Use of a Distal Colonoscope Attachment to Increase Detection of Sessile Serrated Adenomas

Colon cancer remains the second leading cause of death amongst both men and women in the United States(1). With the advent of screening colonoscopy, mortality from colorectal cancer has decreased, and colonoscopy is the current gold standard for colorectal cancer screening and prevention by removing adenomatous polyps.

Different devices have been employed to assist the endoscopist in the detection of colon adenomas, as these lesions serve as precursors to colon neoplasia. One device of interest is the Endocuff Vision. The Endocuff Vision is a disposable device with a single row of soft, hair-like projections that aid in flattening colonic folds during colonoscope withdrawal to increase the detection of colon adenomas. Previous studies have compared endocuff-assisted colonoscopy to standard colonoscopy, and the results have indicated significant improvement in overall adenoma detection rates (ADR)(2-4). All of these studies have focused on the detection of conventional tubular adenomas as primary endpoints. However, there exists an additional serrated adenoma pathway that may give rise to about 15-20% of colon cancers (5). These lesions tend to be flatter with subtler features that make them harder to detect. A recent meta-analysis suggested that the endocuff was more effective at detecting sessile serrated adenomas compared to standard colonoscopy; however, these findings are derived from secondary data analyses (6). To the best of our knowledge, no study to date has examined the sessile serrated adenoma detection rate as a primary endpoint.

Our previous study examined the differences in overall adenoma detection between endocuff-assisted and standard colonoscopy. Although there was no statistical difference in ADR between endocuff-assisted colonoscopy and standard colonoscopy, investigators did observe a numeric difference in sessile serrated adenoma detection rate (SSADR), 16.7% vs 23.8% (p = 0.5) between standard colonoscopy and endocuff-assisted colonoscopy, respectively. Given the previous sample size was calculated to detect differences in overall ADR, the study was not powered to determine whether this observed difference in SSADR was significant.

Therefore, the goal of the proposed study is to compare standard colonoscopy to endocuff-assisted colonoscopy in patients undergoing colonoscopy for colon cancer screening to determine differences in sessile serrated adenoma detection rates.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients who present to our outpatient gastroenterology suites for screening colonoscopy.

Exclusion criteria

• Age less than 45 and greater than 85
• Prior history of colon polyps (hyperplastic polyp, tubular adenoma or sessile serrated adenoma) and colon cancer
• Patients with inflammatory bowel disease
• Patients suspected to have colon cancer based on non-invasive tests such as stool tests for hemoglobin or DNA, or imaging finding suggestive of colon cancer (CT or barium enema).
• Patients undergoing colonoscopy for evaluation of symptoms such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, etc., or patient with iron deficiency anemia suspected to be due to ongoing bleeding inside the colon
• Patients with family history of colon cancer in 1st degree relative below the age of 60
• Patients with family history of hereditary polyposis syndromes such as Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis etc., which are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer
• Patients unable to consent
• Pregnant patients
• Incarcerated patients