The novel classification system could help physicians to distinguish non-neoplastic from neoplastic bile duct lesions.

Background and study aims Digital, per-oral cholangioscopy (POCS) allows diagnosis of biliary ducts disorders and treatment for complicated stones. We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of digital POCS systems for stricture lesions and the factors precluding complete biliary stone clearance. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective database of 265 consecutive patients referred for POCS between December 2016 and July 2018. We first analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of digital POCS for malignant and benign stricture lesions in 147 patients. Then, we analyzed the factors associated with complete or partial biliary stone clearance achieved with electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) delivered via POCS in 118 patients. Results In the diagnostic group, digital POCS achieved 91 % visual-impression sensitivity, 99 % specificity, 99 % positive and 91 % negative predictive values, and 63.64 positive and 0.09 negative likelihood ratios for malignancy diagnosis. In the therapeutic group, complete biliary stone clearance was achieved by EHL in 94.9 % patients; the mean stone size was 20 mm (10–40 mm). In multivariable analyses, a stone size > 20 mm (OR: 1.020, P < 0.001) and the number of stones ≥ 3 (OR: 1.276, P < 001) was associated with partial biliary stone clearance. Adverse events were reported in 3.3 % patients; no deaths were reported 30 days after the procedure. Conclusions Digital POCS has excellent diagnostic efficacy for biliary lesions. EHL via POCS is effective for complicated biliary stone clearance. Stone size (> 20 mm) and the number of stones (≥ 3) are associated with partial biliary stone clearance.

Background/AimsCapsule endoscopy is a diagnostic method for evaluating the small bowel lumen and can detect undiagnosed lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. MethodsThis study involved a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, maintained in a database. Patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain within the period of March 2012 to March 2014 were included. Capsule endoscopy was used to detect small bowel pathologies in both groups. ResultsSixty-five patients (53.8% female) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had a mean (±standard deviation) age of 50.9±15.9 years. Clinically significant lesions were detected via capsule endoscopy in 32.5% of the patients in the abdominal pain group and 54.5% of the patients in the diarrhea group. Overall, 48% of patients had small bowel pathologies detected during the capsule endoscopy study. Inflammatory lesions and villous atrophy were the most frequent lesions identified in 16.9% and 15.3% of patients in the abdominal pain and the diarrhea groups, respectively. ConclusionsRoutine use of capsule endoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome should not be recommended. However, in patients with refractory conditions, capsule endoscopy may identify abnormalities.

Background and study aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of endoscopy using optical enhancement (OE system) with optical magnification to predict reflux in non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) patients. Patients and methods A prospective, non-randomized, single-blind study was performed from September 2015 to January 2016. Participants suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and were assigned to the NERD group or the non-reflux disease control group based on endoscopic findings and a 24-hour pH-impedance-monitoring test. Endoscopy using the OE system with optical magnification was performed in all patients to detect minimal mucosal esophageal lesions (MMEL), specifically abnormalities in the numbers, dilation, and tortuosity of intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs). Biopsies were obtained from each esophageal segment, and diagnoses from images were compared to diagnoses of reflux and inflammation using 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring and histology, respectively. Results Fifty-seven patients were included (36 in the NERD group, 21 in the control group). IPCLs were observed in 94.4 % of cases in the NERD group and 38 % of cases in the control group (P  < 0.05). There were significant differences in IPCL abnormalities between groups that were associated with histologically identified inflammation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 94.4 %, 61.9 %, 80.9 %, 86.6 %, and 82.4 %, respectively. The 24-hour pH-impedance-monitoring test was used as the gold standard. The Kappa interobserver and intraobserver values were 0.85 and 0.90, respectively. Conclusion The OE system with optical magnification can detect MMEL and predict NERD with high sensitivity, accuracy, and interobserver and intraobserver agreement. Presence of IPCLs highly correlates with histologically identified inflammation.

Background and aims Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is considered to be a functional disease, but recent data indicate measurable organic alterations. We aimed to determine the presence of colorectal mucosa microinflammation in vivo via probe-confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) and histological evaluation in IBS patients. Methods This was a prospective, controlled, nonrandomized single-blind diagnostic trial performed in a tertiary institution. pCLE images and targeted biopsy of each colon segment obtained during colonoscopies of IBS patients and controls were analyzed for inflammatory changes. Biopsies were classified using the Geboes scale, and the odds ratio and overall diagnostic accuracy were calculated. Results During the 15-month study period, 37 patients were allocated to each group. The mean age was 53.1 ± 14.3 years; 64.9 % were female. Signs of colonic mucosa inflammation were evident on 65.8 % of pCLE images from IBS patients compared to 23.4 % of images from controls (OR 6.28; 4.14–9.52; P < 0.001). In total, 20/37 patients had microinflammation via pCLE in ≥ 3 colon segments in the IBS group, compared to 1/37 in the control group. A Geboes score > 0 was attributed to 60.8 % of biopsies from patients in the IBS group compared to 27.5 % of biopsies from the control group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, observed and interrater agreement of pCLE-detected inflammatory changes in IBS using histology as gold standard were 76 %, 91 %, 76 %, 91 %, 86.5 %, and 66.8 %, respectively. Conclusions Patients with IBS have a six-fold higher prevalence of colorectal mucosa microinflammation than healthy controls. pCLE might be a reliable method to detect colorectal mucosa microinflammation in IBS patients.