Tumores de colon de expansión lateral: características en nuestra población / Laterally spreading tumors: characteristics in our population

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a rising disease worldwide. In Chile, it is the third leading cause of death associated to gastrointestinal cancer. Optimal preventive management requires surveillance of precursor lesions or early-stage tumors. Laterally spreading tumors (LST) are categorized as nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms. Since there are no demographic data on these lesions in our country, the aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of LSTs based on our department’s data. Methods: We reviewed the department’s colonoscopy database from 1996 to 2006 to obtain clinical, endoscopic and histological data. We excluded patients with family history of polyposis, prior colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Results: Out of 3713 colonoscopies performed, 364 (9.8 percent) adenoma cases were detected; 42 (1.2 percent) of them were catalogued as LSTs. Thirty-three LST patients had complete data and were included in the study. The gender proportion was similar between male and female. Ages ranged from 35 and 92 years (mean +/- SD 66.7 +/- 13.7). The tumor size ranged from 10 to 120 mm (mean +/- SD 28.2 +/- 28.3). According to distribution along the large bowel, 19 (57.5 percent) LSTs were located distally and 14 (42.5 percent) were proximal to the splenic flexure. Histology showed 26 adenomas (14 of them with high-grade dysplasia), 5 adenocarcinomas and 2 hyperplastic lesions. Conclusion: In Chile, LSTs are mainly found in the elderly. It is important to detect these lesions because most of them contain cancer or high-grade dysplasia. Therefore, during colonoscopy, we should focus not only on polypoid lesions, but also on flat lesions.

Introducción: El cáncer colorrectal es una enfermedad emergente a nivel mundial. En nuestro país es la tercera causa de muerte por cáncer del tubo digestivo. Un óptimo manejo preventivo implica la detección y tratamiento de las lesiones precursoras y los cánceres incipientes. Los tumores de expansión lateral (Laterally spreading tumors-LST) se consideran lesiones precursoras no polipoídeas. En Chile no existen datos demográficos de estas lesiones, por lo que el objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar los LST en nuestra población. Métodos: Revisamos la base de datos de las colonoscopias realizadas en nuestro Instituto desde 1996 al 2006, obteniendo datos clínicos y las características endoscópicas e histológicas. Excluimos los pacientes con historia de poliposis familiar, cáncer colorrectal y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Resultados: De 3.713 colonoscopias, se detectaron 364 (9,8 por ciento) casos diagnosticados como adenoma, lesiones planas o LST, de los cuales 42 (1,2 por ciento) se catalogaron como LST. Sólo 33 pacientes con LST tenían disponible el estudio histológico. La proporción por género fue similar entre hombres (17) y mujeres (16). El rango de edad se distribuyó entre 35 y 92 años (promedio +/- DE 66,7 +/- 13,7); el tamaño tumoral fue de 10 a 120 mm (promedio +/- DE 28,2 +/- 28,3). De acuerdo a la distribución en el colon y recto, 19 (57,5 por ciento) LST se localizaron distales al ángulo esplénico y 14 (42,5 por ciento) proximales. El estudio histológico demostró 26 adenomas, 14 de los cuales presentaban displasia de alto grado, 5 adenocarcinomas y 2 lesiones hiperplásicas. Conclusión: En nuestra población los LST se presentan mayoritariamente en la tercera edad. Es importante la detección de estas lesiones, dado que en su mayoría contienen un cáncer o son adenomas con displasia de alto grado. Durante la colonoscopia no solamente debemos enfocarnos en los pólipos sino también en las lesiones planas.

Hallazgos endoscópicos en pacientes ambulatorios referidos a endoscopia por síntomas digestivos altos / Endoscopic findings in ambulatory patients referred to endoscopy for upper digestive symptoms

Antecedentes: La realización de endoscopia como primer estudio de un paciente con dispepsia es muy controvertida. Objetivos: Conocer la frecuencia de patología orgánica en pacientes con dispepsia a quienes se les solicita endoscopia digestiva alta, tanto desde la atención primaria como desde los consultorios de especialidades. Métodos: Se analizó la base de datos de endoscopias de nuestro centro en el período 1999-2002. Los diagnósticos de cáncer se confirmaron histológicamente. Resultados: En 10.275 endoscopias practicadas en ese período, 1.488 fueron por dispepsia, 2.536 por síndrome ulceroso y 1.055 por reflujo gastroesofágico. En el grupo con dispepsia se encontró patología orgánica en un 33 por ciento, predominando la gastritis significativa y la esofagitis erosiva. La frecuencia de cáncer gástrico fue baja (0,1 por ciento) y sólo apareció en pacientes sobre 40 años y especialmente en mayores de 60. Lo mismo ocurrió en pacientes referidos por síndrome ulceroso y por reflujo gastroesofágico. Conclusiones: Solicitar endoscopia a pacientes con dispepsia está justificado porque un tercio de ellos tienen patologías de fácil y efectivo tratamiento. El acceso irrestricto a la endoscopia como screening de cáncer gástrico no parece en cambio ser útil en pacientes de menores de 60 años.

Background: The performance of upper digestive endoscopy as a first line study in patients with dyspepsia is highly controversial. Objectives: To investigate the frequency of organic diseases in dyspeptic patients referred from Primary Care centers or from Gastroenterology clinics for upper digestive endoscopy. Methods: The Endoscopy database of our unit was reviewed for the period 1999-2002. The endoscopic diagnosis of gastric cancer was confirmed by positive biopsies. Results: Out of 10.275 endoscopies performed in the study period, the reference diagnosis was: dyspepsia 1.488; ulcer syndrome 2.536 and gastroesophageal reflux 1.055. In the dyspepsia group, 33 percent of cases had some organic pathology, mainly gastritis and erosive esophagitis. The frequency of gastric cancer was low (0.1 percent) and it was found only in patients older than 40 years and specially older than 60 years. Similar results were found in patients referred for ulcer syndrome or gastroesophageal reflux. Conclusions: An upper digestive endoscopy in the initial work up of patients with dyspepsia seems to be acceptable one third of them present organic diseases with easy and effective therapies. On the other hand the irrestrictive acces to endoscopy as screening of gastric cancer does not seem to be useful in patients under 60 years.

Hepatitis crónica por virus C: factores asociados a la severidad del daño histológico / Factors associated with the severity of liver damage in chronic hepatitis C

Background: Twenty percent of patients with chronic hepatitis C evolve to cirrhosis in 10 to 20 years. The degree of steatosis and hepatic iron stores in liver biopsy increase the risk. Age, high body mass index, diabetes mellitus and alcohol consumption are factors associated to the severity of liver damage. Aim: To study the association of steatosis and increased iron stores in the liver biopsy and age, overweight, alcohol consumption and diabetes with the severity of liver damage in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. Patients and methods: Retrospective study of 84 liver biopsies of patients with chronic infection with hepatitis C virus were studied. The pathological appearance was classified as stage I when chronic hepatitis with mild activity without fibrosis was observed; as stage II when moderate chronic hepatitis with mild fibrosis was observed and as stage III when there was a moderate chronic hepatitis with fibrosis or cirrhosis. The amount of steatosis and iron deposition in the biopsy were also assessed. Results: Forty one percent of patients were in stage I, 32% in stage II and 27% in stage III. Patients in stage I were younger than those in stages II and III (40.7 and 52.2 years respectively, p <0,001). No association between the severity of liver damage and the degree of steatosis, hemosiderosis, body mass index or alcohol intake, was observed. The frecuency of diabetes mellitus increased along with pathological staging (3, 15 and 30% in stages I, II and III, respectively, p <0,05). Conclusions: This study confirms that severity of chronic hepatitis C is associated with age and the presence of diabetes mellitus.