RESUMO CONTEXTO: O câncer de esôfago é o oitavo câncer mais comum. O prognóstico é sombrio em pacientes com estágios avançados. Pacientes com doença precoce têm um melhor prognóstico do que aqueles com estágio avançado. Existem várias técnicas para a triagem de lesões pré-malignas e superficiais, incluindo cromoendoscopia. OBJETIVO: Este artigo objetivou determinar a efetividade da cromoendoscopia com azul de toluidina combinada com a solução de Lugol para o diagnóstico de lesões neoplásicas pré-malignas e superficiais esofágicas em pacientes de alto risco. MÉTODOS - A endoscopia de luz branca de rotina foi realizada de forma rotineira. O azul do toluidina foi pulverizado desde a junção gastroesofágica até 20 cm da arcada dentária. As áreas impregnadas pela tintura da tomada foram então caracterizadas. Mais adiante a solução de Lugol foi pulverizada. Áreas com coloração menos intensa foram caracterizadas. Foram realizadas biópsias das áreas de captura de azul de toluidina e áreas com coloração menos intensa da solução de Lugol. Nos casos onde as lesões não foram evidenciadas após a aplicação das tinturas, foram feitas biópsias em quatro quadrantes da mucosa esofágica. As amostras foram avaliadas por um patologista especializado. RESULTADOS: O esôfago de Barrett foi a lesão pré-maligna mais frequente e a lesão neoplásica precoce foi adenocarcinoma com sensibilidade de 100%, especificidade de 85,7%, valor preditivo positivo de 30%, valor preditivo negativo 100%, razão de verossimilhança positiva 7 e razão de verossimilhança negativa 0. CONCLUSÃO: A cromoendoscopia com azul de toluidina combinada com a solução de Lugol é uma ferramenta útil na triagem de lesões pré-malignas esofágicas e neoplasias superficiais.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer. The prognosis is bleak in patients with advanced stages. Patients with early disease have a better prognosis than those with advanced stage. There are several techniques for the screening of premalignant and superficial lesions including chromoendoscopy. OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to determine the effectiveness of chromoendoscopy with toluidine blue combined with Lugol’s solution for diagnosis of esophageal premalignant and superficial neoplastic lesions in high risk patients. METHODS: Routine white light upper endoscopy was performed. Toluidine blue was sprayed from the gastroesophageal junction to 20 cm of the dental arch. Then the uptake dye areas were characterized. Later Lugol’s solution was sprayed. Areas with less-intense staining were characterized. Biopsy of the toluidine blue capturing areas and areas with less-intense staining of Lugol’s solution were taken. In the cases where lesions were not evidenced after application of dyes, biopsies four quadrants of the esophageal mucosa were taken. The samples were evaluated by a digestive pathologist. RESULTS: Barrett’s esophagus was the most common premalignant lesion and the early neoplastic lesion was adenocarcinoma with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity 85.7%, positive predictive value 30%, negative predictive value 100%, positive likelihood ratio 7 negative likelihood ratio 0. CONCLUSION: Chromoendoscopy with toluidine blue combined with Lugol’s solution is a useful tool in the screening of esophageal premalignant lesions and superficial neoplasms.

Objetivo: comparar efectividad del polietilenglicol y manitol en la preparación intestinal mediante escala de Boston, pacientes de la consulta externa de gastroenterología, tercer trimestre, 2012. Pacientes y métodos: estudio prospectivo, transversal, experimental. Muestra de 100 pacientes aleatorizados en dos grupos: polietilenglicol y manitol, 50 en cada uno. A todos se les instauró dieta líquida el día previo al estudio e indicación para la ingesta de la solución a evaluar. Se realizó colonoscopia con evaluación endoscópica según escala de Boston. Resultados: la tolerancia a la preparación fue considerada fácil por 88% en el grupo polietilenglicol vs 100% del grupo manitol (p=0,041). El 98% del grupo manitol consideró que este medicamento tenía sabor agradable en comparación con polietilenglicol (78%) (p=0,002). El efecto adverso más frecuente en ambos grupos fue la náusea. El polietilenglicol alcanzó exploraciones completas con restos en un 82% colon derecho, 56% colon transverso y 72% colon izquierdo, mientras que con manitol prevaleció la exploración completa sin restos en 66%, 90% y 68% respectivamente (p<0,05). La puntuación global de la escala de Boston con polietilenglicol y manitol fue 6 vs 8 (p<0,05). Conclusiones: manitol resultó ser más efectivo que polietilenglicol para la preparación del colon en su totalidad y por segmentos.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of polyethyleneglycol and mannitol bowel preparation by Boston scale, in patients from the outpatient gastroenterology in the third quarter of 2012. Method: Prospective, cross, experimental with a sample of 100 patients randomized to group polyethyleneglycol and mannitol group, 50 in each. All were introduced liquid diet the day before the test with the appropriate indication for the intake of the solution to evaluate and colonoscopy was performed endoscopic evaluation scale as Boston. Result: tolerance was considered easy preparation by 88% in polyethyleneglycol group vs 100% mannitol group (p=0.041). 98% mannitol group had considered that this medicine palatable compared with polyethyleneglycol (78%) (p=0.002). The most common adverse event in both groups was nausea. Polyethyleneglycol reached full scans with remains at 82% right colon, transverse colon 56% and 72% left colon, whereas mannitol prevailed without full exploration remains at 66%, 90% and 68% respectively (p<0,05). The overall rating scale was polyethyleneglycol Boston 6 vs 8 in the mannitol group (p<0,05). Conclusions: mannitol was more effective for the preparation of polyethyleneglycol entire colon and segments.

Los Linfomas No Hodgkin del tracto gastrointestinal son los linfomas extranodales más comunes, representando entre el 30 y 70% de esta última patología constituyendo un grupo heterogéneo de tumores con diferentes características clínicas y patológicas. El estómago está lesionado de manera predominante siendo los linfomas tipo MALT los tumores de bajo grado más frecuentes en el sistema gastrointestinal, contando con 40% de todos los linfomas gástricos primarios, manteniéndose localizados por períodos prolongados sin tratamiento. Objetivos: evaluar la epidemiología de los linfomas gastrointestinales en nuestro centro. Pacientes y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de las historias de pacientes con diagnóstico de Linfoma Gastrointestinal. Resultados: Se presentan datos clínicos e histopatológicos de 20 pacientes con diagnóstico de Linfoma Gastrointestinal tratados en el Hospital Militar "Dr. Carlos Arvelo", Caracas, Venezuela, desde 2003 a 2008. 15 hombres, 5 mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre 23 y 64 años. De ellos, 14 (70 %) se presentaron con enfermedad limitada (estadio I-II) mientras que 6 (30%) tuvieron lesión de varios órganos (hígado, páncreas, bazo, duodeno) o más de un órgano gastrointestinal, siendo clasificado como estadio IV. 11 pacientes tuvieron linfoma gástrico, 2 de páncreas, 1 hepático esplénico y de columna lumbar, 1 intestino delgado, 1 en bazo, 4 de colon, y en 5 pacientes se observaron multiples localizaciones en el sistema gastrointestinal. Dolor abdominal, hemorragia digestiva, pérdida de peso fueron los síntomas más frecuentes de presentación. El estómago fue el órgano mas frecuentemente lesionado.

Non-Hodgkin´s lymphomas (NHL) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are the most common extra nodal lymphomas. They represent between 30% to 70% of all extra nodal lymphomas and constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors with different clinical and pathological features. The stomach is predominantly involved. MALT type lymphomas are the most frequent low grade non-Hodgkin´s lymphomas encountered in the GI tract. They account for 40% of all primary gastric lymphomas and remain, in the majority of cases, localized for a prolonged period of time without therapy. Aim: To evaluate the epidemiology of gastrointestinal lymphomas in our Hospital. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of patientÊs recorders performed at the Hospital Militar "Dr. Carlos Arvelo", Caracas, that had the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma. Results Clinical and histopathologjcal data from 20 patients presenting with GI-NHL treated from 2003 until 2008, were reviewed. 15 men, 5 women with an age range between 23 and 64 years old. Of these, 14 (70%) presented with limited disease (stage I and II), while 6 patients were found to have disease involvement of other abdominal organs (i.e., liver, pancreas, spleen, duodenum) or more than one gastrointestinal site and were therefore classified as stage IV. 11 patients presented with lymphoma in the stomach, 2 pancreatic, 1 in liver, spleen and lumbar vertebrae, 1 in the small intestine and 4 in the large bowel, while in 5 cases multiple localizations of the gastrointestinal tract were documented. Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, weighs loose were the main presenting symptom.

Introducción: la acalasia es un trastorno motor primario de etiología desconocida que afecta el esófago. Afecta ambos sexos y la disfagia es el síntoma cardinal (93%). Relajación inefectiva del esfínter esofágico inferior combinado con pérdida del peristaltismo esofágico impiden su vaciamiento y lo dilatan progresivamente. La dilatación neumática es en la actualidad el tratamiento de elección. Dilatación a demanda iniciando con 3 cm e incrementando el diámetro según respuesta, o iniciar con 3,5 cms son las dos corrientes actuales. Materiales y Métodos: 16 Pacientes con diagnóstico de acalasia. Grupo 1: 10 pacientes se dilataron de inicio con balón de 3 cm y luego opcionalmente con 3,5 cm de presentar nuevamente disfagia, 2 pacientes tenían Miotomía de Heller previa. Grupo 2: 6 pacientes se dilataron primariamente con balón de 3,5 cm. Resultados: el 60% de los dilatados con 3 cm presentaron disfagia entre 6 y 12 semanas después re-dilatándose luego con balón 3,5 cm. Un paciente presentó perforación y otro presento carcinoma epidermoide. Discusión: la dilatación neumática con balón es bien tolerada. No hubo mortalidad asociada al procedimiento. La disfagia mejoró rápidamente. Conclusión: Es una serie de corto seguimiento pero refleja una experiencia local importante, es necesario un seguimiento a largo plazo.

Introduction: Achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder of unknown etiology. It affects both sexes, and dysphagia is the cardinal symptom (93%). Ineffective relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter combined with loss of the esophageal peristalsis leads to impaired emptying and gradual esophageal dilatation. Pneumatic dilation is at the present time the treatment of election. Dilatation to demand beginning with 3 cm and increasing the diameter according to the response, or beginning with 3,5 cm are actually the actual currents. Materials and Methods: 16 patients with diagnosis of achalasia. Group 1: 10 patients were dilatated beginning with a 3 cm baloon and then with 3, 5 cm in those who presented dysphagia again, 2 patients had a previous Heller myotomy. Group 2: 6 patients were dilatated primarily with a 3, 5 cm baloon. Results: 60% of the patients who were dilatated with 3 cm presented dysphagia 6 -12 weeks later, being redilatated with a 3, 5 cm baloon. A patient presented perforation and another one presented squamous cell carcinoma. Discussion: Pneumatic balloon dilatation is well tolerated. There was not any mortality caused by the procedure and dysfagia improved quickly. Conclusion: it is a short term follow up series but it reflects an important local experience, being necessary a longer term.

La paliación efectiva en aquellos pacientes con obstrucción gastrointestinal causada por lesiones malignas irresecables o metastásicas, incluyen los métodos quirúrgicos y los endoscópicos tales como las dilataciones, Nd-YAG láser, la fotoablación, electrocoagulación, la crioterapia y el tratamiento fotodinámico. Todas con la finalidad de restaurar la luz del órgano, pero su efectividad está limitada a sesiones repetidas que consumen tiempo y aumentan las molestias ocasionadas al paciente, los costos y las complicaciones. La inserción endoscópica de prótesis metálicas autoexpandibles para restaurar y mantener la luz del órgano ha sido descrita previamente para tratamiento de carcinomas de diferentes localizaciones del tracto digestivo. Aquí reportamos nuestra experiencia con prótesis metálicas en 43 pacientes inoperables o con recidiva local con diferentes tipos de tumores gastrointestinales. Siendo esta una alternativa para la paliación de obstrucción, fístulas y otras complicaciones secundarias a los tumores gastrointestinales avanzados.

The effective palliation in patient with gastrointestinal obstruction caused by unresectable or metastatic malignancy, include surgical methods and such endoscopic treatments as dilations, Nd-YAG laser, the photoablation, electrocoagulation, the cryoterapy and photodynamic therapy. All of these modalities with the purpose of restoring luminal patency of organ, but their effectiveness are limited to repeated sessions that are time-consuming and result in increased patient discomfort, costs and complications. Endoscopic self-expanding metallic stents placement to restore and maintain luminal potency has been described previously for treatment of carcinomas in different localizations of the digestive tract. These are a report of our experience with self-expanding metallic prosthesis for palliation in 43 inoperable patients or with local relapse of different types of gastrointestinal tumors. Metallic stents can be considered an alternative of palliation in obstruction, fistulas and other secondary complications to the advanced gastrointestinal tumors.