International Journal of Colorectal Disease最新文献

Purpose: To examine the ability of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to answer patients' questions regarding colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Ten clinically relevant questions about CRC were selected from top-rated hospitals' websites and patient surveys and presented to three GAI tools (Chatbot Generative Pre-Trained Transformer [GPT-4], Google Bard, and CLOVA X). Their responses were compared with answers from the CRC information book. Response evaluation was performed by two groups, each consisting of five healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients. Each question was scored on a 1-5 Likert scale based on four evaluation criteria (maximum score, 20 points/question).

Results: In an analysis including only HCPs, the information book scored 11.8 ± 1.2, GPT-4 scored 13.5 ± 1.1, Google Bard scored 11.5 ± 0.7, and CLOVA X scored 12.2 ± 1.4 (P = 0.001). The score of GPT-4 was significantly higher than those of the information book (P = 0.020) and Google Bard (P = 0.001). In an analysis including only patients, the information book scored 14.1 ± 1.4, GPT-4 scored 15.2 ± 1.8, Google Bard scored 15.5 ± 1.8, and CLOVA X scored 14.4 ± 1.8, without significant differences (P = 0.234). When both groups of evaluators were included, the information book scored 13.0 ± 0.9, GPT-4 scored 14.4 ± 1.2, Google Bard scored 13.5 ± 1.0, and CLOVA X scored 13.3 ± 1.5 (P = 0.070).

Conclusion: The three GAIs demonstrated similar or better communicative competence than the information book regarding questions related to CRC surgery in Korean. If high-quality medical information provided by GAI is supervised properly by HCPs and published as an information book, it could be helpful for patients to obtain accurate information and make informed decisions.

Purpose: The extent of tumor regression varies widely among locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients who receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). The purpose of this retrospectively study is to assess prognostic factors in LARC patients with NCRT, and further to analyze survival outcomes in patients with different tumor regression grades (TRGs).

Methods: This study includes LARC patients who underwent NCRT and TME at our institution. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of all patients, and performed subgroup analysis for patients with different TRGs. Survival differences were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log rank test. Additionally, a multiple Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify independent prognostic factors.

Results: The study included 393 patients, with 21.1%, 26.5%, 45.5%, and 6.9% achieving TRG 0, TRG 1, TRG 2, and TRG 3, respectively. The overall survival (OS) rate and disease-free survival (DFS) rate for all patients were 89.4% and 70.7%, respectively. Patients who achieved TRG 0-3 had different 5-year OS rates (96.9%, 91.1%, 85.2%, and 68.8%, P = 0.001) and 5-year DFS rates (80.8%, 72.4%, 67.0%, 55.8%, P = 0.031), respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score was an independent prognostic indicator for both overall survival (OS) (HR = 4.040, 95% CI = 1.792-9.111, P = 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.971, 95% CI = 1.478-2.628, P ˂ 0.001). In the subgroup analyses, the NAR score was found to be associated with DFS in patients with TRG 1 and TRG 2. After conducting multivariate analysis, it was found that ypT stage was a significant predictor of DFS for TRG 1 patients (HR = 4.384, 95% CI = 1.721-11.168, P = 0.002). On the other hand, ypN stage was identified as the dominant prognostic indicator of DFS for TRG 2 patients (HR = 2.795, 95% CI = 1.535-5.091, P = 0.001). However, none of these characteristics was found to be correlated with survival in patients with TRG 0 or TRG 3.

Conclusion: NAR score, in particular, appears to be the most powerful prognostic factor. It is important to consider various prognostic predictors for patients with different TRGs.

Purpose: Crohn's disease (CD) is a progressive disorder leading to cumulative bowel damage. The Lémann index is a validated tool that can help in monitoring the progression of the disease and evaluating the effectiveness of different therapies. Our aim was to describe the main radiological findings in incidentally diagnosed CD and to evaluate bowel damage in this subgroup compared to patients diagnosed at later stages.

Methods: Patients with an incidental diagnosis of CD during the colorectal cancer screening program were compared to controls with a CD cohort diagnosed after symptomatic onset and matched 1:1 by disease extent. All cross-sectional examinations were centrally read, performing a descriptive analysis of the main findings and calculation of Lémann index.

Results: Thirty-eight patients were included: 19 with preclinical CD (median age 55 years (IQR, 54-62), 53% male, 74% non-smokers; 74% B1 and 26% B2) and 19 matched-controls with symptomatic CD. In those with preclinical CD, the most frequent transmural findings on MRE were contrast enhancement (79%), wall thickening (79%), followed by lymphadenopathy (68%), edema (42%), and increased vascularity (42%). Among those with strictures, controls showed a higher rate of preestenotic dilation (100% vs. 0%, p = 0.01). Bowel damage assessment revealed no statistically significant differences in the Lémann index between preclinical CD and controls (p = 0.95). A statistically significant higher score in the colonic/rectum score was observed (p = 0.014).

Conclusion: Patients with preclinical CD demonstrate similar radiological findings and degree of bowel damage as new-onset symptomatic CD.

Purpose: Surgery wait times after diagnosis of appendicitis are an important factor influencing the success of a patient's treatment. The proposed study will be a quantitative multicenter retrospective cohort design with the primary aim of assessing the difference between appendicectomy wait times between rural and urban hospitals in Western Australia and the effect of this on operative outcomes. Selected outcome measures will be examined by time from initial presentation at an emergency department to the patient being diagnosed and then time of diagnosis to surgery being performed. The secondary aim is to compare rates of negative appendicectomies between hospitals.

Methods: Appendicectomy patients will be identified from operating room register by medical student data collectors; then, each respective hospital's emergency room data collection will subsequently be accessed to complete case report forms based on demographics and clinical findings, pre-operative investigations, and management and follow-up. Case report forms with > 95% completeness will be accepted for pooled analysis. The expected duration of retrospective data collection will be 8 months. This study RGS6483 has received HREC approval by the Royal Perth Hospital HREC Ethics Committee, with a waiver of consent obtained and the HREC was notified of amendments to the protocol made on April 21, 2024. Dissemination of results. Data will be collected and stored online through a secure server running the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) web application. No patient-identifiable data will be entered into the system. Results will subsequently be shared via scientific journal publication and presentation at relevant meetings.

Introduction: Discussions about the optimal lymph node (LN) count and its therapeutic consequences have persisted over time. The final LN count in colorectal tissues is affected by a variety of variables (patient, tumor, operation, pathologist, immune response). Methylene blue (MB) intra-arterial injection is a simple and inexpensive procedure that can be used to enhance lymph node count.

Aim: Analyze whether there is a statistically significant difference between intra-arterial methylene blue injection and conventional dissection for the quantification of lymph nodes and determine if there is a variation in the quality of lymph node acquisition.

Methods and results: Between 2015 and 2022, we conducted a retrospective analysis of colon cancer specimens. Data on the tumor's features, the number of lymph nodes, the number of lymph nodes that were positive, and other factors had been collected. The number of identified lymph nodes was highly significantly improved in the study group (P < 0.05). There is not a significant statistical difference between groups regarding the metastatic lymph node harvest. The group with injection of intra-arterial methylene blue shows a significantly decreased (P < 0.05) of the of cases with less than 12 lymph nodes recovered comparing with the control group.

Conclusion: Colon cancer specimens can be easily evaluated concerning lymph nodes using the methylene blue method. Therefore, we strongly advise this approach as a standard procedure in the histological evaluation of colon cancer specimens in order to maximize the identification of lymph nodes. However, the detection of metastatic lymph nodes was unaffected significantly.

Purpose: The genome-wide DNA methylation status (GWMS) predicts of therapeutic response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies in treating metastatic colorectal cancer. We verified the significance of GWMS as a predictive factor for the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: Clinical data were obtained from a prospective trial database, and a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed. GWMS was classified into high-methylated colorectal cancer (HMCC) and low-methylated colorectal cancer (LMCC). The patients were divided into subgroups according to the treatment arm (cetuximab plus irinotecan or irinotecan alone) and GWMS, and the clinical outcomes were compared between the subgroups.

Results: Of the 112 patients, 58 (51.8%) were in the cetuximab plus irinotecan arm, and 54 (48.2%) were in the irinotecan arm; 47 (42.0%) were in the HMCC, and 65 (58.0%) were in the LMCC group regarding GWMS. Compared with the LMCC group, the progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shortened in the HMCC group in the cetuximab plus irinotecan arm (median 1.4 vs. 4.1 months, p = 0.001, hazard ratio = 2.56), whereas no significant differences were observed in the irinotecan arm. A multivariate analysis showed that GWMS was an independent predictor of PFS and overall survival (OS) in the cetuximab plus irinotecan arm (p = 0.002, p = 0.005, respectively), whereas GWMS did not contribute to either PFS or OS in the irinotecan arm.

Conclusions: GWMS was a predictive factor for the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) are a rare entity of in majority benign neoplasms. Nevertheless, up to 20% of cases show a malignant tendency with local infiltration or metastasis. Commonly arising in the thoracic cavity, only few cases of SFT of the mesorectal tissue have been reported in the literature. Complete surgical resection, classically by posterior approach, is the treatment of choice. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate the safety and suitability of transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) as a surgical approach for the resection of benign pararectal solid tumors.

Methods: We report the case of a 52-year-old man who was diagnosed incidentally with SFT of the distal mesorectum. Resection by TAMIS was performed. Based on this case, we describe the steps and potential benefits of this procedure and provide a comprehensive review of the literature.

Results: Histopathology confirms the completely resected SFT. After uneventful postoperative course and discharge on day four, follow-up was recommended by a multidisciplinary board by clinical examination and MRI, which showed a well-healed scar and no recurrence up to 3 years after resection.

Conclusion: SFT of the mesorectum is a very rare entity. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a TAMIS resection for SFT, demonstrated as a safe approach for complete resection of benign pararectal solid tumors.

Purpose: The optimal number of lymph nodes to be resected in patients with rectal cancer who undergo radical surgery after neoadjuvant therapy remains controversial. This study evaluated the prognostic variances between elderly and non-elderly patients and determined the ideal number of lymph nodes to be removed in these patients.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) datasets were used to gather information on 7894 patients diagnosed with stage T3-4/N+ rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant therapy from 2010 to 2019. Of these patients, 2787 were elderly and 5107 were non-elderly. A total of 152 patients from the Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were used for external validation. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated to determine the optimal quantity of lymph nodes for surgical resection.

Results: The study found significant differences in OS and CSS between elderly and non-elderly patients, both before and after adjustment for confounders (P < 0.001). The removal of 14 lymph nodes may be considered a benchmark for patients with stage T3-4/N+ rectal cancer who undergo radical surgery following neoadjuvant therapy, as this number provides a more accurate foundation for the personalized treatment of rectal cancer. External data validated the differences in OS and CSS and supported the 14 lymph nodes as a new benchmark in these patients.

Conclusion: For patients with T3-4/N+ stage rectal cancer who undergo radical surgery following neoadjuvant therapy, the removal of 14 lymph nodes serves as a cutoff point that distinctly separates patients with a favorable prognosis from those with an unfavorable one.

Background: Rectal cancer (RC) is a surgical challenge due to its technical complexity. The double-stapled (DS) technique, a standard for colorectal anastomosis, has been associated with notable drawbacks, including a high incidence of anastomotic leak (AL). Low anterior resection with transanal transection and single-stapled (TTSS) anastomosis has emerged to mitigate those drawbacks.

Methods: Observational study in which it described the technical aspects and results of the initial group of patients with medium-low RC undergoing elective laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) and TTSS.

Results: Twenty-two patients were included in the series. Favourable postoperative outcomes with a median length of stay of 5 days and an AL incidence of 9.1%. Importantly, all patients achieved complete mesorectal excision with tumour-free margins, and no mortalities were reported.

Conclusion: TTSS emerges as a promising alternative for patients with middle and lower rectal tumours, offering potential benefits in terms of morbidity reduction and oncological integrity compared with other techniques.