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M Spandre

Publications and source records attributed to M Spandre.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical evaluation of push-type enteroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic exploration of the small bowel is potentially of prime importance in studying gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin, diarrhea and malabsorption, neoplasia, and other clinical conditions, but the method is still problematic because of the limited efficacy of sonde-type enteroscopes. This study evaluates the diagnostic yield of two push-type enteroscopes fitted with tip deflection and a biopsy channel. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients underwent enteroscopy using either an Olympus SIF-10 LY fiberscope or an Olympus SIF-100 video enteroscope. The depth of insertion was always checked by fluoroscopy, and ranged 30-120 cm beyond the ligament of Treitz. RESULTS: Angiodysplasia was identified as the source in eight of 20 patients referred for gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin, and electrocoagulation was successfully performed in one case. A jejunal polyp was the cause of obscure bleeding in one patient. Radiological evidence of neoplasia/lymphoma located in the third portion of the duodenum or in the upper jejunum was ruled out in 10 of 12 patients. A normal jejunal appearance was found in two patients with lymphoma, subsequently confirmed by a normal enteroclysis. Duodenal or jejunal polyps were removed in seven of nine patients with familial polyposis. Endoscopic and histological alterations were found in nine of 24 patients with diarrhea or malabsorption. In addition, jejunal histology supplied the diagnosis in five patients with a normal endoscopic mucosal appearance. Only 18% of patients described slight, transient pain, and there were no complications. The tolerance and diagnostic efficacy were the same with both instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Even though push-type enteroscope exploration is restricted to the jejunum, the instruments are safe and efficacious in clinical practice, and permit indepth study of small bowel anatomy and pathology.

Adolescent

Mucosal cell proliferation in patients with hyperplastic colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Morphologic, histochemical, and cytoproliferative characteristics differentiate hyperplastic polyps from adenomas. Even so, these polyps are indicators of populations with a high colorectal cancer risk. Since changes in mucosal cell proliferation are highly predictive biomarkers of the adenomacarcinoma sequence, this study examined the cytoproliferative profiles of mucosa bearing hyperplastic polyps, in a search for the significance of such lesions in bowel carcinogenesis. METHODS: Proliferative activity demonstrated by immunohistochemical detection of the in vitro uptake of bromodeoxyuridine was evaluated in the rectal mucosa of 26 patients with hyperplastic polyps, 35 with adenomas < 1 cm, 60 with adenomas > 1 cm, 10 with adenomas + synchronous hyperplastic polyps, and 400 controls. RESULTS: An upward shift of the major DNA synthesis zone to the intermediate and surface crypt compartments was found in all four patients groups. Significant hyperproliferation, on the other hand, was only observed in patients with large adenomas or hyperplastic polyps, or small adenomas and synchronous hyperplastic polyps. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that hyperplastic polyps are morphologic indicators of tumor initiation in the rectal mucosa and its ensuing hyperproliferation. Abnormalities in the distribution of proliferation in the mucosa do not appear to be specifically associated with the morphogenesis of hyperplastics polyps.

Adenoma

Small rectosigmoid polyps as markers of proximal neoplasms.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the spatial distribution and histotype of small colorectal polyps and to determine the validity of distal-small colorectal polyps as markers of proximal neoplasms. METHODS: In 366 patients who underwent total colonoscopy and removal of all polyps, the presence and features of polyps were recorded. The relationship between proximal neoplasms and distal polyps was investigated in 216 of 366 subjects who had no personal or familial history of colorectal neoplasia. RESULTS: Of 366 patients, 96 were free from polyps. A total of 733 small colorectal neoplasms was removed from the remainder: 79.9 percent neoplastic and 20.1 percent hyperplastic, inflammatory, or hamartomatous. High-grade dysplasia was noted in 2.7 percent of the neoplastic polyps. One adenoma containing invasive carcinoma was observed. In the subset of 216 patients, proximal neoplasms were found in 11.4 percent of those with no distal polyps, 33.8 percent of those with distal-small colorectal polyps only (P < 0.01), and 58.8 percent of those with at least one polyp > 5 mm in diameter (P = 0.001). The proximal neoplasm percentage was the same in patients with at least one adenomatous-small polyp and those with only hyperplastic-small polyps. CONCLUSIONS: A distal-small colorectal polyp, whether adenomatous or hyperplastic, may be a proximal neoplasm marker. Total colonoscopy is thus justified in all patients with distal polyps, regardless of their size and histotype.

Adult

Needle biopsy of submucosal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Needle biopsy of submucosal lesions is an important addition to the diagnostic capabilities of gastrointestinal endoscopy. A series of 22 cases is described employing a guillotine needle to diagnose submucosal lesions, 4 of which were infiltrating adjacent carcinomas. The specimens obtained were sufficient for firm histological diagnosis in 20 cases. There were no complications apart from minor bleeding in 1 case.

Adolescent

Large bowel adenomas containing carcinoma--a diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Adenomas containing invasive carcinoma of the large bowel form the majority of early colorectal cancers. Conclusive histological diagnosis of early colorectal cancer depends on two conditions; first, the whole lesion must be examined and second the resection margin must border on healthy tissue. The presence of certain histopathological features makes it possible to distinguish between cases with high and low risk of having lymph node metastases. Sixty-six adenomas containing invasive carcinoma are reported. They comprised 3.15% of 2,095 adenomas removed by colonoscopic polypectomy during the same period. Five cases were lost to follow-up. Forty-nine patients considered to be at low risk of having lymph node metastases have been treated by endoscopic polypectomy only with a rigorous follow-up regime including CEA estimation, ultrasonography and total colonoscopy at regular intervals. In none have distant metastases been found on follow-up examinations at a mean duration of 3 years. Two of these cases have developed a metachronous colorectal carcinoma and 15 (30.5%) have metachronous adenomas. Two low risk patients with no tumour found in the operative specimen have undergone major surgical resection. Ten high risk cases have been referred for major surgery and lymph node metastases have been found in four (40%). The need for careful histological examination for lymphatic and veinous invasion is stressed by the presence of this finding in all four high risk patients with involved lymph nodes.

Aged

Double-blind study of a new antimuscarinic, cimetropium bromide, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Forty patients with irritable bowel syndrome were randomly allocated to treatment with octylonium bromide (20 mg TID) or cimetropium bromide (50 mg BID) in a double-blind trial lasting for six weeks. Drugs were taken before meals, according to a double-blind schedule. Clinical evaluations were made of digestive and other symptoms, objective findings (pain at palpation, contracted colon, tympanites), and overall effectiveness of treatment. Statistically significant decreases in severity of abdominal pain and subjective scores for bowel habits were obtained in both groups. The only statistically significant differences between treatments were in nondigestive symptoms (asthenia, palpitations, tremor, headache, etc.), which improved more in the cimetropium bromide group. No severe side effects were observed in either treatment group.

Adult

Clinico-pathological features of collagenous colitis: case report and literature review.

Collagenous colitis is a newly identified condition, with clinical features of chronic watery diarrhea and abdominal pain. Histologically the main characteristic is the presence of a thick collagen band below the surface epithelium. Collagenous colitis occurs in adults, especially women. Endoscopy reveals no particular changes in the intestinal mucosa. Symptoms may persist for years with periods of remission and recurring acute attacks. The cause of this condition is still unknown, and because of no real knowledge only symptoms can be treated, usually with little success.

Aged

Coloscopic polypectomy in diagnosis and management of cancerous adenomas: an individual and multicentric experience.

Of 1696 endoscopically removed polyps in the authors' series 62% were adenomas and 31 showed invasive carcinoma. 8 patients were not available for follow-up, and 7 underwent surgical resection with negative findings. There was no evidence of recurrent cancer in the remaining 16 over a 1-6 year span of follow-up, although one unrelated rectal carcinoma and an adenoma were found. By combining the data of 10 Italian Centres, 44 further patients were available, who had had endoscopic polypectomy as the only management of cancerous adenomas, adding no additional example of recurrent carcinoma. It is concluded that endoscopic polypectomy can, providing strict histological criteria are satisfied, provide definitive resection of some cancerous adenomas. A detailed follow-up regime including physical examination, occult blood testing, repeated endoscopy, paired tumour antigen levels and ultrasonography has been used to confirm the absence of recurrence in our series.

Adenocarcinoma

Emergency colonoscopy.

Different diagnostic techniques for massive active lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage are reviewed. According to data in the literature and personal experience in 409 emergency endoscopic examinations of the large bowel, emergency colonoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool in cases of massive colorectal bleeding.

Colonic Diseases

Emergency endoscopy: recanalization of intestinal obstruction caused by colorectal cancer.

Endoscopic recanalization was attempted in 17 patients with obstruction caused by colorectal cancer who were at high surgical risk on account of their poor clinical condition. Combined use was made of pneumatic and mechanical dilation, debulking with a diathermal snare, and photoablation with neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. Successful recanalization was obtained in 94% of cases. The only failure was in a patient with a neoplasm of the rectosigmoid junction. Elective surgery was not performed on the patients after recanalization because of the presence of severe concomitant disease or diffuse metastasis. Patients were followed for 6.25 +/- 6.17 months with 1.6 +/- 0.7 treatments within the first month to stabilize patency and then with an average of 0.88 +/- 0.63 treatments per month to maintain patency. Only 2 patients had recurrence of obstruction, and the actuarial survival was 63% at 6 months and 23% at 1 year. Endoscopic treatment has proved effective because it allows rapid recanalization with resolution of emergency and maintenance of patency in patients for whom elective surgery is not indicated. In selected cases, therefore, endoscopic recanalization is a sound alternative to emergency surgery.

Aged

Endoscopy to detect oral and oesophageal candidiasis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Cytologic evidence of candidiasis was sought on endoscopic oesophageal brushings from 116 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) to determine the reliability of oesophagoscopy and the possibility of predicting Candida spp. oesophagitis from concomitant oral candidiasis or oesophageal symptoms. Oesophageal candidiasis was present in 42 patients and constituted the first opportunistic infection in 19 patients. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 98% and 96% for oesophagoscopy, 69% and 42% for oral candidiasis, 52% and 74% for oesophageal symptoms, and 83% and 35% for the presence of at least one of these last two parameters. Endoscopy also proved to be the examination of choice for diagnosis, and cytology was needed only when it was negative. Oral candidiasis and oesophageal symptoms were not sufficient to predict oesophageal candidiasis. Endoscopy would seem to be indispensable to the diagnosis of oesophageal candidiasis and its differentiation from other forms, thus preventing any empirical resort to unwarranted forms of treatment. It is also indicated for staging purposes in asymptomatic patients, since oesophageal candidiasis is one indicator of the transition to full-blown AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Lipoma of the small intestine. A clinical case].

The paper reports a case of a 45-year-old female with long-standing anemia, recurrent abdominal pain and subocclusive crises. Following a negative endoscopy of the upper tract of the large intestine, barium enema and angiography, the patient underwent total colonoscopy. Massive bleeding from the ileal valve suggested an ileal pathology: a small intestine enema confirmed a polypoid proliferation 60 cm above the Bahuino valve with related ileal invagination 25 cm long. The patient underwent surgery and pathological findings revealed a 7 cm-wide ileal lipoma near a small angiodysplasia. The latter seemed to be the cause of bleeding. The diagnosis of small intestine tumours is made difficult by the fact that the only important signs are abdominal pain, intestinal bleeding and subocclusive crises, which are common symptoms in many pathologies. The authors stress the importance of a thorough endoscopic examination and selective angiography.

Colonoscopy

[Laser therapy in the treatment of tumors of the rectum and inoperable sessile polyps. Personal case series].

The Authors report on their experience in endoscopic laser photoablation (Nd-YAG laser) of advanced, non surgical rectosigmoid tumors, large sessile adenomas and their recurrence after polypectomy. 37 patients have been studied: 21 out of them had an advanced rectosigmoid tumor, 10 out a large sessile adenoma, and the remaining 6 had a recurrence of adenoma after polypectomy. All the rectosigmoid tumors improved either clinically or symptomatically after 2-4 laser treatments. In 2 cases stenosis occur after laser therapy but no dilatation was necessary. Large adenomas and recurrence were all cured by the laser treatment, with a recurrence rate of about 30% at six months. In conclusion, endoscopic laser treatment is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of benign sessile rectosigmoid tumors and for palliation of symptoms from malignant ones in selected non surgical patients.

Adenoma

Histological aspects and healing rates of gastric ulcers treated with omeprazole 20 mg once daily or ranitidine 150 mg B.I.D.

The aim of this double blind trial was to compare omeprazole 20 mg once daily with ranitidine 150 mg b.i.d. in treatment of benign gastric ulcer, evaluating both rates and histological aspects of the ulcer healing process. Eighteen patients were randomized, 9 to each treatment; one patient (ranitidine group) was excluded from the analysis because of malignant ulcer. Omeprazole appeared to be more effective than ranitidine in healing gastric ulcer. A more rapid relief of symptoms was observed in the omeprazole group than in the ranitidine group. Both drugs reduced chronic atrophic gastritis (with a trend in favour of omeprazole), while omeprazole showed a prompter activity on the components of acute inflammation.

Adolescent

[Clinical and secretory evaluation of the use of cimetidine in peptic ulcer].

Cimetidine (an H2 receptor blocking agent) was used to treat 35 patients with gastroduodenal peptic ulcer. Endoscopic and secretory controls before and after the treatment showed that pain was reduced in all cases, that complete or partial re-epithelialisation occurred in 33/35, and that there was a significant reduction in basal and post-histamine acid secretion. Alkaline secretion was not significantly altered. Follow-up of the series is regarded as indispensable.

Adolescent

[Evaluation of some blood clotting parameters in relation to the administration of estroprogestins].

A number of blood clotting parameters have been determined in the plasma of 25 women who had not previously taken steroid contraceptives. After the administration of an oestroprogestinic association (ethynyloestradiol 0.05 mg + norgestrol 0.25 mg) for five cycles, the same subjects were controlled again for the determination of the same haematochemical parameters. The changes observed highlighted a marked increase in fibrinogenaemia and fibrinolysis, a slight rise in associated clotting factors II-VII-X, no change in the activity of antithrombin III and platelet aggregation.

Adolescent