CONTRIBUTION OF DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY IN CASE OF DIGESTIVE THICKENING ON IMAGING

Aims The recent advent of new imaging techniques has certainly changed the management of DigestiveTract pathologies. The aim of our study was to assess the benefit of digestive endoscopy in patients with digestive thickening on imaging.

Methods This is a retrospective study including all patients who have had an upper digestive endoscopy or ileocolonoscopy, as part of the exploration of digestive thickening discovered on imaging, during the period between January 2018 and October 2021.

Results A total of 4,046 endoscopic examinations were performed, of which 2.52% (n=102) met the inclusion criteria. These were 27 upper digestive endoscopies (26.5%) and 75 ileocolonoscopies (73.5%). The mean age of the patients was 57.72 years, with a sex ratio M / F=1.17. Digestive thickening was discovered incidentally in 20.6% of cases. It was localized in the colon (57.8%) , the upper digestive tract (15,8%), the ileon (18,6%), the rectum (2.9%) or the esophagus (4.9%). It was irregular (34.3%). Endoscopic examination was normal in 33.3%. A tumor process was objectified in 18.6% of cases, of recto-colic localization in the most of cases. Other endoscopic abnormalities observed: mucosal elevation (3.9%), large folds (5.9%), mucosal congestion (32.4%), ulcerations(10.8%) , diverticula (4.9%), angiodysplasia (2%), polyps (14.7%). A suspicious gastric ulcer was noted in 2%. The irregularity of the thickening was significantly associated with the presence of a tumor process on endoscopy (p=0.001).

Conclusions Digestive endoscopy is primordial in the case of digestive thickening on imaging, so as not to miss lesions that may be potentially malignant.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022