1-8-13 Kandasurugadai Chiyoda-ku, Japan

Comparing TRIple Rectal Ultrasound Imaging Technology in Ulcerative Colitis

This study is designed to assess the correlation of rectal wall thickness and vascularity measurements obtained through trans-abdominal ultrasound (TAS), trans-perineal ultrasound (TPUS), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in adult patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The primary goal is to determine how well rectal total wall thickness measured via TPUS correlates with EUS findings. Secondary objectives include comparing rectal wall thickness and vascularity measured by TAS, TPUS, and EUS with endoscopic activity, histologic activity, and fecal calprotectin (FCP) levels. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate changes in patient management resulting from additional investigations, such as sigmoidoscopy and EUS, over the standard TAS and TPUS procedures. UC patients attending an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinic will undergo a clinical assessment using the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI), followed by baseline TAS and TPUS, both performed as point-of-care tests. If deemed clinically necessary, patients will also undergo sigmoidoscopy and EUS during the same visit, with rectal wall thickness and vascularity measured across different rectal sections and correlated with histologic inflammation assessed via biopsy and measured by the Nancy histologic index. The study will also explore correlations with FCP levels where data are available. This cross-sectional study includes a follow-up period until biopsy results are obtained, with an estimated recruitment duration of 6-12 months and a target sample size of 50 patients.

Understanding the Variation of Modern Endoscopic Ultrasound Use in Patients with Oesophageal Cancer (VALUE)

Over 9,000 patients are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the United Kingdom (UK) annually. The prognosis of these patients is poor, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 15%. Most patients (60%) present with advanced disease and palliation is the only treatment option. Accordingly, oesophageal cancer has considerable unmet research need. The VALUE trial is a prospective observational study investigating EUS in the modern era of oesophageal cancer staging. A quantitative study component will examine how often and why EUS changes treatment decisions after initial staging with CT and PET-CT. A qualitative study component will explore both clinician and patient attitudes and opinions towards the utility of EUS in the staging pathway. EUS is an invasive procedure combining upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with ultrasonography. An ultrasound probe located at the end of the endoscope allows direct visualisation of the oesophageal wall layers and adjacent tissues providing local assessment of the depth of tumour invasion and lymph nodes. This assessment informs local tumour (T-) and node (N-) staging which are important prognostic indicators of survival. Patients undergoing EUS require sedation and there are risks of complication. EUS is a specialist investigation requiring many years of dedicated training to perform competently. VALUE aims to recruit patients with oesophageal cancer who are deemed to have potentially curable disease and who are fit for, and wish to have, radical treatment, and who receive EUS as part of their standard of care staging pathway. Patients with a range of disease status (T1-T4; N0-N3) will be considered for recruitment to allow diverse consideration of the reasons whether EUS impacts treatment decisions in current clinical practice. VALUE will also recruit clinicians who regularly care for oesophageal cancer patients in a multi-disciplinary setting to gather their opinions regarding the use of EUS in this patient population. A systematic review, updating a prior review, found that current evidence concerning the impact of EUS on the management and outcome of oesophageal cancer patients in modern staging with PET-CT was of limited quality. In total, 18 studies with 11,836 patients were included. Overall, 2,805 patients (23.7%) underwent EUS compared to 9,031 (76.3%) without. However, only 19.7% of all patients also had PET-CT for staging. Reported change of management by EUS varied widely from 0% to 56%. EUS use in oesophageal cancer patients across the NHS is also reported to vary widely. Considerable variation in EUS practice was found in a survey of oesophageal cancer multi-disciplinary team (MDT) leads across the UK. Eighty-seven of 97 UK NHS trusts responded. 29% recommended EUS for all potentially curable patients whereas 46% requested EUS after PET-CT on a case-by-case basis. 20% reported both a lack of utility and concerns about treatment delay. Overall, 63% and 43% routinely use EUS for radiotherapy and surgical planning, respectively. Further, data from the National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit (NOGCA) all describe the reported decline in EUS use from 62% of all patients in 2013, to 39% in 2019, and 18.6% to 2021. In 2020/21, EUS was used in 23.6% of patients who had a curative treatment plan. The Cancer of Oesophagus or Gastricus-New Assessment of Technology of Endosonography (COGNATE) trial randomised patients between EUS with CT, and CT alone. EUS led to improved quality-adjusted survival. However, since COGNATE, oesophageal cancer staging has been transformed by PET-CT, a cross-sectional nuclear imaging test usually performed prior to EUS. PET-CT has greater sensitivity for distant metastases than CT, and therefore identifies more patients unsuitable for radical treatment, meaning that local staging with EUS becomes less critical in these patients. This conclusion is supported by data from a large retrospective cohort study by Findlay et al which included 953 patients, of which 798 had EUS, and 918 had PET-CT. The authors found that patient management was changed by EUS in 11% of cases, but when probability thresholds were calculated, the utility of EUS in the majority of patients (71.8% staged T2-T4a) was minimal (0.4%), concluding that the risk of EUS exceeded its benefit. However, these data have not been validated outside of this single-centre study but does question the value of EUS in the modern staging pathway. In summary, the use of PET-CT for oesophageal cancer staging is increasing, and use of EUS declining, which supports the modern tendency of clinicians to favour non-invasive cross-sectional imaging. However, evidence supporting the basis for this recent change in practice is limited. There will also be a qualitative part of the trial where a qualitative researcher will interview 30 patients who consent to this in the patient information sheet and 30 clinicians who can carry out EUS, and ask both for their opinions and thoughts on the procedure.

Evaluation of Endoscopic Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography (EUS-SWE) for the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is the most common tumor of the pancreas, representing more than 90% of all solid pancreatic neoplasia and 55% -73% of solid pancreatic masses. Given its poor prognosis and the major therapeutic consequences, the discrimination between PA and other pancreatic solid lesions is mandatory. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is admitted as the most sensitive imaging procedure for the detection and characterization of pancreatic tumors. Based on only endosonographic features, it remains difficult to differentiate PA from other solid masses, the specificity (Spe) and accuracy of EUS for the diagnosis of pancreatic tumor malignancy range from 53-69% and 72-83%, respectively. Over the last 15 years, endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or more recently fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) has demonstrated its efficiency for tissue sampling and pathologic diagnosis of PA. Complementary techniques have been developed to increase the diagnostic performance of EUS. EUS-Elastography (EUS-E) is another EUS image enhancement technique, which rational based on the difference in elasticity between the tissues. There are two types of elastographies: strain elastography (SE) and shear wave elastography (SWE). Several studies have demonstrated the utility of ultrasound SWE (US-SWE) for the differential diagnosis of lesions of the breast, thyroid, prostate and for detection of pancreatic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis. However, to date, there is no data about the performance of EUS-SWE for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic solid lesions.

EUS Examination Using EndoSound Vision System vs. Standard Echoendoscope

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the gold standard for evaluation and biopsy of lesions in the pancreaticobiliary tract, subepithelial lesions in the gastrointestinal tract and luminal cancer staging due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Endoscopic ultrasound examination is performed by echoendoscopes, which are endoscopes with an ultrasound probe at the distal end to allow endoscopic ultrasound evaluation. A new endoscopic ultrasound system - the EndoSound Visual System has now been developed for endoscopic ultrasound examination. The EndoSound Visual System is a device that can be attached externally to upper gastrointestinal endoscopes, thereby converting a standard endoscope into an echoendoscope which can then be used to perform an EUS examination. The aim of this randomized trial is to compare the standard echoendoscope with the newly developed EndoSound Visual System in the evaluation of lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Preoperative Evaluation of Lymph Nodes of Cholangiocarcinoma

Artificial Inteligence in Endoscopic Ultrasound

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is an equipment where an ultrasound transducer is attached to the tip of the endoscope. When advanced to the stomach the organs outside such as the pancreas and liver can be visualized in great detail. This enables diagnosis of conditions such as pancreatic cancer. However, an endoscopist must undergo training to accurately interpret these ultrasound images. The investigators are in the process of developing an artificial intelligence system that could potentially interpret EUS images. The objective of the study is to determine if this artificial intelligence system is capable of detecting abnormalities in the pancreas that are identified by an endoscopist at endoscopic ultrasound procedures. Such correlation if established will lead to possible development of an artificial intelligence platform that can diagnose pancreatic diseases. Such development will potentially minimize human error and decrease learning curve to gain proficiency in EUS.

First-in-human Integrated Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Navigation System Clinical Study

Since its inception in the 1980s, the field of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has experienced significant expansion and evolution and is now a pivotal component of pancreatobiliary assessment. Proficiency in EUS necessitates a synthesis of cognitive and technical competencies encompassing endoscopic manipulation, image interpretation, and an extensive comprehension of intraabdominal anatomical structures. Acquisition of these competencies is a progressive and highly operator-dependent process, and thereby necessitates an extended learning curve for practitioners. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has recommended the performance of a minimum of 190 supervised EUS for practicing autonomous EUS. However, the compliance of these parameters does not guarantee competence achievement, and there is a wide variability between endoscopists leading to disparities in the techniques' quality and irregular outcomes. The "EZ-EUS" system is designed to help the operator understand the orientation and the position of the probe tip in the patient. This system offers navigation similar to that of the Global Positioning System (GPS), but for EUS procedures. To achieve this, it uses a 3D model based on scanner imaging data recorded before the procedure. In this study, the intended purpose of the "EZ-EUS" system is to assist echo-endoscopy operators in accurately locating the pancreatic gland, conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the region of interest, and facilitating the detection and identification of lesions within it. We hypothesize that this tool will streamline procedure times and enable comprehensive imaging of the pancreas and its lesions, thereby reducing the need for expert guidance for trainees and shortening the EUS learning curve. This study is exploratory, prospective, monocentric and will compare two randomized groups (with and without the EZ-EUS navigation system).

Endoscopic Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most widespread chronic liver condition across the world. NAFLD over time can progress to its more severe form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with increased speed of progression to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Identification of patients with suspected NAFLD/NASH and early stage fibrosis is crucial for prompt clinical management in weight loss and optimization of metabolic disorders for reversal of fibrosis, but the gold standard of liver biopsy can be impractical due to high costs and risk of sampling error and procedural complications. Elastography is a non-invasive imaging modality that provides information about tissue elasticity and is often used to measure liver stiffness as a correlation to fibrosis severity (F0-4). Elastography has been heralded as a promising alternative to liver biopsies given its non-invasive nature and improved cost effectiveness in the general population. Many elastography modalities exist, including Fibroscan, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and shear wave elastography (SWE). Unfortunately, despite being highly sensitive and specific, routine MRE for NAFLD/NASH fibrosis screening can also be cost prohibitive. Fibroscan and SWE are more cost effective and are routinely performed via a transabdominal probe for liver fibrosis screening in patients with NAFLD/NASH, but their accuracy may be impeded in patients with obesity. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) approaches to elastography may hold several technical advantages over transabdominal in patients with obesity due to EUS-SWE's ability to visualize the liver parenchyma under a thin sub-centimeter gastric or duodenal wall, unlike transabdominal approaches in which the quality may be impacted by a thick abdominal wall. The main disadvantage to EUS-SWE, however, is that it is a fairly novel technology with no established stiffness cutoffs for the various fibrosis grades, unlike VCTE of which fibrosis grade cutoffs are well studied and standardized for patients with NAFLD/ NASH. Specific aims/hypotheses: The investigators aim to determine the efficacy of EUS-SWE compared to other non-invasive scoring systems, such as the FIB-4 score and Fibroscan in patients with elevated body mass index for purposes of liver fibrosis screening. The investigators would subsequently establish optimal stiffness (kPa) cutoffs for liver fibrosis grading in reference to liver biopsies for EUS-SWE for this patient population, as no standard cutoffs currently exist. The investigators hypothesize that EUS-SWE will be more accurate than conventional non-invasive screening tools for liver fibrosis grading. Study design: The investigators are performing a cross-sectional study with prospectively collected data on patients with elevated body mass index and suspected NAFLD/NASH who are referred for upper endoscopy and EUS for any indication and liver biopsy either obtained during the same endoscopic session or available within 6 months of the endoscopy. Study participants are recruited from two sites, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital (same healthcare system and electronic medical record). Once identified and consented, patients undergo clinically indicated EUS followed by the shear wave elastography portion which in general takes 2-3 minutes and does not expose the patient to any additional anticipated risk other than minimally increased sedation time. The EUS-SWE device being used is a linear EUS endoscope with SWE features (Aloka Arietta 850, Olympus America, Center Valley, PA), an FDA-approved device. Patient demographics, laboratory findings, past medical history, elastography, and liver biopsy results are then collected prospectively and then entered into a patient registry. The patient registry results are placed in a secure cloud server maintained by the Mass General Brigham healthcare system with detailed procedures in place to maintain patient privacy. Statistical Analysis: Variables will be reported as mean ± standard deviation or median [range] if continuous and as proportions if categorical. As all comparisons will be paired, analyses between continuous variables will be performed using paired student's t-test and between categorical variables using McNemar's test. Accuracy will be measured by area under the curve (AUC) analysis. Optimal stiffness cutoffs will be performed based on calculations for Youden's index, along with thresholds with minimal sensitivity and specificity of 0.9. Statistical analysis will be performed using SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC).

Endoscopic Ultrasound Radiofrequency Ablation for GISTs

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common malignant mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs usually appear like subepithelial lesions covered by normal mucosa, arising from the second of fourth layer of the gastrointestinal tract wall. They are variable in size and mostly asymptomatic, but they can present different clinical behavior as bleeding, pain, or obstruction. The tumor size, location and mitotic rate are important prognostic factors. For resectable tumors >2 cm, surgery is the treatment of choice; the management of tumors <2 cm remains debatable because they present unclear clinical significance and low risk of malignancy. Endoscopic treatment, when complete resection it's possible, could be an option to full thickness laparoscopic resection. Moreover, around 90% of GISTs harbour driver mutation in KIT and platelet-derived growth factor alpha (PDGFRA), making the treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (i.e., imatinib, sunitinib and regorafenib) a suitable option for locally advanced and metastatic disease. Nevertheless, the role of local treatment in advanced and metastatic disease is limited, with few retrospective studies suggesting tumor ablation as a therapeutic approach. According to literature, thermal ablation has been successfully used for local treatment of hepatic metastases from GISTs (as a curative treatment). However, its feasibility and technical success as a local treatment in esophageal, gastric or intestinal GISTs has not been evaluated. The investigators aimed to determine the feasibility and efficacy of the RFA electrode developed by Taewong Medical for the treatment of resectable GISTs (esophageal, gastric and intestinal lesions) as well as its limited liver metastases in naïve patients or patients with stable disease following systemic therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The challenge is whether to introduce local ablative therapy as curative or as part of multimodal treatment in patients with GISTs to obtain a curable disease and an increase in overall survival for metastatic patients.

EUS-guided Response Assessment to NSBB