BACKGROUNDThe progression of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) to early esophageal carcinoma occurs sequentially; the metaplastic epithelium develops from a low-grade dysplasia to a high-grade dysplasia (HGD), resulting in early esophageal carcinoma and, eventually, invasive carcinoma. Endoscopic approaches including resection and ablation can be used in the treatment of this condition.AIMTo compare the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) vs endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) + RFA in the endoscopic treatment of HGD and intramucosal carcinoma.METHODSIn accordance with PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review included studies comparing the two endoscopic techniques (EMR + RFA and RFA alone) in the treatment of HGD and intramucosal carcinoma in patients with BE. Our analysis included studies involving adult patients of any age with BE with HGD or intramucosal carcinoma. The studies compared RFA and EMR + RFA methods were included regardless of randomization status.RESULTSThe seven studies included in this review represent a total of 1950 patients, with 742 in the EMR + RFA group and 1208 in the RFA alone group. The use of EMR + RFA was significantly more effective in the treatment of HGD [RD 0.35 (0.15, 0.56)] than was the use of RFA alone. The evaluated complications (stenosis, bleeding, and thoracic pain) were not significantly different between the two groups.CONCLUSIONEndoscopic resection in combination with RFA is a safe and effective method in the treatment of HGD and intramucosal carcinoma, with higher rates of remission and no significant differences in complication rates when compared to the use of RFA alone.

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Situs inversus totalis is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder occurring in 0.01% of the population. The reversal of visceral organs poses technical difficulties for therapeutic intervention during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We describe a unique case of a patient with situs inversus who underwent therapeutic ERCP for management of choledocholithiasis. Case StudyA 37-year-old woman with a history of situs inversus totalis, complex congenital cyanotic heart disease, polysplenia and laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy performed 10 years prior, presented with post-prandial right upper quadrant pain and nausea. She had elevated bilirubin, and computed tomography (CT) scan showed cholelithiasis in the remnant gallbladder. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed for possible choledocholithiasis. Patient was placed in the left oblique position. There was altered anatomy of the gastric curvature and the ampulla was located in the 2 o'clock position. Biliary access was achieved by keeping the scope in the long position, rotating the duodenoscope 180o, and rotating the sphincterotome to the right side. Cholangiogram showed a mirror image of the transposed biliary tree and remnant gallbladder with filling defectsconsistent with cholelithiasis. Biliary sphincterotomy was performed and balloon sweep showed biliary stone fragments, consistent with choledocholithiasis. She subsequently underwent cholecystectomy for removal of the remnant gallbladder.Situs inversus is a rare benign congenital anomaly that may pose difficulty during ERCP [1]. Different techniques have been used for biliary access in patients with situs inversus such as, a "mirror image" ERCP technique with the endoscopic maneuvers performed in an inverse fashion, or positioning the patient lying prone on her right side [2,3]. In our case biliary access is easily achievable in patients with situs inversus by keeping the patient in the left oblique position, along with maneuvering the duodenoscope and sphincterotome towards the inversed position of the ampulla.

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