SIED-GISCOR recommendations for colonoscopy in screening programs: Part I - Diagnostic.

The implementation of FIT programs reduces incidence and mortality from CRC in the screened subjects. The ultimate efficacy for CRC morbidity and mortality prevention in a FIT program depends on the colonoscopy in FIT+ subjects that has the task of detecting and removing these advanced lesions. Recently, there has been growing evidence on factors that influence the quality of colonoscopy specifically withing organized FIT programs, prompting to dedicated interventions in order to maximize the benefit/harm ratio of post-FIT colonoscopy.

EUS-guided gastroenterostomy using a novel electrocautery lumen apposing metal stent for treatment of gastric outlet obstruction (with video).

Background And Aim: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) has been actually performed only with one type of electrocautery lumen-apposing metal stents (EC-LAMS). We aimed to evaluate the safety, technical and clinical effectiveness of EUS-GE using a newly available EC-LAMS in patients with malignant and benign GOO.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent EUS-GE for GOO using the new EC-LAMS at five endoscopic referral centers were retrospectively evaluated.

Endoscopic Papillectomy for Ampullary Adenomas: Different Outcomes in Sporadic Tumors and Those Associated with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

Background: Ampullary adenomas are rare and potentially malignant. Surgery was the standard treatment but endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is a possible alternative.

Aim: We retrospectively evaluated the principal clinical outcomes of EP in all patients referred to our unit also dividing sporadic ampullary adenoma (SAA) from familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)-associated adenomas.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction after failed ERCP in low performance status patients.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with the placement of a biliary stent is the treatment of choice for palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice. In 5-10% of cases ERCP fails. In these cases an effective alternative is endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD).

Ki-67 cytological index can distinguish well-differentiated from poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a comparative cytohistological study of 53 cases.

The Ki-67 labeling index has been found to bear prognostic significance in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and it was recently incorporated in NET histological grading. Nevertheless, a reliable preoperative determination of NET grading could be useful in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to compare the results of Ki-67 labeling index, as measured on cytological samples and on surgical specimens of patients with pancreatic NETs (P-NETs).

Efficacy of a therapeutic strategy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of our therapeutic strategy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and to identify predictive factors for successful eradication.

Methods: From April 2006 to June 2010, we retrospectively assessed 2428 consecutive patients (1025 men, 1403 women; mean age 55 years, age range 18-92 years) with gastric histology positive for H.

Multicentric GISCoR Study "intensive clinical follow-up versus surgical radicalization after complete endoscopic polypectomy of a malignant adenoma" (SEC-GISCoR).

Colorectal cancer screening programs result in an early diagnosis of the disease. In 2007, 250 malignant polyps were identified in Lombardy, out of 1,329 screen-detected colorectal carcinomas. The Italian Group for Colorectal Cancer (GISCoR) promoted the multicentric study "Endoscopic Follow-up versus Surgical Radicalization of Malignant Polyps after Complete Endoscopic Polypectomy" (SEC-GISCoR).

[Test and programme sensitivities of screening for colorectal cancer in Reggio Emilia].

Objective: to estimate the sensitivity of the immunochemical test for faecal occult blood (FOBT) and the sensitivity of the colorectal tumour screening programme in the province of Reggio Emilia.

Design And Settings: retrospective cohort study, including a sample of 80,357 people of both genders, aged 50-69, who underwent FOBT, during the first round of the screening programme in the province of Reggio Emilia, from April 2005 to December 2007.

Main Outcome Measures: incidence of interval cancer.

Ga-68 DOTATOC PET, endoscopic ultrasonography, and multidetector CT in the diagnosis of duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a single-centre retrospective study.

Purpose: In this report, we compared endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), multidetector CT (MDCT), and Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We report our experience with use of these methods in patients suspected to have duodenopancreatic primitive NET.

Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients (mean age, 56; 21-80), who underwent both Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT and EUS between March 2007 and November 2008 were retrospectively included in the study (16 underwent MDCT).

The natural history of upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors: a multicenter endoscopic ultrasound survey.

Goals: To evaluate the natural course of <3-cm upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and to determine the appropriate timing for EUS follow-up.

Background: Subepithelial tumors (SETs) can range from benign lesions to tumors with malignant behavior or potential to become malignant such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). EUS is considered a valuable tool for their evaluation as it estimates the exact size and layer of origin, and also additional morphologic features that can suggest the diagnosis.

Clearance of irretrievable bile duct and pancreatic duct stones by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, using a transportable device: effectiveness and medium-term results.

Background And Goals: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is an established treatment of irretrievable biliary and pancreatic stones, but the cost of the shockwave generators limits its widespread use. We revised data about the effectiveness of our treatment for refractory stones using a transportable shockwave generator.

Study: We retrospectively evaluated the short and medium-term outcomes of patients who underwent ESWL using a transportable electromagnetic shockwave generator between 1998 and 2003 at our unit, for the treatment of irretrievable bile duct or pancreatic duct stones.

Proposal of a new clinical index predictive of endoscopic severity in ulcerative colitis.

Assessment of disease activity by clinical parameters in ulcerative colitis is still controversial. Different clinical indexes have been proposed. Colonoscopy provides detailed information on mucosal damage.