Risk of proximal colorectal neoplasia among asymptomatic patients with distal hyperplastic polyps

PURPOSE: Many guidelines on colorectal cancer screening do not consider distal hyperplastic polyps to be a marker for proximal neoplasia. However, 11 of 17 published studies have shown an increased risk of proximal neoplasia in patients with distal hyperplastic polyps. Our goal is to assess the risk of proximal neoplasia in asymptomatic patients with distal hyperplastic polyps, compared to those with distal tubular adenomas or no distal polyps. METHODS: We assessed proximal (cecum, ascending, transverse colon and splenic flexure) and distal polyps in patients undergoing screening colonoscopy, classifying them into 3 groups: distal hyperplastic polyps only; distal adenomas with or without hyperplastic polyps; no distal polyps. The prevalence of proximal neoplasia and advanced neoplasia (polyps > or =1 cm, villous adenomas, or cancer) was compared among these groups. RESULTS: Of 2357 patients, 427 (18%) had neoplasia, including 103 (4%) with advanced neoplasia. Proximal neoplasia occurred in 175 (9%) of 1896 patients with no distal polyps, compared with 28 (12%) of 237 with distal hyperplastic polyps (P = 0.20) and 64 (29%) of 224 with distal adenomas (P <0.0001). Proximal advanced neoplasia occurred in 39 (2%) patients with no distal polyps, compared with 4 (2%) with distal hyperplastic polyps (P = 0.70) and 9 (4%) with distal adenomas (P = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with distal hyperplastic polyps, unlike those with distal adenomas, do not exhibit an increased risk for proximal neoplasia or proximal advanced neoplasia compared to those with no distal polyps. The discovery of hyperplastic polyps on screening sigmoidoscopy should not prompt colonoscopy.     

Predictors of advanced proximal neoplasia in persons with abnormal screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The relationship between distal and proximal colonic findings is uncertain. Thus, there is no consensus on which findings on screening flexible sigmoidoscopy should trigger colonoscopy. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial to assess the relationship between distal and proximal colonic findings. RESULTS: A total of 8802 subjects had an abnormal baseline sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy follow-up. Subjects with <10-mm single or multiple tubular adenomas had similar risks for advanced proximal neoplasia as subjects with hyperplastic polyps or other benign lesions (3%-5%). Subjects with large (>or=10 mm), villous, or severely dysplastic distal adenomas had similarly elevated risks for advanced proximal neoplasia (11%-12%). Multivariate logistic modeling showed a significantly increased risk for advanced proximal neoplasia associated with the presence of a large tubular (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-3.4) or villous distal adenoma (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.1-3.5) but not with the presence of one (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.8-1.3) or multiple (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.5-1.2) <10-mm tubular distal adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Among subjects with a polypoid lesion on screening flexible sigmoidoscopy, those with small tubular distal adenomas are at similar risk for advanced proximal neoplasia as those without distal adenomas. Subjects with a large, villous, or dysplastic distal adenoma are at increased risk. A strategy that encourages individuals with small tubular adenomas on sigmoidoscopy to undergo follow-up colonoscopy and excludes those with nonadenomatous lesions is of questionable validity, because both groups are at similar risk for advanced proximal neoplasia.     

Risk of proximal colon neoplasia with distal hyperplastic polyps: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Most guidelines for colorectal cancer screening do not consider distal hyperplastic polyps (HPs) to be markers for proximal colon neoplasia. However, many studies have shown an increased risk of proximal neoplasia (PN) in patients with distal HPs. We performed a systematic review to assess the association between distal HPs and PN. METHODS: We identified studies that compared the prevalence of PN and proximal advanced neoplasia in patients with distal HPs vs controls. Two masked investigators extracted data on individuals with distal HPs, distal adenomas, or no distal polyps. Using the DerSimonian and Laird method, we calculated summary risk ratios. Extensive subgroup analysis was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of PN and proximal advanced neoplasia in persons with distal HPs was 26.0% and 4.4%, respectively. In studies comparing the risk of PN in patients with distal HPs vs those with no distal polyps, the summary risk ratio was 1.81 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.73). However, this increased risk disappeared if only high-quality studies on screening patients were considered. The risk ratio was 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.80) when comparing the risk of PN in those with distal HPs vs those with distal adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients with distal HPs have an intermediate risk of PN compared with those with distal adenomas or no distal polyps; however, in asymptomatic screening individuals, there is no increased risk of PN or proximal advanced neoplasia. The discovery of HPs on screening flexible sigmoidoscopy should not automatically prompt follow-up colonoscopy.     

Age and distal colonic findings determine the yield of advanced proximal neoplasia in Chinese patients with rectal bleeding

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few data were available on the optimal diagnostic strategy for Chinese patients with hematochezia. We aimed to evaluate the impact of age and distal colonic findings on the yield of diagnostic strategies in young Chinese patients with hematochezia. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients aged less than 50 years were analyzed using a hypothesized mixed diagnostic strategy to determine the optimal cut-off age for the use of sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. The efficacy and cost of the diagnostic strategy and the number of colonoscopies needed to detect one advanced proximal neoplasm (APN) using different cut-off ages were assessed. RESULTS: In the hypothesized mixed diagnostic strategy for young patients, the sensitivities for the detection of APN were 100%, 92% and 75% if the cut-off ages were 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively. The cost needed to detect one APN would be $US 3155, $US 3179 and $US 3497 if the cut-off ages were 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively. Colonoscopy would be performed in 84%, 69% and 51% of patients if the cut-off ages were 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy should be considered for Chinese patients with rectal bleeding who are aged > or =35 years or those aged <35 years who have adenoma in the distal colon.     

Pain description in patients with isolated proximal (without distal) exercise-related lower limb arterial ischemia

Among the last 250 claudicants referred to the laboratory for transcutaneous oxygen pressure recording at exercise, we analyzed the symptoms reported by the 36 patients who showed isolated proximal (without distal) ischemia. Among the symptomatic proximal sites cited by these patients, the hip and thigh represent 60%, whereas the buttock is cited in fewer than 25% of cases. Buttock symptoms are reported in only 31% of symptomatic patients. 'Buttock' claudication is probably not the dominant symptom in isolated proximal vascular ischemia. Assessing proximal lower limb ischemia through the sole detection of 'buttock pain' could contribute to the underestimation of proximal vascular ischemia.     

Risk of developing metachronous colorectal neoplasia after the resection of proximal versus distal adenomas

BackgroundCurrent post-polypectomy guidelines do not consider adenoma location. We compared the risk of metachronous colorectal neoplasia (CRN) according to adenoma location.MethodsWe collected data from 9710 patients who underwent follow-up colonoscopy after adenoma removal. Patients were classified according to baseline adenoma location: distal only (n=4665), proximal only (n=3827), and both sides (n=1218).ResultsThe risk of metachronous CRN in patients with proximal only adenomas was higher than that in those with distal only adenomas (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.04–1.21), while the risk of metachronous advanced CRN (ACRN) was not different between the two groups. Among patients aged <50 years, the risk of metachronous CRN in those with proximal only non-advanced adenomas (NAAs) was higher than that in those with only distal NAAs, while among patients aged ≥ 50 years, the risk in those with proximal only advanced adenomas (AAs) was higher than that in those with distal only AAs. However, the risk of metachronous ACRN did not differ based on adenoma location in patients aged < 50 and ≥ 50 years.ConclusionsProximal adenoma was associated with an increased risk of metachronous CRN, but not with an increased risk of metachronous ACRN, supporting the current guidelines recommending the same surveillance interval for distal and proximal adenoma without discrimination by adenoma location.     

Frequency of advanced neoplasia in the proximal colon without an index polyp in the rectosigmoid

PURPOSE: Screening endoscopy has the potential to reduce colorectal cancer mortality. However, the efficacy of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy compared with colonoscopy strongly depends on the frequency of advanced proximal neoplasms without an index polyp in the rectosigmoid. We have therefore determined this frequency in our endoscopy population. METHODS: Endoscopic and histologic data were analyzed from all patients on whom integral colonoscopy was performed between 1980 and 1995. Advanced neoplasia was defined as cancer or adenomas >10 mm in diameter, adenomas with a villous component, or severe dysplasia. Patients with polyposis syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease were excluded. RESULTS: Colonoscopy was performed on 11,760 patients. 2,272 (19.3 percent) had at least one colorectal neoplasm, of which 39 percent had the neoplasm above the rectosigmoid. Twenty-two percent of all patients with neoplasia had no index polyp in the rectosigmoid and 16 percent of these had no index polyp, but at least one advanced proximal neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Although 39 percent of patients had neoplasms above the rectosigmoid, only 16 percent had an advanced proximal neoplasm without an index polyp in the rectosigmoid. This gives a figure on which to base the evaluation of screening sigmoidoscopy programs against those of screening colonoscopy.     

Predictors of recurrence in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after cervical conization

This study was to identify the predictors of recurrence in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) after cervical conization.Totally 415 patients with CIN ≥ II who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cold knife conization (CKC) were included in this retrospective study. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) regarding the association between postoperative recurrence and clinicopathological data.After the mean follow-up of (21.48 ± 5.82) months, 90 (21.69%) out of 415 cases were subjected to recurrence after cervical conization. The influencing factors for postoperative recurrence included times of full-term birth, history of preterm birth, history of abortion, positive margin, cone length, width, depth, smoking, and history of complicating diseases (P < .05). Multivariate Cox model indicated the positive margin (HR = 2.144, 95% CI: 1.317–3.492, P < .05), history of preterm birth (HR = 4.515, 95% CI: 1.598–12.754, P < .05), history of complicating diseases (HR = 3.552, 95% CI: 1.952–6.462, P < .05) were independent risk factors for recurrence after cervical conization. The restricted cubic diagram showed that the cone depth >0.5 cm was a protective factor for postoperative recurrence.For the patients with high-grade CIN after cervical conization, positive margins, histories of preterm birth, and complicating diseases were associated with increased risk of recurrence, but cone depth (>0.5 cm) with lower risk of recurrence.     

Diagnostic value of distal colonic polyps for prediction of advanced proximal neoplasia in an average-risk population undergoing screening colonoscopy

BACKGROUND: For colorectal cancer screening, the predictive value of distal findings in the ascertainment of proximal lesions is not fully established. The aims of this study were to assess distal findings as predictors of advanced proximal neoplasia and to compare the predictive value of endoscopy alone vs. combined endoscopic and histopathologic data. METHODS: Primary colonoscopy screening was performed in 2210 consecutive, average-risk adults. Age, gender, endoscopic (size, number of polyps), and histopathologic distal findings were used as potential predictors of advanced proximal neoplasms (i.e., any adenoma > or =1 cm in size, and/or with villous histology, and/or with severe dysplasia or invasive cancer). Polyps were defined as distal if located in the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, or the rectum. Those in other locations were designated proximal. RESULTS: Neoplastic lesions, including 11 invasive cancers, were found in 617 (27.9%) patients. Advanced proximal neoplasms without any distal adenoma were present in 1.3% of patients. Of the advanced proximal lesions, 39% were not associated with any distal polyp. Older age, male gender, and distal adenoma were independent predictors of advanced proximal neoplasms. The predictive ability of a model with endoscopic data alone did not improve after inclusion of histopathologic data. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the predictive ability of models that use age, gender, and any combination of distal findings was relatively low. The proportion of advanced proximal neoplasms identified if any distal polyp was an indication for colonoscopy was only 62%. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy in which colonoscopy is performed solely in patients with distal colonic findings is not effective screening for the detection of advanced proximal neoplasms in an average-risk population.     

Liver pathology in morbidly obese patients with and without diabetes

The contribution of obesity and/or diabetes to liver pathology in the morbidly obese patient is controversial. We studied the liver biopsies of 100 consecutive patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity. Multiple morphologic parameters were analyzed and graded independently, without knowledge of the clinical history, liver function tests, and oral glucose tolerance results of the patients. Six percent of the entire group demonstrated no fat, 42% mild fat, 20% moderate fat, and 24% severe fatty metamorphosis of the liver. Twenty-three percent of the patients had central vein fibrosis, 23% sinusoidal fibrosis, 19% bridging fibrosis, and 4% cirrhosis. Thirty-six percent of the patients had some degree of steatohepatitis, 66% possessed so-called glycogen nuclei of hepatocytes, 6% had PAS-positive thickening of blood vessels in the portal tracts, and 1% had lipogranulomas. The degree of fatty metamorphosis and fibrosis was analyzed in three separate groups, categorized by the glycemic status of the patient: 46 patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 23 patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 31 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Increasing severity of fatty metamorphosis from the normoglycemic obese to the diabetic obese patients was found, which was statistically significant by chi 2 analysis. Four of the six patients showing no fatty metamorphosis were normoglycemic. Glycogen nuclei and PAS-positive blood vessels were significantly more prevalent in the diabetic obese than in the normal obese. In conclusion, the distribution of significant liver histopathology in the morbidly obese patient correlates in severity with the degree of impaired glycemic status.     

Predictors of angiographically visible distal embolization in STEMI

Herz - Distal embolization during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with a&nbsp;poor...