Comparison of transcolonic NOTES and laparoscopic peritoneoscopy for the detection of peritoneal metastases.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Peritoneoscopy by natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) could replace laparoscopic staging peritoneoscopy (LAP) if the yield were comparable to that from LAP. In previously performed porcine experiments, transgastric peritoneoscopy seemed inferior to LAP due to limited visualization of the liver. The aim of the present study was to improve liver visualization by using a colonic approach and to compare transcolonic peritoneoscopy (TCP) with the previously set LAP standard. METHODS: Small beads were stapled into porcine peritoneal cavities to simulate metastases. Previously in the same model LAP had detected 95% of beads (95% CI 87% -98%). Using a non inferiority design, a sample size of 33 beads was determined; these were distributed among six animals with randomization for numbers and location. TCP was performed using either standard endoscopic accessories (TCP-s) or a specially designed toolkit (TCP-t) in randomized order by one of two blinded endoscopists. Primary outcome was number of beads found and touched during peritoneoscopy. RESULTS: Locations of beads included abdominal peritoneum (6 beads), diaphragm (8), liver (18), and miscellaneous sites (1). TCP-s found 25 beads (yield 76%, 95% CI 59% -87%). TCP-t found 19 beads (yield 58%, 95% CI 41%-71%). The majority of missed beads were located at the inferior liver surface: TCP-s detected 8/15 (53%) and TCP-t 5/15 (33%) of these simulated metastases. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective, experimental trial, transcolonic NOTES peritoneoscopy was inferior in comparison with the diagnostic laparoscopy done previously in the same model.

Celiac and perigastric lymph node metastasis of prostate cancer diagnosed with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Endoscopic ultrasound has been used to diagnose and stage gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal tumours. To our knowledge, the present report describes the first case of celiac and perigastric lymph node metastasis of prostate cancer diagnosed with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Risk factors for cardiopulmonary events during propofol-mediated upper endoscopy and colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Propofol-mediated sedation for endoscopy is popular because of its rapid onset and recovery profile. AIM: To examine procedure-specific occurrence and risk factors for cardiopulmonary events during propofol-mediated upper endoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy. DESIGN: A cohort study using the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative database was used to determine the frequency of cardiopulmonary events. Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative consisted of 69 practice sites comprising 593 US endoscopists. Multivariate logistic regression analysis used variables, such as age, ASA classification and propofol administration by monitored anaesthesia care or gastroenterologist-administered propofol to determine the risk of cardiopulmonary events. RESULTS: The overall cardiopulmonary event rate for 5928 EGDs and 11 683 colonoscopies was 11.7/1000 cases. For colonoscopy, ascending ASA classification was associated with an increased risk. Monitored anaesthesia care was associated with a decreased adjusted relative risk (0.5, 95% CI: 0.36-0.72). ASA I and II patients receiving monitored anaesthesia care for EGD exhibited a significantly lower relative risk (ARR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.64). For subjects with ASA class III or greater, there was no difference in the risk between monitored anaesthesia care and gastroenterologist-administered propofol. CONCLUSIONS: There are procedure-specific risk factors for cardiopulmonary events during propofol-mediated EGD and colonoscopy. These should be taken into account during future prospective comparative trials.

The No Endosonographic Detection of Tumor (NEST) Study: a case series of pancreatic cancers missed on endoscopic ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The purpose of this study was to identify possible associated factors that may have contributed to failure to detect a pancreatic neoplasm during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examinations by experienced endosonographers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was organized, and 20 cases of pancreatic neoplasms missed by nine experienced endosonographers were identified. Careful analysis of each case was carried out to identify the factors that might have led to the missed diagnosis on EUS. RESULTS: Twelve patients with a missed pancreatic neoplasm had EUS features of chronic pancreatitis. Other factors that might have increased the likelihood of a false-negative EUS examination included a diffusely infiltrating carcinoma (n = 3), a prominent ventral/dorsal split (n = 2), and a recent episode (within the previous 4 weeks) of acute pancreatitis (n = 1). Five patients with a negative initial EUS underwent a follow-up EUS after 2-3 months, with a pancreatic mass being found in all cases. Three patients had a diffusely infiltrating pancreatic adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is not a foolproof method of detecting a pancreatic neoplasm. Possible associated factors that may increase the likelihood of a false-negative EUS examination include chronic pancreatitis, a diffusely infiltrating carcinoma, a prominent ventral/dorsal split and a recent episode (< 4 weeks) of acute pancreatitis. If there is a high clinical suspicion of pancreatic neoplasm, if EUS and other imaging methods are negative, and if the patient does not undergo surgery, this study suggests that a repeat EUS after 2-3 months may be useful for detecting an occult pancreatic neoplasm.

Frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients undergoing EUS evaluation of pancreaticobiliary masses.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymph node metastases have rarely been reported in patients with pancreatic cancer. Our aim was to determine the frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with pancreaticobiliary masses by using EUS-guided fine needle aspiration. METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive patients with pancreatobiliary masses were evaluated on EUS for the presence of mediastinal lymph node metastases. All masses were staged by commonly used EUS criteria by using sector scanning echoendoscopes. Mediastinal lymph nodes with EUS features that suggested malignancy were aspirated. RESULTS: Of the 66 patients (mean age 65.6 years; 38 men), 4 had biliary masses, 5 had lesions of the major duodenal papilla, and 57 had pancreatic masses. Eleven patients (10 pancreatic masses, 1 biliary mass) had enlarged mediastinal lymph node (12-30 mm) on EUS; in 2 patients these had a benign appearance and were not aspirated. Nine patients underwent EUS-guided fine needle aspiration: in 1 the cytology was inconclusive (patient subsequently had a negative Whipple resection); in 4 the mediastinal lymph node cytology was benign; the remaining 4 patients had adenocarcinoma cells in the aspirate from mediastinal lymph node. These 4 pancreatic tumors were staged by EUS as T2N1M1 (1), as T4N0M1 (2, one later found to also have a lung mass), and T4N1M1 (1). CONCLUSION: Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were found on EUS in 16.6% (95% CI [7.7%, 25.6%]) of patients with pancreatobiliary masses and in 17.5% (95% CI [7.6%, 27.4%]) of patients with pancreatic masses. The frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastases in pancreatobiliary masses was 6.1% (95% CI [0.34%, 11.9%]) and in pancreatic masses 7.0% (95% CI [0.4%, 13.6%]). Routine EUS evaluation of the mediastinum in patients with pancreatic masses is warranted.

Does neoadjuvant chemoradiation downstage esophageal carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is administered to patients with esophageal carcinoma with the belief that this will both downstage the tumor and improve survival. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is currently the most accurate method of staging esophageal cancer for tumor (T) and lymph node (N) status. Because both EUS and neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal carcinoma are relatively new, there are few data examining the relationship between EUS stage and histological stage (the stage after resection) in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: To determine the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on T and N stage as determined by EUS, we retrospectively compared two groups of patients with esophageal cancer staged by EUS. One group (33 patients) underwent neoadjuvant therapy (Walsh protocol: 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and 4000 rads of external beam radiation) followed by resection. The second group (22 patients), a control group, underwent resection without neoadjuvant therapy. We then compared histological stage to determine if there was a downstaging in the patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Survival was evaluated as well. RESULTS: EUS accurately predicted histologic stage. In the control group EUS overestimated T stage in 3 of 22 (13%), underestimated N stage in 2 of 22 (9%), and overestimated N stage in 2 of 22 (9%) of patients. Preoperative radiochemotherapy downstaged (preoperative EUS stage versus pathologic specimen) 12 of 33 (36%) of patients whereas only 1 of 22 (5%) of patients in the control group was downstaged. Complete response (no tumor found in the surgical specimen) was observed in 5 of 33 (15%) of patients receiving radiochemotherapy. Survival was prolonged significantly in patients receiving radiochemotherapy: 20.6 months versus 9.6 months for those (stage II or III) patients not receiving radiochemotherapy (P <0.01). Operative time, operative blood loss, and length of stay were not significantly different between groups. Perioperative mortality was higher in the radiochemotherapy group (13%) compared with the no radiochemotherapy group (5%) but did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: EUS accurately stages esophageal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy downstages esophageal carcinoma for T and N status. In our nonrandomized study, neoadjuvant therapy conferred a significant survival advantage. Operative risk appears to be increased in patients receiving neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy prior to esophagectomy.

Pathological documentation of complete elimination of Barrett's metaplasia following endoscopic multipolar electrocoagulation therapy.

The previous paradigm that Barrett's is an irreversible premalignant lesion has recently been challenged by a proliferation of reports documenting elimination of Barrett's by a variety of endoscopic techniques. Whether Barrett's is entirely eliminated is unknown as endoscopic biopsy samples the surface of the epithelium only. Numerous reports document underlying specialised columnar epithelium in many of these trials. Until now there have been no reports of pathological examination of the entire oesophagus as a specimen. This case documents complete elimination of intestinal metaplasia from the oesophagus and supports the biological plausibility of these research techniques.