Aims Endoscopic resection has been recommended as preferable therapeutic approachfor colitis
associated neoplasia (CAN) in IBD patients. However, endoscopic resection of these
lesions can be challenging due to ongoing inflammation, mucosal scarring, and submucosal
fibrosis. We report a long-term, two-centre experience on performance of endoscopic
mucosal resection (EMRs) for treatment of CANs.
Methods Hospital electronic database at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA and UZ Leuven, Leuven,
Belgium were searched in order to identify all the patients diagnosed with CANs in
period 01.01.2009-30.09.2023. Data on the lesion characteristics, therapeutic approach,
treatment outcomes and follow-up were collected and used for the descriptive analysis.
Results During the study period 126 CANs have been treated with EMR in 113 patients in two
centres included.Mean diameter of the lesion treated was 19.34±10.18mm (8-60mm). Among
the lesions treated 77 were removed en-bloc (61.1%) while 49 (38.9%) were removed
piece meal. Three EMRs (0.02%) were associated with post-procedural bleeding, which
was treated endoscopically. Another 2 EMRs (0.02%) were associated with intraprocedural
perforations which were resolved by placement of the endoclips. Four lesions (0.03%)
were identified as adenocarcinoma with deep submucosal invasion and the patients werereferred
to surgery. All the other patients were subjected to follow-up, during which 23 cases
of local recurrence (18.2%) at the site of resection were observed, of which 14 (60.7%)
were treated with new EMR while 9 (39.3%) werereferred to surgery. Apart from recurrent
lesions, 20 more patients were in need for colorectal surgery during the follow up
period due to occurrence ofmetachronousCANsthat could not be treated endoscopically.
All together 31 out of 113 patients (27.4%) included in the study underwent colorectal
surgery for CAN treatment.
Conclusions EMR appears to be a safe and effective in treatment option for CAN both in terms
of short and long-terms outcomes, without need for surgery in 73% of patients. However
meticulous follow-up is mandatory to identify metachronic CANs.