Experience of the endoscopist increases detection rates of smaller size and higher histological grade polyps

Adenoma and polyp detection rates (ADR and PDR, respectively) are important indicators of endoscopy quality, particularly in colorectal carcinoma screening.

To assess the influence of the endoscopist's experience on the ADR and PDR.

In this study, 9635 colonoscopies were screened during a 5-year period. Only 5738 were finally analyzed due to exclusion criteria. The endoscopists were separated in three groups of experience according to the number of colonoscopies performed in the past (yearly and total). The number of polyps and adenomas, as well as the size and histology of these polyps were recorded.

The ADR and PDR were similar regardless of the experience of the endoscopist, but those with more experience clearly found more polyps of less than 10 mm (P = 0.01) and of less than 3 mm (P < 0.0001). Most of the differences were due to a higher number of flat polyps detected by the experienced group. This study also shows that more experienced endoscopists detect adenomas with more advanced histology (P < 0.0001).

Even though the ADR and PDR are similar in all groups of endoscopists, the less experienced endoscopists could be missing some of the smaller polyps, sometimes with more advanced histology.