Gastric Fundic Gland Polyps and Their Relationship to Colorectal Neoplasia in Koreans: A 16-year Retrospective Study / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is an ongoing debate on the relationship between gastric fundic gland polyps and increased incidence of colorectal neoplasia in Caucasians. However, there was no report on the relationship between gastric fundic gland polyp and colorectal neoplasia in Korea. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of gastric fundic gland polyps and whether a relationship exists between fundic gland polyps and colorectal neoplasia in Korean population. METHODS: Persons who underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy from 1992 to 2007 at the Health Promotion Center of Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea were reviewed retrospectively. The relationship between gastric fundic gland polyps and colorectal neoplasia were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 22,451 subjects, fundic gland polyps were found in 328 subjects (1.5%). Fundic gland polyps were more common in women than in men (odds ratio of 6.25; 95% CI of 4.68-8.34). The odds ratios for colorectal neoplasia in all subjects with gastric fundic gland polyps were 0.56 (95% CI of 0.33-0.95) and men who were 50 years of age or older had an odds ratio of 2.81 (95% CI of 1.03-7.66) as compared to the control group. However, age and sex-adjusted odds ratios for all gastric fundic gland polyps were 0.73 (95% CI of 0.42-1.26), for men 1.78 (95% CI of 0.80-3.98), and for women 0.37 (95% CI of 0.16-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance colonoscopy in patients with fundic gland polyps can be performed in the same manner as general population in Korea.

Corrosive Esophagitis after Ingestion of Chinese Squill

Acute toxicities of Chinese squill (Scilla scilloides), a kind of herb used as a folk remedy to relieve pain in Korea, have rarely been reported. We here present a 59-year-old woman who developed corrosive esophagitis after ingestion of the decocted Chinese squill. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed three days after ingestion of Chinese squill showed corrosive esophagitis. She was successfully managed with conservative care including fasting and intravenous hydration with acid suppressants. Corrosive esophagitis after ingestion of Chinese squill has never been reported in English or Korean literature and corrosive esophagitis should be suspected when a patient develops odynophagia after ingestion of Chinese squill.

Intestinal Obstruction due to the Migration of a Phytobezoar during Cola-Lysis in a Patient Who Had Previously Undergone Partial Gastrectomy

Gastric surgeries may predispose patients to the formation of gastric phytobezoars. Cola-lysis through nasogastric lavage, endosopic infusion and/or the oral intake of cola are recently introduced techniques for the dissolution of phytobezoars. However, their complications have rarely been reported. Herein, we report a 56-year-old woman, who had previously undergone partial gastrectomy, severe intestinal obstruction due to the migration of a phytobezoar during cola-lysis and was successfully managed with surgical intervention.

Increased Prevalence of Colorectal Neoplasia in Korean Patients with Sporadic Duodenal Adenomas: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent data from Western populations have suggested that patients with sporadic duodenal adenomas are at a higher risk for the development of colorectal neoplasia. In this study, we compared the frequency of colorectal neoplasia in patients with sporadic duodenal adenomas to healthy control subjects. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study used the databases of 3 teaching hospitals in Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea. The colonoscopy findings of patients with sporadic duodenal adenomas were compared with those of age- and gender-matched healthy individuals who had undergone gastroduodenoscopies and colonoscopies during general screening examinations. RESULTS: Between 2001 and 2008, 45 patients were diagnosed endoscopically with sporadic duodenal adenomas; 26 (58%) of these patients received colonoscopies. Colorectal neoplasia (42% vs 21%; odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 7.4) and advanced colorectal adenoma (19% vs 3%; OR, 9.0; 95% CI, 1.6 to 50.0) were significantly more common in patients with sporadic duodenal adenomas than in healthy control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with healthy individuals, patients with sporadic duodenal adenomas were at a significantly higher risk for developing colorectal neoplasia. Such at-risk patients should undergo routine screening colonoscopies.

Routine Mucosal Closure with a Detachable Snare and Clips after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Epithelial Neoplasms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether the routine closure of mucosal defects after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can enhance mucosal healing and reduce ESD-associated bleeding. METHODS: Patients with gastric epithelial neoplasias and no obvious submucosal invasion were prospectively enrolled. Mucosal defects were left untreated in the control group. In the study group, mucosal closure was attempted with a 2-channel endoscope, a detachable snare, and clips. All participants received a second-look endoscopy the day after ESD, and coagulation therapy was administered to patients with visible vessels and active bleeding points. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study, and 26 patients were assigned to each group. Complete mucosal defect closure occurred in 16 patients (61%) in the study group; incomplete closure occurred in 8 patients (31%) in the study group, and failed closure occurred in 2 patients (8%). Coagulation therapy at the second-look endoscopy was performed more often in the control group than in the study group (31% vs 4%, p=0.024). There were no significant differences in the incidence of immediate or delayed bleeding or in the two-week decrease in hemoglobin between the groups. The prevalence of open ulcers after 8 weeks was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (18% vs 43%, p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Routine mucosal closure after ESD supports earlier healing of artificial ulcers. A larger-scale trial is necessary to determine whether mucosal closure can reduce ESD-associated bleeding.