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Secondary achalasia may result from diseases that either infiltrate or compress the lower esophageal sphincter to create an increased high-pressure zone and subsequent esophageal body changes. With bariatric surgery, a potential high-pressure zone is created by a sleeve, band, or bypass just distal to the esophagus. We report four patients who years after a bariatric procedure developed dysphagia followed by esophageal body radiographic and/or manometric features of achalasia. In addition, each of these patients responded symptomatically to endoscopic or surgical therapy either which lowered this high-pressure zone. Furthermore, review of prior cases in the literature suggests this has occurred before. Physicians should be aware of this association but further study is needed on its true prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist tirzepatide has markedly increased for the treatment of weight loss and management of diabetes mellitus. Gastrointestinal adverse effects of GLP-1/GIP agonist therapy, including nausea, vomiting, and constipation, are common. We report a case of colonic ischemia in a 62-year-old woman which developed in association with the use of tirzepatide for weight loss. This report highlights a potential risk relationship between GLP-1/GIP agonist therapy and colonic ischemia and identifies risk factors that should be considered before prescribing tirzepatide., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology.)

Primary pancreatic sarcomas are rare malignancies with an incidence of 0.1%. This case report is of a 48-year-old man who presented with this condition. The patient's treatment plan consisted of distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy with intraoperative immunohistochemistry and adjuvant chemotherapy. To correctly identify and treat undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, a stepwise strategy involving cross-sectional imaging and extensive histopathology analysis is necessary., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology.)

Background: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is considered a relentlessly progressive disease with high mortality rates. Although disease understanding and treatment options have greatly improved, the prognosis from these advancements has not been well documented. This study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and overall survival of CCS., Methods: Seventeen patients who were diagnosed and treated over a 20-year period at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) were included. Data were abstracted, which included clinical and endoscopic manifestations, treatment course, and survival outcomes., Results: The median (interquartile range) duration of follow-up was 8.3 (3.7-15.8) years. All patients received an initial prednisone dose equivalence of 30-80 mg daily, and five patients required steroids at the time of the last follow-up. Twelve patients trialed thiopurine therapy, and ten patients continued with a thiopurine until the last follow-up. Fifteen patients achieved clinical complete remission, and eleven patients achieved endoscopic complete remission after pharmacotherapy initiation. Seven patients required gastrointestinal surgeries during their disease course. The 5-year overall survival was 93.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 81.5-100%), and the 3-year relapse-free survival was 82.4% (95% CI: 66.1-100%)., Conclusion: The prognosis and overall survival of patients with CCS have markedly improved with advancement in disease understanding and therapies. Pharmacotherapy, including corticosteroids and immunomodulators, is effective in inducing and maintaining remission, and gastrointestinal surgery is commonly needed as an adjunct for managing CCS disease complications., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Data supporting the clinical utility of multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) at the guideline-recommended 3-year interval have not been reported.Between April 2015 and July 2016, candidates for colorectal cancer screening whose providers prescribed the mt-sDNA test were enrolled. Participants with a positive baseline test were recommended for colonoscopy and completed the study. Those with a negative baseline test were followed annually for 3 years. In year 3, the mt-sDNA test was repeated and colonoscopy was recommended independent of results. Data were analyzed using the Predictive Summary Index (PSI), a measure of the gain in certainty for dichotomous diagnostic tests (where a positive value indicates a net gain), and by comparing observed versus expected colorectal cancers and advanced precancerous lesions.Of 2,404 enrolled subjects, 2,044 (85%) had a valid baseline mt-sDNA result [284 (13.9%) positive and 1,760 (86.1%) negative]. Following participant attrition, the year 3 intention to screen cohort included 591 of 1,760 (33.6%) subjects with valid mt-sDNA and colonoscopy results, with no colorectal cancers and 63 advanced precancerous lesions [22 (34.9%) detected by mt-sDNA] and respective PSI values of 0% (P = 1) and 9.3% (P = 0.01). The observed 3-year colorectal cancer yield was lower than expected (one-sided P = 0.09), while that for advanced precancerous lesions was higher than expected (two-sided P = 0.009).Repeat mt-sDNA screening at a 3-year interval resulted in a statistically significant gain in detection of advanced precancerous lesions. Due to absence of year 3 colorectal cancers, the PSI estimate for colorectal cancer was underpowered and could not be reliably quantified. Larger studies are required to assess the colorectal cancer study findings., Prevention Relevance: Understanding the 3-year yield of mt-sDNA for colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous polyps is required to ensure the clinical appropriateness of the 3-year interval and to optimize mt-sDNA's screening effectiveness., (©2022 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

Nausea and vomiting (N/V) are common presenting complaints in the outpatient and inpatient settings. These symptoms can be associated with high morbidity and poor quality of life, particularly in those with chronic symptoms. The clinical approach to N/V can be challenging, given the numerous possible underlying causes as well as the vast array of diagnostic and therapeutic options. In this concise review, we provide a practical 5-step approach to the clinical evaluation and treatment of N/V, suitable for application in the primary care and subspecialty settings. The 5-step approach includes (1) defining what the patient means by N/V, (2) determining whether symptoms are acute or chronic, (3) considering medication or toxin adverse effects, (4) using the patient's presentation, severity of symptoms, and physical examination findings to formulate a differential diagnosis and to guide evaluation, and (5) directing treatment on the basis of knowledge of neurotransmitters and receptors involved in the emetic pathways. We discuss the pathophysiology (neuronal pathways and neurotransmitters), differential diagnosis (medication and toxin adverse effects, neurologic causes, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic and endocrine conditions, and psychogenic disorders), initial evaluation and risk stratification, and management and treatment options. Management of symptoms that are acute in onset or mild in severity may involve an empirical trial of antiemetics without extensive testing. In contrast, when symptoms are chronic or moderate-severe, testing for an underlying cause should be performed, and medication adverse effects, neurologic causes, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic or endocrine conditions, and psychogenic disorders should be considered in particular., (Copyright © 2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)