Endoscopic surveillance of the ileoanal pouch following restorative proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis.

Persistence of underlying disease in the residual rectal mucosa and anal transition zone occurs following mucosectomy with either a hand-sewn anastomosis or a double-stapled anastomosis. Furthermore, recent reports have suggested an increased incidence of neoplasia in the pouch body. For this reason, endoscopic surveillance is performed not only as a screening tool to detect significant intraepithelial neoplastic lesions but also with secondary therapeutic intent aimed at reducing the adenoma burden within the ileoanal pouch. Conventional endoscopic assessment of the ileoanal pouch can be challenging. In the future, novel adjunctive endoscopic technologies such as magnification endoscopy and confocal endomicroscopy may improve our diagnostic and therapeutic management of this group.