Background and study aims: To summarize the published literature on assessment of appropriateness of colonoscopy for investigation of chronic diarrhea, management of patients with known inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and for colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance in such patients, and to report report appropriateness criteria developed by an expert panel, the 2008 European Panel on the Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, EPAGE II.
Methods: A systematic search of guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary studies regarding the evaluation of chronic diarrhea, the management of IBD, and colorectal cancer surveillance in IBD was performed. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was applied to develop appropriateness criteria for colonoscopy for these conditions.
Results: According to the literature, colonoscopic evaluation may be justified for patients aged > 50 years with recent-onset chronic diarrhea or with alarm symptoms. Surveillance colonoscopy for CRC should be offered to all patients with extensive ulcerative colitis or colonic Crohn’s disease of 8 years’ duration, and to all patients with less extensive disease of 15 years’ duration. Intervals for surveillance colonoscopy depend on duration of evolution, initial diagnosis, and histological findings. The EPAGE II criteria also confirmed the appropriateness of diagnostic colonoscopy for diarrhea of > 4 weeks’ duration. They also suggest that, in addition to assessing extent of IBD by colonoscopy, further colonoscopic examination is appropriate in the face of persistent or worsening symptoms. Surveillance colonoscopy in IBD patients was generally appropriate after a lapse of 2 years. In the presence of dysplasia at previous colonoscopy, it was not only appropriate but necessary.
Conclusions: Despite or perhaps because of the limitations of the available published studies, the panel-based EPAGE II (http://www.epage.ch) criteria can help guide appropriate colonoscopy use in the absence of strong evidence from the literature.
References
1
Thomas P D, Forbes A, Green J. et al .
Guidelines for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea, 2nd edition.
Gut.
2003;
52 Suppl 5
v1-v15
2
Fine K D, Schiller L R.
AGA technical review on the evaluation and management of chronic diarrhea.
Gastroenterology.
1999;
116
1464-1486
3
Bolin T D, Davis A E, Duncombe V M.
A prospective study of persistent diarrhoea.
Aust NZ J Med.
1982;
12
22-26
4
Bytzer P, Stokholm M, Andersen I. et al .
Aetiology, medical history, and faecal weight in adult patients referred for diarrhoea. A prospective survey.
Scand J Gastroenterol.
1990;
25
572-578
5
Carter M J, Lobo A J, Travis S P.
Guidelines for the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.
Gut.
2004;
53 Suppl 5
V1-V16
6
Kornbluth A, Sachar D B.
Ulcerative colitis practice guidelines in adults (update): American College of Gastroenterology, Practice Parameters Committee.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2004;
99
1371-1385
7
D’Haens G, Sandborn W J, Feagan B G. et al .
A review of activity indices and efficacy end points for clinical trials of medical therapy in adults with ulcerative colitis.
Gastroenterology.
2007;
132
763-786
8
Henriksen M, Jahnsen J, Lygren I. et al .
Ulcerative colitis and clinical course: results of a 5-year population-based follow-up study (the IBSEN study).
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2006;
12
543-550
9
Stange E F, Travis S PL, Vermeire S. et al .
European evidence based consensus on the diagnosis and management of Crohn’s disease: definitions and diagnosis.
Gut.
2006;
55 Suppl 1
i1-i15
10
Hanauer S B, Sandborn W.
Management of Crohn’s disease in adults.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2001;
96
635-643
11
Gasche C, Scholmerich J, Brynskov J. et al .
A simple classification of Crohn’s disease: report of the Working Party for the World Congresses of Gastroenterology, Vienna 1998.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2000;
6
8-15
12
Satsangi J, Silverberg M S, Vermeire S. et al .
The Montreal classification of inflammatory bowel disease: controversies, consensus, and implications.
Gut.
2006;
55
749-753
13
Silverberg M S, Satsangi J, Ahmad T. et al .
Toward an integrated clinical, molecular and serological classification of inflammatory bowel disease: Report of a Working Party of the 2005 Montreal World Congress of Gastroenterology.
Can J Gastroenterol.
2005;
19 Suppl A
5-36
14
Best W R, Becktel J M, Singleton J W.
Rederived values of the eight coefficients of the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI).
Gastroenterology.
1979;
77
843-846
15
Henriksen M, Jahnsen J, Lygren I. et al .
Clinical course in Crohn’s disease: results of a five-year population-based follow-up study (the IBSEN study).
Scand J Gastroenterol.
2007;
42
602-610
16
Silverstein M D, Loftus E V, Sandborn W J. et al .
Clinical course and costs of care for Crohn’s disease: Markov model analysis of a population-based cohort.
Gastroenterology.
1999;
117
49-57
17
Konikoff M R, Denson L A.
Role of fecal calprotectin as a biomarker of intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2006;
12
524-534
18
Leighton J A, Shen B, Baron T H. et al .
ASGE guideline: endoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2006;
63
558-565
19
Vader J P, Froehlich F, Juillerat P. et al .
Appropriate treatment for Crohn’s disease: methodology and summary results of a multidisciplinary international expert panel approach – EPACT.
Digestion.
2006;
73
237-248
20
Bernstein C N, Blanchard J F, Kliewer E. et al .
Cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study.
Cancer.
2001;
91
854-862
21
Collins P D, Mpofu C, Watson A J. et al .
Strategies for detecting colon cancer and/or dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2006;
2
CD000279
22
Eaden J A, Abrams K R, Mayberry J F.
The risk of colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis.
Gut.
2001;
48
526-535
23
Gupta R B, Harpaz N, Itzkowitz S. et al .
Histologic inflammation is a risk factor for progression to colorectal neoplasia in ulcerative colitis: a cohort study.
Gastroenterology.
2007;
133
1099-1105
24
Jess T, Gamborg M, Matzen P. et al .
Increased risk of intestinal cancer in Crohn’s disease: a meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2005;
100
2724-2729
25
Jess T, Loftus jr. E V, Velayos F S. et al .
Risk of intestinal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based study from Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Gastroenterology.
2006;
130
1039-1046
26
Jess T, Loftus E V, Velayos F S. et al .
Risk factors for colorectal neoplasia in inflammatory bowel disease: a nested case–control study from Copenhagen county, Denmark and Olmsted county, Minnesota.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2007;
102
829-836
27
Karvellas C J, Fedorak R N, Hanson J. et al .
Increased risk of colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis patients diagnosed after 40 years of age.
Can J Gastroenterol.
2007;
21
443-446
28
Lakatos L, Mester G, Erdelyi Z. et al .
Risk factors for ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer in a Hungarian cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis: results of a population-based study.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2006;
12
205-211
29
Siegel C A, Sands B E.
Risk factors for colorectal cancer in Crohn’s colitis: a case-control study.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2006;
12
491-496
30
Soetikno R M, Lin O S, Heidenreich P A. et al .
Increased risk of colorectal neoplasia in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2002;
56
48-54
31
Thomas T, Abrams K A, Robinson R J. et al .
Meta-analysis: cancer risk of low-grade dysplasia in chronic ulcerative colitis.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther.
2007;
25
657-668
32
von Roon A C, Reese G, Teare J. et al .
The risk of cancer in patients with Crohn’s disease.
Dis Colon Rectum.
2007;
50
839-855
33
Hookman P, Barkin J S.
What should be the standard care for cancer surveillance, diagnosis of dysplasia, and the decision for colectomy in chronic inflammatory bowel disease?.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2002;
97
1249-1255
34
Rubin D T.
The changing face of colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: progress at last!.
Gastroenterology.
2006;
130
1350-1352
35
Itzkowitz S H, Yio X.
Inflammation and cancer IV. Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: the role of inflammation.
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol.
2004;
287
G7-G17
36
Itzkowitz S H, Harpaz N.
Diagnosis and management of dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.
Gastroenterology.
2004;
126
1634-1648
37
Askling J, Dickman P W, Karlen P. et al .
Family history as a risk factor for colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease.
Gastroenterology.
2001;
120
1356-1362
38
Geboes K.
Review article: what are the important endoscopic lesions for detection of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease?.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther.
2006;
24 Suppl 3
50-55
39
Rubin D T, Rothe J A, Hetzel J T. et al .
Are dysplasia and colorectal cancer endoscopically visible in patients with ulcerative colitis?.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2007;
65
998-1004
40
Rutter M D, Saunders B P, Wilkinson K H. et al .
Cancer surveillance in longstanding ulcerative colitis: endoscopic appearances help predict cancer risk.
Gut.
2004;
53
1813-1816
41
Bronner M P, Goldblum J R, Kimmey M B. et al .
Low-grade dysplasia in ulcerative colitis: natural history data still unknown.
Gastroenterology.
2004;
127
362-363
42
Lim C H, Dixon M F, Vail A. et al .
Ten year follow up of ulcerative colitis patients with and without low grade dysplasia.
Gut.
2003;
52
1127-1132
43
Rubio C A, Befrits R.
Low-grade dysplasia in flat mucosa in ulcerative colitis.
Gastroenterology.
2004;
126
1494-1495
44
Ullman T, Croog V, Harpaz N. et al .
Progression of flat low-grade dysplasia to advanced neoplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Gastroenterology.
2003;
125
1311-1319
45
Campbell S, Ghosh S.
Ulcerative colitis and colon cancer: strategies for cancer prevention.
Dig Dis.
2002;
20
38-48
46
Delco F, Sonnenberg A.
The unsolved problem of surveillance for colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis.
Can J Gastroenterol.
1999;
13
655-660
47
Froehlich F, Larequi-Lauber T, Gonvers J J. et al .
11. Appropriateness of colonoscopy: inflammatory bowel disease.
Endoscopy.
1999;
31
647-653
48
Gonvers J J, Bochud M, Burnand B. et al .
10. Appropriateness of colonoscopy: diarrhea.
Endoscopy.
1999;
31
641-646
49
Longstreth G F, Thompson W G, Chey W D. et al .
Functional bowel disorders.
Gastroenterology.
2006;
130
1480-1491
50
Juillerat P, Peytremann-Bridevaux I, Vader J P. et al .
Appropriateness of Colonoscopy in Europe (EPAGE II). Presentation of methodology, general results, and analysis of complications.
Endoscopy.
2008;
41
240-246
51
Adler A, Roll S, Marowski B. et al .
Appropriateness of colonoscopy in the era of colorectal cancer screening: a prospective, multicenter study in a private-practice setting (Berlin Colonoscopy Project 1, BECOP 1).
Dis Colon Rectum.
2007;
50
1628-1638
52
Agnarsdottir M, Gunnlaugsson O, Orvar K B. et al .
Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis in Iceland.
Dig Dis Sci.
2002;
47
1122-1128
53
DeBosset V, Froehlich F, Rey J P. et al .
Do explicit appropriateness criteria enhance the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy?.
Endoscopy.
2002;
34
360-368
54
Duncan J E, Sweeney W B, Trudel J L. et al .
Colonoscopy in the elderly: low risk, low yield in asymptomatic patients.
Dis Colon Rectum.
2006;
49
646-651
55
Fernandez-Banares F, Salas A, Forne M. et al .
Incidence of collagenous and lymphocytic colitis: a 5-year population-based study.
Am J Gastroenterol.
1999;
94
418-423
56
Fine K D, Seidel R H, Do K.
The prevalence, anatomic distribution, and diagnosis of colonic causes of chronic diarrhea.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2000;
51
318-326
57
Gonvers J J, Harris J K, Wietlisbach V. et al .
A European view of diagnostic yield and appropriateness of colonoscopy.
Hepatogastroenterology.
2007;
54
729-735
58
Lasson A, Kilander A, Stotzer P O.
Diagnostic yield of colonoscopy based on symptoms.
Scand J Gastroenterol.
2008;
43
356-362
59
Lieberman D A, de Garmo P L, Fleischer D E. et al .
Colonic neoplasia in patients with nonspecific GI symptoms.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2000;
51
647-651
60
Matteoni C A, Wang N, Goldblum J R. et al .
Flexible sigmoidoscopy for the detection of microscopic colitis.
Am J Med.
2000;
108
416-418
61
Morini S, Hassan C, Meucci G. et al .
Diagnostic yield of open access colonoscopy according to appropriateness.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2001;
54
175-179
62
Offner F A, Jao R V, Lewin K J. et al .
Collagenous colitis: a study of the distribution of morphological abnormalities and their histological detection.
Hum Pathol.
1999;
30
451-457
63
Olesen M, Eriksson S, Bohr J. et al .
Microscopic colitis: a common diarrhoeal disease: an epidemiological study in Orebro, Sweden, 1993–1998.
Gut.
2004;
53
346-350
64
Pardi D S, Loftus jr. E V, Smyrk T C. et al .
The epidemiology of microscopic colitis: a population based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Gut.
2007;
56
504-508
65
Patel Y, Pettigrew N M, Grahame G R. et al .
The diagnostic yield of lower endoscopy plus biopsy in nonbloody diarrhea.
Gastrointest Endosc.
1997;
46
338-343
66
Shah R J, Fenoglio-Preiser C, Bleau B L. et al .
Usefulness of colonoscopy with biopsy in the evaluation of patients with chronic diarrhea.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2001;
96
1091-1095
67
Yusoff I F, Ormonde D G, Hoffman N E.
Routine colonic mucosal biopsy and ileoscopy increases diagnostic yield in patients undergoing colonoscopy for diarrhea.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol.
2002;
17
276-280
68 Froehlich F, Gonvers JJ Diagnostic yield of colonoscopy by indication. In: Waye JD, Rex DK, Williams CB, (eds) Colonoscopy: principles and practice. London; Blackwell Science 2003: 111-130
69
Pardi D S, Smyrk T C, Tremaine W J. et al .
Microscopic colitis: a review.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2002;
97
794-802
70 Agence Nationale d’Accréditation et d’Evaluation en Santé .[Endoscopie digestive basse: indications en dehors du dépistage en population – Argumentaire]. Saint-Denis La Plaine; Haute Autorité de Santé 2004: 138p. http://Available from: http://www.has-sante.fr/portail/display.jsp?id=c_272348 [Accessed: 28–5–2007]
71 Australian Cancer Network Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Revision Committee .Guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer. Sydney; The Cancer Council Australia and Australian Cancer Network 2005: 368p. http://ISSN 0-9775060-1-0. Available from: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/cp106/_files/cp106.pdf* [Accessed: 1 – 6-2007]
72
Eisen G M, Dominitz J A, Faigel D O. et al .
Use of endoscopy in diarrheal illnesses.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2001;
54
821-823
73
Rex D K, Petrini J L, Baron T H. et al .
Quality indicators for colonoscopy.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2006;
63
S16-S28
74 Singapore Ministry of Health .Colorectal cancer. Report nr 2/2004. Singapore; 2004: 98p. http://Available from: http://www.hpp.moh.gov.sg/HPP/MungoBlobs/145/831/2004%20colorectalcancer_0.pdf [Accessed: 13–8–2007]
75 Beaugerie L. Place de l’endoscopie dans les colites microscopiques. 2003: 6p. http://Available from: http://www.sfed.org/documents_sfed/files/recommandations/Endoscopie_colitesmicro.pdf [Accessed: 1 – 6-2007]
76
Kojima M, Wakai K, Tokudome S. et al .
Bowel movement frequency and risk of colorectal cancer in a large cohort study of Japanese men and women.
Br J Cancer.
2004;
90
1397-1401
77
Kune G A, Kune S, Field B. et al .
The role of chronic constipation, diarrhea, and laxative use in the etiology of large-bowel cancer. Data from the Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study.
Dis Colon Rectum.
1988;
31
507-512
78
Otani T, Iwasaki M, Inoue M. et al .
Bowel movement, state of stool, and subsequent risk for colorectal cancer: the Japan public health center-based prospective study.
Ann Epidemiol.
2006;
16
888-894
79 American Cancer Society .Cancer facts and figures 2007. 2007: 56p. http://Available from: http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2007PWSecured.pdf [Accessed: 8 – 11 – 2007]
80
Davila R E, Rajan E, Adler D. et al .
ASGE guideline: the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, staging, and management of colorectal cancer.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2005;
61
1-7
81
Davila R E, Rajan E, Baron T H. et al .
ASGE guideline: colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.
Gastrointest Endosc.
2006;
63
546-557
82 Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) .Colorectal cancer screening. 11th Edition . Bloomington (MN); 2006: 51p. http://Available from: http://www.icsi.org/colorectal_cancer_screening/colorectal_cancer_screening_5.html [Accessed: 13–8–2007]
83 Levin B, Barthel J, Burt R. et al .Practice guidelines in Oncology: Colorectal cancer screening. National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2007 http://Available from: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/colorectal_screening.pdf [Accessed: 8–11–2007
84 McLeod R. Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care .Screening strategies for colorectal cancer: systematic review and recommendations. Technical review. CTFPHC Technical Report nr 01–2. London, Ontario; Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care 2001: 37p. http://Available from: http://www.ctfphc.org/ [Accessed: 8-11 – 2007]
85 National Guideline Clearinghouse .Colorectal cancer screening clinical practice guideline – NGC summary. Oakland (USA); Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute 2006: 16p. http://Available from: http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=10847&nbr=005662&string=colon [Accessed: 9 – 11 – 2007]
86 Pignone M P, Rich M, Teutsch S. et al .Screening for colorectal cancer in adults. Rockville; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 2002: 48p. http://Available from: http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/prevent/pdfser/colocanser.pdf [Accessed: 18 – 5-2007]
87
Rex D K, Johnson D A, Lieberman D A. et al .
Colorectal cancer prevention 2000: screening recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology. American College of Gastroenterology.
Am J Gastroenterol.
2000;
95
868-877
88
Winawer S, Fletcher R, Rex D. et al .
Colorectal cancer screening and surveillance: clinical guidelines and rationale – Update based on new evidence.
Gastroenterology.
2003;
124
544-560
89 Beau P, Gay G, Arput J. et al .Place de l’endocopie dans le bilan de la maladie de Crohn. Société Française d’Endoscopie Digestive 2004: 6p. http://Available from: http://www.sfed.org/documents_sfed/files/recommandations/Endoscopie_Crohn.pdf [Accessed: 1 – 6-2007]
90
Hoffmann J C, Zeitz M, Bischoff S C. et al .
Diagnostik und Therapie der Colitis ulcerosa: Ergebnisse einer evidenzbasierten Konsensuskonferenz der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselerkrankungen zusammen mit dem Kompetenznetz chronisch entzuendliche Darmerkrankungen [Diagnosis and therapy of ulcerative colitis: results of an evidence based consensus conference by the German society of Digestive and Metabolic Diseases and the competence network on inflammatory bowel disease].
Z Gastroenterol.
2004;
42
979-1032
91 Hoffmann R M, Kruis W. Chronisch-entzuendliche Darmerkrankungen. 3rd ed. Stuttgart; Demeter 2002 ISBN/ISSN 3–13–1 155 930. Available from: http://www.dgvs.de/media/3.3.CED.pdf [Accessed: 24 – 9-2007]
92
Schreiber S, Folsch U R.
Klinische Diagnostik, Klassification [Clinical diagnostics, classification].
Z Gastroenterol.
2003;
41
21-23
93 Barthet M, Gay G, Sautereau D. et al .Surveillance endoscopique des maladies inflammatoires digestives. Société Française d’Endoscopie Digestive 2004: 6p http://Available from: http://www.sfed.org/documents_sfed/files/recommandations/Surveillendo_MICI.pdf [Accessed: 27 – 5-2007]
94
Eaden J A, Mayberry J F.
Guidelines for screening and surveillance of asymptomatic colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Gut.
2002;
51 Suppl 5
V10-V12
95 Heresbach D, Boyer J, Laugier R. et al .Techniques et indications des biopsies lors de la coloscopie. Société Française d’Endoscopie Digestive 2007: 8p. http://Available from: http://www.sfed.org/documents_sfed/files/recommandations/Biopsie_coloscopie.pdf [Accessed: 1–6–2007]
96
Itzkowitz S H, Present D H.
Consensus conference: Colorectal cancer screening and surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2005;
11
314-321
97
Stange E F, Schreiber S, Folsch U R. et al .
Crohn-Ergebnisse einer evidenzbasierten Konsensuskonferenz der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten [Diagnostics and treatment of Crohn’s disease – results of an evidence-based consensus conference of the German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases].
Z Gastroenterol.
2003;
41
19-20
98
Ahmadi A A, Polyak S.
Endoscopy/surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease.
Surg Clin N Am.
2007;
87
743-762
99
Morson B C, Pang L S.
Rectal biopsy as an aid to cancer control in ulcerative colitis.
Gut.
1967;
8
423-434
100
Provenzale D, Onken J.
Surveillance issues in inflammatory bowel disease: ulcerative colitis.
J Clin Gastroenterol.
2001;
32
99-105
101
Delco F, Sonnenberg A.
A decision analysis of surveillance for colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis.
Gut.
2000;
46
500-506
102
Vleggaar F P, Lutgens M W, Claessen M M.
Review article: The relevance of surveillance endoscopy in long-lasting inflammatory bowel disease.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther.
2007;
26 Suppl 2
47-52
103
Riegler G, Bossa F, Caserta L. et al .
Colorectal cancer and high grade dysplasia complicating ulcerative colitis in Italy. A retrospective co-operative IG-IBD study.
Dig Liver Dis.
2003;
35
628-634
104
Rex D K, Cutler C S, Lemmel G T. et al .
Colonoscopic miss rates of adenomas determined by back-to-back colonoscopies.
Gastroenterology.
1997;
112
24-28
105
Toruner M, Harewood G C, Loftus jr. E V. et al .
Endoscopic factors in the diagnosis of colorectal dysplasia in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2005;
11
428-434
106
Geboes K, Rutgeerts P, Opdenakker G. et al .
Endoscopic and histologic evidence of persistent mucosal healing and correlation with clinical improvement following sustained infliximab treatment for Crohn’s disease.
Curr Med Res Opin.
2005;
21
1741-1754
107
Rutgeerts P, Vermeire S, VanAssche G.
Mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease: impossible ideal or therapeutic target?.
Gut.
2007;
56
453-455
108
Brown S, Baraza W, Hurlstone P.
Chromoscopy versus conventional endoscopy for the detection of polyps in the colon and rectum.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2007;
4
CD006439
109
Thorlacius H, Toth E.
Role of chromoendoscopy in colon cancer surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflamm Bowel Dis.
2007;
13
911-917
110
Hassan C, Zullo A, de Francesco V. et al .
Systematic review: Endoscopic dilatation in Crohn’s disease.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther.
2007;
26
1457-1464
1 See Appendix: The EPAGE II Study Group
J.-P. VaderMD MPH
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine
Rue du Bugnon 17 CH-1005 Lausanne Switzerland
Fax: +41-21-3144954
eMail: john-paul.vader@chuv.ch