the pre-marked areas with magnification x 450 and in 22% with magnification x 1125. At most, 23% of images with lower magnification were interpretable to identify characteristics of neoplasia, and 41% with higher magnification. Interobserver agreement was fair at best (kappa from < 0 to 0.45). Positive and negative predictive values for HGIN or cancer were 0.29 and 0.87, respectively, for magnification x 450 and 0.44 and 0.83, respectively, for magnification x 1125.

CONCLUSION

When not supported by macroscopic evidence, endoscopic histology using endocytoscopy lacks sufficient image quality to be currently of assistance in identifying neoplastic areas.

Capsule endoscopy; the cumulative experience from its use in 193 patients with suspected small bowel disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study presents our cumulative clinical experience from the use of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in a large series of Greek patients with suspected small bowel (SB) diseases.

METHODOLOGY

Over an 18-month period, 193 patients were evaluated with WCE for suspected SB diseases [108 obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, 32 chronic diarrhea, 22 suspected and 6 diagnosed Crohn's disease, 16 abdominal pain, 4 refractory celiac disease, 3 polyposis syndromes, 1 Rendu-Osler-Weber disease and 1 Behcet disease]. All patients had undergone upper GI endoscopy and total colonoscopy. WCE findings were characterized as specific or non-specific, depending on whether the patient's signs and symptoms could be sufficiently attributed to them or not.

RESULTS

One or more abnormal findings were detected in 161/193 (83%) patients; these were classified as specific in 91/193 (47%). The diagnostic yield of WCE (in terms of specific findings) was significantly higher when evaluating patients with obscure GI bleeding, compared to chronic diarrhea (52% vs. 25%, respectively, p=0.013, 95% CI: 1.33-7.83). Among obscure GI bleeders, specific findings were significantly more in the group of overt rather than occult bleeders (66% vs. 42% respectively, p=0.026, 95% CI: 1.19-5.88). In patients referred for diagnosed or suspected Crohn's disease, WCE findings were compatible with the diagnosis in 5/6 cases (83%) and in 8/22 cases (36%), respectively. In 9 more patients from other groups with a negative previous diagnostic work-up, WCE helped in diagnosing Crohn's disease. Among 16 patients evaluated for abdominal pain, specific findings were identified only in 1 (6%).

CONCLUSIONS

WCE seems to be a very useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of GI bleeding of obscure origin (in both overt and occult bleeders), as well as suspected Crohn's disease. In other indications, such as unexplained chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain, it completes the traditional work-up, but abnormal findings need to be better delineated before WCE can be widely recommended in these cases.

Effect of PI-HAART on the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV-1 infected patients. A Greek study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between the prevalence of oral lesions and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including a protease inhibitor (PI).

DESIGN

Prospective study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-five consecutive patients, attending an AIDS Unit, in Greece entered the study. Fourty-four patients were receiving PI- HAART, 14 patients were on double antiretroviral therapy, and 37 patients were not receiving antiretroviral therapy at the time of oral examination. Oral lesions were diagnosed by established presumptive clinical criteria.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Oral lesions were scored. CD4 counts and viral load were determined and related to the prevalence of oral lesions.

RESULTS

Oral lesions, and specifically oral candidiasis, were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in patients receiving PI-HAART. Oral lesions were significantly increased in patients with CD4 counts <200 cells microl(-1) and viral load >20,000 copies ml(-1) (P < 0.001). The percentage of patients, with lesions on PI-HAART, and with CD4 < 200 and viral load >20,000 was 1.5 times lower (37.5%vs 58.8%, P < 0.001) than that of patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy, but with similar immune and viremic status.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral lesions were significantly reduced in patients on PI-HAART. A direct anticandidal effect of PI was suggestive and seemed to have accounted, beyond the HAART-related immune reconstitution, for the reduction of candidiasis and all other oral lesions.

Ischaemic necrosis of the rectum and sigmoid colon complicating systemic lupus erythematosus

The case of a 37-year-old Caucasian female with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, admitted to hospital due to progressively worsening abdominal pain and arthralgia. During hospitalisation, signs of acute abdomen developed. Laparotomy revealed perforation of the rectum, accompanied by necrosis of the rectosigmoid. Histologic examination revealed vasculitis involving small- and medium-sized vessels. This case report emphasizes the point that colonic and especially rectal involvement from vasculitis, though unusual, may present with profound and possibly life-threatening manifestations and stresses the difficulties in clinical and histological differential diagnosis from other causes of systemic lupus erythematosus-associated abdominal pain.

Pituitary non-secreting macroadenoma apoplexy in an adolescent. patient report and review of the literature

Pituitary macroadenomas are rare in children and adolescents, and when encountered are usually hormone secreting. Symptomatic pituitary non-secreting macroadenoma apoplexy in an adolescent is rare and potentially life-threatening. A 15 year-old patient is described, hospitalized due to headache, fever and photophobia 4 days prior to admission. A meningeal syndrome was postulated, based on clinical examination and cerebrospinal fluid testing. However, clinical examination and hormone testing revealed partial failure of the anterior pituitary. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a space-occupying lesion of the pituitary. Magnetic nuclear resonance imaging suggested the presence of a pituitary macroadenoma. Hypophysectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed an extensive infarction of a pituitary adenoma. Hormonal substitution with thyroxine and corticosteroids was administered. This report emphasizes that pituitary non-secreting macroadenoma apoplexy may rarely be the cause of headache and fever in an adolescent, thus causing difficulties in differential diagnosis from acute meningitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome

The antiphospholipid syndrome has rarely been described in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Two cases with type I autoimmune hepatitis and antiphospholipid syndrome are presented. The first case is that of a 53-year-old Caucasian female with a history of arterial thrombosis and fetal loss who was submitted to clinical and laboratory testing due to persistent transaminasaemia and was found to have autoimmune hepatitis. Antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant) were positive. The second case is that of a 31-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of autoimmune hepatitis who was submitted to laboratory testing due to a second-trimester fetal death, revealing an increased activated partial thromboplastin time and positive antiphospholipid antibodies. In conclusion, secondary antiphospholipid syndrome may accompany autoimmune hepatitis.

A case of haemosuccus pancreaticus

Haemosuccus pancreaticus (Wirsungorrhagia or pseudohaemobilia) is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. We describe a 48-year-old patient with alcohol-induced chronic calcific pancreatitis and recurrent episodes of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding but without abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed fresh blood oozing from the ampulla of Vater. No pseudoaneurysms or pseudocysts were detected by arteriography or computerized tomography. The bleeding was attributed to pancreatic lithiasis. Following conservative treatment, there was no evidence of recurrence during a 24-month follow-up period. In conclusion, although a rare occurrence, haemosuccus pancreaticus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all cases of obscure upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with chronic pancreatitis, whether or not accompanied by pain. A highly suggestive clinical history or X-ray findings and an endoscopic visualization of blood coming from the ampulla of Vater may suffice for the diagnosis, thus avoiding diagnostic and therapeutic errors. When haemosuccus pancreaticus occurs in patients without pseudoaneurysms or pseudocysts, it can be treated conservatively, thus obviating the need for pancreatectomy or arteriographic embolization.