Background: Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancerrelated deaths and the eighth most common cancer worldwide with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. Here we report the incidence, risk factors and treatment options that are available currently, and moving into the future. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database made available by the National Cancer Institute in the USA. Specifically we extracted data from the years 2004-2015. Results: In total we identified 23,804 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma and 13,919 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Males were at an increased risk of developing both types of esophageal cancer when compared to females. Most cases of adenocarcinoma were diagnosed as poorly differentiated grade III (42%), and most cases of squamous cell carcinoma were diagnosed as moderately differentiated grade II (39.5%). The most common stage of presentation for both adenocarcinoma (36.9%) and squamous cell (26.8%) carcinoma was stage IV. The worst outcomes for adenocarcinoma were noted with grade III tumors (hazard ratio

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Objectives:The Over-The-Scope-Clip (OTSC) has had an evolving role in endoscopic closure of gastrointestinal wall defects, in hemostasis of primary or postinterventional bleeding, and approximation of postbariatric surgery defects. Rapid and effective closure of gastrocutaneous (GC) fistulae using this device has been recently described in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy and safety of OTSC as an effective tool in the management of persistent GC fistulae secondary to a complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement. Method: In this multicenter prospective observational study, we describe our experience with OTSC in the closure of persistent GC fistulas secondary to PEG tube placement. Patients with GC fistulas were sequentially enrolled with a mean age of 84 years. Primary treatment outcome was the immediate successful closure of GC fistula and resolution of leak. Secondary outcome was no recurrence of the fistula and leaks on follow up. Results: A total of 10 patients were enrolled over the study period. Mean age was 84.4 ± 8.75 years. The primary treatment outcome was achieved in all the patients undergoing this intervention. Secondary outcome was observed in 9/10 (90%) subjects. No procedural complications were reported. Larger fistulae (>2.5 cm) and those with significant fibrosis were more difficult to close with the OTSC system. The mean follow-up time after OTSC application was 43.7 ± 20.57 days. A limitation of this study was that there was no control group. Conclusions: OTSC application is a safe and effective endoscopic approach for the closure of persistent GC fistulae secondary to a complication of PEG tube placement.

Scalloping of the duodenal mucosal folds is an endoscopic finding of small bowel mucosal pathology that is generally due to villous atrophy. Though it can be seen in many disease processes, it is most commonly associated with celiac disease. We report three patients with scalloping of duodenal folds and histologic confirmation of villous atrophy due to Crohn's disease. All patients had negative celiac serologies and two had positive markers for Crohn's disease (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies). Patients had either ileitis or ileocolitis in addition to duodenal abnormalities. These cases illustrate that scalloping can occur in the duodenum in Crohn's disease.

Colonic varices are an incredibly rare phenomenon to begin with; however, they are even more unusual when isolated and occurring in the absence of common comorbidities, like portal hypertension or portal vein thrombosis. We present a case of a 71-year-old female, who was asymptomatic and referred to gastroenterology for a routine colorectal cancer screening. The patient was ultimately found to have this anomalous condition when colonic varices were first identified on colonoscopy. Since these varices did not result from any obvious etiology, they were determined to be idiopathic colonic varices, an especially unusual presentation.