Colonoscopy: the current king of the hill in the United States

Colonoscopy is the dominant colorectal cancer screening strategy in the USA. There are no randomized controlled trials completed of screening colonoscopy, but multiple lines of evidence establish that colonoscopy reduces colorectal cancer incidence in both the proximal and distal colon. Colonoscopy is highly operator dependent, but systematic efforts to measure and improve quality are impacting performance. Colonoscopy holds a substantial advantage over other strategies for detection of serrated lesions, and a recent case–control study suggests that once-only colonoscopy or colonoscopy at 20-year intervals, by a high-level detector, could ensure lifetime protection from colorectal cancer for many patients

Short cap technique to complete EMR of very flat colorectal laterally spreading tumors

We demonstrate the utility of a short cap placed over the colonoscope tip to facilitate EMR of very flat portions of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) (Fig. 1A). Snare resection is preferred over ablative techniques for the removal of very flat portions that resist snaring. Snaring of very flat portions is often frustrating because even a stiff snare may slide over the very flat tissue

Recurrence rates after EMR of large sessile serrated polyps

Background Little is known regarding the recurrence rate after EMR of large (≥20 mm) sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps). Objective To compare the recurrence rate among SSA/Ps and conventional adenomas in patients referred to a specialty practice for EMR. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic hospital and a satellite surgery center. Patients A total of 362 consecutive patients referred for resection of large (≥20 mm) polyps in the colorectum. Interventions All EMRs were performed with a submucosal contrast agent. All subjects had a follow-up surveillance examination (inspection and biopsy of the EMR) at our center. Main Outcome Measurements Rates of residual polyp at follow-up examination. Results Residual polyp was identified among 8.7% of SSA/Ps compared with 11.1% for conventional adenomas (P = .8). Limitations Retrospective design, procedures performed by a single experienced endoscopist, low number of serrated lesions. Conclusions The rate of recurrence after EMR of SSA/Ps is similar to the rate after EMR of conventional adenomas

Endoscopic recognition of the sessile serrated polyp to cancer sequence

Sessile serrated polyps (SSPs), also called sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs), are the precursor lesions of 20% to 30% of colorectal cancers. The serrated polyp to cancer sequence occurs primarily in the proximal colon in the case of SSPs

Safety and efficacy of hot avulsion as an adjunct to endoscopic mucosal resection (with videos)

Background Excision of all visible neoplastic tissue is the goal of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs). Flat and fibrotic tissue can resist snaring. Ablation of visible polyps is associated with high recurrence rates. Avulsion is a technique to continue resection when snaring fails. Methods We retrospectively analyzed colonic EMRs of 564 consecutive referred polyps between 2015 and 2017. Hot avulsion was used when snaring was unsuccessful. Polyps treated with and without avulsion were compared. Results Hot avulsion was used in 20.9% (n=112) of all resected lesions. The recurrence rates on follow up colonoscopy were 17.52% in avulsion group versus 16.02% in the non-avulsion group (p= 0.76). Hot avulsion was associated with a trend toward higher rates of delayed hemorrhage (5.35% vs 2.58%; p=0.15) and post-coagulation syndrome (1.8% vs 0.47%; p=0.15), but polyps treated with any avulsion were larger than those in which no avulsion was used (p=<0.001). There were an insufficient number of adverse events to perform a multivariable analysis testing the effects of avulsion, size, and location on the risk of overall adverse events. Conclusion Unlike previous reports of using argon plasma coagulation to treat visible polyp during EMR, hot avulsion of visible/fibrotic neoplasia was associated with similar EMR efficacy compared with cases that did not require hot avulsion. The safety profile of hot avulsion appears acceptable