Faculty Bibliography

Introduction: Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) are increasingly identified on cross-sectional imaging. Types include intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), serous cystadenoma (SCA), solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPT) and pseudocysts. Given the risk of malignancy associated with MCN and IPMN with high risk features, accurate PCL diagnosis is essential. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) of cyst fluid for cytology remains important for the classification of PCL, but is limited by the ability to obtain a sufficient sample and cellularity of fluid. The specificity for malignant cytology is 94%, but sensitivity remains low at 51%. Recently, introduction of a novel microforceps biopsy (MFB) device (Moray Micro Forceps, US Endoscopy, Mentor, OH) has enabled EUS-guided through-the-needle biopsies of PCL through a 19-gauge needle. The aim of this study is to compare the technical success and diagnostic yield for PCL using MFB versus cyst fluid studies alone, along with identifying adverse events associated with MFB.
Method(s): We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients with PCL diagnosed by cross sectional imaging undergoing EUS-guided FNA with MFB at 2 tertiary academic centers from November 2016 to November 2019. FNA of PCL was performed and cyst fluid was sent for cytology, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, and mutational analysis. Cyst biopsy was performed using MFB.
Result(s): 14 patients were included. 71% were female. Median age was 60 years. Location of cysts in pancreas were head (4), body (6), and tail (4). MFB was technically successful in 12 of 14 cases (yield 86%) including 1 case where no cyst fluid was able to be obtained. There were no reported adverse outcomes (bleeding, pancreatitis, perforation, infection, abdominal pain). MFB diagnosed IPMN in 2 patients, neither of which were identified by cytology but were identified by fluid mutational analysis; MCN in 2 patients, 1 of which was identified by cytology; and SCA in 1 patient where cytology was concerning for a mucinous lesion. Both MFB and cytology were concerning for pseudocyst in 1 patient who ultimately was found to have MCN.
Discussion(s): The technical success of MFB is high and is associated with increased overall diagnostic yield without significant adverse events. For distinguishing PCL types, MFB provided additive diagnostic information to fluid cytology in 4 of 14 patients in our study. Including mutational analysis which identified IPMN in 2 patients where cytology was negative, MFB still provided further diagnostic information in 2 additional patients. This study suggests that the addition of MFB to EUS-guided sampling for cytology, CEA and mutational analysis further augments PCL diagnosis. Future studies should elucidate the role of MFB in combination with mutational analysis. [Formula presented]
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The full thickness resection device (FTRD) has become a safe and effective alternative to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in select cases.One obvious limitation of the FTRD is lesion size, generally less than 20mm.But because polyp size is one of the strongest predictors of advanced histology, many larger lesions may be amenable to a combined approach involving endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of the laterally spreading components and full-thickness resection (FTR) of the invasive, non-lifting portion.To our knowledge, a comparison of FTR alone to hybrid EMR + FTR has not been previously published in North America.We report our initial experience using the FTRD alone compared to a hybrid technique combining EMR and FTR in consecutive patients with lesions unresectable by conventional EMR alone. This is a single-center retrospective analysis of prospectively-collected data on consecutive patients who underwent attempted FTR alone or hybrid EMR/FTR.All consecutive patients in whom FTR was attempted during the study were included in this analysis, whether or not FTR was successful.Primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, R0 resection, and adverse events.Secondary outcomes included procedure duration, adverse events, and subsequent need for surgery.ariataes collected included patient demographics, anticoagulant use, and lesion characteristics. A total of 62 patients underwent either FTR alone (33 patients) or hybrid EMR + FTR(29 patients).The mean lesion size was larger for the hybrid group (36 mm, range 15-60 mm) as compared to FTR alone (19 mm, range 7-40 mm, p<0.01).The FTR procedure was technically successful in 55 of 62 patients (89%).Of these 55 patients, 53 (96%) had R0 resection margins.There was no difference in R0 resection rate among those who underwent hybrid FTR + EMR, (23/24, 96%) versus those who underwent underwent FTR alone (30/31, 97%).In cases of technical failure, R0 resection was not assessed. Two significant adverse events occurred that were directly related to FTR.One patient developed acute appendicitis following FTR of a 15 mm polyp at the appendiceal orifice.One patient suffered an inadvertent perforation.This was immediately identified and successfully closed endoscopically.No bleeding-related adverse events were noted. We demonstrate high rates of technical success, clinical success, R0 resection, and safety.While this is the first study to compare hybrid EMR + FTR to FTR alone from North America, several groups have demonstrated its efficacy and safety elsewhere.In conclusion, our study shows FTR is a safe and effective method to resect large and complex colorectal lesions, and that a hybrid EMR + FTR technique can expand the pool of resectable lesions.Further multi-center prospective studies with the device are needed to assess its long-term safety, efficacy, and curative resection rates. [Formula presented] [Formula presented]
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OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:We sought to determine the yield of somatic mutational analysis from EUS-guided biopsies of pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared to that of surgical resection and to assess the impact of these results on oncologic treatment. METHODS:We determined the yield of EUS sampling and surgical resection. We evaluated the potential impact of mutational analysis by identifying actionable mutations and its direct impact by reviewing actual treatment decisions. RESULTS:Yield of EUS sampling was 89.5%, comparable to the 95.8% yield of surgical resection. Over a quarter in the EUS cohort carried actionable mutations, and of these, over one in six had treatment impacted by mutational analysis. CONCLUSIONS:EUS sampling is nearly always adequate for somatic testing and may have substantial potential and real impact on treatment decisions.

BACKGROUND & AIMS/OBJECTIVE:Thermal treatment of the defect margin after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of large nonpedunculated colorectal lesions reduces the recurrence rate. Both snare tip soft coagulation (STSC) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) have been used for thermal margin treatment, but there are few data directly comparing STSC with APC for this indication. METHODS:We performed a randomized 3-arm trial in 9 US centers comparing STSC with APC with no margin treatment (control) of defects after EMR of colorectal nonpedunculated lesions ≥15 mm. The primary end point was the presence of residual lesion at first follow-up. RESULTS:There were 384 patients and 414 lesions randomized, and 308 patients (80.2%) with 328 lesions completed ≥1 follow-up. The proportion of lesions with residual polyp at first follow-up was 4.6% with STSC, 9.3% with APC, and 21.4% with control subjects (no margin treatment). The odds of residual polyp at first follow-up were lower for STSC and APC when compared with control subjects (P = .001 and P = .01, respectively). The difference in odds was not significant between STSC and APC. STSC took less time to apply than APC (median, 3.35 vs 4.08 minutes; P = .019). Adverse event rates were low, with no difference between arms. CONCLUSIONS:In a randomized trial STSC and APC were each superior to no thermal margin treatment after EMR. STSC was faster to apply than APC. Because STSC also results in lower cost and plastic waste than APC (APC requires an additional device), our study supports STSC as the preferred thermal margin treatment after colorectal EMR. (Clinicaltrials.gov, Number NCT03654209.).

BACKGROUND: Delayed bleeding is among the most common adverse events associated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of nonampullary duodenal polyps. We evaluated the rate of delayed bleeding and complete defect closure using a novel through-the-scope (TTS) suturing system for the closure of duodenal EMR defects. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent EMR for nonampullary duodenal polyps of ≥ 10 mm and prophylactic defect closure with TTS suturing between March 2021 and May 2022 at centers in the USA. We evaluated the rates of delayed bleeding and complete defect closure. RESULTS: 36 nonconsecutive patients (61 % women; mean [SD] age, 65 [12] years) underwent EMR of ≥ 10-mm duodenal polyps followed by attempted defect closure with TTS suturing. The mean (SD) lesion size was 29 (19) mm, defect size was 37 (25) mm; eight polyps (22 %) involved > 50 % of the lumen circumference. Complete closure was achieved in all cases (78 % with TTS suturing alone), using a median of one TTS suturing kit. There were no cases of delayed bleeding and no adverse events attributed to application of the TTS suturing device. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic closure of nonampullary duodenal EMR defects using TTS suturing resulted in a high rate of complete closure and no delayed bleeding events.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS/OBJECTIVE:Large colon polyps removed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) can be complicated by delayed bleeding. Prophylactic defect clip closure can reduce post-EMR bleeding. Larger defects can be challenging to close using through-the-scope clips (TTSCs) and proximal defects are difficult to reach using over-the-scope techniques. A novel, through-the-scope suture (TTSS) device allows direct closure of mucosal defects without scope withdrawal. We aim to evaluate the rate of delayed bleeding following the closure of large colon polyp EMR sites with TTSS. METHODS:A multi-center retrospective cohort study was performed involving 13 centers. All defect closure by TTSS following EMR of colon polyps ≥2 cm from January 2021 to February 2022 were included. The primary outcome was rate of delayed bleeding. RESULTS:A total of 94 patients (F= 52%, mean age 65 years) underwent EMR of predominantly right sided (n=62, 66%) colon polyps (median size 35 mm, IQR 30-40) followed by defect closure with TTSS during the study period. All defects were successfully closed with TTSS alone (n=62, 66%) or with TTSS and TTSC (n=32, 34%), using a median of 1 (IQR 1-1) TTSS systems. Delayed bleeding occurred in three patients (3.2%) with two requiring repeat endoscopic evaluation/treatment (moderate). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:TTSS alone or with TTSC was effective in achieving complete closure of all post-EMR defects, despite a large lesion size. Following TTSS closure with or without adjunctive devices, delayed bleeding was seen in 3.2% of cases. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings before wider adoption of TTSS for large polypectomy closure.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The development of non-anastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) following orthotopic adult liver transplantation (OLT) is associated with significant morbidity. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify all prognostic factors for the development of NAS. METHODS:A systematic review was conducted following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess the quality of the included studies. Using the random-effects model, we calculated the weighted pooled odds ratios (OR), mean differences (MD), hazard ratios (HR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the risk factors. RESULTS:Based on 19 international studies that included a total of 8269 adult LT patients, we calculated an 8% overall incidence of NAS. In this study, 7 potential prognostic factors were associated with a statistically significant hazard ratio for NAS in pooled analyses including (1) DCD donors compared to DBD donors (2) PSC as an indication for a liver transplant (3) Roux-en-Y bile duct reconstruction compared to duct-to-duct reconstruction (4) hepatic artery thrombosis (5) longer cold ischemia time (6) longer warm ischemia time (7) and total operative times. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we identified 7 prognostic factors for the development of NAS following OLT. These findings might lay the groundwork for development of diagnostic algorithms to better risk stratify patients at risk for development of NAS.

Introduction: Menetrier disease (MD) is a rare protein-losing hypertrophic gastropathy usually confined to the gastric fundus and body. Involvement of the esophageal inlet patch is extremely rare. We report a case of symptomatic MD involving the inlet patch that was managed with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Case Description/Methods: A 27-year-old woman with a history of MD was referred to our clinic for further evaluation of dysphagia and globus sensation. She had a family history of MD and gastric adenocarcinoma in her maternal grandmother who passed away at the age of 56. Outside upper endoscopy (EGD) revealed two proximal esophageal lesions, biopsies of which revealed gastric heterotopia. We performed an EGD with endoscopic ultrasound. Two 15 and 20-mm subepithelial lesions were found in the proximal esophagus at 18 cm from the incisors (Figure, panel A), and the lesions appeared to arise from the superficial submucosa. Biopsies revealed hyperplastic gastric foveolar epithelium, consistent with MD involving the esophageal inlet patch. We proceeded with ESD of the two lesions in two separate sessions. First, ESD of the 20 mm lesion was successful, and histologic examination showed MD with negative margins and no evidence of intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia (Figure, panel B). One month later, she underwent ESD of the 15 mm lesion (Figure, panel C). Histologic examination showed MD with negative margins and no evidence of intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia. The patient continued to report dysphagia and underwent EGD 3 weeks later which showed a benign-appearing esophageal stricture at the ESD site (Figure, panel D). This was dilated to 12mm. She then underwent three more dilations to 12, 13, and 15mm at 6, 10, and 22 weeks later, respectively (Figure, panels E and F). There was no evidence of residual or recurrent disease on any of the repeat endoscopies. The patient has remained symptom-free for 3 months now.
Discussion(s): To our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic MD involving the esophageal inlet patch that was managed with ESD for two reasons. First, the lesions appeared to arise from the superficial submucosa. Second, underlying malignancy could not be ruled out in either lesion given family history of gastric adenocarcinoma. In patients with symptomatic MD at high-risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, ESD, when compared with mucosal resection, has the advantage of en-bloc resection which in the setting of malignancy can provide staging data and can be potentially curative