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Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an established treatment for large (≥ 20 mm) laterally spreading lesions (LSLs). LSLs with complete or subtotal (> 90 %) circumferential extent (C-LSLs) are generally referred for surgery. Data on technique, efficacy, and safety of EMR for these lesions are absent. The aim of this study was to describe the technique and long-term outcomes of EMR for C-LSLs., Patients and Methods: Prospective observational study of consecutive patients referred for EMR of LSL at a tertiary care center over 63 months to April 2015. Amongst 979 patients with LSL, 12 patients with C-LSL were seen., Results: All lesions were tubulovillous adenomas with granular 0 - IIa + Is morphology. Median longitudinal extent was 95 mm (range 60 - 160), 58 % were located in the rectum, and 3 lesions (25 %) had complete circumferential involvement. EMR technical success was 100 %. There were no major adverse events. Symptomatic stricturing occurred in 2 cases (17 %) and was treated with endoscopic balloon dilation (median 4 sessions). Median follow up is 13 months. Minor residual adenoma was found in 7 (58 %) at first surveillance colonoscopy and was treated with snare excision. A total of 10 patients have completed a second surveillance colonoscopy with minor residual adenoma found in only 1 case. No patient required surgery or developed cancer in long-term follow-up., Conclusions: Endoscopic resection of C-LSL is feasible and safe. Minor residual adenoma is common but endoscopically treatable with long-term cure. Symptomatic stricturing amenable to balloon dilation may occur. Empiric surgical referral for C-LSL based on extensive circumferential involvement may be avoided.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01368289., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is widely practiced; however, the endoscopic features of the CSP mucosal defect have not been studied. In particular, protrusions within the cold snare defect (CSDPs) may create concern for residual polyp. The frequency and constituents of this phenomenon are unknown., Objective: To describe the frequency, predictors, and histologic constituents of CSDPs., Design: Prospective observational study., Setting: Tertiary-care hospital endoscopy unit., Patients: Eighty-eight consecutive patients undergoing CSP for a polyp ≤ 10 mm in size., Intervention: Inspection of the cold snare mucosal defect with high-definition white light and biopsy sampling of CSDPs for separate histologic assessment, when present., Main Outcome Measurement: Frequency and constituents of CSDPs., Results: Two hundred fifty-seven consecutive polyps ≤ 10 mm in size were removed in 88 patients (50 men [57%], mean age 63 years). Polyps were predominately adenomatous (162, 63%), located in the proximal colon (159, 62%) and flat (200, 78%). Mean lesion size was 5.5 mm (range, 2-10 mm). High-grade dysplasia was present in a single polyp for which the defect was bland. CSDPs occurred in 36 polypectomies (14%). CSDPs were associated with polyp size ≥ 6 mm (odds ratio, 3.7; P < .001 multivariable analysis) but not age, sex, lesion, histopathology, morphology, or location. Histopathologic examination of CSDPs revealed submucosa in 34 (94%) and muscularis mucosa in 29 (80%). No residual adenomatous or serrated polyp tissue was detected., Limitations: Single-center study. Small number of polyps with high-grade dysplasia., Conclusion: Protrusions are common within the CSP mucosal defect and are associated with polyp size ≥ 6 mm. CSDPs do not represent vascular structures, do not contain residual polyp, and are not associated with adverse outcomes in short-term follow-up. However, CSDPs represent incomplete mucosal layer resection., (Copyright © 2015 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of laterally spreading lesions (LSLs) involving the ileocecal valve (ICV) is technically demanding. Conventionally, these lesions are considered too challenging for endoscopic therapy and are primarily managed surgically. The aims of the study were to describe effectiveness, safety, and outcomes following EMR of LSLs at the ICV., Patients and Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, observational, cohort study performed at an academic, tertiary referral center. Patients undergoing EMR for LSLs ≥ 20 mm involving the ICV were recruited over a 5-year period. Standard or cap-assisted colonoscopy with inject-and-resect EMR technique was performed with standardized post-EMR management. Procedural success, safety, and outcomes compared with non-ICV LSLs managed during the same period were analyzed., Results: A total of 53 patients with ICV LSLs were referred for EMR (median age 69 years; median lesion size 35.0 mm; 52.8 % females). Six patients went directly to surgery because of an endoscopic diagnosis of malignancy (n = 2) or technical failure of EMR (n = 4). EMR achieved complete adenoma clearance in 44 out of 47 attempted (93.6 %). Surgery was ultimately avoided in 43/53 (81.1 %). Complications included bleeding in 6.4 %. There were no perforations or strictures. Early adenoma recurrence was detected in 7/40 patients (17.5 %), and 1/22 (4.5 %) had late recurrence. All were successfully managed endoscopically. Factors associated with failure of ICV EMR were ileal infiltration and involvement of both ICV lips., Conclusions: In the majority of cases, LSL involving the ICV can be effectively treated by EMR on an outpatient basis. In specialized centers, complications are infrequent, and  > 80 % of patients ultimately avoid surgery. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01368289)., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)