Top stories in gastroenterology: endoscopic stricturotomy treats Crohn’s strictures, jumbo forceps effective for complete resection of diminutive polyps

Among the top gastroenterology stories last week were research that suggested the use of endoscopic stricturotomy was effective in treating ileocolonic anastomotic strictures in Crohn’s disease and a study that found jumbo forceps polypectomy achieved similar success as cold snare polypectomy for complete resection of diminutive colorectal polyps.

Other highlights included a review of the future of gut microbiome research, a study that indicated patients with allergic or autoimmune diseases were at higher risk for functional gastrointestinal disorders independent of psychological distress and research that found the prevalence of colorectal cancer and advanced colorectal neoplasia was not insignificant among patients with a positive fecal immunochemical test result who had undergone recent colonoscopies.

Endoscopic stricturotomy effective for treating Crohn’s strictures

Using endoscopic stricturotomy to treat ileocolonic anastomotic strictures in Crohn’s disease achieved similar surgery-free survival when compared with ileocolonic resection, according to research published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Read more.

Jumbo forceps effective for complete resection of diminutive polyps

Jumbo forceps polypectomy was effective for complete resection of diminutive colorectal polyps, achieving similar success when compared with cold snare polypectomy, according to research published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Read more.

Review outlines future of microbiome research

The gut microbiome has become an important area of study in gastroenterology and beyond over the course of the last few decades. Research has shed light on new targets for therapy for several diseases, but a lot about the microbiome is still unknown. Read more.

Allergic, autoimmune diseases linked to functional gastrointestinal disorders

Patients with allergic or autoimmune diseases are at higher risk for functional gastrointestinal disorders independent of psychological distress, according to research published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Read more.

Colorectal cancer prevalent when fecal immunochemical test is positive, regardless of recent colonoscopy

The prevalence of colorectal cancer and advanced colorectal neoplasia is not insignificant among patients with a positive fecal immunochemical test result who have undergone recent colonoscopies, according to research published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Read more.