Multimodal Endoscopic Assessment Guides Treatment Decisions for Rectal Early Neoplastic Tumors

Substratifying the risk of covert malignancy in significant rectal polyps: Outcomes from a specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT)

AIM

A treatment strategy for patients with a significant polyp or early colon cancer (SPECC) of the rectum presents a challenge due to the significant rate of covert malignancy and lack of standardized assessment. For this reason, NICE recommends multidisciplinary meetings to improve outcomes. The primary aim of the present study was to report the performance of our specialist early rectal cancer (SERC) multidisciplinary team (MDT) in correctly substratifying the risk of cancer and to discuss the limitations of staging investigations in those patients with "poor outcomes".

METHOD

This was a retrospective review of patients referred to our SERC MDT from 2014 to 2019. Lesions were assigned by the MDT to three pre-resection categories (low, intermediate, high) according to the risk of covert malignancy. Resection method and final histology were compared to the pre-resection categories.

RESULTS

Of 350 SPECC lesions, 174 were assessed as low-risk, 108 intermediate-risk and 68 high-risk. The cancer incidence was 4.8%, 8.3% and 53%, respectively (15.5% overall). Eight lesions were categorized as low-risk but following piecemeal resection were found to be malignant. Five lesions, three of which were categorized as high-risk, were ultimately benign following conventional surgery. One pT1sm1 cancer, removed by anterior resection, may have been treated by local excision.

CONCLUSION

A total of 83% of malignant polyps were triaged to an en bloc resection technique and surgical resection avoided for nearly all benign lesions. However, 12 patients from this cohort were deemed to have a poor outcome because of miscategorization. Further comparative research is needed to establish the optimum strategy for rectal SPECC lesion assessment.

ORIGINALITY STATEMENT

There is currently no consensus for staging significant polyps of the rectum. This paper reports the effectiveness of a specialist early rectal cancer MDT to correctly risk-stratify significant rectal polyps. It underscores the importance of accurate categorization for treatment decision-making, while acknowledging the limitations of current staging modalities.

Comparing three-dimensional endorectal ultrasound and magnification chromoendoscopy for early rectal neoplasia invasion depth assessment

INTRODUCTION

Accurate assessment of invasion depth of early rectal neoplasms is essential for optimal therapy. We aimed to compare three-dimensional endorectal ultrasound (3D-ERUS) with magnification chromoendoscopy (MCE) regarding their accuracy in assessing parietal invasion depth (T).

METHODS

Patients with middle and distal rectum neoplasms were prospectively included. Two providers blinded to each other's assessment performed 3D-ERUS and MCE, respectively. The T stage assessed through ERUS was compared to the MCE evaluation. The results were compared to the surgical specimen anatomopathological report. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive (PPV), and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated for the T stage and for the final therapy (local excision or radical surgery).

RESULTS

In 8 years, 70 patients were enrolled, and all underwent both exams. MCE and ERUS showed an accuracy of 94.3% and 85.7%, sensitivity of 83.7 and 93.3%, specificity of 96.4 and 83.6%, PPV of 86.7 and 60.9%, and NPV of 96.4 and 97.9%, respectively. Kappa for T stage assessed through ERUS was 0.64 and 0.83 for MCE.

CONCLUSION

MCE and 3D-ERUS had good diagnostic performance, but the endoscopic method had higher accuracy. Both methods reliably assessed lesion extension, circumferential involvement, and distance from the anal verge.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in the Colon and Rectum: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

Multimodal assessment of colorectal polyps is needed before decision-making for endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Assessment should include morphology according to Paris classification, magnification endoscopy for vascular pattern, and Kudo pit pattern analysis. ESD should be offered to patients that have Vi pit pattern, lateral spreading tumors (LST) granular multinodular and LST nongranular, lesions with fibrosis and those in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A defined strategy for resection and planning is crucial for successful and efficient resection with a clear audit of outcomes aiming for a perforation and bleeding rate of less than 1% and R0 resection greater than 90%.

Meaningful words in rectal MRI synoptic reports: How "polypoid" may be prognostic

PURPOSE

This study explored the clinicopathologic outcomes of rectal tumor morphological descriptors used in a synoptic rectal MRI reporting template and determined that prognostic differences were observed.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted at a comprehensive cancer center. Fifty patients with rectal tumors for whom the synoptic descriptor "polypoid" was chosen by three experienced radiologists were compared with ninety comparator patients with "partially circumferential" and "circumferential" rectal tumors. Two radiologists re-evaluated all cases. The outcome measures were agreement among two re-interpreting radiologists, clinical T staging with MRI (mrT) and descriptive nodal features, and degrees of wall attachment of tumors (on MRI) compared with pathological (p) T and N stage when available.

RESULTS

Re-evaluation by two radiologists showed moderate to excellent agreement in tumor morphology, presence of a pedicle, and degree of wall attachment (k = 0.41-0.76) and excellent agreement on lymph node presence and size (ICC = 0.83-0.91). Statistically significant lower mrT stage was noted for polypoid morphology, wherein 98% were mrT1/2, while only 7% and 2% of partially circumferential and circumferential tumors respectively were mrT1/2. Pathologic T and N stages among the three morphologies also differed significantly, with only 14% of polypoid cases higher than stage pT2 compared to 48% of partially circumferential cases and 60% of circumferential cases.

CONCLUSION

Using a "polypoid" morphology in rectal cancer MRI synoptic reports revealed a seemingly distinct phenotype with lower clinical and pathologic T and N stages when compared with alternative available descriptors.

PRECIS

"Polypoid" morphology in rectal cancer confers a lower clinical and pathologic T and N stage and may be useful in determining whether to proceed with surgery versus neoadjuvant treatment.

A multi-centre analysis of adjuvant contact X-ray brachytherapy (CXB) in rectal cancer patients treated with local excision - Preliminary results of the CONTEM1 study

INTRODUCTION

Early rectal cancers are increasingly diagnosed through screening programmes and are often treated using local excision (LE). In the case of adverse pathological features completion total mesorectal excision surgery (TME) is the standard recommendation. The morbidity and mortality risks of TME have stimulated the use of adjunctive treatments following LE to achieve organ preservation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients treated with adjuvant CXB following local excision between 2004 and 2017 in three centres were identified (Clatterbridge, Hull, Nice). All patients had adverse pathological features including: lymphovacular invasion, Sm2-3 Kikuchi level, tumour budding, pT2, positive resection margins (R1). CXB was performed with the Papillon50 ^tm machine to a dose of 40-60 Gy in 2 or 3 fractions over 2-4 weeks preceding/following external beam chemo/radiotherapy. Kaplan Meier survival estimates were used for outcomes measures.

RESULTS

194 patients were identified. Median age was 70 years. pT staging was: pT1:143, pT2:45, pT3:6. CXB alone was given in 24 pts and combined with EBRT in 170. Median follow-up time was 77 months (range 7-122 months). Local relapse rate was 8% and distant metastases 9%. Organ preservation was achieved in 95%. 6 year local recurrence free and overall survival was 91% and 81% respectively. Cancer specific survival was 97%. No treatment related mortality was seen.

CONCLUSION

This large multi-centre cohort study using adjuvant CXB following local excision suggests excellent oncological outcomes for these patients without completion TME. This treatment approach can be considered as an alternative for selective patients compliant with long term follow up.

Controversies in EUS: Do we need miniprobes?

This is the fifth in a series of papers entitled "Controversies in EUS." In the current paper, we deal with high-resolution catheter probes, otherwise known as EUS miniprobes (EUS-MPs). The application of miniprobes for early carcinomas in the entire intestinal tract, for subepithelial lesions, and for findings in the bile duct and pancreatic duct as well as endobronchial use is critically discussed. Submucous lesions, especially in the colon, but also early carcinomas in special cases are considered the most important indications. The argument is illustrated by numerous examples.