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Background Recognition of submucosal invasive colorectal cancer (T1 CRC) is difficult, with sensitivities of 35 %–60 % in Western countries. We evaluated the real-life effects of training in the OPTICAL model, a recently developed structured and validated prediction model, in Dutch community hospitals. Methods In this prospective multicenter study (OPTICAL II), 383 endoscopists from 40 hospitals were invited to follow an e-learning program on the OPTICAL model, to increase sensitivity in detecting T1 CRC in nonpedunculated polyps. Real-life recognition of T1 CRC was then evaluated in 25 hospitals. Endoscopic and pathologic reports of T1 CRCs detected during the next year were collected retrospectively, with endoscopists unaware of this evaluation. Sensitivity for T1 CRC recognition, R0 resection rate, and treatment modality were compared for trained vs. untrained endoscopists. Results 1 year after e-learning, 528 nonpedunculated T1 CRCs were recorded for endoscopies performed by 251 endoscopists (118 [47 %] trained). Median T1 CRC size was 20 mm. Lesions were mainly located in the distal colorectum (66 %). Trained endoscopists recognized T1 CRCs more frequently than untrained endoscopists (sensitivity 74 % vs. 62 %; mixed model analysis odds ratio [OR] 2.90, 95 %CI 1.54–5.45). R0 resection rate was higher for T1 CRCs detected by trained endoscopists (69 % vs. 56 %; OR 1.73, 95 %CI 1.03–2.91). Conclusion Training in optical recognition of T1 CRCs in community hospitals was associated with increased recognition of T1 CRCs, leading to higher en bloc and R0 resection rates. This may be an important step toward more organ-preserving strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Since Wnt signaling plays an important role in both tooth agenesis and altered intestine homeostasis, the aim was to compare gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with isolated oligodontia caused by a Wnt pathway gene mutation and controls. Methods: A case–control study was designed to compare self‐reported gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with isolated oligodontia, caused by a Wnt signaling gene mutation, and fully dentate controls. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) was used to assess gastrointestinal symptoms. Prevalence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms among patients and age‐ and gender‐matched controls were evaluated. Results: Twenty patients with isolated oligodontia and a pathogenic variant in the wnt pathway genes WNT10A, LRP6, or PAX9 participated. The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms was higher in the oligodontia patients compared to their controls (Χ2(1) = 87.33, p =.008). Mean GSRS total scores (p =.011) and domain scores for "abdominal pain" (p =.022), "reflux" (p =.003) and constipation (p =.030) were higher for these oligodontia patients compared to their controls. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal symptoms are more prevalent and more severe in patients with isolated oligodontia and a deficiency in a Wnt pathway‐related gene, when compared to controls without tooth agenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aim: Quality measures for colonoscopy are operator dependent and vary. It is unclear whether quality measures change over time. In this study, time-dependent variation in colonoscopy performance was examined in a gastroenterology practice. Patients and Methods: Colonoscopy and histopathology records that were collected at three hospitals (one university and two non-university hospitals) over three time periods (2007, 2010, and 2013) were reviewed. Data from colonoscopists performing at least 100 procedures per year were analyzed. Inter-colonoscopist variation in performance (i. e. adjusted cecal intubation rate [aCIR], adenoma detection rate [ADR], advanced ADR, mean adenomas per procedure [MAP], proximal ADR, nonpolypoid ADR, and serrated polyp detection rate) were examined using coefficients of variation. Logistic regression analyses were also performed, adjusting for covariates. Results: A total of 23 colonoscopists performing 6400 procedures were included. Overall, the mean aCIR, ADR, MAP, and proximal ADR improved significantly over time, from 91.9 %, 22.5 %, 0.37, and 10.2 % in 2007 to 95.3 %, 25.8 %, 0.45, and 13.4 %, respectively, in 2013 (P < 0.05). The inter-colonoscopist variation in ADR decreased from 37 % in 2007 to 15 % in 2013 (P < 0.05). In the non-university hospitals, mean values for quality measures increased significantly over time, whereas they remained stable in the university hospital. Conclusions: Variability in performance among colonoscopists decreased significantly within the gastroenterology clinical practice. Core quality measures improved over time, mainly through improvement of the lower performers. Measurement of inter-colonoscopist variation in performance helps to identify factors that stimulate or hinder performance, and forms the basis for interventions. Trial Registration: http://www.trialregister.nl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aims: Piecemeal EMR of large (≥20mm) non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) is succeeded by a 6-month surveillance endoscopy to evaluate the post-EMR scar for recurrence. Data from expert centers suggest that routine tattoo placement and scar biopsies can be omitted, but data from community hospitals are lacking., Patients and Methods: In a post-hoc analysis of the STAR-LNPCP study (NTR7477), containing prospective data on 6-month post-pEMR scar assessments in 30 Dutch community hospitals (October 2019 to May 2022), the agreement between optical assessment and histological confirmation by routine biopsies was evaluated. Documentation of optical characteristics, imaging, and biopsies of the post-EMR scar were performed according to a standardized protocol., Results: In 1277 post-EMR scar assessments, identification of the scar was achieved in 1215/1277 (95%). Tattoo placement did not influence scar identification. Scar biopsy was performed in 1050/1215 cases (86%). Recurrences were seen in 200/1050 cases (19%). There was a good agreement between optical assessment of recurrence and histological confirmation (Cohen's kappa 0.78 [0.73-0.83]). The NPV was 98% [97-99%] and the PPV was 74% [68-80%]. Higher false positive rate was seen after prior use of clips (11% vs. 5%, p=0.017). Dedicated endoscopists identified the scar more often (96% vs. 88%, p<0.001), and showed a lower optical recurrence miss rate (1%vs. 3%, p=0.111) compared to non-dedicated endoscopists., Conclusion: Based on this multicenter community hospital study, routine tattoo placement and scar biopsies of the post-EMR scar can be omitted. Assessment of post-EMR scars by dedicated endoscopists is advised., Competing Interests: P. Siersema received grants or speaker’s fees from Pentax Japan, The E-Nose Company The Netherlands, Microtech China, Lucid Diagnostics USA, Magentiq Eye Israel, Norgine UK/The Netherlands, and Motus GI USA. M. Pellisé has received speaker’s fees from Norgine Iberia (2018-2023), Casen Recordati (2016 – 2019), Olympus (2018, 2022), Jansen (2018), Medtronic (2022), Fujifilm (2022); a consultancy fee GI Supply (2019), Fujifilm Europe (2022) and research funding from Fujifilm (2019-2021), Casen Recordati (2020); Ziuz (2021); 3-DMatrix (2021); her department has received loan material from Fujifilm (2017- ongoing), a consultancy service with Olympus (2022-ongoing); She is Board member of ESGE and AEG; and has received a fee from Thieme as an Endoscopy Co-Editor (2015-2021). She has shared actions of MiWendo. M. Bourke received research support for ethics-approved studies from Boston Scientific, Cook Medical, and Olympus Medical. A. Masclee received research grants from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) and the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Innovation (ZonMW). L. Moons acts as a consultant for Boston Scientific. The other authors disclose no competing interests., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)