Andreas Probst

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in large sessile lesions of the rectosigmoid: learning curve in a European center.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the colorectum is not currently a standard procedure. Few data are available from the Western world. The aim of the present study was to report on the first experiences and the learning curve of colorectal ESD in a European center. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 82 rectosigmoid lesions were referred for ESD. Lesion characteristics, resection rates, procedure times, complications, and recurrences were recorded prospectively. Results were compared between three consecutive study periods in order to determine the learning curve. RESULTS Lesions were located in the rectum (86.6 %) and the sigmoid colon (13.4 %). Median diameter was 45.5 mm. Lesions were of Paris type 0-Is with pit pattern type V (n = 8), 0-IIa (n = 33), 0-IIa + Is (n = 36), and 0-IIa + IIc (n = 5). The malignancy rate in these groups was 100 %, 0 %, 14 %, and 20 %, respectively. ESD was possible in 76 lesions (92.7 %). En bloc resection rate and R0 resection rate were 81.6 % and 69.7 %, respectively. Median procedure time was 176 minutes. Between the three consecutive study periods, en bloc resection rate increased (60.0 %, 88.0 %, 96.2 %), R0 resection rate increased (48.0 %, 76.0 %, 84.5 %; P < 0.001), and procedure time decreased (200, 193, 136 minutes; P = 0.027). The perforation and bleeding rates were 1.3 % and 7.9 %, respectively. Recurrence risk was 0 % after R0 en bloc resection and 41.7 % after piecemeal resection (P < 0.05). Median follow-up was 23.6 months. CONCLUSIONS In the European setting, ESD in the distal colon is feasible with acceptable complication risks. Resection rates were not as high as those from Japanese studies; however, a clear learning curve could be shown. Colorectal ESD needs to be further evaluated, particularly in Europe where ESD experience is low.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric neoplasia - experience from a European center.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising technique for the resection of early gastric neoplasia. There are only a few data from the Western world to date. METHODS Over a 7-year-period, 104 gastric lesions were treated with ESD in a European referral center, of which 91 were included in this study. A total of 66 lesions were early gastric cancer (EGC) and 25 were adenomas. Of the EGCs, 11 lesions (16.7 %) fulfilled the guideline criteria (EGC-GC) and 55 lesions (83.3 %) fulfilled the expanded resection criteria (EGC-EC) of the Japanese guidelines for the treatment of gastric cancer. RESULTS ESD was technically possible in 85 lesions (93.4 %). In six lesions ESD was not possible due to non-lifting. En bloc resection rates for all lesions, ECGs-GC, ECGs-EC, and adenomas were 87.1 %, 100 %, 88.2 %, and 79.2 %, respectively. R0 en bloc resection rates were 74.1 %, 90 %, 68.6 %, and 79.2 %, respectively. Complications were: one perforation during piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection of a lesion in which ESD was judged to be impossible (1.2 %); three clinically relevant bleedings (3.5 %); one gastric ischemia (1.2 %); and four strictures (4.7 %). No mortality was observed. There were five recurrences after piecemeal resection (50 %) compared with only one after en bloc resection (1.5 %; P < 0.05). The rate of recurrence for EGCs was 5.6 %, and this were seen exclusively after piecemeal resection. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that ESD is a feasible technique in Europe even in patients with EGC according to the extended criteria. Resection rates are promising and complication rates are acceptable. Results are worse compared with large studies from Japan but still excellent regarding the learning curve of the method. ESD should be offered as the treatment of choice for early gastric neoplasia especially when en bloc resection cannot be performed with other resection techniques.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Early Cancers, Flat Adenomas, and Submucosal Tumors in the Gastrointestinal Tract

BACKGROUND & AIMS Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising technique in the treatment of large premalignant and early malignant gastrointestinal lesions. In contrast to Japan and Asian countries, few data are available from Western countries. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of ESD in a European center, with special regard for the success rate and learning curve. METHODS Over a 4-year-period, 82 epithelial or submucosal lesions were referred for ESD. Seventy-one ESDs were performed (51 gastric, 17 rectal, 2 esophageal, and 1 duodenal). Resection rates, procedure times, specimen sizes, complications, and recurrences were noted. The mean follow-up period was 15 months. RESULTS Specimen size increased significantly (P < .05) and procedural duration decreased significantly (P < .005) over time. En bloc resection rates and R0 en bloc resection rates were 77.1% and 65.7%, respectively, in the first half of the study and increased to 86.1% and 72.2%, respectively, in the second half (P = NS). No recurrence was observed after R0 en bloc resection whereas the recurrence rate was 38.5% after piecemeal resections (P < .001). Two perforations in the first series were treated by surgery; 2 other perforations, 8 minor bleedings, and 2 pyloric stenoses were treated endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS ESD is technically feasible and shows promising results in this German single-center-study. ESD is time consuming and difficult but shows a learning curve resulting in a decrease of the procedural duration over time. R0 en bloc resection is mostly possible and can avoid the risk of local recurrence.

Early esophageal cancer in Europe: endoscopic treatment by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Endoscopic resection is the standard treatment for superficial esophageal cancer. Data on early adenocarcinoma (EAC) are widely restricted to endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), whereas large studies have been published on endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). ESD has potential advantages regarding en bloc and R0 resection rates, which have been demonstrated for ESCC. However, studies have failed to confirm these advantages in EAC. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ESD in early esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 111 early esophageal cancers (87 EACs and 24 ESCCs) were resected by ESD at a German tertiary referral center. A total of 60 EACs were resected within Barretts segments ≤ M3. Resection rates, complications, and follow-up data were recorded prospectively. RESULTS En bloc resection rates were 95.4 % for EAC and 100 % for ESCC (P = 0.575), and R0 resection rates were 83.9 % and 91.7 %, respectively (P = 0.515). The R0 resection rate was higher in Barretts ≤ M3 vs. > M3 (90 % vs. 70.4 %; P = 0.029). The curative resection rate was 72.4 % for EAC vs. 45.8 % for ESCC (P = 0.026). Endoluminal recurrence was observed in 2.4 % of EACs (8 % in Barretts > M3, 0 % in Barretts ≤ M3), and 0 % of ESCCs. Complications included strictures (11.7 %) and bleedings (0.9 %), but no perforation. Disease-specific survival was 97.7 % (EAC) and 95.8 % (ESCC), and overall survival was 96.6 % (EAC) and 66.7 % (ESCC) over a mean follow-up period of 24.3 months and 38.0 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS ESD was shown to be a safe resection method, achieving high R0 resection rates in both EAC and ESCC. Recurrence rates were low. To improve R0 resection within long Barretts segments, diagnosis of the lateral extension of the lesion needs to be improved.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early rectal neoplasia: experience from a European center.

Background and study aims Endoscopic resection is a curative treatment option for large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs). Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) allows en bloc resection but ESD experience is still limited outside Asia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of ESD in the treatment of early rectal neoplasia in a European center. Patients and methods 330 patients referred for endoscopic resection of rectal LNPCPs were included prospectively. Results ESD was performed for 302 LNPCPs (median diameter 40 mm). Submucosal invasive cancer (SMIC) was present in 17.2 % (n = 52). SMIC was associated with Paris type (54.5 % among type 0-Is lesions, 100 % of 0-Is-IIc type, 0 % of 0-IIa, 14.9 % of 0-IIa-Is, and 59.3 % of 0-IIa-IIc type; P < 0.001) and with surface pattern (71.4 % among nongranular plus mixed surface lesions, 17.9 % of lesions with granular surface and nodule ≥ 10 mm). For SMICs, resection rates were en bloc 81.4 %, R0 65.1 %, and curative 30.2 %. Curative resection rate improved from 13.6 % to 47.6 % over the study period (P = 0.036). The reason for 83.3 % (25/30) of noncurative resections was submucosal invasion exceeding 1000 µm. For benign lesions (n = 250, 82.8 %), the R0 resection increased from 55.2 % to 84.8 % over the study period (P < 0.001). Recurrence rate was 4.8 %, bleeding rate 5.2 %, and perforation rate 0.8 % (all complications managed conservatively). Median follow-up was 35 months. Conclusions The majority of rectal LNPCPs are benign lesions. ESD offers high R0 resection and low recurrence rates but EMR may be appropriate. In lesions with a risk for SMIC, ESD should be offered to achieve R0 resection. Despite high rates of R0 resection the curative resection rate of ESD for rectal SMIC is < 50 %. Pretherapeutic lesion selection needs improvement.

Colonoscopic full-thickness resection using an over-the-scope device: a prospective multicentre study in various indications

Objective Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is a novel treatment of colorectal lesions not amenable to conventional endoscopic resection. The aim of this prospective multicentre study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the full-thickness resection device. Design 181 patients were recruited in 9 centres with the indication of difficult adenomas (non-lifting and/or at difficult locations), early cancers and subepithelial tumours (SET). Primary endpoint was complete en bloc and R0 resection. Results EFTR was technically successful in 89.5%, R0 resection rate was 76.9%. In 127 patients with difficult adenomas and benign histology, R0 resection rate was 77.7%. In 14 cases, lesions harboured unsuspected cancer, another 15 lesions were primarily known as cancers. Of these 29 cases, R0 resection was achieved in 72.4%; 8 further cases had deep submucosal infiltration >1000 µm. Therefore, curative resection could only be achieved in 13/29 (44.8%). In the subgroup with SET (n=23), R0 resection rate was 87.0%. In general, R0 resection rate was higher with lesions ≤2 cm vs >2 cm (81.2% vs 58.1%, p=0.0038). Adverse event rate was 9.9% with a 2.2% rate of emergency surgery. Three-month follow-up was available from 154 cases and recurrent/residual tumour was evident in 15.3%. Conclusion EFTR has a reasonable technical efficacy especially in lesions ≤2 cm with acceptable complication rates. Curative resection rate for early cancers was too low to recommend its primary use in this indication. Further comparative studies have to show the clinical value and long-term outcome of EFTR in benign colorectal lesions. Trial registration number NCT02362126; Results.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer: are expanded resection criteria safe for Western patients?

Background and study aims Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the standard treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) fulfilling guideline resection criteria or the expanded resection criteria in Asia. It is unclear whether the expanded criteria can be transferred to European patients, and long-term follow-up data are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term follow-up data after ESD of EGCs in Europe. Patients and methods Patients with EGC who underwent ESD were included in this single-center study at a German referral center. Patient and lesion characteristics, procedure characteristics, and follow-up data were recorded prospectively. Results A total of 179 patients with 191 EGCs were included over a period of 141 months, with 29.6 % of lesions meeting guideline criteria and 48.6 % meeting expanded criteria. The en bloc resection rate was 98.4 % for guideline criteria and 89.0 % for expanded criteria lesions (P = 0.09), and the R0 resection rate was 90.2 % and 73.6 %, respectively (P = 0.02). The main reason for the expanded criteria was a lesion diameter > 20 mm (81.6 %). COMPLICATIONS perforation 1 %, delayed bleeding 6.3 %, stricture 2.1 %, procedure-related mortality 1.1 %. Local recurrence rate was 0 % for guideline criteria and 4.8 % for expanded criteria lesions (P = 0.06), and the rate of metachronous neoplasia was 15.1 % and 7.1 %, respectively (median follow-up 51 and 56 months, respectively); 92.9 % of metachronous neoplasia were treated curatively with repeat ESD. One patient developed lymph node metastasis after ESD of a submucosal invasive expanded criteria lesion. Long-term-survival was comparable between the two criteria (P = 0.58). No gastric cancer-related death was observed in either group. Conclusions ESD can achieve high rates of long-term curative treatment using the expanded criteria in EGCs in Western countries. We recommend ESD as treatment of choice not only for guideline criteria EGCs but also for intramucosal nonulcerated EGCs regardless of their diameter.

Gastric ischemia following endoscopic submucosal dissection of early gastric cancer

Procedure-related complications of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) mainly include bleeding and perforation. Another complication is stricture formation after ESD close to the pylorus or close to the gastroesophageal junction. We report a case of an 86-year-old patient who developed extensive gastric ischemia after ESD for early gastric cancer. We suppose that the most likely reason for the ischemia was the submucosal injection of a large volume of a mixture of glycerol (10%) and epinephrine (dilution 1: 50 000) that was used, in combination with the patient’s underlying cardiovascular comorbidity. Gastric ischemia as a complication of gastric ESD has not been described previously. A conservative treatment approach seems justifiable. However, close endoscopic follow up for early recognition and treatment of a resulting stricture is recommended.

Elastosis of the colon and the ileum as polyp causing lesions : A study of six cases and review of the literature

Benign lesions in the gastrointestinal tract characterized by an increase of elastic fibers in the submucosal and mucosal layer are termed elastoma, elastosis, elastofibroma or elastofibromatous change, and present mostly as polyps. Twenty-seven such cases are published in the English and French literature. Some lesions are similar to alterations which are well-known from elastofibroma dorsi of the scapular region. The morphology is highly suggestive of amyloid, but the results of Congo red staining are consistently negative. The etiology of these alterations remains unclear. Some authors consider elastoma a reactive process due to an injury, others speculate about a link to a systemic disease. We present six cases including a right and a left hemicolectomy specimen that presented as polypoid alterations of the ileum and the colon, respectively. Histologically, we found an impressive increase in fine fibrillar elastic fibers that showed a clear association to submucosal vessels. We did not observe elastofibroma-like alterations. After comparing literature cases, we conclude that elastofibromatous change consists either of two different stages, or even more likely, of two different entities. We propose the term angioelastosis for cases we describe in our study to emphasize the involvement of submucosal vessels.

Methylene blue-assisted lymph node dissection in combination with ex vivo sentinel lymph node mapping in gastric cancer.

Aims:  Lymph node (LN) stage is still the strongest prognostic marker in potentially curable gastric cancer. Accuracy of histopathological lymph node assessment depends on the number of investigated LNs and detection rate of metastases and micrometastases. The aim was to perform a feasibility study employing intra‐arterial methylene blue injection – a novel method to improve LN harvest – and ex vivo sentinel LN mapping.