An endoscopic technique known as retroflexion, when used in the right side of the colon, may increase the diagnostic yield of polyps, including large adenomas (larger than 10 millimeters) and serrated lesions, particularly in men, older patients and those with polyps found on forward examination according to researchers at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. Importantly, 41 percent of the patients who had polyps identified on retroflexion had negative exams on forward examination.Diagnostic Techniques Help IBD Patients Avoid Ionizing Radiation Exposure

Several studies of the effectiveness of nonXray techniques to evaluate Crohn's disease revealed that diagnostic strategies such as capsule endoscopy (CE) and magnetic resonance enteroscopy (MRE) are useful in managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and avoiding ionizing radiation.Unusual Polyps Advance to CRC Slower than Other Adenomas

Precancerous growths in the colon know as sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) are found in approximately 1 percent of colonoscopy exams. A sessile serrated adenoma is a premalignant flat lesion in the colon thought to lead to colorectal cancer through the serrated pathway. Researchers observed that these polyps appear to advance at a slower rate than conventional adenomas.

Lunchtime media briefings are being planned on the following topics:

Monday, October 18, 2010, 1:15 pm CDT

Attack on C. difficile: A GI Perspective - How Can We Combat This Serious Health Issue

Panelists Lawrence J. Brandt, M.D., MACG, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY Mark H. Mellow, M.D., FACG, Center for Digestive Health, Oklahoma City, OK C. Brock Miller, M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The study found that IBD patients with an abnormal bone density exam had a significantly higher rate of Vitamin D deficiency than those who had normal DEXA scans. Additionally, Crohn's disease patients with Vitamin D deficiency were four times more likely to have a higher rate of abnormal bone density exams compared to patients with ulcerative colitisGastric function, as well the activities of the autonomic nervous system that regulates digestion, are impaired in obese individuals in both fasting and fed states, which could lead to overeating, according to a study from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. In a separate study of 35 patients undergoing RouxenY gastric bypass surgery at Inova Health System, the rate of weight loss was correlated with only one circulating hormone, obestatin, a peptide produced in the gut which may have a role in appetite suppression.

Source: American College of Gastroenterology