Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with colorectal adenomas and cancer. However, MetS definitions have changed over time, leading to a heterogeneity of patients included in previous studies and a substantial inextensibility of observations across time or eastern and western populations. Our aim was to evaluate the association of 'harmonized' criteria-defined MetS and its individual components with colorectal neoplasia and cancer in a western population.In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, we prospectively evaluated consecutive outpatients who underwent open-access colonoscopy over a 3-month period. MetS was diagnosed according to the 2009 'harmonized' criteria.Out of 5707 patients enrolled, we found 213 cancers (3.7%), 1614 polyps (28.3%), 240 nonpolypoid lesions (4.2%), 95 laterally spreading tumors (1.6%). Polyps presented histological low-grade dysplasia in 72.9% of samples, while in 9.8%, high-grade dysplasia or in situ carcinoma was present; dysplasia rates for nonpolypoid lesions were 66.2% (low-grade) and 2.9% (high-grade/in situ carcinoma), while for laterally spreading tumors, 29.6% and 37%, respectively. Overall, MetS prevalence was 41.6%. MetS correlated with both adenomas [odds ratio (OR): 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54-2.00] and cancer (OR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.42-2.58). MetS was the only risk factor for such colonic lesions in subjects younger than 50 years. For all colonic neoplasia, we found MetS and not its individual components to be significantly associated.MetS is risk factor for cancer and adenoma in Whites, especially when younger than 50 years. MetS patients might be considered as a high-risk population also in colorectal cancer screening programs.
Selecting patients appropriately for upper endoscopy (EGD) is crucial for efficient use of endoscopy. The objective of this study was to compare different clinical strategies and statistical methods to select patients for EGD, namely appropriateness guidelines, age and/or alarm features, and multivariate and artificial neural network (ANN) models.A nationwide, multicenter, prospective study was undertaken in which consecutive patients referred for EGD during a 1-month period were enrolled. Before EGD, the endoscopist assessed referral appropriateness according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines, also collecting clinical and demographic variables. Outcomes of the study were detection of relevant findings and new diagnosis of malignancy at EGD. The accuracy of the following clinical strategies and predictive rules was compared: (i) ASGE appropriateness guidelines (indicated vs. not indicated), (ii) simplified rule (>or=45 years or alarm features vs. <45 years without alarm features), (iii) logistic regression model, and (iv) ANN models.A total of 8,252 patients were enrolled in 57 centers. Overall, 3,803 (46%) relevant findings and 132 (1.6%) new malignancies were detected. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the simplified rule were similar to that of the ASGE guidelines for both relevant findings (82%/26%/0.55 vs. 88%/27%/0.52) and cancer (97%/22%/0.58 vs. 98%/20%/0.58). Both logistic regression and ANN models seemed to be substantially more accurate in predicting new cases of malignancy, with an AUC of 0.82 and 0.87, respectively.A simple predictive rule based on age and alarm features is similarly effective to the more complex ASGE guidelines in selecting patients for EGD. Regression and ANN models may be useful in identifying a relatively small subgroup of patients at higher risk of cancer.
A validated endoscopic classification of diverticular disease (DD) of the colon is lacking at present. Our aim was to develop a simple endoscopic score of DD: the Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) score.The DICA score for DD resulted in the sum of the scores for the extension of diverticulosis, the number of diverticula per region, the presence and type of inflammation, and the presence and type of complications: DICA 1 (≤ 3), DICA 2 (4-7) and DICA 3 (>7). A comparison with abdominal pain and inflammatory marker expression was also performed. A total of 50 videos of DD patients were reassessed in order to investigate the predictive role of DICA on the outcome of the disease.Overall agreement in using DICA was 0.847 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.812-0.893): 0.878 (95% CI 0.832-0.895) for DICA 1, 0.765 (95% CI 0.735-0.786) for DICA 2 and 0.891 (95% CI 0.845-0.7923) for DICA 3. Intra-observer agreement (kappa) was 0.91 (95% CI 0.886-0.947). A significant correlation was found between the DICA score and C-reactive protein values (p = 0.0001), as well as between the median pain score and the DICA score (p = 0.0001). With respect to the 50 patients retrospectively reassessed, occurrence/recurrence of disease complications was recorded in 29 patients (58%): 10 (34.5%) were classified as DICA 1 and 19 (65.5%) as DICA 2 (p = 0.036).The DICA score is a simple, reproducible, validated and easy-to-use endoscopic scoring system for DD of the colon.
In some emergency situations of colo-rectal pathology, especially those characterized by hemorrhaging, the endoscopy has acquired, with the passing of years, a fundamental role both from the diagnostic and the therapeutic point of view. In no more than 25% of the lower intestinal tract hemorrhages, the clinical picture does have the signs of an emergency. The diverticula, IBD and angiodysplasias are primarily responsible for rendering these characteristics. Even when possible problems concerning an accurate intestinal cleaning can arise, a correct diagnosis is possible at least in seven cases out ten. When the colonoscopy isn't conclusive and the bleeding persists may be recommended the selective arteriography (helpful also in hemorrhages lower than 0.5 ml/min). Also in cases of acute obstructive syndrome the colonoscopy, taking advantage of the direct view of the lesion, can give a correct diagnosis, sometimes supported by the histologic examination. Regarding the operating capacity of the method, the endoscopy can resolve minute and localized bleeding lesions. The Argon or Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation is widely used. Recently BICAP and heater probe methods have been developed, which aveld the problem connected to the HF electrocoagulation. A very efficacious and simple method is that of injecting 1:10.000 adrenalin, 1% polidocanol, absolute ethanol or hypertonic solution around the lesion. The scarred strictures are those more easily and safely treated by pneumatic dilatation or (limited to the rectum-sigmoid) by Savary sounds. In the volvulus or bowel invagination, just by having the endoscope goes up in the lumen, often normal condition settles again. In the Ogilvie's syndrome you can deflate the cecum with an aspirator or more simply by positioning a tube above the hepatic flexure, with 85% success. In the malignant strictures the debulking of tumor mass by laser treatment, sometimes followed by dilatation, may be preparatory to the surgery or purely palliative. Finally the extraction of foreign bodies must be performed, in order to obtain a relaxed anal sphincter, in general anaesthesia or by a previous rigid rectoscope dilatation.
