Introduction

Endoscopic ampullectomy is a minimally invasive technique for treating non-invasive ampullary lesions and in patients who are poor surgical candidates. Compared to surgical approaches, endoscopic ampullectomy have lower morbidity and mortality rates.

Aims & Methods

The aim of this study was to describe the safety and outcome of this procedure from a single tertiary center experience.A retrospective study conducted on patients with non-invasive ampullary lesions. Data were collected from our database and parameters related to ampullectomy outcome and complications were retrospectively analyzed. EUS evaluation of the stage and intraductal extension was performed in all patients. Snare sizes between 20 to 30 mm were used in these patients. Electrosurgical unit setting ENDOCUT Q effect 2 was used for resection. All patients were given indomethacin suppositories. Submucosal injection was performed only where the ampullary lesions extend to the duodenal mucosa.

Results

From 2015 to 2024, a total of 15 patients were included in the study. There was 9 males and 6 females. Their median age was 56 years (55-75). Lesions range from 20 to 50 mm in size, with average size of 25 mm. Prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting was performed in all cases of which none developed pancreatitis. Biliary stenting was performed in 3 cases (20%) with cholangitis. Submucosal injection was performed in 2 lesions with extension to the duodenal mucosa. Post resection histology showed adenoma with low grade dysplasia in 9 patients (60%), adenoma with high grade dysplasia in 2 patients (13.3%), adenoma with focal adenocarcinoma in 2 patients (13.3%), hyperplastic lesion indefinite for dysplasia in 1 patient (6.7%) and hamartoma in 1 patient (6.7%). Enbloc resection was achieved in 14 (93.3%), while piecemeal in 1 case (6.7%). Recurrence observed in 1 patient (6.7%) with focal adenocarcinoma. Biopsy from the recurrent growth revealed focal adenocarcinoma and patient underwent surgical resection. No recurrence was observed in the patient with piecemeal resection for 24 months of follow up. Intra-procedural bleeding occurred in 2 patients (13.2%) and managed successfully with snare tip coagulation and hemoclips, delayed melena (after 24 hours) in 1 patient (6.7%) controlled with conservative management. Only 1 of the 12 patients (8.3%) without biliary stents developed ampullary stenosis post-procedure and managed with plastic biliary stent. There was no report of perforation, need for emergency surgery or 30-days mortality in this series.

Conclusion

Endoscopic ampullectomy seems effective and safe treatment option in cases with non-invasive ampullary lesions. Careful patient selection & adherence to follow up is the best way to achieve best therapeutic outcome.

Introduction

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer death. In Colombia, it ranks third in incidence and first in mortality, with a 5-year survival below 25% in advanced stages. Early detection relies on identifying premalignant lesions. OLGA and OLGIM histological staging systems enable risk stratification. While stages III–IV are known high-risk states, the role of stage II remains unclear. This study focuses on OLGA II to address this gap.

Aims & Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis, registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024549931), adhered to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The primary objective was to determine whether OLGA stage II confers a statistically significant risk of GC compared to stages 0–I. Secondary objectives included evaluating risks across all advanced stages (II–IV) and contrasting OLGA versus OLGIM staging.
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane up to 31 May 2024 using terms including "OLGA", "OLGIM", "gastric cancer", and "gastric intraepithelial neoplasia". Inclusion criteria covered cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies reporting GC incidence stratified by OLGA/OLGIM stage. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, with evidence certainty assessed via GRADE. Meta-analytical synthesis used random-effects modelling, and heterogeneity was assessed with I² and Tau² statistics.

Results

Twenty-eight studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 13 cohort, 11 case-control, and 4 cross-sectional studies.

• OLGA II vs 0–I (Cross-sectional studies): A significantly increased GC risk was observed (Z = 3.14; P = 0.002; I² = 65%), suggesting OLGA II as an early but meaningful predictor of malignant transformation.
• OLGA II (Cohort studies): No statistically significant difference was found (P = 0.28; I² = 0%), though sample size was limited.
• OLGIM II: Demonstrated increased risk only in case-control settings (Z = 11.26; P < 0.00001), but not in cohort studies.

Findings for OLGA and OLGIM stages III–IV corroborated existing evidence of elevated risk. However, this is the first meta-analysis to demonstrate a potential oncogenic risk beginning at OLGA stage II, particularly evident in cross-sectional data.
Sensitivity analyses affirmed result consistency, and the certainty of evidence was rated moderate. Subgroup comparisons revealed that OLGA may outperform OLGIM in early risk discrimination.

Conclusion

Our study highlights a pivotal finding: OLGA stage II—previously considered an intermediate state—emerges as a statistically significant risk factor for gastric cancer. These findings suggest that the progression to malignancy may begin earlier than currently recognised. Incorporating OLGA II into surveillance strategies could lead to improved early detection, especially in high-incidence countries. The data support a shift toward broader inclusion criteria for endoscopic follow-up and reinforce the clinical utility of histological staging in GC prevention frameworks.

References

• Yue H, Shan L, Bin L, Shi L. The OLGA and OLGIM staging systems are useful for assessing the gastric cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastric Cancer. 2018;21(4):579–87. doi:10.1007/s10120-017-0779-4
• Rugge M, Genta RM, Zambon CF, et al. OLGA staging for gastritis: a tutorial. Dig Liver Dis. 2008;40(9):650–8. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2008.02.020
• Rugge M, Meggio A, Pennelli G, et al. Gastritis staging in the endoscopic follow-up for the secondary prevention of gastric cancer: a 5-year prospective study of 1755 patients. Gut. 2019;68(3):477–84. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315252
• Pimentel-Nunes P, Libânio D, Marcos-Pinto R, et al. Management of epithelial precancerous conditions and lesions in the stomach (MAPS II): European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), European Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group, European Society of Pathology, and Sociedade Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva guidelines update 2019. Endoscopy. 2019;51(4):365–88. doi:10.1055/a-0859-0574
• Correa P. Human gastric carcinogenesis: a multistep and multifactorial process—First American Cancer Society Award Lecture on Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. Cancer Res. 1992;52(24):6735–40.

Introduction

Endoscopic drainage is standard of care in malignant biliary obstruction (MBO).

Aims & Methods

The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy of biliary stenting in providing access to systemic chemotherapy. Patients with biliary obstruction (bilirubin >2.5 mg/dl) caused by unresectable biliary or pancreatic cancer were retrospectively analyzed with respect to use of chemotherapy and survival. Laboratory data were analyzed at baseline, 7-10 and 28-35 days following biliary stenting.

Results

Patients with MBO (n=78) were allocated into one of three groups according to bilirubin level [mg/dl] 2.5 – 5.99 (group 1), 6.0 - 15.0 (group 2) and >15 (group 3). On first blood testing mean bilirubin declines from baseline in respective groups were: 1.19 (29.5%), 3.77 (38.5%) and 7.1 (27.3%), and on second measurement 1.61 (40%), 5.69 (58.2%) and 13.0 (50%). Chemotherapy was applied in 28 (35.8%) patients, less frequently in group 3 than in group 1 (31.2% vs 44.0%; p =0.07) and group 2 (vs 38.1%; p =0.06). Mean survival time was 4.8 ±2.8 months and was significantly shorter in group 3 as compared to group 2 (3.8 ±2.0 vs 6.2 ±3.9 months; p =0.02) and to group 1 (vs 5.4 ±2.7 months; p =0.03).

Conclusion

In two-thirds of patients with MBO endoscopic biliary drainage does not grant access to chemotherapy. Use of chemotherapy and survival time are significantly higher in patients with bilirubin level below 15 mg/dl as compared to those with greater bilirubinemia, but in patients with bilirubin level below 6 mg/dl the biliary drainage is minimally effective.

Disclosure

No.