The role of endoscopic ultrasound investigation in the diagnosis of submucosal neoplasms of the stomach and duodenum (literature review and our clinical observations)

Submucosal neoplasms of the stomach and duodenum include a group of diseases with different etiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and management. Conventional gastroduodenoscopy helps detect submucosal formations in 0.36–4 % of cases, while the stomach is the most common site of submucosal lesions (up to 60 %). Endoscopy and ultrasound endoscopic examination are important tools for the diagnosis of submucosal tumors of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, both benign (polyps, submucosal formations, extraorganic compression, cysts) and malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, especially small and accidentally detected. It is important not only to diagnose the tumor, but also to determine from which layers it comes, what level germinates, whether there is damage to regional lymph nodes. Only endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can answer these questions. EUS combines the capabilities of two studies: endoscopic and ultrasound, which significantly increased the informativeness of endoscopic examination, as it was possible to determine the site of the pathological process and the degree of intramural invasion, and also made it possible to carry out the differential diagnosis of submucosal tumors and pathological processes in organs adjacent to the esophagus, stomach, duodenum. The article presents examinations of patients with submucous formations of the stomach and duodenum at the Institute of Gastroenterology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. With the help of EUS, the diagnosis was confirmed in one patient, and in another one, the submucosal neoplasms was excluded.

Endoscopic transcecal appendectomy: a new endotherapy for appendiceal orifice lesions

Background Endoscopic transcecal appendectomy (ETA) has been reported as a minimally invasive alternative procedure for lesions involving the appendiceal orifice. The aim of this case series study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of ETA for lesions at the appendiceal orifice. Methods This retrospective study included consecutive patients with appendiceal orifice lesions who underwent ETA between December 2018 and March 2021. The primary outcome was technical success. The secondary outcomes included postoperative adverse events, postoperative hospital stay, and recurrence. Results 13 patients with appendiceal orifice lesions underwent ETA during the study period. The median lesion size was 20 mm (range 8–50). Lesions morphologies were polypoid lesions (n = 5), laterally spreading tumors (n = 4), and submucosal lesions (n = 4). Technical success with complete resection was achieved in all 13 cases. There were no postoperative bleeding, perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess. The median length of hospital stay after ETA was 8 days (range 6–18). There was no tumor recurrence during a median follow-up of 17 months (range 1–28). Conclusions ETA is feasible, safe, and effective for complete resection of appendiceal orifice lesions. Larger, multicenter, prospective studies are needed to further assess this technique.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Miniprobe and Single Balloon Enteroscopy: A Diagnostic Tool for Investigating Small Bowel Lesions

Objectives: The set of balloon-assisted enteroscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) together can further improve the diagnosis of small bowel submucosal lesions. We reported our experience on clinical utility of the EUS miniprobe UM-3Y in the investigation of lesions of small bowel during single balloon enteroscopy (SBE). Methods: Between 2014 and 2017 we investigated 14 consecutive patients with symptoms, the suspect of small bowel tumor or inflammatory bowel disease. Almost all patients underwent video-capsule endoscopy before SBE. Results: EUS permitted us to better characterize lesions detected with SBE procedure with no complications and it permitted to exclude the presence of lesions in some doubtful cases.Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that EUS with miniprobe UM-3Y, associated with SBE, is an important diagnostic tool for investigating, with high accuracy, small bowel lesions. This can let to establish a better management of small bowel lesions.

Role of endoscopic ultrasonography for differential diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal submucosal lesions

Objective To determine the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal submucosal lesions (SMLs). Methods This was a retrospective study involving patients diagnosed with SMLs using EUS and confirmed by histopathology from November 2014 to December 2020 at The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Results A total of 231 patients with SMLs were examined by EUS. Histologically, 107 lesions were stromal tumors, and 75 lesions were leiomyomas. Stromal tumors were mainly located in the stomach (89.7%), and leiomyomas were predominantly seen in the esophagus (69.3%). The diagnostic accuracy of EUS for stromal tumors and leiomyomas was 80.4% and 68.0%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was highest for lesions located in the muscularis mucosa. The mean diameter of stromal tumors measured using EUS was significantly larger than that of leiomyomas (21.89 mm vs. 12.35 mm, p < 0.001). Stromal tumors and leiomyomas originated mainly from the muscularis propria (94.4%) and the muscularis mucosa (56.0%), respectively. Compared with the very low-risk and low-risk groups of stromal tumors according to the National Institute of Health guidelines, the intermediate-risk and high-risk groups were more likely to have a lesion > 3 cm (p < 0.001) and a surface ulcer (p < 0.01) identified by EUS. Conclusions EUS has good diagnostic value for the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal SMLs based on the lesion size and the muscle layer of origin. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS lesions is related to the origin, and the diagnostic accuracy is greatest in the mucosal muscularis layer. Stromal tumors > 3 cm and a surface ulcer on EUS are likely to be intermediate or high risk for invasion.

Risk Factors and Causes of Fever after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

Background To investigate the fever and related risk factors of gastrointestinal mucosa or submucosal lesions after endoscopic mucosal dissection(ESD).Method A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing ESD. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of post-ESD fever. Patient-related factors and lesion-related factors were counted in both groups.Results The incidence of fever was 31.0% in 290 patients after the operation, 87 patients developed fever within 24 hours after operation. The average of (2.82 ± 1.186) days. According to logistic analysis, the surgical site was in the esophagus (OR value: 6.439; 95% CI: 2.030-20.424; P value: 0.002), with diabetes history (OR value: 3.289; 95% CI: 1.015-10.662; P value: 0.047), age≥70.6 years (OR value: 0.844; 95% CI: 0.805-0.884; P value: 0.000), resection diameter> 4.25 mm (OR value: 2.361; 95% CI: 5.202-29.371; P value: 0.000), operation time> 196min (OR value: 1.022; 95% CI: 1.003-1.042; P value: 0.022) were risk factors for fever.Conclusions Older patient, the operation site in esophagus, diabetes, large tumors and long operation time were more likely to develop post-ESD fever, The possibility of bacteremia after ESD is small, antibiotics do not need to be applied in advance.

Gastric lipoma: a rare cause of massive haematemesis

Gastric lipomas are rare benign neoplasms of the stomach. These submucosal lesions and located mostly in the antral region of the stomach. Small lipomas are usually asymptomatic and are detected incidentally. When large, they may present with abdominal pain, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or gastric outlet obstruction. We hereby present a case of gastric lipoma in a 54-year-old man presenting with massive upper GI bleed and haemodynamic instability. The diagnosis was established with endoscopy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen. After resuscitation, the patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the antral lipoma.

Endoscopic resection of a large submucosal tumor causing intermittent gastric outlet obstruction using a novel radiofrequency enabled device

Gastric lipomas are rare benign tumors and account for 1-3% of all benign gastric tumors. Majority of the gastric lipomas are asymptomatic and do not demand resection. However, large gastric lipomas may present with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and more rarely gastric outlet obstruction. Traditionally, surgery has been utilized for the management of giant gastric lipomas. More recently, endoscopic techniques are increasingly utilized for the resection of gastric submucosal lesions. Here we describe a case with large gastric lipoma who presented with symptoms suggestive of gastric outlet obstruction. Gastroscopy revealed a large (6 cm) submucosal lesion with a broad peduncle located in antrum. The tumor was prolapsing into duodenum thereby, completing occluding the pylorus. In this case, we performed endoscopic submucosal dissection using a novel, bipolar radiofrequency device. The dissection was completed without any complication.

Antibiotics for fever in patients without perforation after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic submucosal excavation may be unnecessary: a propensity score-matching analysis

Background Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) have been widely used and have gradually become the main endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal mucosal and submucosal lesions. Whether antibiotics are necessary for fever after gastric ESD and ESE remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the value of using antibiotics in patients without perforation after ESD or ESE with fever. Methods In this retrospective study, patients with fever without perforation after ESD or ESE from January 2014 to January 2019 were included and divided into 2 groups: the antibiotic group and the non-antibiotic group. Fever and hospitalization time were compared between the 2 groups after propensity score matching. Results Overall, 253 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the present study, with 186 patients in the non-antibiotic group and 67 patients in the antibiotic group before matching, 55 patients in the non-antibiotic group and 55 patients in the antibiotic group after matching with all baseline characteristics balanced (p > 0.05). The duration of fever was not significantly different between the 2 groups (p = 0.12). However, the median hospitalization stay in the antibiotic group was longer than that in the non-antibiotic group (8 vs 7, p = 0.007). Conclusions Antibiotics may be unnecessary for fever in patients without perforation and without serious co-morbidities after gastric ESD or ESE.