Introduction
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative
colitis (UC), are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), namely colitis-associated
colorectal cancer (CAC). The literature reveals a decrease in incidence and risk of
CRC from the studies published in the 1950 s to those published in the last decade,
as shown in a large meta-analysis published in 2014 [1]. This is partly due to a paradigm shift from old techniques, when most dysplasia
was diagnosed on random biopsies of colon mucosa, to the advent of video endoscopy
and newer endoscopic technologies that made most dysplasia discovered in patients
with IBD visible to investigators. However, in the last decade, newer advances in
techniques in surveillance and management of dysplasia, such as high definition and
chromoendoscopy, may have important implications for risk of CRC this population.
A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis [2] reported a lower incidence of cancer in patients with IBD undergoing surveillance
compared to patients with IBD not undergoing surveillance. Chromoendoscopy has shown
to increase the yield of dysplasia compared with standard-definition white-light colonoscopy
[3]. Based on this evidence, national and international clinical and endoscopic guidelines
recommend virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) or dye chromoendoscopy (DCE) with high-definition
white-light endoscopy for surveillance in patients with longstanding IBD with a high
evidence level (1B) [4]
[5]
[6]
[7] and a recommendation grade of B. However, whether the identification of additional
lesions with chromoendoscopy has had an impact on the risk of CRC in patients with
IBD or it remains similar to the one reported in older studies is unknown.
Carcinogenesis in IBD follows the inflammation-dysplasia-cancer sequence from inflammation
to indefinite, low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), with some progressing
to cancer [8]. Incidence of CAC associated with LGD or HGD in patients with IBD, therefore, is
of special importance in management of these patients. Currently, the reported risk
of CAC associated with LGD or HGD in patients with IBD varies greatly between published
studies and cannot be defined precisely, although estimates for progression from LGD
to a more advanced neoplasia range from 20 % to 30 % [9]
[10]
[11]. This variation may be partly due to the use of data that predate videoendoscopy
and follow-up recommendations about patient risk factors that are based on data taken
without high-definition endoscopies or chromoendoscopy surveillance.
There is a need to reassess the incidence of CAC associated with LGD or HGD in patients
with IBD using data gathered exclusively with dye chromoendoscopy (DCE) with high-definition.
In this context, an important risk factor is the morphology of the LGD lesion, because
the progression risk seems to be different for LGD in elevated lesions and non-polypoid
lesions (both graded with Paris Classification) [12]
[13]; yet the risk for LGD in elevated lesions is similar to that in the general population
and estimated to be 0.5 per 100 patients per year [14]
[15], while the estimated risk of progression to CAC for non-polypoid LGD lesions is
1.35 per 100 patients per year [16]
[17]. Many other clinical, endoscopic, and histological risk factors have been associated
with CAC, as reported in several meta-analyses; the most significant ones are disease
duration, disease extension, inflammation and severity, primary sclerosing cholangitis,
family history of CRC, stricture disease, post-inflammatory polyps, and dysplasia
[18].
Given the improvements in visualization of morphology of LGD lesions associated with
DCE with high-definition, this technique may also have an impact on assessment of
this risk factor, as well as on other reported risk factors. In this scenario, in
this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of new dysplastic lesions during DCE
follow-up and, specifically, the incidence of developing more advanced metachronous
neoplasia (HGD or CAC), as well as to analyze possible associated risk factors.
Patients and methods
This was a large multicenter, population-based, retrospective, long-term follow-up
study conducted across seven different hospitals in Spain by the Castilla y León Inflammatory
Bowel Disease Group (GEICYL). We retrospectively collected 232 dysplastic lesions
from 131 patients following 709 consecutive DCE screening exams of 569 patients with
longstanding IBD performed between February 2011 and June 2017. Patient data and lesion
characteristics were first published in 2019 [19]. The inclusion criteria were left-sided or extensive UC or CD involving more than
one-third of the colonic mucosa, disease duration > 8 years, and clinical remission
(partial Mayo score < 3 for ulcerative colitis or Harvey Bradshaw < 5 for CRC) excluding
patients with moderate or severe endoscopic activity (Mayo ≥ 2 or SES-CD ≥ 5). Patients
had signed informed consent forms permitting the use of their clinical data for research
purposes. Chromoendoscopy was performed with indigo carmine (0.2–0.4 %) or methylene
blue managed with a catheter spray and high-definition endoscopes, at both tertiary
referral centers and local community hospitals. High-definition endoscopes with digital
magnification but no optical magnification (Olympus Evis Exera II Cv-180 and Evis
Exera III Cv-190) were used at all the hospitals. All the endoscopists were experts
in performing dye chromoendoscopy and all the patients underwent chromoendoscopy of
the whole colonic surface with targeted biopsies.
All dysplastic lesions identified were resected completely (R0) and the histological
results were assessed. Endoscopic, histological, and clinical data were collected
by electronic chart review. Fifteen patients (14 %) were lost to follow-up because
no new chromoendoscopies were performed (mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic over
the last 2 years, and because five patients refused endoscopic follow-up), and eight
patients were excluded with less than 36 months’ follow-up and nine patients with
endoscopic activity in DCE during follow-up. [Fig. 1] shows the study flowchart. Finally, we included 99 patients with 148 dysplastic
lesions (145 LGD and 3 HGD) with a mean follow-up of 48.76 months (IQR: 36.34–67.15).
Fig. 1 Flowchart.
Dysplastic lesions were classified as LGD or HGD according to the 1983 IBD dysplasia
morphology study group classification [20] and DCE follow-up was based on current European guidelines (ECCO) [4] and Spanish Working Group on CD and UC (GETECCU) consensus [7]. Lesion size was categorized according to the Paris classification [12]
[13] by dividing the lesions into two groups: polypoid lesions including Paris classification
0-Is and 0-Ip and flat lesions (Paris 0-IIa, 0-IIb and mixed flat lesions 0-IIa/IIc).
Any dysplastic lesions observed in random biopsies taken to assess histological healing
were classified according to the SCENIC consensus [21] for invisible dysplasia. The incidence of advanced neoplasia was defined as the
presence of HGD or CRC, found either during colonoscopy or in a surgical colectomy
specimen. Persistence of dysplasia was defined as the presence of LGD found during
subsequent surveillance colonoscopies.
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of new dysplastic lesions during
DCE follow-up and, above all, the incidence of developing more advanced metachronous
neoplasia (HGD or CAC) by analyzing possible associated risk factors.
Statistics
Data were collected and processed using Microsoft Office Excel and subjected to statistical
analysis using IBM SPSS 19 statistical software after setting a 95 % confidence interval.
The sample was subjected to a descriptive analysis to obtain means (standard deviation)
or the frequency (percentage) according to the characteristics and distributions of
the variables.
The relationship between dysplasia follow-up and the rest of the variables was analyzed
using the chi-squared test; alternatively, Fisher's test was used if the conditions
of applicability were not met for the chi-squared test. Finally, we calculated the
statistical significance and risk (OR).
Results
A total of 99 patients with 148 dysplastic lesions (145 LGD and 3 HGD) were included.
Patient characteristics are summarized in [Table 1]. Of the 85 patients with UC (86 % of the total sample), 59 (69 % of patients with
UC) had pancolitis; 11 patients (11 % of the total sample) had CD involving more than
one-third of the colonic mucosa. Regarding the associated risk factors for CAC, two
patients had primary sclerosing cholangitis (2 % of the total sample), 10 had a family
history of CRC (10 % of the total sample) and just nine had a history of dysplasia
(9 % of the total sample).
Table 1
Baseline characteristics for included patients with dysplasia.
Patients (n = 99)
|
|
N (%)
|
Male
|
61 (62)
|
Age at diagnosis
|
40 ± 13
|
Diagnosis
|
Ulcerative colitis
|
85 (86)
|
Pancolitis (E3)
|
59 (69)
|
Crohn’s disease
|
11 (11)
|
Indeterminate colitis
|
3 (3)
|
Follow-up (months)
|
48.76 (36–67)
|
Smoking status
|
Active
|
8 (12)
|
Ex-smoker
|
25 (38)
|
Non-smoker
|
32 (49)
|
PSC
|
2 (2)
|
Pseudopolyps
|
40 (40)
|
Family history of CRC
|
First degree
|
7 (7)
|
Other degree
|
3 (1)
|
History of dysplasia
|
9 (9)
|
|
LGD
|
8 (8)
|
HGD
|
1 (1)
|
Treatment
|
Oral 5-ASA
|
86 (87)
|
|
IMM
|
35 (35)
|
|
Anti-TNF
|
11 (11)
|
|
Other biologics
|
2 (2)
|
PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis; CRC, colorectal cancer; LGD, low-grade dysplasia;
HGD, high-grade dysplasia; 5-ASA: mesalamine; IMM, immunomodulator.
Most of the dysplastic lesions (138) were < 1 cm across (93%), half were polypoid
(50 %), and 35 % were located in the right colon. Nearly all of the lesions (90 %)
were en bloc resected, while 7 % were piecemeal resected (endoscopic mucosal resection,
[EMR]). Lesion characteristics are summarized in [Table 2].
Table 2
Characteristics of dysplastic index lesions and dysplasia during follow-up.
|
Characteristics
|
Index lesionsn (%)
|
Dysplasia during follow-up n (%)
|
Elevated or flat lesion (n = 97)
|
> 1 cm
|
10 (7 %)
|
4 (4 %)
|
< 1 cm
|
138 (93 %)
|
93 (96 %)
|
Polypoid lesion
|
74 (50 %)
|
51 (53 %)
|
Flat lesion
|
74 (50 %)
|
46 (47 %)
|
Rectosigmoid
|
27 (18 %)
|
22 (23 %)
|
Left colon
|
36 (24 %)
|
40 (41 %)
|
Transverse colon
|
33 (22 %)
|
23 (24 %)
|
Right colon
|
52 (35 %)
|
40 (41 %)
|
Dysplastic lesion or invisible dysplasia (n = 100)
|
LGD
|
145 (98 %)
|
92 (92 %)
|
HGD
|
3 (2 %)
|
6 (6 %)
|
CAC
|
0 (0 %)
|
1 (1 %)
|
LGD, low-grade dysplasia; HGD, high-grade dysplasia; CAC, colitis-associated colorectal
cancer.
Incidence of advanced neoplasia or persistence of dysplasia
At the end of follow-up, 37 patients developed 97 new dysplastic lesions (92 LGD,
4 HGD, and 1 CAC) and one patient developed multifocal invisible dysplasia (2 HGD).
The overall incidence of new dysplastic lesions was 0.23 per 100 patient-years, 1.15
per 100 patients at 5 years and 2.29 per 100 patients at 10 years ([Fig. 2]), and the incidence of more advanced lesions at 1 year and 10 years was 1 % and
14 % respectively. From another perspective, the probability of a patient with a history
of dysplasia not developing a new lesion during follow-up with high-definition chromoendoscopy
was 75 % at 3 years and 50 % at 4.7 years, as shown in [Fig. 3]. The most common location for new dysplastic lesions was the right colon (43.3 %),
and nearly all were < 1 cm (96 %). [Fig. 4] shows that the index dysplastic lesions had a distribution, size, and Paris classification
similar to the follow-up lesions.
Fig. 2 Overall incidence of new dysplastic lesions.
Fig. 3 Probability that a new dysplastic lesion does NOT develop during follow-up.
Fig. 4 Characteristics of dysplastic index lesions and dysplasia during follow-up.
The patient who developed CAC did so over a flat lesion (Paris 0-IIa) > 1 cm, and
their previous chromoendoscopy revealed a HGD lesion > 1 cm that underwent an R0 resection
using EMR; both lesions affected the right colon. The two findings of invisible HGD
were detected in a 42-year-old patient with extensive UC (E3) with no other risk factors
except the findings in the chromoendoscopy of the index from the year before, namely
an LGD in an elevated lesion (Paris 0-Is) < 1 cm from which random biopsies were taken
for the diagnosis of histological screening. A panproctocolectomy with reservoir was
performed and multifocal LGDs were observed in the surgical specimen. Three patients
had HGD in the index lesion, all were Paris 0-IIb. One patient was treated directly
with colectomy, another developed CAC in a flat lesion > 1 cm during follow-up, and
the third, who had a high surgical risk, elected a conservative approach and developed
LGD lesions during follow-up that were R0 resected without developing new HGD or CAC
lesions. [Table 3] summarizes the characteristics of patients with HGD or CAC lesions in the index
or follow-up lesion.
Table 3
Patients with HGD or CAC lesions in index DCE or during follow-up.
Patient
|
Disease (year of diagnosis)
|
Index lesion (Paris/localization)
|
Follow-up lesion (Paris/localization)
|
Outcome
|
1
|
CU E3 2007
|
LGD 0-Is TC < 1 cm
|
HGD 0-Is < 1 cm LC HGD 0-Ip > 1 cm RC
|
Surgery
|
2
|
CU E3 2011
|
LGD 0-Is TC < 1 cm LGD 0-Is RC > 1 cm
|
HGD 0-Is > 1 cm TC
|
DCE
|
3
|
CU E2 1995
|
LGD 0-IIb > 1 cm sigmoid
|
HGD 0-IIb > 1 cm
|
DCE
|
4
|
CU E3 1997
|
LGD 0-Is RC < 1 cm
|
Invisible HGD (2)
|
Surgery
|
5
|
CU E3 2008
|
HGD 0-IIb > 1 cm sigmoid
|
–
|
Surgery
|
6
|
CU E3 1996
|
HGD 0-IIa < 1 cm RC
|
LGD 0-Is DBG RC
|
DCE
|
7
|
CU E3 2008
|
HGD 0-IIb > 1 cm RC
|
CAC 0-IIb > 1 cm RC
|
Surgery
|
HGD, high-grade dysplasia; CAC, colitis-associated colorectal cancer; DCE, dye chromoendoscopy;
LGD, low-grade dysplasia; LC, left colon; TC, transverse colon; RC, right colon.
Risk factors for advanced neoplasia or persistence of dysplasia
When analyzing risk factors for progression to HGD or CAC, lesion size > 1 cm was
associated with a higher risk (OR of 12.29 [2.08–72.57] P = 0.013), whereas lesion size < 1 cm was a protective factor (OR 0.09 [0.01–0.65]
P = 0.013). Neither location nor a history of dysplastic lesions was associated with
more advanced neoplasia. [Table 4] shows the results of our statistical analysis. Upon analyzing the risk factors for
developing any grade of recurrent dysplasia during follow-up, only a personal history
of dysplasia was associated with an OR of 6.66 [1.30–34.01] P = 0.025), whereas left colon lesions were associated with a lower risk, OR 0.35 [0.12–0.99]
(P = 0.043). There was no association between lesion size, pseudopolyps, and the type
of treatment and the risk of developing any grade of dysplastic lesion during follow-up.
Table 4
Univariate analysis of risk factors associated with any dysplastic lesion or more
advanced lesion during follow-up.
Variable
|
Any dysplastic lesion
|
More advanced lesion (HGD/CRC)
|
|
OR (95 % CI)
|
P value
|
OR (95 % CI)
|
P value
|
Pseudopolyps
|
0.65 (0.28–1.51)
|
0.322
|
1.51 (0.29–7.90)
|
0.683
|
Family history of CRC
|
2.59 (0.27–24.14)
|
0.646
|
–
|
–
|
Previous dysplastic lesion
|
6.66 (1.30–34.01)
|
0.025
|
2.12 (0.22–20.5)
|
0.444
|
Severe endoscopic activity
|
0.79 (0.13–4.54)
|
1.000
|
|
1.000
|
Treatment
|
|
2.28 (0.58–8.91)
|
0.359
|
|
1.000
|
|
1.11 (0.47–2.58)
|
0.807
|
1.90 (0.36–9.99)
|
0.663
|
|
0.90 (0.24–3.33)
|
1.000
|
1.66 (0.17–15.67)
|
0.516
|
|
1.57 (0.09–26.32)
|
1.000
|
1.35 (0.14–12.57)
|
0.580
|
Type of lesions
|
|
0.95 (0.42–2.17)
|
0.912
|
1.44 (0.25–8.28)
|
1.000
|
|
1.11 (0.49–2.52)
|
0.786
|
0.86 (0.16–4.48)
|
1.000
|
Size of lesion
|
|
1.26 (0.22–7.25)
|
1.000
|
0.09 (0.01–0.65)
|
0.041
|
|
1.70 (0.46–6.30)
|
0.501
|
12.29 (2.08–72.57)
|
0.013
|
Location
|
|
0.49 (0.18–1.33)
|
0.162
|
0.54 (0.06–4.88)
|
1.000
|
|
0.35 (0.12–0.99)
|
0.043
|
|
0.185
|
|
2.00 (0.83–4.79)
|
0.117
|
1.16 (0.20–6.70)
|
1.000
|
|
1.97 (0.86–4.48)
|
0.105
|
1.38 (0.26–7.22)
|
0.696
|
HGD, high-grade dysplasia; CRC, colorectal cancer; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence
interval; ASA, mesalamine; IMM, immunomodulators TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
Discussion
In dysplasia DCE follow-up in our study, at 1 year, 1 %, and at 10 years, 14 % of
patients progressed to HGD or CAC. These percentages are much lower than those previously
published by Choi et al. [9], who saw a rate of 10 % at 1 year, but similar to those recently reported by Cremer
et al. [17] who observed rates of 1.9 % at 1 year. Perhaps the inclusion of high-quality baseline
endoscopy with DCE favors these lower progression rates; however, it should be noted
that while the probability of progression is low, it is sustained over time and increases
to 14% at 10 years, hence the data support the need to continue with the screening
program at shorter follow-up intervals for these patients. A second analysis of the
data in high-risk patients who have already had a dysplastic lesion removed shows
that the probability of NOT developing a new lesion during follow-up is 75 % at 3
years and 50 % at almost 5 years. This suggests that we can detect and visualize more
lesions with these new endoscopic techniques compared to the standard-definition endoscopes
we have been using for decades.
There is a lack of data in the literature to establish the rates of progression to
CAC using either virtual or dye chromoendoscopy, plus there are several problems when
analyzing the literature in this regard. First, published studies, which mainly focused
on flat lesions detected by chromoendoscopy techniques, have described a highly variable
R0 resection rate. Therefore, in the English meta-analysis [15], the included studies reported R0 resection rates that ranged from 40 % to 100 %,
and there were even studies that did not specify the rates, making it very hard to
subsequently estimate the progression to CAC. In our study, complete R0 resection
of the lesions was performed in 100 % of cases, and biopsies were also taken from
the edges of the index lesions without detecting dysplasia in any of the cases [19]. Second, the evidence suggests that progression to dysplasia is greater in flat
lesions, which we can currently view with high-definition endoscopy and chromoendoscopy,
with a rate of around 0.5 per 100 patients per year progressing to HGD and CAC for
resection of elevated lesions. This progression rate is similar to the incidence after
polypectomy in patients without associated colitis [14]; subsequent studies in this subgroup of patients reported rates of progression to
cancer of between 0 % and 4.5 % at 2 years and between 0 % and 13.6 % at 4 years [15]. Many of these studies did not differentiate between LGD or HGD lesions.
The resection rate for flat lesions in our initial study was 50%, and this variable
was not associated with the increased progression of dysplasia in DCE follow-up (OR
0.86 [0.16–4.48] P = 1.000) or with the appearance of any new dysplastic lesions (OR 1.11 [0.49–2.52]
P = 0.786). The small number of advanced dysplasias or CAC lesions probably means it
is hard to find these differences in this specific high-risk population. Furthermore,
unlike the study of Cremer et al., in which 86 % of patients diagnosed with CAC had
not undergone a previous colonoscopy screening [17], in our sample, all patients had chromoendoscopy with resection of at least one
LGD lesion.
Although many studies have examined the risk factors for developing CAC, very few
have assessed the risk of developing new dysplastic lesions or progression to a higher
grade of dysplasia or CAC from previously LGD lesions and, in fact, non-polypoid lesions
are the most consistent risk factor, having a risk ratio of 15 [9]. In the same study, lesions measuring ≥ 1 cm and the prior presence of indefinite
dysplasia were also risk factors for progression. In our patients, among the risk
factors described for progression to HGD or CAC, only lesion size ≥ 1 cm was a risk
factor with an OR of 12.29 (2.08–72.57; P = 0.013) and, by contrast, lesions < 1 cm behaved as a protective factor OR 0.009
(0.01–0.65; P = 0.041). Pseudopolyps, a history of PSC, the type of lesion, and the treatment applied
were not risk factors ([Table 4]). Perhaps the use of high-definition chromoendoscopy in the context of pseudopolyps
will allow us to determine which lesions are dysplastic and require resection, something
that was greatly limited before with the use of standard-definition, dyeless endoscopy.
Prior dysplasia, although not a risk factor for progression to HGD or CAC, was associated,
with an OR of 6.66 (1.30–34.01; P = 0.025), with the development of more lesions of any type of dysplasia (LGD, HGD,
or CAC) during follow-up. These results agree with those reported in the literature
and which form the basis for current recommendations for closer monitoring in these
patients (GETECCU – Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis).
We will have to investigate whether the presence of dysplasia by itself is an isolated
risk factor for the development of CAC or signals a carcinogenic line associated with
other individual genetic or molecular factors that are currently being researched,
such as the field cancerization theory, RNA mutations, DNA, microsatellite instability,
or hypermethylation phenomena [18].
One strength of our study is that it followed a multicenter, population-based design
with series follow-up using VCE in patients in whom dysplasia was detected in a previously
published population-based, prospective, and consecutive registry. It should be noted
that all lesions were fully resected (R0 was 100 %) and the mean follow-up was more
than 4 years.
Unfortunately, this was a retrospective study with a very low incidence of HGD or
CAC lesions, so the data could not be used to analyze associated risk factors; however,
we included a very large sample and subjects were treated at multiple hospitals. Therefore,
new high-definition chromoendoscopy techniques may help us to visualize and resect
more lesions, thus resulting in lower progression rates than those typically described
with conventional endoscopy.
Conclusions
The rate of progression to HGD or CAC and recurrence of LGD lesions was low in our
prospective series of DCE-monitored patients with LGD lesions, with lesion size > 1 cm
being associated with an increased risk of progression. Prior dysplasia was a risk
factor for new lesions with dysplasia but not for progression to HGD or CRC.
These extremely low rates of new dysplastic lesions and progression to HGD or CAC,
thanks to the use of high-definition endoscopy and chromoendoscopy, could be used
to redefine the endoscopic follow-up intervals for these high-risk patients.