Enlargement of the Spleen Index Is a Predictor of the Occurrence of Esophageal Varices and Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Administering Direct-acting Antiviral Agents.

Objective Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) can eliminate hepatitis C virus at a high rate, although the long-term incidence of portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been elucidated. In this observational study, we clarified the predictors associated with the incidence of esophageal varices (EVs) and HCC after DAAs treatment based on ultrasound findings and blood examinations. Methods A total of 78 patients treated with DAAs were enrolled in this study. The primary endpoint was to identify the predictors associated with EVs and HCC occurrence using univariate and multivariate analyses. Secondary endpoints were to extract the cutoff values for EVs and HCC occurrence and clarify the changes in liver stiffness (LS), spleen stiffness (SS), spleen index (SI), portal venous flow volume (PVF), and blood examination at 12 weeks after the end of DAAs treatment. Results The mean observation period was 1,402±546 days. SI change (SI after DAAs-SI before DAAs) was a predictor of EVs occurrence in multivariate analysis (p=0.045). The treatment history of HCC, albumin value before DAAs, and SI change were predictors of HCC occurrence in multivariate analysis (p=0.002, p=0.032, and p=0.009, respectively). LS, SS, PVF, SI, and liver function significantly improved after DAAs treatment. Conclusion Portal hypertension seems to improve after DAAs treatment over a long period. Patients with splenomegaly deterioration after DAAs treatment need to be carefully monitored for the occurrence of EVs and HCC.

[Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection(ESD)as a "Loco-Regional Cancer Therapy" for Colorectal Tumors].

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for colorectal tumors has been covered by the national health insurance system in Japan since April 2012, and is widely used. We analyzed colorectal ESD cases we performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated 515 patients with colorectal lesions(580 lesions)for whom ESD was performed between November 2005 and April 2017. Clinicopathological data, technical methods, complications, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Most tumors were found in the transverse colon(134 lesions). The average diameter was about 26 mm. The largest lesion was 120 mm. The en bloc resection rate was high(96.2%). The average operative time was 51 minutes. Among complications, the number of delayed major bleeding cases was 7(1.2%). Minor perforations occurred in 3 cases(0.5%). The perforation could be closed with endoscopic clips. About 70% of the cases were adenomas, and the remainder were carcinomas. One patient with carcinoma in situ showed a mucosal recurrence 4 months later and received repeat endoscopic treatment. The cure rate was 99.8%. Among 29 deep submucosal invasion cases, additional colectomy was performed in 21; 3 patients had persistent carcinoma in the colonic wall and another patient had lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal ESD can be performed for all sites in the large intestine, and en bloc resection was possible for a large lesion. A good outcome was observed for "Loco-Regional Cancer Therapy" in early colorectal carcinoma.

Colonoscopy in Patients Aged 85 Years or Older: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Colonoscopy is the first-line modality to examine the colon even in the very elderly but may have an increased risk of complications. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colonoscopy in the very elderly. METHODS: Patients ≥85y old, who underwent colonoscopy between September 2010 and August 2012 in two tertiary-care hospitals in Japan were enrolled. Main outcome measures were cecal intubation rate, detection rate of adenomas and cancers, treatment, adverse events, and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 207 colonoscopies were performed in 177 patients (females 72, males 105; maximum age 95 years). Of these, 202 attempted to reach the cecum, with success in 92%. Excluding patients with known colorectal neoplasms, invasive cancers were detected in 12%, including T1 lesions in 2% and T2 or deeper in 9%. No cancers were detected in patients referred for surveillance or mild abdominal symptoms. Cancers were found in 25% of patients with positive fecal immunochemical tests, 22% with altered bowel habits, 21% with anemia, and 18% with hematochezia. Treatment of 29 patients with cancer included surgery in 22, endoscopic resection in two and no treatment (due to comorbidities) in five. There were no complications. During 730 days (mean) of follow up, 27 patients died but only three died from recurrent colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy for patients aged ≥85 years is safe. A relatively high detection rate of cancers was found, and most were treatable and even curable. (UMIN000018575).