Non-neoplastic findings in colon capsule endoscopy: Additional yield

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Diagnostic Endoscopy

Background:

• Non-neoplastic findings (NNFs) are frequently observed in patients with positive fecal immunochemical tests (FIT).
• Limited research exists on the prevalence and significance of NNFs detected via colon capsule endoscopy (CCE).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of colonic NNFs in FIT-positive individuals undergoing CCE.
• To categorize common types of NNFs identified during CCE.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of CCE reports from three Danish clinical trials.
• Classification of NNFs into categories: diverticula, vascular abnormalities, inflammation, erosions/ulcerations, and others.
• Inclusion of 516 FIT-positive participants (screening or symptomatic).

Main Results:

• NNFs were prevalent in over half of CCE procedures (50.6%–77.9%).
• Colonic diverticula were the most frequent NNF (40.9%–66.9%).
• Vascular abnormalities and erosions/ulcerations were also common findings.

Conclusions:

• NNFs are common in FIT-positive individuals and may signify more extensive underlying conditions.
• These benign-appearing findings can potentially progress to clinically significant issues.
• CCE provides valuable insights beyond polyp detection, highlighting the importance of NNFs.