Functional lumen imaging probe in gastrointestinal motility diseases.

Dysfunction of gastrointestinal (GI) sphincters, including the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and the pyloric sphincter, plays a vital role in GI motility disorders, such as achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroparesis, and fecal incontinence. Using multi-detector high-resolution impedance planimetry, the functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) system measures simultaneous data on tissue distensibility and luminal geometry changes in the sphincter in a real-time manner. In this review we focus on the emerging data on FLIP, which can be used as an innovative diagnostic method during endoscopic or surgical procedures in GI motility disorders. Subsequent large, prospective, standardizing studies are needed to validate these findings before it can be put to routine clinical use.

Biliary Decompression in Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma Improves Survival: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The complex biliary strictures of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma present significant challenges for providing adequate and long-lasting biliary drainage. The best approach to relieve obstruction remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess stenting outcomes in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: This study was approved by the center's institutional review board. Subjects with a diagnosis of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were identified from endoscopic and pathologic databases from 1997 to 2014. Patient characteristics, endoscopic data, and follow-up evaluation data were retrospectively collected via review of available medical records. RESULTS: A total of 199 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent a total of 504 ERCPs were included in the study. Nine of 504 (1.8%) procedures were technical failures. Among the 495 technically successful procedures, 347 (70.1%) procedures were clinical successes. Clinical success was significantly associated with longer overall survival (HR 0.57; p = 0.002). A higher proportion of patients with bilateral drainage had clinical success, compared with those with unilateral drainage. Cholangitis was not more common in the bilateral group compared to the unilateral group except in the group where a segment was not drained (1.9% vs 1.6% vs 7.1%, respectively). Patients with metal stents were 3.8 times more likely to have clinical success than those with plastic stents. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, adequate biliary drainage improves overall survival. Bilateral stenting if anatomy permits with self-expanding metal stents rather than plastic stents appears to provide the optimal chance of clinical success.

Comparison of nonampullary duodenal adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis versus patients with sporadic adenomas.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nonampullary duodenal adenomas are either sporadic or associated with a hereditary syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The aim of this study is to compare characteristics and outcomes of sporadic and FAP-associated duodenal adenomas. METHODS: We retrospectively collected clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic data in patients diagnosed with duodenal adenomas at our institution and included all available follow-up. RESULTS: Two hundred thirteen subjects were identified; 118 had FAP and 95 had sporadic adenomas. FAP subjects were more likely to have multifocal disease. Initial size was not significantly associated with dysplasia. Fourteen (12%) with FAP and 33 (35%) with sporadic adenomas underwent EMR. Among those subjects who did not undergo EMR or surgery, there was no difference between the FAP and sporadic groups with progression to new dysplasia or cancer. However, the FAP group was significantly more likely to have dysplasia at follow-up (P = .05). There was a significant difference in overall survival between the FAP and sporadic groups (log-rank test, P < .001). In the subgroup of patients aged 40 years old and older who did not undergo intervention, the FAP group had a shorter time to pathology progression compared with the similar sporadic subgroup. Range of time to progression to cancer was 3 to 161 months. CONCLUSIONS: FAP subjects were more likely to be younger and have multifocal disease. Progression of pathology was more likely in the older FAP group compared with the sporadic group. Time to progression to cancer was widely variable and, therefore, unpredictable.

The endoscopist's role in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies with little improvement in survival over the past several decades in spite of advances in imaging, risk factor identification, surgical technique and chemotherapy. This disappointing outcome is mainly due to failures to make an early diagnosis. In fact, the majority of the patients present with inoperable advanced stages of the disease. Though some of the new tumor markers are promising, we are still in search of the one that has a high sensitivity and accuracy, yet is inexpensive and easy to obtain. The paradigm of management has shifted from up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy to neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery, especially for borderline resectable cancers and even for some resectable cancers. In this article, we will critically assess the limitations of tumor markers and review the advancements in endoscopic techniques in the management of pancreatic cancer.

Adherence to therapy for Barrett's esophagus-associated neoplasia.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple endoscopic sessions may be necessary for treatment and surveillance of Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated neoplasia. Adherence to an endoscopic therapeutic regimen is important for longitudinal management of BE. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with adherence to therapy for BE-associated neoplasia. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with BE whom were referred to a tertiary center for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) between 2009 and 2012. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the medical record. RESULTS: We had 69 subjects meet our inclusion criteria. Referral diagnosis was low-grade dysplasia in 9 (13%) subjects, high-grade dysplasia in 33 (48%) subjects and adenocarcinoma in 26 (38%) subjects. The majority (55%) lived more than 100 miles from the treatment center. The primary third-party payer was US Medicare for 54% of the subjects and private insurance for 36% of them; 45% of the subjects were seen in the clinic by the treating endoscopist, prior to endoscopic therapy and 71% underwent EMR as the initial treatment, while 29% underwent RFA without prior EMR. We found that 72% of subjects were adherent to therapy, including: 23 (33%) completing endoscopic therapy with documented post-treatment surveillance, 18 (26%) with ongoing endoscopic therapy, and 9 (13%) whom underwent esophagectomy. Subjects seen in gastroenterology clinical consultation were significantly more likely to demonstrate adherence than those referred for open access endoscopy (Lasso OR 2.31). CONCLUSIONS: Patients seen in a clinical consultation prior to endoscopic therapy for BE-associated neoplasia were more likely to demonstrate treatment adherence, compared to patients referred for open-access endoscopy. A clinic visit prior to therapy may define expectations regarding treatment course and increase the likelihood of patient adherence.

Directional distribution of neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus is not influenced by distance from the gastroesophageal junction.

BACKGROUND: Accurate endoscopic detection and staging are critical for appropriate management of Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated neoplasia. Prior investigation has demonstrated that the distribution of endoscopically detectable early neoplasia is not uniform but instead favors specific directional distributions within a short BE segment; however, it is unknown whether the directional distribution of neoplasia differs with increasing distance from the gastroesophageal junction, including in patients with long-segment BE. OBJECTIVE: To identify whether directional distribution of BE-associated neoplasia is influenced by distance from the gastroesophageal junction. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary-care referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with either short-segment or long-segment BE undergoing EMR. INTERVENTION: EMR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Directional distribution of BE-associated neoplasia stratified by distance from gastroesophageal junction. RESULTS: EMR was performed on 60 lesions meeting study criteria during the specified time period. Pathology demonstrated low-grade dysplasia in 22% (13/60), high-grade dysplasia in 38% (23/60), intramucosal (T1a) adenocarcinoma in 23% (14/60), and invasive (≥ T1b) adenocarcinoma in 17% (10/60). Directional distribution of lesions was not uniform (P < .001), with 62% of lesions (37/60) located between the 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock positions. When circular statistics methodology was used, there was no difference in the directional distribution of neoplastic lesions located within 3 cm of the gastroesophageal junction compared with ≥ 3 cm from the gastroesophageal junction. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study may limit external validity. CONCLUSION: The directional distribution of neoplastic foci within a BE segment is not influenced by distance of the lesion from the gastroesophageal junction. Mucosa between the 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock locations merits careful attention and endoscopic inspection in individuals with both short-segment BE and long-segment BE.