Search Results (14)

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women, with hormone receptor-positive tumors representing the majority of cases. Increasing survival rates have shifted attention toward long-term complications, including the risk of secondary malignancies. Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between breast cancer and gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasia. This study aimed to evaluate the role of colonoscopic and upper gastrointestinal endoscopic monitoring in patients with ER/PR-positive breast cancer and to assess its potential value in the early detection of digestive lesions. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study including 186 female patients with histologically confirmed ER/PR-positive breast cancer. A total of 95 patients underwent colonoscopy, and 91 patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Clinical, demographic, and risk factor data were collected. A structured questionnaire was used to assess gastrointestinal symptoms. Endoscopic findings, lesion characteristics, and histopathological results were recorded. Bowel preparation quality was assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. Results: Colonoscopy identified polyps and other lesions, with the majority located in the rectum and descending colon. A total of 12 biopsies were performed, revealing 1 malignant lesion, 2 borderline lesions, and the remainder benign. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed gastritis as the most frequent finding, followed by gastric ulcers and polyps, while most patients had normal endoscopic results. Overall, 72% of patients presented at least one risk factor for digestive malignancy. Following treatment, most patients reported improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: Patients with ER/PR-positive breast cancer may present a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal lesions, potentially related to shared risk factors and the systemic effects of endocrine therapy. Targeted, symptom-oriented endoscopic evaluation may facilitate early detection of premalignant and malignant digestive conditions. A multidisciplinary, risk-adapted surveillance approach should be considered to improve patient outcomes. Further large-scale studies are required to establish evidence-based screening strategies in this population. Full article

Background and Aims: Adequate bowel preparation is the cornerstone of high-quality colonoscopy. The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) is the gold standard for assessment, yet its application suffers from inter-observer variability and lacks a fully automated solution for entire video analysis. This study proposes EndoClean, a novel, fully automated deep learning framework designed to compute the full-segment BBPS score from colonoscopy videos, aiming to provide a standardized, objective, and near expert-level assessment. Methods: EndoClean integrates three distinct models: frame selection, anatomical segmentation, and BBPS scoring. Its performance was rigorously evaluated against a reference standard established by senior experts and compared with junior endoscopists. We assessed assessment precision, inter-rater agreement (quadratic weighted Kappa), and consistency across all colonic segments. Results: The EndoClean system demonstrated superior reliability, achieving a global accuracy of 97.8% for the total BBPS score, with satisfying agreement with senior experts (κ = 0.984; 95% CI: 0.976–0.989). Notably, EndoClean performed significantly better than junior endoscopists in overall BBPS agreements (κ: 0.984 vs. 0.949, p < 0.001) and overall accuracy (97.8% vs. 94.6%, p = 0.037). In segment-specific analysis, the EndoClean surpassed junior doctors particularly in the transverse colon (Accuracy: 97.5% vs. 90.4%, p < 0.001) and effectively reduced misclassifications in clinically ambiguous intermediate scores. For binary adequacy classification, the system achieved a sensitivity of 98.2% and a specificity of 97.3%. Conclusions: EndoClean represents a robust solution in automated quality control, demonstrating performance comparable to senior experts in bowel preparation assessment. By significantly reducing the variability seen in junior endoscopists and providing objective, full-video BBPS scoring, this framework offers a viable, standardized, and efficient solution for clinical practice and large-scale quality monitoring. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adequate bowel preparation (BP) is crucial for effective colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance in ulcerative colitis (UC). While active inflammation is known to negatively impact cleansing, data regarding predictors of BP quality specifically in UC patients with inactive disease remain limited. This study aimed to investigate risk factors for inadequate BP in UC patients in clinical/endoscopic remission and to compare the efficacy of 1L-PEG-ASC versus 2L-PEG regimens. Methods: A multicentric, retrospective, cohort study was conducted across eight Italian centers. Consecutive adult outpatients with UC undergoing colonoscopy between January-2021 and December-2022 who were in endoscopic and clinical remission were included. Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) was assessed in patients undergoing 1L-PEG-ASC or 2L-PEG bowel preparation. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for inadequate BP and compare outcomes between PEG regimens. Results: A total of 379 patients were included (58% M, mean age 52.3 ± 15.4 years). The overall rate of adequate BP was 90.5%. Traditional risk factors, including demographic, clinical, and endoscopic characteristics, were not predictive of inadequate preparation in this remission cohort. Comparing regimens, 1L-PEG-ASC yielded significantly higher median total BBPS scores compared to 2L-PEG (8 [IQR 7–9] vs. 6 [IQR 6–8]; p < 0.001) and a higher exam completion rate (99.5% vs. 95.7%; p = 0.02), although the difference in adequate BP rates did not reach statistical significance (92.6% vs. 87.7%; p = 0.12). Multivariable analysis confirmed that 2L-PEG was independently associated with lower odds of achieving higher BBPS scores (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.20–0.45). Conclusions: In UC patients with clinical and endoscopic remission, BP adequacy rates are high and comparable to the general population, suggesting that traditional IBD-related risk factors are less relevant in the absence of active inflammation. However, the 1L-PEG-ASC regimen demonstrated superior cleansing quality and exam completion rates compared to 2L-PEG. These findings support the prioritization of 1L-PEG-ASC to optimize mucosal visualization during CRC surveillance in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: High-quality bowel preparation is essential for the diagnostic accuracy of colonoscopy, the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening. In our study, we aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of three bowel preparation regimens—Moviprep with Donat Mg, Plenvu, and Plenvu with Donat Mg—commonly used in clinical practice in Slovenia. Methods: This was a randomized, multicenter, blinded clinical trial conducted across three Slovenian gastroenterology centers. A total of 300 consecutive adult patients undergoing elective colonoscopy were randomly assigned to one of the three bowel preparation groups. Bowel cleanliness was evaluated using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale, and lesion detection was assessed using polyp detection rate (PDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR). Patients also completed a questionnaire assessing adverse effects, overall tolerability, and willingness to repeat the same regimen. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, chi-square, Kruskal–Wallis, and t-tests. Results: Of the 300 patients included in the final analysis, 94 received Moviprep with Donat Mg, 96 received Plenvu, and 110 received Plenvu with Donat Mg. The mean age of participants was 58.4 ± 15.6 years; 158 patients (52.7%) were male and 142 (47.3%) were female. All three regimens achieved high bowel preparation adequacy (≥95%), with no statistically significant differences in total BBPS scores, PDR, or ADR. Adverse effects were mild and comparable between groups, with thirst and bloating being the most frequently reported symptoms. Patient satisfaction and willingness to repeat the preparation were high across all regimens, with no significant differences. Conclusions: Moviprep with Donat Mg, Plenvu, and Plenvu with Donat Mg are all effective, safe, and well-tolerated bowel preparation regimens. All regimens exceeded ESGE minimum quality standards. While the findings suggest that each regimen is suitable for routine use, the study was not powered to establish equivalence, and regimen selection should therefore continue to consider individual patient characteristics, preferences, and clinical judgment. Full article

Objectives: To assess the impact of bowel cleansing quality on polyp detection rate (PDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR) and explore predictors of lesion detection rate in patients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing 1L polyethylene glycol plus ascorbate (1L PEG+ASC) vs. 4L PEG as bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Results: PDR was significantly higher (35.6% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.013), and ADR was higher even if not significantly (25.6% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.153) in patients with Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) ≥6 over BBPS <6. Comparing patients with BBPS = 9 over BBPS = 7–8, no significant differences were found in PDR (34.5% vs. 38.4%, p = 0.483) nor ADR (24.1% vs. 27.2%, p = 0.553). At multivariable regression analysis, older age (OR = 1.042, 95%CI = 1.021–1.063; p < 0.001), shorter intubation time (OR = 0.891, 95%CI = 0.816–0.972; p = 0.010), higher withdrawal time (OR = 1.171, 95%CI = 1.094–1.253; p < 0.001) and full consumption of the first dose (OR = 8.368, 95%CI = 1.025–68.331; p = 0.047) were independently associated with ADR. Conclusions: This post-hoc analysis of a RCT showed that excellent cleansing (BBPS = 9) over high-quality cleansing (BBPS = 7–8) does not significantly improve PDR or ADR. Neither cleansing success nor preparation types were independently associated with ADR. Compliance with bowel preparation, timing of colonoscopy and withdrawal time are key elements for adequate ADR with potential implications for reducing interval colorectal cancer. Full article

Background: This study aims to objectively evaluate the overall quality of colonoscopies using a specially trained deep learning-based semantic segmentation neural network. This represents a modern and valuable approach for the analysis of colonoscopy frames. Methods: We collected thousands of colonoscopy frames extracted from a set of video colonoscopy files. A color-based image processing method was used to extract color features from specific regions of each colonoscopy frame, namely, the intestinal mucosa, residues, artifacts, and lumen. With these features, we automatically annotated all the colonoscopy frames and then selected the best of them to train a semantic segmentation network. This trained network was used to classify the four region types in a different set of test colonoscopy frames and extract pixel statistics that are relevant to quality evaluation. The test colonoscopies were also evaluated by colonoscopy experts using the Boston scale. Results: The deep learning semantic segmentation method obtained good results, in terms of classifying the four key regions in colonoscopy frames, and produced pixel statistics that are efficient in terms of objective quality assessment. The Spearman correlation results were as follows: BBPS vs. pixel scores: 0.69; BBPS vs. mucosa pixel percentage: 0.63; BBPS vs. residue pixel percentage: −0.47; BBPS vs. Artifact Pixel Percentage: −0.65. The agreement analysis using Cohen’s Kappa yielded a value of 0.28. The colonoscopy evaluation based on the extracted pixel statistics showed a fair level of compatibility with the experts’ evaluations. Conclusions: Our proposed deep learning semantic segmentation approach is shown to be a promising tool for evaluating the overall quality of colonoscopies and goes beyond the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale in terms of assessing colonoscopy quality. In particular, while the Boston scale focuses solely on the amount of residual content, our method can identify and quantify the percentage of colonic mucosa, residues, and artifacts, providing a more comprehensive and objective evaluation. Full article

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of patient education provided through one-on-one verbal instruction supported by visual media tools for bowel preparation prior to a colonoscopy procedure. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included patients who underwent colonoscopy in our clinic’s endoscopy unit between April 2024 and August 2024. The study design included two groups: the control group (CG), wherein patients scheduled for a colonoscopy received standard information about the procedure at the outpatient clinic, and the information group (IG), wherein patients were invited to the clinic 5 days before the procedure and received an interactive education session lasting approximately 10 min in addition to the standard information. The adequacy of bowel preparation was evaluated using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Results: This study included 228 patients, with 114 patients in each group. Of the patients, 137 were male (60.08%) and 91 were female (39.92%). The mean age of the patients was 49.41 ± 15.04 years, the mean BMI was 27.48 ± 4.23, and the mean BBPS score was 7.38 ± 1.96. The mean BBPS score of the patients in the IG and CG was 7.76 ± 1.84 and 7.00 ± 2.01, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Additional information provided prior to the colonoscopy procedure was identified as an effective parameter on adequate bowel preparation. Full article

Background and Aims: A low-volume (1 L) polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid (PEG-A) solution and an oral sodium sulfate tablet (OST) formulation are recently introduced agents for colonoscopy bowel preparation. This study investigated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 1 L PEG-A vs. OST. Methods: This single-center, prospective, randomized, endoscopist-blinded study randomly assigned patients into 2 groups: 1 L PEG-A (group A); and OST (group B). Efficacy of bowel preparation was evaluated using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Tolerability and safety were investigated with a standardized questionnaire. Results: A total of 174 patients were included in the final analysis (group A, n = 92; group B, n = 82). Successful bowel preparation was achieved in 91.3% and 95.1% of patients in groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.324). Overall mean satisfaction with bowel preparation was greater among those in group B vs. those in group A (8.2 ± 1.7 vs. 6.8 ± 2.0, respectively; p < 0.001). Although abdominal distension was less common in group A than group B (3/92 [3.3%] vs. 9/82 [11.0%], respectively; p = 0.045), overall adverse events developed similarly in both groups (27/92 [29.3%] vs. 21/82 [25.6%], p = 0.583). In subgroup analysis of older patients (≥65 years of age), efficacy, overall satisfaction, and safety profiles were not different between groups A and B. Conclusions: Both 1 L PEG-A and OST demonstrated efficacy, tolerability, and safety for colonoscopy bowel preparation. OST was slightly better tolerated, whereas 1 L PEG-A resulted in less abdominal distension. Both agents were effective and safe in older patients. Full article

Background/objectives:To date, no studies have evaluated Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) as a large language model chatbot in optical applications for digestive endoscopy images. This study aimed to weigh the performance of ChatGPT-4 in assessing bowel preparation (BP) quality for colonoscopy. Methods: ChatGPT-4 analysed 663 anonymised endoscopic images, scoring each according to the Boston BP scale (BBPS). Expert physicians scored the same images subsequently. Results: ChatGPT-4 deemed 369 frames (62.9%) to be adequately prepared (i.e., BBPS > 1) compared to 524 frames (89.3%) assessed by human assessors. The agreement was slight (κ: 0.099, p = 0.0001). The raw human BBPS score was higher at 3 (2–3) than that of ChatGPT-4 at 2 (1–3), demonstrating moderate concordance (W: 0.554, p = 0.036). Conclusions: ChatGPT-4 demonstrates some potential in assessing BP on colonoscopy images, but further refinement is still needed. Full article

Background: Various predictive models have been published to identify outpatients with inadequate colonic cleansing who may benefit from intensified preparations to improve colonoscopy quality. The main objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of three predictive models for identifying poor bowel preparation in outpatients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy over a 3-month period. We evaluated and compared three predictive models (Models 1–3). The quality of colonic cleansing was assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. We calculated the area under the curve (AUC) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval for each model. Additionally, we performed simple and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify variables associated with inadequate colonic cleansing and developed a new model. Results: A total of 649 consecutive patients were included in the study, of whom 84.3% had adequate colonic cleansing quality. The AUCs of Model 1 (AUC = 0.67, 95% CI [0.63–0.70]) and Model 2 (AUC = 0.62, 95% CI [0.58–0.66]) were significantly higher than that of Model 3 (AUC = 0.54, 95% CI [0.50–0.58]; p < 0.001). Moreover, Model 1 outperformed Model 2 (p = 0.013). However, the new model did not demonstrate improved accuracy compared to the older models (AUC = 0.671). Conclusions: Among the three compared models, Model 1 showed the highest accuracy for predicting poor bowel preparation in outpatients undergoing colonoscopy and could be useful in clinical practice to decrease the percentage of inadequately prepared patients. Full article

Background and Aims: Prior studies have identified predictors of inadequate preparation with limited success. We aimed to build a model that could predict the likelihood of inadequate preparation by also including factors related to the patient’s reaction to drinking the laxative preparation. Methods: Demographic, clinical, and preparation-related data were prospectively collected on patients undergoing colonoscopy. An inadequate preparation was defined as a Boston Bowel Preparation Scale < 6. Statistical analyses were performed to identify predictors of inadequate preparation and create a predictive model. Results: 324 patients were included (age 67 +/− 14 years, 52% male). 77 (23.7%) had inadequate preparations. Diabetes (p < 0.001), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (p < 0.001), incomplete prep consumption (p = 0.007), high school level education and above (p < 0.001), use of Bisacodyl (p = 0.005), >10 bowel movements (p = 0.02), and use of Sodium Picosulfate or low-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution (2L) compared to PEG 3L (p < 0.001) were significant variables. In a multivariate analysis, prior CVA increased the risk for inadequate preparation (OR = 4.8, CI 1.6–14.5), whereas high school level education and above (OR = 0.4, CI 0.2–0.8), consumption of Bisacodyl (OR = 0.4, CI 0.2–0.8), >10 bowel movements (OR = 0.5, CI 0.3–0.9), and use of Sodium Picosulfate (OR = 0.5, CI 0.3–0.9) decreased the risk for inadequate prep. Using these, a predictive model for patients likely to have an inadequate colon preparation was created with an area under the curve of 0.74 (35% sensitivity, 90% specificity at a cutoff point of 39%). Conclusion: Given the low sensitivity, this predictive model does not appear ready for clinical use. However, due to its high specificity, it may be helpful in high-risk, sicker populations by preventing inadequately prepped procedures. Full article

Background and Objectives: Proper bowel preparation is of paramount importance for enhancing adenoma detection rates and reducing postcolonoscopic colorectal cancer risk. Despite recommendations from gastroenterology societies regarding the optimal rates of successful bowel preparation, these guidelines are frequently unmet. Various approaches have been employed to enhance the rates of successful bowel preparation, yet the quality of cleansing remains suboptimal. Intensive bowel preparation techniques, supplementary administration of bowel solutions, and educational interventions aimed at improving patient adherence to instructions have been commonly utilized, particularly among patients at a high risk of inadequate bowel preparation. Expedited strategies conducted on the same day as the procedure have also been endorsed by scientific organizations. More recently, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged for the preprocedural detection of inadequate bowel preparation, holding the potential to guide the preparation process immediately preceding colonoscopy. This manuscript comprehensively reviews the current strategies employed to optimize bowel cleansing, with a specific focus on patients with elevated risks for inadequate bowel preparation. Additionally, the prospective role of AI in this context is thoroughly examined. Conclusions: While a majority of outpatients may achieve cleanliness with standard cleansing protocols, dealing with hard-to-prepare patients remains a challenge. Rescue strategies based on AI are promising, but such evidence remains limited. To ensure proper bowel cleansing, a combination of strategies should be performed. Full article

Adequate bowel cleansing is essential for high-quality colonoscopy. Recently, a new very low-volume 1 litre (1L) polyethylene glycol (PEG) plus ascorbate solution (ASC) has been introduced. Our aims were to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of this product compared to low-volume 2L PEG-ASC and high-volume 4L PEG solutions, in a real-life setting. In six endoscopy units in Sweden, outpatients undergoing colonoscopy were either prescribed solutions according to local routines, or the very low-volume solution in split dose regimen. Bowel cleansing effectiveness and patient experience was assessed using the Boston Bowel preparation scale (BBPS) and a patient questionnaire. A total of 1098 patients (mean age 58 years, 52% women) were included. All subsegment and the total BBPS scores were significantly greater for 1L PEG-ASC in comparison to other solutions (p < 0.05 for 1L PEG-ASC and 4L PEG for transverse and left colon, otherwise p < 0.001). Nausea was more frequent with 1L PEG-ASC compared to 2L PEG-ASC (p < 0.001) and vomiting were more often reported compared to both other solutions (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 for 2L PEG-ASC and 4L PEG, respectively). Smell, taste, and total experience was better for 1L PEG-ASC compared to 4L PEG (p < 0.001), and similar compared to the 2L PEG-ASC. In conclusion, 1L PEG-ASC leads to better bowel cleansing compared to 2L PEG-ASC or 4L PEG products, with similar or greater patient satisfaction. Full article

Background: Previous studies have favored esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) followed by colonoscopy as the optimal sequence in bidirectional endoscopy (BDE) with air insufflation. However, the optimal sequence in same-day BDE with WE colonoscopy is unclear. Methods: A total of 200 patients undergoing BDE with propofol sedation from May 2018 to January 2021 were randomized to either the EGD-first group (n = 100) or the colonoscopy-first group (n = 100). Results: The EGD-first group required a longer cecal-intubation time (median 16.0 min vs. 13.7 min, p < 0.001) and a lower Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score (8.5 vs. 9, p = 0.030) compared with the colonoscopy-first group. However, the EGD-first group needed a significantly lower dose of propofol (200 mg vs. 250 mg, p < 0.001) and a shorter recovery time (7 min vs. 13.5 min, p < 0.001), resulting in a shorter turnover time of the endoscopy room (39.5 min vs. 42.6 min, p = 0.004). There were no differences in the sedation-related adverse events, patients’ satisfaction scores, adenoma-detection rates, or the outcomes of EGD between the two groups. Conclusions: During propofol-sedated BDE, EGD followed by WE colonoscopy was more efficient with a shorter turnover time despite a longer cecal-intubation time (NCT03638713). Full article