BACKGROUND: The risk of anal transition zone dysplasia/cancer after stapled IPAA for ulcerative colitis might be cumulative over time. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to assess the long-term incidence and risk factors of anal transition zone dysplasia. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study from a prospectively maintained database. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Participants included those in our surveillance program of serial anal transition zone biopsies after stapled IPAA from 1986 to 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anal transition zone dysplasia was the main measured outcome. RESULTS: Of 532 patients, 285 had 2 or more anal transition zone surveillance biopsies, including 73 with ≥20 years of regular follow-up. No adenocarcinoma was detected, and 15 patients died of unrelated causes after a median follow-up of 13.4 years (range, 2.9-19.5 years) without dysplasia. The estimated survival rates at 10, 15, and 20 years were 99.6% (95% CI, 96.9-99.9), 98.9% (95% CI, 95.7-99.7), and 92.6% (95% CI, 86.5-96.0). The estimated rates of anal transition zone dysplasia based on the 9 patients were 2.9% (95% CI, 1.5-5.7) and 3.4% (95% CI, 1.8-6.4) at 10 and 15 years. No new-onset dysplasia was identified beyond 125 months. Postoperative anal transition zone dysplasia was significantly associated with both preoperative and pathology findings of colorectal dysplasia (p < 0.001 for each) or cancer (p = 0.025 and p <0.001) and was managed expectantly or with mucosectomy (5 and 4 patients), depending on the number of positive biopsies and degree of dysplasia. Continued surveillance after detection of anal transition zone dysplasia showed no evidence of recurrent dysplasia during a median follow-up of 125 months (range, 9-256 months). LIMITATIONS: Approximately half of the eligible patients were excluded from the analysis because of insufficient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up data corroborate the use of stapled IPAA for ulcerative colitis. Future studies should assess whether a less intensive surveillance strategy is safe 10 years after surgery.
BACKGROUND: The risk of anal transition zone dysplasia/cancer after stapled IPAA for ulcerative colitis might be cumulative over time. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to assess the long-term incidence and risk factors of anal transition zone dysplasia. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study from a prospectively maintained database. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Participants included those in our surveillance program of serial anal transition zone biopsies after stapled IPAA from 1986 to 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anal transition zone dysplasia was the main measured outcome. RESULTS: Of 532 patients, 285 had 2 or more anal transition zone surveillance biopsies, including 73 with ≥20 years of regular follow-up. No adenocarcinoma was detected, and 15 patients died of unrelated causes after a median follow-up of 13.4 years (range, 2.9-19.5 years) without dysplasia. The estimated survival rates at 10, 15, and 20 years were 99.6% (95% CI, 96.9-99.9), 98.9% (95% CI, 95.7-99.7), and 92.6% (95% CI, 86.5-96.0). The estimated rates of anal transition zone dysplasia based on the 9 patients were 2.9% (95% CI, 1.5-5.7) and 3.4% (95% CI, 1.8-6.4) at 10 and 15 years. No new-onset dysplasia was identified beyond 125 months. Postoperative anal transition zone dysplasia was significantly associated with both preoperative and pathology findings of colorectal dysplasia (p < 0.001 for each) or cancer (p = 0.025 and p <0.001) and was managed expectantly or with mucosectomy (5 and 4 patients), depending on the number of positive biopsies and degree of dysplasia. Continued surveillance after detection of anal transition zone dysplasia showed no evidence of recurrent dysplasia during a median follow-up of 125 months (range, 9-256 months). LIMITATIONS: Approximately half of the eligible patients were excluded from the analysis because of insufficient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up data corroborate the use of stapled IPAA for ulcerative colitis. Future studies should assess whether a less intensive surveillance strategy is safe 10 years after surgery.
Authors: Leonardo C Duraes; Jennifer Liang; Scott R Steele; Bora Cengiz; Conor P Delaney; Stefan D Holubar; Emre Gorgun Journal: ANZ J Surg Date: 2022-04-18 Impact factor: 2.025