Global Updates and Advances in GI Endoscopy in Luminal and Non-luminal GI Conditions

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy entails the use of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes to diagnose and manage complex GI luminal and non-luminal diseases. Upper and lower endoscopy have been traditionally utilized for basic diagnostics centered around GI and colorectal conditions. However, with advances in the field, there has been remarkable progress in the use of endoscopic imaging in luminal (esophagus, gastric, small intestinal, and colorectum) and pancreaticobiliary disorders. The use of stents (enteral, lumen apposing, biliary and pancreatic), radiofrequency ablation techniques (for Barrett’s disease, tumors such as cholangiocarcinoma), enhanced visualization of the bile duct (via cholangioscopy) and pancreatic duct (via pancreatoscopy) created the ability to enter areas and manage diseases which were never thought to be possible via endoscopy. Furthermore, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has continued to open new doors for diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy in the mediastinum, foregut, liver, pancreaticobiliary and areas adjacent to the duodenum and rectosigmoid colon. Evolving from imaging and aspirates only, EUS now offers core biopsy, fiducial marker placements, and a multitude of interventions. It has also become vital in cancer diagnosis and staging.

Given these updates, the development of a focused issue of advances in the use of GI endoscopy in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of GI disorders remains a priority. In this section of “updates and advances of GI endoscopy in luminal and non-luminal GI disorders”, we aim to specifically focus on developments in GI endoscopy in the last decade. Clinicians in a variety of fields can gain an understanding of the use of these endoscopic advances to facilitate referral options for minimally invasive endoscopy to diagnose and treat their patients across a spectrum of diseases.

We aim to both educate and assist in developing insights and strategies in this evolving field.

The topics outlined below will be the main focus of this issue:

1. Barrett’s disease and role of GI endoscopy in diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance;
2. Advances in GERD diagnosis, management, and treatment with endoscopy;
3. EUS-guided pancreaticobiliary, hepatic imaging, and interventions;
4. Types of gastric polyps, their malignant potential, resection, and surveillance;
5. Role of EUS in precancerous and non-cancerous pancreatic cyst diagnosis and management;
6. Types of colon polyps, their malignant potential, resection, and surveillance;
7. Use of endoscopy (cholangioscopy and pancreatoscopy) to diagnose early-stage biliary and pancreatic tumors;
8. Role of endoscopy, EUS, stenting in luminal GI cancer diagnosis and staging;
9. The potential of GI endoscopy to cure early cancer: Comprehensive use of methods for resection of mucosal and submucosal lesions;
10. The role of Gi endoscopy in the mediastinum;
11. Novel frontiers for endoscopy outside the spectrum of traditional GI disease;
12. The future of GI endoscopy in cancer centers: Time to rethink the role of endoscopists as forerunners of cancer care;
13. Multidisciplinary care approaches and how to incorporate endoscopy into the paradigm of interdisciplinary care;
14. Use of videos and telemedicine in gastrointestinal disorders: Endoscopist perspective.

Dr. Abhilash Perisetti
Dr. Neil R. Sharma
Guest Editors

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