AGA Clinical Practice Update on Endoscopic Surveillance and Management of Colorectal Dysplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Expert Review

Comparative outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection for laterally spreading lesions in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

The role of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for laterally spreading lesions (LSLs) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains controversial despite its effectiveness in the general population. We aimed to characterize outcomes of EMR for IBD-associated LSLs compared with controls without IBD.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of patients with IBD who underwent EMR and endoscopic follow-up for LSLs, compared with a control group without IBD. The primary outcome was histologic recurrence. Secondary outcomes included en bloc resection and adverse events. Factors associated with recurrence were identified using multivariate mixed effects logistic regression.

RESULTS

210 premalignant lesions in 155 patients were included. By histology, 91.0% were adenoma/low grade dysplasia or sessile serrated lesions. Median (IQR) lesion size was 25 (12-30) mm in the IBD group and 20 (12-30) mm in the control group. Recurrence was detected in 30.4% of IBD-associated lesions (7/23) compared with 20.9% of controls (39/187; odds ratio [OR] 2.51, 95%CI 0.59-10.71). En bloc resection was less common in the IBD group (2/23 [8.7%], 95%CI 1.1-28.0) versus controls (106/187 [56.7%], 95%CI 50.4-65.2). After adjusting for lesion size and histology, recurrence appeared more common in patients with IBD compared with controls (OR 3.08, 95%CI 1.04-9.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrence of LSLs after EMR appeared to be more frequent in patients with IBD. Given the added complexity, EMR in patients with IBD should be performed in expert centers with close endoscopic surveillance.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). However, advancements in endoscopic imaging techniques, integrated surveillance programs, and improved medical therapies have led to a decrease in the incidence of CRC among IBD patients. Currently, the management of patients with IBD who have a history of or ongoing active malignancy is an unmet need. This involves balancing the risk of cancer recurrence/progression with the potential exacerbation of IBD if the medications are discontinued. The objective of this review is to provide an updated summary of the epidemiology, causes, risk factors, and surveillance approaches for CRC in individuals with IBD, and to offer practical guidance on managing IBD patients with history of previous or active cancer.

Dynamic Prediction of Advanced Colorectal Neoplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Colonoscopic surveillance is recommended in patients with colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) given their increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to develop and validate a dynamic prediction model for the occurrence of advanced colorectal neoplasia (aCRN, including high-grade dysplasia and CRC) in IBD.

METHODS

We pooled data from 6 existing cohort studies from Canada, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Patients with IBD and an indication for CRC surveillance were included if they underwent at least 1 follow-up procedure. Exclusion criteria included prior aCRN, prior colectomy, or an unclear indication for surveillance. Predictor variables were selected based on the literature. A dynamic prediction model was developed using a landmarking approach based on Cox proportional hazard modeling. Model performance was assessed with Harrell's concordance-statistic (discrimination) and by calibration curves. Generalizability across surveillance cohorts was evaluated by internal-external cross-validation.

RESULTS

The surveillance cohorts comprised 3731 patients, enrolled and followed-up in the time period from 1973 to 2021, with a median follow-up period of 5.7 years (26,336 patient-years of follow-up evaluation); 146 individuals were diagnosed with aCRN. The model contained 8 predictors, with a cross-validation median concordance statistic of 0.74 and 0.75 for a 5- and 10-year prediction window, respectively. Calibration plots showed good calibration. Internal-external cross-validation results showed medium discrimination and reasonable to good calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

The new prediction model showed good discrimination and calibration, however, generalizability results varied. Future research should focus on formal external validation and relate predicted aCRN risks to surveillance intervals before clinical application.

Endoscopic approaches to the management of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease: A state-of-the-art narrative review

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of developing colitis-associated neoplasia (CAN), including colorectal cancer (CRC), through the inflammation-dysplasia-neoplasia pathway. Dysplasia is the most reliable, early and actionable marker for CAN in these patients. While such lesions are frequently encountered, adequate management depends on an accurate assessment, complete resection and close surveillance. With recent advances in endoscopic technologies and research in the field of CAN, the management of dysplastic lesions has significantly improved. The American Gastroenterology Association and Surveillance for Colorectal Endoscopic Neoplasia Detection (SCENIC) provide a guideline framework for approaching dysplastic lesions in patients with IBD. However, there are significant gaps in these recommendations and real-world clinical practice. Accurate lesion assessment remains pivotal for adequate management of CAN. Artificial intelligence-guided modalities are now increasingly being used to aid the detection of these lesions further. As the lesion detection technologies are improving, our armamentarium of resection techniques is also expanding and includes hot or cold polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection and full-thickness resection. With the broadened scope of endoscopic resection, the recommendations regarding surveillance after resection has also changed. Certain patient populations such as those with invisible dysplasia or with prior colectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis need special consideration. In the present review, we aim to provide a state-of-the-art summary of the current practice of endoscopic detection, resection and surveillance of dysplasia in patients with IBD and provide some perspective on the future directions based on the latest research.

Natural course of ulcerative colitis in China: Differences from the West?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Whether the natural course of ulcerative colitis (UC) in mainland China is similar or different from that in Western countries is unknown, and data on it is limited. We aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the natural course of UC in China and compare it with Western UC patients.

METHODS

Based on a prospective Chinese nationwide registry of consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, the medical treatments and natural history of UC were described in detail, including disease extension, surgery, and neoplasia. The Cox regression model was used to identify factors associated with poor outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 1081 UC patients were included with a median follow-up duration of 5.3 years. The overall cumulative exposure was 99.1% to 5-aminosalicylic acids, 52.1% to corticosteroids, 25.6% to immunomodulators, and 15.4% to biologics. Disease extent at diagnosis was proctitis in 26.9%, left-sided colitis in 34.8%, and extensive colitis in 38.3%. Of 667 patients with proctitis and left-sided colitis, 380 (57.0%) experienced disease extent progression. A total of 58 (5.4%) UC patients underwent colectomy, demonstrating cumulative proportions of surgery at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis of 0.6%, 3.4%, and 8.2%, respectively. In addition, 23 (2.1%) UC patients were diagnosed with neoplasia, demonstrating cumulative proportions of neoplasia at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese UC patients had similar cumulative proportions of exposure to IBD-specific treatments but a lower surgical rate than patients in Western countries, indicating a different natural course, and close monitoring needs for UC in China. However, these results must be confirmed in population-based studies because the hospital-based cohort in our study might lead to selection bias.

Management of ulcerative colitis in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease updated in 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by alternating periods of inflammation and remission. Although UC incidence is lower in Taiwan than in Western countries, its impact remains considerable, demanding updated guidelines for addressing local healthcare challenges and patient needs. The revised guidelines employ international standards and recent research, emphasizing practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system. Since the inception of the guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease has acknowledged the need for ongoing revisions to incorporate emerging therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. This updated guideline aims to align UC management with local contexts, ensuring comprehensive and context-specific recommendations, thereby raising the standard of care for UC patients in Taiwan. By adapting and optimizing international protocols for local relevance, these efforts seek to enhance health outcomes for patients with UC.

AGA Clinical Practice Update on Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Patients With Malignancy: Commentary

DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Clinical Practice Update (CPU) Commentary is to discuss the risks of various malignancies in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and the impact of the available medical therapies on these risks. The CPU will also guide the approach to the patient with IBD who develops a malignancy or the patient with a history of cancer in terms of IBD medication management.

METHODS

This CPU was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute CPU committee and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership and underwent internal peer review by the CPU committee and external peer review through standard procedures of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. This communication incorporates important and recently published studies in the field, and it reflects the experiences of the authors who are experts in the diagnosis and management of IBD.

Interim Analysis of a Trial Evaluating the Utility of Non-Targeted Biopsies for Colorectal Neoplasia Detection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the colorectum (cIBD) have a 1.5- to 2-fold higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) relative to age- and sex-matched members of the general population.1 Intensive surveillance colonoscopy is recommended in this population to detect and treat early neoplastic lesions before they evolve to incurable cancers.2 Some societies advocate for widespread non-targeted ("random") biopsies throughout the colorectum to screen for "invisible" neoplastic lesions, in addition to targeted biopsies and/or resection of visible lesions.2 Despite the theoretical value of non-targeted biopsies in this setting, there are no high-quality, controlled data to support this practice. In addition to adding significant time and costs to colonoscopy screening, extensive biopsy sampling may also increase the risk of colorectal bleeding and bowel perforation, particularly in elderly patients and those receiving anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapies. With the widespread adoption of disease-modifying biologic and small molecule therapies,3 mucosal healing as a treatment end point,4 high-definition endoscopes,5 and endoscopy quality standards,6 as well as reports of very low neoplasia yield for non-targeted biopsies (0.1%-0.2% of biopsies),7 many experts have started to question the value of non-targeted biopsies as an adjunct for neoplasia surveillance in persons with cIBD.8 However, a recent large French cohort study reported that non-targeted biopsies still identify up to 20% of all neoplastic foci in persons with cIBD,9 albeit primarily in individuals with other major CRC risk factors.

Gastrointestinal Biofilms: Endoscopic Detection, Disease Relevance, and Therapeutic Strategies

Gastrointestinal biofilms are highly heterogenic and spatially organized polymicrobial communities that can expand and cover large areas in the gastrointestinal tract. Gut microbiota dysbiosis, mucus disruption, and epithelial invasion are associated with pathogenic biofilms that have been linked to gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, gastric cancer, and colon cancer. Intestinal biofilms are highly prevalent in ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome patients, and most endoscopists will have observed such biofilms during colonoscopy, maybe without appreciating their biological and clinical importance. Gut biofilms have a protective extracellular matrix that renders them challenging to treat, and effective therapies are yet to be developed. This review covers gastrointestinal biofilm formation, growth, appearance and detection, biofilm architecture and signalling, human host defence mechanisms, disease and clinical relevance of biofilms, therapeutic approaches, and future perspectives. Critical knowledge gaps and open research questions regarding the biofilm's exact pathophysiological relevance and key hurdles in translating therapeutic advances into the clinic are discussed. Taken together, this review summarizes the status quo in gut biofilm research and provides perspectives and guidance for future research and therapeutic strategies.

The Management of Colorectal Neoplasia in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), comprising Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Individuals with IBD are at an increased risk of developing intestinal neoplasia, particularly colorectal neoplasia (CRN) (including colorectal dysplasia and colorectal cancer [CRC]), as a consequence of chronic colonic inflammation.1 –4 Given that CRC in patients with IBD appears to be preceded by dysplastic changes in the colonic mucosa, prevention strategies to reduce CRC-associated morbidity and mortality have been recommended by multiple society guidelines and independent consensus groups, and include risk assessment, mitigation of inflammation with medical therapies, and screening and surveillance strategies with colonoscopy, with histopathologic assessments at appropriate intervals. Despite these efforts, prevention and management of neoplasia in IBD remains a complex and often confusing topic, requiring careful reappraisal of the evolving evidence base and practicable approaches to clinical practice.

Colorectal Neoplasia in the Setting of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (colorectal adenocarcinoma [CRC]) compared with the general population. IBD-related CRC is related to poorer outcomes than non-IBD-related CRC, and it accounts for 10% to 15% of death in patients with IBD. As such, screening guidelines have been made specific to this population recommending shorter intervals of endoscopic screening to detect dysplasia and CRC relative to the general population. Advances in endoscopic technology allow for improved visualization of dysplasia, which has led to widespread adoption of dye-spray chromoendoscopy with targeted biopsy.

Artificial intelligence for dysplasia detection during surveillance colonoscopy in patients with ulcerative colitis: A cross-sectional, non-inferiority, diagnostic test comparison study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

High-definition virtual chromoendoscopy, along with targeted biopsies, is recommended for dysplasia surveillance in ulcerative colitis patients at risk for colorectal cancer. Computer-aided detection (CADe) systems aim to improve colonic adenoma detection, however their efficacy in detecting polyps and adenomas in this context remains unclear. This study evaluates the CADe Discovery™ system's effectiveness in detecting colonic dysplasia in ulcerative colitis patients at risk for colorectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional, non-inferiority, diagnostic test comparison study was conducted on ulcerative colitis patients undergoing colorectal cancer surveillance colonoscopy between January 2021 and April 2021. Patients underwent virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) with iSCAN 1 and 3 with optical enhancement. One endoscopist, blinded to CADe Discovery™ system results, examined colon sections, while a second endoscopist concurrently reviewed CADe images. Suspicious areas detected by both techniques underwent resection. Proportions of dysplastic lesions and patients with dysplasia detected by VCE or CADe were calculated.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients were included, and 48 lesions analyzed. VCE and CADe each detected 9 cases of dysplasia (21.4% and 20.0%, respectively; p=0.629) in 8 patients and 7 patients (15.4% vs. 13.5%, respectively; p=0.713). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy for dysplasia detection using VCE or CADe were 90% and 90%, 13% and 5%, 21% and 2%, 83% and 67%, and 29.2% and 22.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The CADe Discovery™ system shows similar diagnostic performance to VCE with iSCAN in detecting colonic dysplasia in ulcerative colitis patients at risk for colorectal cancer.

White Paper: American Gastroenterological Association Position Statement: The Future of IBD Care in the United States-Removing Barriers and Embracing Opportunities

Despite incredible growth in systems of care and rapidly expanding therapeutic options for people with inflammatory bowel disease, there are significant barriers that prevent patients from benefiting from these advances. These barriers include restrictions in the form of prior authorization, step therapy, and prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, inadequate use of multidisciplinary care and inflammatory bowel disease specialists limits patient access to high-quality care, particularly for medically vulnerable populations. However, there are opportunities to improve access to high-quality, patient-centered care. This position statement outlines the policy and advocacy goals that the American Gastroenterological Association will prioritize for collaborative efforts with patients, providers, and payors.

Common Instances of Low-value Care in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Value-based care focuses on improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of health care while controlling costs. Low-value care implies services or interventions that provide little or no benefit to patients, have the potential to cause harm, incur unnecessary cost to patients, or waste limited health care resources. In this review, we discuss common instances of low-value care along the spectrum of management in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). These include low value care in: (1) diagnosis and monitoring of IBD: utilization of serological markers to screen and diagnose IBD, over-reliance on symptoms for monitoring disease, failure to employ treat-to-target strategies in symptomatic patients with IBD, and annual surveillance colonoscopies in patients at low risk of developing dysplasia; (2) treatment of IBD: use of 5-aminosalicylates in Crohn's disease, continuation of 5-aminosalicylates after escalation to immunosuppressive therapy, chronic corticosteroid use without steroid-sparing strategies, step therapy for Crohn's disease, failure to optimize tumor necrosis factor antagonists in patients with active disease and subsequently de-intensification of therapies in those who have achieved stable remission; and (3) management of hospitalized patients with IBD: routine cross-sectional imaging for patients with IBD presenting to the emergency department, withholding pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in patients hospitalized with IBD flare, and prolonged use of high-dose intravenous corticosteroids in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis. This review is meant to bring attention to value-based care in IBD and provide guidance to treating practitioners. Future studies on systematic evaluation of high- and low-value care in patients with IBD are warranted.

Dye Chromoendoscopy Outperforms High-Definition White Light Endoscopy in Dysplasia Detection for Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION

Whether dye spray chromoendoscopy (DCE) adds value in surveillance colonoscopy with high-definition (HD) scopes remains controversial. This updated meta-analysis compares dysplasia detection using DCE and high-definition white light endoscopy (HD-WLE) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing surveillance colonoscopy.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing HD-WLE and DCE in patients with IBD. The primary outcome was to compare the proportion of patients with at least 1 dysplastic lesion detected by DCE vs HD-WLE. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using the random-effects model, with I2 > 60% indicating substantial heterogeneity. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence (CoE).

RESULTS

Six RCT involving 978 patients were analyzed (DCE = 479 vs HD-WLE = 499 patients). DCE detected significantly more patients with dysplasia than HD-WLE (18.8% vs 9.4%), OR 1.94 (95% CI 1.21-3.11, I2 = 28%, P = 0.006, high CoE). This remained significant after excluding 2 RCT published as abstracts. A sensitivity analysis excluding a noninferiority RCT with a single experienced operator eliminated the results' heterogeneity, OR 2.46 (95% CI 1.56-3.90, I2 = 0%). Although high-grade dysplasia detection was numerically higher in the DCE group (2.8% vs 1.1%), the difference was statistically insignificant, OR 2.21 (95% CI 0.64-7.62, I2 = 0%, low CoE).

DISCUSSION

Our updated meta-analysis supports DCE as a superior strategy in overall dysplasia detection in IBD, even with HD scopes. When expertise is available, DCE should be considered for surveillance colonoscopy in patients with high-risk IBD, with the acknowledgment that virtual chromoendoscopy shows equivalence in recent studies. Further multicenter trials with multiple endoscopists with varying expertise levels and longer-term outcome data showing a reduction in cancer or cancer-related death are needed.

Longer Colonoscopy Withdrawal Time Is Associated With the Detection of Visible Dysplasia in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Colonoscopy withdrawal time (CWT) of at least 6-9 minutes is the minimum time needed for adequate adenoma detection in the general population. The ideal CWT in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been determined. We aimed to identify the optimal CWT associated with the detection of visible dysplasia in patients with IBD.

Methods

This is a retrospective study from 1/1/2017 to 9/1/2022 of adult patients with IBD in endoscopic healing undergoing surveillance via high-definition white light colonoscopy. The primary outcome was the association of CWT with visible dysplasia detection.

Results

A total of 259 patients (mean age 56 ± 14.8 years; 51.3% female, 68% with ulcerative colitis; 8.9% with primary sclerosing cholangitis) underwent 330 colonoscopies. Patients with visible dysplasia were more likely to be older (P < .001) and have a personal history of visible dysplasia (P < .001) and invisible dysplasia (P = .023). The mean CWT was significantly longer in the visible dysplasia group at 26 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 20-38.5) vs. 21 minutes (IQR 15-28) in procedures without visible dysplasia (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, increased age (P < .001), increased CWT (P = .001), and personal history of visible dysplasia (P = .013) were independently associated with the detection of visible dysplasia. A CWT of ≥15 minutes (odds ratio [OR] 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-6.6; P = .02] and not ≥9 minutes (OR 2.57; 95% CI, 0.33-20.2; P = .35) is significantly associated with detection of visible dysplasia.

Conclusions

For patients with IBD undergoing surveillance via high-definition white light colonoscopy, the mean CWT was independently associated with the detection of visible dysplasia.

Clinical usefulness of image-enhanced endoscopy for the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis-associated neoplasia

Patients with a long history of ulcerative colitis (UC) are at risk of developing a significant complication known as UC-associated neoplasia (UCAN). To reduce the risk of UCAN and the associated mortality, the current guidelines recommend initiating surveillance colonoscopy 8-10 years after confirmation of UC diagnosis. In recent years, advancements in endoscopic diagnostic technologies, including magnifying and image-enhancing techniques, have allowed for the production of high-contrast images that emphasize mucosal structures, vascular patterns, and color tones. Recently, image-enhanced endoscopy technologies have become available and offer the potential to improve the qualitative endoscopic assessment of UCAN. The use of high-definition chromoendoscopy enables the evaluation of subtle mucosal patterns in the colon. Magnifying narrow-band imaging facilitates the visualization of mucosal vascular structures. Texture and color enhancement imaging processes structure, color tone, and brightness aspects more appropriately, whereas linked color imaging optimizes the emphasis on mucosal and vascular redness. Both techniques are expected to excel in the depiction of subtle color variations and mucosal changes characteristic of UCAN. This article provides an overview of the current status and future challenges regarding the use of various image-enhanced endoscopy techniques in the diagnosis of UCAN.

Circulatory resistin levels in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is a chronic relapsing-remitting systemic disease of the gastrointestinal tract with rising incidence. Studies have shown that adipocytes play a crucial role in patients with IBD by actively participating in systemic immune responses. The present study was designed to investigate the correlation between the circulatory levels of resistin, as an adipokine, and active and remission phases of IBD in comparison with healthy controls.

METHODS

Relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, and Scopus from inception until June 2023. Estimation of the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for comparison of plasma/serum resistin levels between IBD patients, patients in remission, and healthy controls were conducted through random-effect meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 19 studies were included, assessing 1836 cases. Meta-analysis indicated that generally, serum/plasma resistin levels were higher in IBD patients in comparison with healthy controls (SMD 1.33, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.08, p-value < 0.01). This was true for each of the UC and CD separate analyses, as well. Moreover, it was shown that higher serum/plasma resistin levels were detected in the active phase of IBD than in the remission phase (SMD 1.04, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.42, p-value = 0.01). Finally, higher serum/plasma resistin levels were found in the remission phase compared to healthy controls (SMD 0.60, 95% CI 0.15 to 1.06, p-value < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis support the conclusion that circulating resistin levels are increased in IBD (both UC and CD). Also, higher resistin levels were recorded in the remission phase of IBD in comparison with healthy controls. This indicates that further studies may provide valuable insights into the role of resistin in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Pathology and Clinical Significance of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Colorectal Dysplastic Lesions

Timely diagnosis and effective management of colorectal dysplasia play a vital role in preventing mortality from colorectal cancer in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. This review provides a contemporary overview of the pathologic and endoscopic classification of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease, their roles in determining surveillance and management algorithms, and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that might further enhance patient management.

Present and future of endoscopy precision for inflammatory bowel disease

Several advanced imaging techniques are now available for endoscopists managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. These tools, including dye-based and virtual chromoendoscopy, probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy and endocytoscopy, are increasingly innovative applications in clinical practice. They allow for a more in-depth and refined evaluation of the mucosal and vascular bowel surface, getting closer to histology. They have demonstrated a remarkable ability in assessing intestinal inflammation, histologic remission, and predicting relapse and favorable long-term outcomes. In addition, the future application of molecular endoscopy to predict biological drug responses has yielded preliminary but encouraging results. Furthermore, these techniques are crucial in detecting and characterizing IBD-related dysplasia, assisting endoscopic mucosal resection and submucosal dissection towards a surgery-sparing approach. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential in this promising landscape, as it can provide an objective and reproducible assessment of inflammation and dysplasia. Moreover, it can improve the prediction of outcomes and aid in subsequent therapeutic decision-making. This review aims to summarize the promising role of state-of-the-art advanced endoscopic techniques and related AI-enabled models for managing IBD, paving the way for precision medicine.

High-definition chromoendoscopy results in more significant dysplasia detection than white light endoscopy with random biopsies in ulcerative colitis patients: A single-center retrospective study

The goal of this study was to determine whether high-definition white light endoscopy with random biopsies (HD-WLR) or chromoendoscopy (HDCE) yielded a higher dysplasia detection rate in ulcerative colitis patients. Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients have a 2.4-fold increased future risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to the general population and require careful dysplasia screening modalities. Both HD-WLR and HDCE are regularly used, and recent guidelines do not suggest a preference. UC patients who underwent dysplasia surveillance at our site between January 2019 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. We calculated the dysplasia detection rate of both techniques at the first CRC screening colonoscopy. Eighteen dysplastic lesions were detected in total, 3 by HD-WLR and fifteen by HDCE. Dysplasia was detected in 4% (3/75) and 20% (15/75) of UC patients by HD-WLR and HDCE respectively, with significantly fewer biopsies (4.44 ± 4.3 vs 29.1 ± 13.0) required using the former. HD-WLR detected 2 polypoid and one non-polypoid lesion, while HDCE detected eleven polypoid and 4 non-polypoid lesions. No invisible dysplasia or colorectal cancer was detected. Screening was performed at 10.8 ± 4.8 and 9.72 ± 3.05 years following UC diagnosis for HDCE and HD-WLR respectively. Median withdrawal time was 9.0 ± 2.7 minutes (HD-WLR) vs 9.6 + 3.9 minutes (HDCE). HDCE is associated with higher dysplasia detection rates compared to HD-WLR in a UC patient population. Given the former technique is less tedious and costly, our findings complement existing studies that suggest HDCE may be considered over HD-WLR for UC dysplasia surveillance.

Ulcerative colitis: STRIDE-ing beyond symptoms with new standards

The landscape of ulcerative colitis has changed in the last two decades. Advancements in pharmacotherapeutics have heralded the introduction of new treatment options, with many agents in development. Better clinical outcomes are seen with tighter disease control, made possible with greater understanding of inflammatory pathways and their blockade with drugs. There has been a resultant shift in treatment targets, beyond symptoms to endoscopic and histological healing. Controlling the burden of disease activity also lowers the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening now requires the use of dye-based agents and high-definition colonoscopy to improve the detection of colonic neoplasms.

Dysplasia detection rates under a surveillance program in a tertiary referral center for inflammatory bowel diseases: Real-world data

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Surveillance colonoscopies are crucial for high-risk patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) to detect colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, there is no established quality metric for dysplasia detection rate (DDR) in IBD surveillance. This study assessed the DDR in a dedicated surveillance program at a tertiary referral center for IBD.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with quiescent colitis were enrolled in a cross-sectional study evaluating DDR. High-definition colonoscopy with dye chromoendoscopy (DCE) was performed by a specialized operator. Advanced dysplasia (AD) was defined as low-grade dysplasia ≥ 10 mm, high-grade dysplasia, or colorectal cancer. Risk factors for dysplasia detection were analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 119 patients underwent 151 procedures, identifying 206 lesions, of which 40 dysplastic with seven AD . Per-lesion and per-procedure DDR were 19.4 % and 20.5 %, respectively. The per-procedure AD detection rate (ADDR) was 4.6 %. A Kudo pit pattern of II-V had a sensitivity of 92.5 % for dysplasia detection but a false positive rate of 64.8 % (p < 0.001). Age at diagnosis and at index colonoscopy and past or indefinite dysplasia were associated with per-procedure dysplasia detection.

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world setting, a dedicated surveillance program achieved a high DDR. We suggest that optimal DDR in high-risk IBD patients be defined and implemented as a standardized quality measure for surveillance programs.

Factors Affecting Adherence to National Colorectal Cancer Screening: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study Using Multi-Institutional Pooled Data in Korea

BACKGROUND

Consistent uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is important to reduce the incidence and mortality from advanced-stage CRC and increase the survival rate of the patients. We conducted a longitudinal study to determine the factors affecting CRC screening compliance in Korean adults using individual-level linked data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Korean National Health Insurance Service, and Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

METHODS

We selected 3,464 adults aged 50-79 years as the study population and followed them for 12 years (January 2007-December 2018). The outcome variable was the level of adherence to CRC screening, categorized as nonadherent, intermittently adherent, and consistently adherent. An ordinal logistic regression model was designed to determine the socioeconomic factors, family history of CRC, and medical conditions that could facilitate the consistent uptake of CRC screening.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant and positive association between consistent uptake of CRC screening and the 100-150% income category (odds ratio [OR], 1.710; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.401-2.088); clerical, sales and service job category (OR, 1.962; 95% CI, 1.582-2.433); residency at medium-sized cities (OR, 1.295; 95% CI, 1.094-1.532); high-school graduation (OR, 1.440; 95% CI, 1.210-1.713); married status (OR, 2.281; 95% CI, 1.946-2.674); use of employment-based national health insurance (OR, 1.820; 95% CI, 1.261-2.626); use of private insurance (OR, 2.259; 95% CI, 1.970-2.589); no disability (OR, 1.428; 95% CI, 1.175-1.737); family history of CRC (OR, 2.027; 95% CI, 1.514-2.714); and history of colorectal neoplasm (OR, 1.216; 95% CI; 1.039-1.422).

CONCLUSION

The lack of regular participation in CRC screening programs in the Republic of Korea was found to be an issue that requires attention. Policies on CRC screening must place increased emphasis on strengthening educational and public relations initiatives.

Recently described types of dysplasia associated with IBD: tips and clues for the practising pathologist

Longstanding inflammatory bowel disease (especially in patients with severely active disease or primary sclerosing cholangitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. This review covers critical clinical aspects, such as risk factors and screening endoscopy basics, emphasising the SCENIC (Surveillance for Colorectal Endoscopic Neoplasia Detection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease International Consensus) guidelines. The histopathological and molecular features of both conventional (adenomatous) dysplasia and the non-conventional subtypes (hypermucinous dysplasia, goblet cell-deficient dysplasia, crypt cell dysplasia, serrated dysplasias) are discussed with an emphasis on challenging diagnostic areas and helpful tips to allow correct categorisation by the practising pathologist.

ChatGPT on guidelines: Providing contextual knowledge to GPT allows it to provide advice on appropriate colonoscopy intervals

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Colonoscopy is commonly used in screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer. Multiple different guidelines provide recommendations on the interval between colonoscopies. This can be challenging for non-specialist healthcare providers to navigate. Large language models like ChatGPT are a potential tool for parsing patient histories and providing advice. However, the standard GPT model is not designed for medical use and can hallucinate. One way to overcome these challenges is to provide contextual information with medical guidelines to help the model respond accurately to queries. Our study compares the standard GPT4 against a contextualized model provided with relevant screening guidelines. We evaluated whether the models could provide correct advice for screening and surveillance intervals for colonoscopy.

METHODS

Relevant guidelines pertaining to colorectal cancer screening and surveillance were formulated into a knowledge base for GPT. We tested 62 example case scenarios (three times each) on standard GPT4 and on a contextualized model with the knowledge base.

RESULTS

The contextualized GPT4 model outperformed the standard GPT4 in all domains. No high-risk features were missed, and only two cases had hallucination of additional high-risk features. A correct interval to colonoscopy was provided in the majority of cases. Guidelines were appropriately cited in almost all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

A contextualized GPT4 model could identify high-risk features and quote appropriate guidelines without significant hallucination. It gave a correct interval to the next colonoscopy in the majority of cases. This provides proof of concept that ChatGPT with appropriate refinement can serve as an accurate physician assistant.

Management of Dysplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Given the chronic nature of mucosal inflammation present in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there is a high risk of dysplastic lesions progressing to cancer, in addition to a high risk of synchronous and/or metachronous cancers developing in those diagnosed with dysplasia. Due to this, consensus guidelines recommend regular surveillance. When visible dysplasia is encountered, options include endoscopic or surgical resection depending on characteristics of the lesion. Advancements in endoscopic tools increasingly allow for endoscopic removal when appropriate. Invisible dysplasia discovered on random biopsy should prompt referral to physicians who specialize in IBD. While surgical resection with proctocolectomy significantly decreases the risk of colorectal cancer, the risk must be balanced against the morbidity of surgery and quality-of-life concerns. Management of dysplasia in IBD patients requires complex decision-making that requires balance of patient values and goals of care with cancer-related risk factors.

What Is the Risk? Epidemiology and Evidence for Surveillance Regimens

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The risk for CRC is positively correlated to the duration of disease, extent of colonic involvement, and severity of inflammation. After 8 to 10 years of IBD diagnosis, the risk for CRC rises substantially and screening colonoscopy is recommended. Surveillance colonoscopy interval ranges from 1 to 5 years depending on patient and disease-specific risk factors. IBD patients with high risk factors such as having concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis, moderate-to-severe inflammation, first-degree relative with CRC at early age, or history of invisible dysplasia or high-risk visible dysplasia should undergo surveillance colonoscopy in 1 year. Meanwhile, those with minimal colonic involvement or ≥2 consecutive unremarkable examinations while in continuous remission may consider extending the surveillance interval to 5 years. Advance in colonoscopy technique such as chromoendoscopy using dyes and/or image digital processing (virtual chromoendoscopy) may enhance dysplasia detection and is the preferred method for IBD surveillance. In the era of high-definition colonoscope, the practice of obtaining extensive biopsies throughout the colon remains controversial but is generally recommended to improve the detection rate of invisible dysplasia. Endoscopic surveillance in IBD has been shown to result in earlier detection of CRC and improved prognosis.

Small Bowel Carcinoma in the Setting of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Small bowel carcinomas are rare in the general population, but the incidence is increasing. Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are at significantly higher risk of small bowel adenocarcinomas than their non-IBD counterparts, with Crohn's patients having at least a 12-fold increased risk and ulcerative colitis patients with a more controversial and modest 2-fold increased risk compared with the general population. IBD patients with small bowel carcinomas present with nonspecific symptoms that overlap with typical IBD symptoms, and this results in difficulty making a preoperative diagnosis. Cross-sectional imaging is rarely diagnostic, and most cancers are found incidentally at the time of surgery performed for an IBD indication. As such, most small bowel carcinomas are found at advanced stages and carry a poor prognosis. Oncologic surgical resection is the treatment of choice for patients with locoregional disease with little evidence available to guide adjuvant therapy. Patients with metastatic disease are treated with systemic chemotherapy, and surgery is reserved for palliation in this population. Prognosis is poor with few long-term survivors reported.

Interval Colorectal Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of dysplasia and colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, colitis-associated CRC is responsible for a disproportionate number of CRC-related mortality. For this reason, societies recommend screening and surveillance colonoscopy as the standard of care for patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis. Nonetheless, interval cancer defined as CRC detected within the appropriate surveillance interval might still occur despite following guideline recommendations. Even though there is limited data on risk factors associated with interval CRC in IBD, patient and disease-associated factors and technical aspects of the surveillance might play a role. This review aims to provide information on the epidemiology of interval CRC in IBD, the factors that might be associated with its occurrence, and the challenges of CRC screening and dysplasia management in patients with IBD.

Identifying the real-world challenges of dysplasia surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary health network

BACKGROUND

Dysplasia surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often suboptimal and deviates from guidelines.

AIMS

To assess dysplasia surveillance behaviours and adherence to guidelines amongst a large tertiary teaching health network with a specialised IBD unit to identify areas where dysplasia surveillance could be improved.

METHODS

A retrospective audit of IBD surveillance colonoscopy practice over an 18-month period was performed using the Provation Endoscopy Database and the hospital's primary sclerosing cholangitis database.

RESULTS

The audit identified 115 dysplasia surveillance colonoscopies. A total of 37% of index dysplasia colonoscopies were outside recommended guidelines. A total of 10% had inadequate bowel preparation and only 40% had excellent bowel preparation. A total of 28% of patients underwent dye-based chromoendoscopy and 69% underwent high-definition white-light endoscopy. Dye chromoendoscopy was more likely to be used by IBD specialists than interventional endoscopists (P = 0.008) and other endoscopists (P = 0.004). Only IBD specialists and interventional endoscopists used dye chromoendoscopy. Dysplasia or colorectal cancer was detected in 3.4% of the colonoscopies. Overall, the several dysplasia examinations were lower than expected.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysplasia surveillance in the IBD population remains an area of improvement given the current national guidelines. IBD specialists are more likely to perform dye chromoendoscopy than other endoscopists/gastroenterologists. Dysplasia rates in this real-world contemporary setting are less than expected in historical studies and may represent improvements in IBD management principles and medications.

Advancements in Endoscopic Resection for Colitis-Associated Colorectal Neoplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Turning Visible into Resectable

Patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face a two to three-fold higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to the general population. In recent years, significant progress has been made in comprehending the natural history of IBD-associated CRC (IBD-CRC) and refining its treatment strategies. The decreased incidence of IBD-CRC can be attributed to improved therapeutic management of inflammation, advancements in endoscopy, and early detection of precancerous lesions via surveillance programs. Advanced imaging technologies have made previously undetectable dysplasia visible in most cases, allowing for a much more precise and detailed examination of the mucosa. Additionally, new tools have facilitated the endoscopic resection (ER) of visible lesions in IBD. Particularly, the key to effectively manage colitis-associated colorectal neoplasia (CAN) is to first identify it and subsequently guarantee a complete ER in order to avoid surgery and opt for continuing surveillance. Advanced ER techniques for CAN include endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and hybrid ESD-EMR (h-ESD). This narrative review aims to consolidate the current literature on IBD-CRC, providing an overview of advanced techniques for ER of CAN in IBD, with a particular emphasis on the impact of ESD on the long-term outcomes of IBD patients.

Treat-to-Target and Regular Surveillance of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Associated with Low Incidence and Early-Stage Detection of Malignancies: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), increase the risk of malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to assess the incidence of malignancies in IBD patients managed using a treat-to-target approach and recommended surveillance. We retrospectively searched the electronic databases of two tertiary IBD centers in Milan from 2010 to 2019 for new diagnoses of malignancy in patients with pre-existing IBD. A total of 5239 patients with a follow-up of 19,820 years were included. In total, 71 malignancies were diagnosed in 70 patients (38 CD, 32 UC) with a mean age of 52.9 years, of whom 64% were former or active smokers. The annual incidence of all malignancies was 358 per 100,000 patient years (95% CI 275-444), and the standardized incidence rate (SIR) was 0.93 (95% CI 0.73-1.16). Gastrointestinal cancers were the most frequent (n = 17, 23.9%), in particular, CRC (n = 9), with an incidence of 45 per 100,000 (95% CI 15-74) and an SIR of 1.18 (95% CI 0.54-2.09). CRC occurred mainly in UC patients (6/8), while small bowel cancer was seen in CD patients (5/9). Melanoma and breast cancer (n = 8 each) were the most common non-GI cancers. No significant difference in incidence was found between CD or UC. Death occurred in nine patients (11%) and was due to cancer in eight of these cases, two of which were IBD-related. Most malignancies included in the surveillance were diagnosed at early (I-II) stages (20 vs. 4, p < 0.05). In patients with IBD, treat-to-target and strict surveillance were associated with a low incidence of cancer, similar to that of the general population, and the detection of malignancies at an early stage.

Characteristics, Reporting, and Potential Clinical Significance of Nonconventional Dysplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The term nonconventional dysplasia has been coined to describe several underrecognized morphologic patterns of epithelial dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but to date, the full recognition of these newly characterized lesions by pathologists is uneven. The identification of nonconventional dysplastic subtypes is becoming increasingly important, as they often present as invisible/flat dysplasia and are more frequently associated with advanced neoplasia than conventional dysplasia on follow-up. This review describes the morphologic, clinicopathologic, and molecular characteristics of seven nonconventional subtypes known to date, as well as their potential significance in the clinical management of IBD patients.

Incidental Dysplasia During Total Proctocolectomy With Ileoanal Pouch: Is It Associated With Worse Outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. In cases of invisible or nonendoscopically resectable dysplasia found at colonoscopy, total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis can be offered with good long-term outcomes; however, little is known regarding cancer-related outcomes when dysplasia is found incidentally after surgery on final pathology.

METHODS

Using our prospectively collected pouch registry, we identified patients who had preoperative colonic dysplasia or dysplasia found only after colectomy. Patients with cancer preoperatively or after colectomy were excluded. Included patients were divided into 3 groups: PRE (+preoperative biopsy, negative final pathology), BOTH (+preoperative biopsy and final pathology), and POST (negative preoperative biopsy, +final pathology). Long-term outcomes in the 3 groups were assessed.

RESULTS

In total, 517 patients were included: PRE = 125, BOTH = 254, POST = 137. After a median follow-up of 12 years (IQR 3-21), there were no differences in overall, disease-free, or pouch survival between groups. Cancer/dysplasia developed in 11 patients: 3 (2%) in the PRE, 5 (2%) in the BOTH, and 3 (2%) in the POST group. Only 1 cancer-related death occurred in the entire cohort (PRE group). Disease-free survival at 10 years was 98% for all groups (P = .97). Pouch survival at 10 years was 96% for PRE, 99% for BOTH, and 97% for POST (P = .24).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidental finding of dysplasia on final pathology after proctocolectomy was not associated with worsened outcomes compared with preoperatively diagnosed dysplasia.

DECIDE: Delphi Expert Consensus Statement on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Dysplasia Shared Management Decision-Making

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease colitis-associated dysplasia is managed with either enhanced surveillance and endoscopic resection or prophylactic surgery. The rate of progression to cancer after a dysplasia diagnosis remains uncertain in many cases and patients have high thresholds for accepting proctocolectomy. Individualised discussion of management options is encouraged to take place between patients and their multidisciplinary teams for best outcomes. We aimed to develop a toolkit to support a structured, multidisciplinary and shared decision-making approach to discussions about dysplasia management options between clinicians and their patients.

METHODS

Evidence from systematic literature reviews, mixed-methods studies conducted with key stakeholders, and decision-making expert recommendations were consolidated to draft consensus statements by the DECIDE steering group. These were then subjected to an international, multidisciplinary modified electronic Delphi process until an a priori threshold of 80% agreement was achieved to establish consensus for each statement.

RESULTS

In all, 31 members [15 gastroenterologists, 14 colorectal surgeons and two nurse specialists] from nine countries formed the Delphi panel. We present the 18 consensus statements generated after two iterative rounds of anonymous voting.

CONCLUSIONS

By consolidating evidence for best practice using literature review and key stakeholder and decision-making expert consultation, we have developed international consensus recommendations to support health care professionals counselling patients on the management of high cancer risk colitis-associated dysplasia. The final toolkit includes clinician and patient decision aids to facilitate shared decision-making.

Ulcerative colitis: Addressing the manifestations, the role of fecal microbiota transplantation as a novel treatment option and other therapeutic updates

The prevalence and incidence of Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a recurrent and remitting inflammatory condition, are rising. Any part of the colon may be affected, beginning with inflammation of the mucosa in the rectum and continuing proximally continuously. Bloody diarrhea, tenesmus, fecal urgency, and stomach pain are typical presenting symptoms. Many patients present with extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) including musculoskeletal, ocular, renal, hepatobiliary, and dermatological presentation, among others. Most cases are treated with pharmacological therapy including mesalazine and glucocorticoids. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a novel procedure that is increasingly being used to treat UC, however, its use yet remains controversial because of uncertain efficacy. FMT can lower gut permeability and consequently disease severity by boosting short-chain fatty acids production, helping in epithelial barrier integrity preservation. Upadacitinib (JAK Kinase inhibitor) is another newer treatment option, which is an FDA-approved drug that is being used to treat UC. This review article provides a comprehensive review of the EIMs of UC, the role of FMT along with various recent clinical trials pertaining to FMT as well as other diagnostic and therapeutic updates.

Molecular mechanisms in colitis-associated colorectal cancer

Sustained chronic inflammation of the large intestine leads to tissue damage and repair, which is associated with an increased incidence of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). The genetic makeup of CAC is somewhat similar to sporadic colorectal carcinoma (sCRC), but there are differences in the sequence and timing of alterations in the carcinogenesis process. Several models have been developed to explain the development of CAC, particularly the "field cancerization" model, which proposes that chronic inflammation accelerates mutagenesis and selects for the clonal expansion of phenotypically normal, pro-tumorigenic cells. In contrast, the "Big Bang" model posits that tumorigenic clones with multiple driver gene mutations emerge spontaneously. The details of CAC tumorigenesis-and how they differ from sCRC-are not yet fully understood. In this Review, we discuss recent genetic, epigenetic, and environmental findings related to CAC pathogenesis in the past five years, with a focus on unbiased, high-resolution genetic profiling of non-dysplastic field cancerization in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Risk of Colorectal Polyps: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study From Sweden

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. However, the types and risks of specific polyp types in IBD are less clear.

METHODS

We identified 41 880 individuals with IBD (Crohn's disease [CD: n = 12 850]; ulcerative colitis [UC]: n = 29 030]) from Sweden matched with 41 880 reference individuals. Using Cox regression, we calculated adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs] for neoplastic colorectal polyps [tubular, serrated/sessile, advanced and villous] defined by histopathology codes.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 1648 [3.9%] IBD patients and 1143 [2.7%] reference individuals had an incident neoplastic colorectal polyp, corresponding to an incidence rate of 46.1 and 34.2 per 10 000 person-years, respectively. This correlated to an aHR of 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.35) with the highest HRs seen for sessile serrated polyps [8.50, 95% CI 1.10-65.90] and traditional serrated adenomas [1.72, 95% CI 1.02-2.91]. aHRs for colorectal polyps were particularly elevated in those diagnosed with IBD at a young age and at 10 years after diagnosis. Both absolute and relative risks of colorectal polyps were higher in UC than in CD [aHRs 1.31 vs 1.06, respectively], with a 20-year cumulative risk difference of 4.4% in UC and 1.5% in CD, corresponding to one extra polyp in 23 patients with UC and one in 67 CD patients during the first 20 years after IBD diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide population-based study, there was an increased risk of neoplastic colorectal polyps in IBD patients. Colonoscopic surveillance in IBD appears important, especially in UC and after 10 years of disease.

Assessment of Stool DNA Markers to Detect Colorectal Neoplasia in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multi-site Case-control Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The FDA-approved multitarget stool-DNA [mt-sDNA] test is a successful colorectal cancer [CRC] screening tool in average-risk individuals but is not indicated for patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We determined the performance of the mt-sDNA assay without the haemoglobin component [mt-sDNAHgb-] in patients with IBD, while measuring sensitivity for colorectal cancer and advanced colorectal neoplasia [ACRN].

METHODS

This was a multi-centre, proof-of-concept investigation in persons aged 18-84 years with a diagnosis of IBD, or primary sclerosing cholangitis [PSC] with IBD. Enrolment occurred between March 2013 and May 2016. Stool was tested with the mt-sDNA molecular markers only, minus the immunochemical haemoglobin component.

RESULTS

The analysis set contained 355 samples. The median age was 52 [range 39-62] years, 45.6% were female and 93% were White. Two-thirds [63%] had ulcerative colitis [UC] and 10.1% had PSC/IBD. Colonoscopy revealed cancer in 8.5% [N = 30], advanced precancerous lesions [APLs] in 9.3% [N = 33] and non-advanced precancerous lesions in 7.6% [N = 27], and three-quarters [74.7%, N = 265] had negative findings. mt-sDNAHgb- sensitivity was 73.3% for any stage cancers, and 76.2% for ACRN. Sensitivity was highest for IBD-associated high-grade dysplasia at 100% and 84.6% for IBD-associated low-grade dysplasia ≥1 cm. The test showed higher sensitivity and lower specificity in UC than in Crohn's disease. Increasing inflammation score was associated with a significant decrease in mt-sDNAHgb- test score [ = 0.028] amongst neoplasia-negative individuals, but not in patients with ACRN.

CONCLUSIONS

These data highlight the potential of multitarget stool-DNA marker testing as an important addition to colorectal cancer surveillance by complementing colonoscopic evaluations in IBD patients.

Role of colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening: Available evidence

Colonoscopy is the cornerstone examination for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and it is recommended as the first examination in the context of individuals with high risk of CRC development. Thereby, this examination is of choice in the setting of patients with hereditary CRC syndromes or in patients with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease with colon involvement. However, its role is less clear in the average risk-risk population and in patients with family history of CRC not linked to hereditary CRC syndromes. Despite this, current guidelines, include colonoscopy as alternative for CRC screening either in average risk population with the same evidence level that other screening strategies or in the familial risk population. The present manuscript reviews the clinical evidence on the role of colonoscopy in preventing CRC in different screening settings.

Update on Endoscopic Dysplasia Surveillance in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

As medical management of inflammatory bowel disease makes great advances, most patients with inflammatory bowel disease will have long life expectancies without need for total colectomy. With prolonged disease duration, however, there is increased risk of dysplasia leading to colorectal cancer. Multiple consensus and guideline documents have been published over the last decade with recommendations to optimize early detection and management of dysplastic lesions. Endoscopic technology has improved tremendously, even over the past few years. Previously invisible dysplasia has become visible in most cases with advanced imaging technologies that now allow for much clearer and more detailed mucosal inspection. New tools to facilitate endoscopic resection of visible lesions have also enabled patients to avoid colectomy, with resulting need to continue colon surveillance. There are limited or conflicting data leading to inconsistent recommendations regarding the need for random biopsies, the preferred endoscopic imaging technique, and surveillance intervals after resection of dysplasia. Similarly, there remains significant variability in the application of guidelines into daily practice and availability of and training with advanced imaging technologies. Here, we present a narrative review of which patients are at highest risk for dysplasia, the current guidelines on surveillance colonoscopy, factors affecting optimal mucosal visualization, enhanced imaging techniques, standardized reporting terminologies for surveillance colonoscopy, endoscopic management of dysplasia, indications for colectomy, and briefly on future potential technologies to assist in dysplasia detection.