Superficial Flat-type Early-stage Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma in the Atrophic Background Mucosa: Two Case Reports

Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare and highly malignant adenocarcinoma, which is characterized by early metastasis, rapid progression and poor prognosis. Several studies have shown that early-stage gastric signet ring cell carcinoma may have equal or better prognosis than other types of gastric cancer. However, most of the early-stage lesions are difficult to detect by endoscopy. Two female cases of early-stage gastric signet ring cell carcinoma with atrophic background mucosa occurring in the middle and lower part of the stomach were found in our endoscopy center. The diagnosis was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal white light endoscopy combined with narrow-band imaging and endoscopic biopsy, both lesions less than 2.0cm in diameter were surgically removed and identified as intramucosal adenocarcinoma. Through these two cases, we aim to illustrate the difficulty of early detection of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma with mucosal atrophy. We can roughly identify the demarcation of the lesion by combining white light endoscopy and narrow-band imaging, and slightly irregular microsurface and microvascular pattern of the lesion were found via magnifying endoscopic observation, but the demarcation can hardly be accurately identified.

Optical Biopsy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Neoplasia by Using Endocytoscopy

Background Endocytoscopy (ECS) enables microscopic observation in vivo for the gastrointestinal mucosa; however, there has been no prospective study in which the diagnostic accuracy of ECS for lesions that have not yet undergone histological diagnosis was evaluated. We conducted a surveillance study for patients in a high-risk group of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and evaluated the in vivo histological diagnostic accuracy of ECS. Methods This study was a multicenter prospective study. We enrolled 197 patients in the study between September 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020. The patients first underwent white light imaging and narrow band imaging, and ultra-high magnifying observation was performed if there was a lesion suspected to be an esophageal tumor. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was later performed for lesions that were diagnosed to be ESCC by ECS without biopsy. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of ECS for esophageal tumorous lesions. Results ESD was performed for 37 patients (41 lesions) who were diagnosed as having ESCC by ECS, and all of them were histopathologically diagnosed as having ESCC. The sensitivity (95% confidence interval (CI)) was 97.6% (87.7%-99.7%), specificity was 100% (92.7%-100%), diagnostic accuracy was 98.9% (94.0%-99.8%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 100% (91.4%-100%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 98.0% (89.5%-99.7%). Conclusions ECS has a high diagnostic accuracy and there were no false positives in cases diagnosed and resected as ESCC. Optical biopsy by using ECS for esophageal lesions is considered to be sufficient in clinical practice.

TXI (Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging) for Serrated Colorectal Lesions

Background and aim: Olympus Corporation released the texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) technology as a novel image-enhancing endoscopic technique. We investigated the effectiveness of TXI in the imaging of serrated colorectal polyps, including sessile serrated lesions (SSLs). Methods: Serrated colorectal polyps were observed using white light imaging (WLI), TXI, narrow-band imaging (NBI), and chromoendoscopy with and without magnification. Serrated polyps were histologically confirmed. TXI was compared with WLI, NBI, and chromoendoscopy for the visibility of the lesions without magnification and for that of the vessel and surface patterns with magnification. Three expert endoscopists evaluated the visibility scores, which were classified from 1 to 4. Results: Twenty-nine consecutive serrated polyps were evaluated. In the visibility score without magnification, TXI was significantly superior to WLI but inferior to chromoendoscopy in the imaging of serrated polyps and the sub-analysis of SSLs. In the visibility score for vessel patterns with magnification, TXI was significantly superior to WLI and chromoendoscopy in the imaging of serrated polyps and the sub-analysis of SSLs. In the visibility score for surface patterns with magnification, TXI was significantly superior to WLI but inferior to NBI in serrated polyps and in the sub-analysis of SSLs and hyperplastic polyps. Conclusions: TXI provided higher visibility than did WLI for serrated, colorectal polyps, including SSLs.

The value of flexible endoscopy with Narrow Band Imaging for the evaluation of recurrence of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumours after radiotherapy

Background: The dia­gnosis of recurrent upper aerodigestive tumours is difficult, especially in the case of previous curative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Progress in the dia­gnostics of head and neck cancer came with the development of optical endoscopic imaging methods. The aim of this study was to analyse the benefits of flexible Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) in the visualization of suspected recurrence of malignancy in patients after curative RT (CRT). Methods: A total of 58 examined patients in follow-up after curative RT or CRT for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent transnasal flexible endoscopy in conventional white light and NBI in local anaesthesia. Changes in microvascular architecture (intraepithelial papillary capillary loops – IPCL) have been classified according to Ni. IPCL I–III were considered to be non-suspicious, and therefore no histopathological examination was indicated. IV and V type findings were verified using HDTV NBI intraoperatively with bio­psy sampling and subsequent histopathological correlation was performed. Results: Transnasal videoendoscopic examination with NBI revealed a suspicious finding (IPCL type IV and V) in 23/58 (39.7%) patients, non-suspicious finding (IPCL I–III) in 35/58 (60.3%). Histopathological examination verified the positive finding (precancerous or malignant changes) in 12/23 (52.2%) and negative finding in 11/23 (47.8%) cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of flexible NBI endoscopy were 100%, 76.1%, 52.2% and 100% respectively. According to the Kappa index (K = 0.568), we proved a moderate concordance between flexible NBI endoscopy and histopathological results. Conclusions: Transnasal flexible endoscopy with NBI in outpatient settings contributes to an early detection of pathological changes also in post-radiation altered mucosa of the larynx and hypopharynx, while a correct interpretation of in NBI findings is required to reduce the incidence of false positive results. Keywords: squamous cell carcinoma – Larynx – radiotherapy – narrow band imaging – Ni classification – hypopharynx

Ứng dụng nội soi dải ánh sáng hẹp kết hợp nội soi vi phẫu bằng laser CO2 trong chẩn đoán và điều trị ung thư hạ họng, thanh quản giai đoạn sớm

TÓM TẮT Mục tiêu: Đánh giá kết quả ứng dụng nội soi dải ánh sáng hẹp kết hợp nội soi vi phẫu bằng Laser CO2 trong chẩn đoán và điều trị ung thư hạ họng và ung thư thanh quản giai đoạn sớm. Phương pháp nghiên cứu: Nghiên cứu tiến cứu, có can thiệp lâm sàng trên 18 bệnh nhân ung thư hạ họng, ung thư thanh quản ở giai đoạn sớm, được phát hiện tổn thương ác tính bằng nội soi dải ánh sáng hẹp, điều trị phẫu thuật nội soi vi phẫu bằng Laser CO2. Kết quả: Tuổi trung bình mắc bệnh là 63,8 ± 12,6; bệnh nhân có hút thuốc lá chiếm 61,1%; triệu chứng khàn tiếng chiếm 72%, ung thư giai đoạn T1a có tỷ lệ 72,2%; IPCL type V-1 là 72,2%; khả năng kiểm soát bờ rìa là 83,3%, không có tai biến trong phẫu thuật 17/18 trường hợp và di chứng sau phẫu thuật tháng thứ 1 là tăng sinh mô hạt (77,8%), tháng thứ 3 là dính mép trước dây thanh (27,8%). Kết luận: Nội soi dải ánh sáng hẹp có giá trị phát hiện sớm ung thư hạ họng, ung thư thanh quản. Phẫu thuật nội soi vi phẫu bằng Laser CO2 ung thư hạ họng, ung thư thanh quản ở giai đoạn sớm mang lại kết quả tốt, tỷ lệ tai biến và biến chứng sau phẫu thuật thấp, bảo tồn được tối đa chức năng phát âm, hô hấp và nuốt. ABSTRACT UTILITY OF NARROW - BAND IMAGING ENDOSCOPY COMBINED WITH CO2 LASER ENDOSCOPIC MICROSURGERY IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF EARLYSTAGE HYPOPHARYNGEAL AND LARYNGEAL CARCINOMA Objective: To evaluate the results of applying narrow band imaging endoscopy combined with CO2 laser endoscopic microsurgery to diagnose and treat early stage hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 18 patients with early stage hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma. Results: The mean age was 63.8 ± 12.6; smoker was 61.1%, the rate of hoarseness was 72%, T1a tumor stage was 72.2%, IPCL type V-1 was 72,2%, marginal tumor control was 83.3%. There were of 17/18 case with no complication during operation. The rate of extensive granuloma was 77.8% in the first month, and of anterior commissure adhesion was 27.8% in the third month post - surgery. Conclusion: Narrow band imaging endoscopy was a valuable tool in screening for early stage hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma. CO2 laser endoscopic microsurgery was an effective method. The rate of complication during and after surgery was low. This method restores the maximum function of speech, breathing and swallowing. Keywords: Early - stage pharyngeal cancer, early - stage laryngeal cancer, narrow - band imaging endoscopy, CO2 laser endoscopic microsurgery.

Leukoplakia: An Invasive Cancer Hidden within the Vocal Folds. A Multivariate Analysis of Risk Factors

IntroductionDiscerning the preoperative nature of vocal fold leukoplakia (VFL) with a substantial degree of certainty is fundamental, seeing that the histological diagnosis of VFL includes a wide spectrum of pathology and there is no consensus on an appropriate treatment strategy or frequency of surveillance. The goal of our study was to establish a clear schedule of the diagnostics and decision-making in which the timing and necessity of surgical intervention are crucial to not miss this cancer hidden underneath the white plaque.Material and MethodsWe define a schedule as a combination of procedures (white light and Narrow Band Imaging diagnostic tools), methods of evaluating the results (a combination of multiple image classifications in white light and Narrow Band Imaging), and taking into account patient-related risk factors, precise lesion location, and morphology. A total number of 259 patients with 296 vocal folds affected by leukoplakia were enrolled in the study. All patients were assessed for three classifications, in detail according to Ni 2019 and ELS 2015 for Narrow Band Imaging and according to Chen 2019 for white light. In 41 of the 296 folds (13.9%), the VFL specimens in the final histology revealed invasive cancer. We compared the results from the classifications to the final histology results.ResultsThe results showed that the classifications and evaluations of the involvement of anterior commissure improve the clinical utility of these classifications and showed improved diagnostic performance. The AUC of this model was the highest (0.973) with the highest sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV (90.2%, 89%, 56.9%, and 98.3%, respectively).ConclusionThe schedule that combines white light and Narrow Band Imaging, with a combination of the two classifications, improves the specificity and predictive value, especially of anterior commissure involvement.