Low prevalence of colonoscopic surveillance of inflammatory bowel disease patients with longstanding extensive colitis: a clinical practice survey nested in the CESAME cohort.

Background: Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with longstanding extensive colitis (LEC).

Aims: To assess modalities and results of colonoscopic surveillance in a subset of CESAME cohort patients at high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and followed in university French hospitals.

Methods: Among 910 eligible patients with more than a 7-year history of extensive colitis at CESAME enrolment, 685 patients completed a questionnaire on surveillance colonoscopy and 102 were excluded because of prior proctocolectomy. Finally, 583 patients provided information spanning a median period of 41months (IQR 38-43) between cohort enrolment and the end of follow-up. Details of the colonoscopic procedures and histological findings were obtained for 440 colonoscopies in 270 patients.

Results: Only 54% (n=312) of the patients with LEC had at least one surveillance colonoscopy during the study period, with marked variations across the nine participating centres (27% to 70%, P≤0.0001). Surveillance rate was significantly lower in Crohn's colitis than in ulcerative colitis (UC) (48% vs. 69%, P≤0.0001). Independent predictors of colonoscopic surveillance were male gender, UC IBD subtype, longer disease duration, previous history of CRC and disease management in a centre with large IBD population. Random biopsies, targeted biopsies and chromoendoscopy were performed during respectively 71%, 27 and 30% of surveillance colonoscopies. Two cases of high-grade dysplasia were detected in patients undergoing colonoscopic surveillance. Two advanced-stage CRC were diagnosed in patients who did not have colonosocopic surveillance.

Conclusions: Colonoscopic surveillance rate is low in IBD patients with longstanding extensive colitis.