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Background and Aims: In the United States, little is known about the rates of interval upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer (possibly missed out) after an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is performed. Data from non-US studies reported interval cancer rates of 7–26%. We aimed to study the rate and predictors of interval upper GI cancers in the United States. Methods: Using the random 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database, we identified patients diagnosed with esophageal or gastric cancer during 2000–2007. EGD performed within 36 months prior to cancer diagnosis was identified using CPT codes. Cancers diagnosed 6–36 months after EGD were defined as interval (vs. detected) cancers. The chi-square test and the multivariate logistic model were used in statistical analysis. Results: Of 751 patients diagnosed with upper GI cancer, 52 patients (6.9%) were diagnosed with interval cancers 6–36 months after EGD. The rate of interval cancers was 5.5% (31/568) for gastroenterologists and 11.5% (21/183) for non-gastroenterologists (p < 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression, EGDs performed by gastroenterologists (vs. non-gastroenterologists: OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.25–0.83) and those in inpatient setting (vs. outpatient: OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28–0.997) were associated with a lower likelihood of interval cancers. Sensitivity analyses limited to outpatient EGDs or interval cancers 6–30 months after EGDs led to similar results. Conclusions: The rate of interval cancers after EGD is the same as the rate of colonoscopy among Medicare patients in the United States. EGDs performed by gastroenterologists and in in-patient settings were associated with a lesser likelihood of interval cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: We sought to describe the types of colectomy, follow-up surgical/diagnostic procedures, and complications occurring within 180 days of colectomy in a population of privately insured individuals with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of claims data of privately insured patients (MarketScan) for the years 2001–2004. We identified a cohort of patients with UC who underwent colectomy. Colectomies were classified into four categories based on the surgery occurring on the first colectomy date: (a) total proctocolectomy (TPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), (b) subtotal colectomy (SC) with ileostomy and Hartmann pouch or ileorectal anastomosis, (c) TPC with ileostomy, and (d) partial colectomy (PC). Follow-up surgical/diagnostic procedures and complications were compared across colectomy categories. RESULTS: A total of 25,586 UC patients were identified, of whom 215 patients had a colectomy and at least 180 days of pre- and postcolectomy follow-up. The colectomy distribution was: TPC-IPAA (52%), SC-ileostomy (22%), TPC-ileostomy (14%), and PC (13%). Within 180 days postcolectomy, 54% of patients had a second colectomy-related surgery (including unplanned surgeries in 15.3%), and 27% had a follow-up diagnostic procedure. Postcolectomy complications included abscesses (11.6% in the first 30 days postcolectomy, 16.3% in the day 31–180 postcolectomy period), fistulas (4.2% early, 6.0% late), and sepsis/pneumonia/bacteremia (7.9% early, 9.3% late). CONCLUSION: Postcolectomy surgical procedures and complications occur frequently after colectomy in privately insured patients with UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]