Distinct endoscopic characteristics of sessile serrated adenoma/polyp with and without dysplasia/carcinoma

Gastrointest Endosc. 2017 Mar;85(3):590-600. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.09.018. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

Abstract

Background and aims: Sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) is a colorectal polyp that has malignant potential. However, the dysplastic components within an SSA/P can be difficult to detect. This study aimed to clarify the endoscopic characteristics of SSA/P with advanced histology.

Methods: We examined 462 endoscopically or surgically resected lesions that were pathologically diagnosed as SSA/P, including 414 without and 41 with cytologic dysplasia, and 7 with invasive carcinoma. We retrospectively studied the clinicopathologic and endoscopic characteristics and performed pit pattern analysis.

Results: A stepwise increase in the size of the SSA/P series was identified along with their dysplastic progression, although 19 of 48 (39.6%) SSA/Ps with dysplasia/carcinoma were ≤10 mm in size. Most lesions were covered with a mucus cap. Macroscopically, (semi)pedunculated morphology, double elevation, central depression, and reddishness were found more frequently in SSA/P with cytologic dysplasia and invasive carcinoma ([semi]pedunculated morphology, 17.1%/28.6%; double elevation, 63.4%/57.1%; central depression, 9.8%/28.6%; reddishness, 39.0%/85.7%) than in those without dysplasia (4.6%, 4.6%, 3.9%, and 3.4%, respectively). Furthermore, the presence of at least 1 of these 4 markers had high sensitivity (91.7%) for identifying the dysplasia/carcinoma within a SSA/P, with a specificity of 85.3%. In the pit pattern analysis, all SSA/Ps without dysplasia exhibited type II pit pattern only, whereas 94.4% of SSA/Ps with dysplasia/carcinoma showed type II in addition to type IIIL, IV, VI, or VN pit patterns.

Conclusions: In an SSA/P series, endoscopic characteristics, including (semi)pedunculated morphology, double elevation, central depression, and reddishness, in addition to the use of magnifying endoscopy, may be useful to accurately diagnose advanced histology within an SSA/P.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / diagnosis
  • Adenoma / pathology*
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Carcinoma / surgery
  • Colonic Polyps / diagnosis
  • Colonic Polyps / pathology*
  • Colonic Polyps / surgery
  • Colonoscopy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tumor Burden