Research Article: Age-stratified gradients of colorectal neoplasia and an exploratory endoscopic red-flag composite in a lesion-confirmed screening colonoscopy cohort
Abstract:
To characterise age-related gradients in colorectal lesion severity and prespecified high-risk endoscopic features in a lesion-confirmed screening colonoscopy cohort and to evaluate an investigator-defined red-flag composite as an exploratory marker of advanced pathology. Helicobacter pylori was assessed as a secondary exposure.
This retrospective cohort included 291 participants with histologically confirmed lesions in four age groups (36–45, 46–55, 56–65 and 66–72 years). Logistic regression evaluated predictors of advanced neoplasia (high-grade dysplasia [HGD] or adenocarcinoma); adenocarcinoma-only and age × H. pylori interaction analyses were exploratory because events were sparse.
With advancing age, body mass index, H. pylori positivity, adenoma, sessile serrated lesions, HGD, adenocarcinoma and high-risk endoscopic features increased, whereas hyperplastic polyps decreased (all P < 0.05). Age (per 10 years), male sex, H. pylori positivity, lesion size ?10 mm, proximal location and JNET 2B/3 pattern were independently associated with advanced neoplasia. Red-flag positivity (?2 of four features) increased from 5.2% to 32.7% and enriched for adenocarcinoma, although positive predictive values were imprecise and non-monotonic.
Colorectal lesion severity and high-risk endoscopic features showed an age-related gradient. The red-flag composite is an exploratory descriptive construct, not a validated predictive score. H. pylori findings, especially interaction analyses, are hypothesis-generating and require prospective validation.
Introduction:
Colorectal neoplasia encompasses adenomas, sessile serrated lesions (SSLs), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma, and it remains a major global cancer burden. GLOBOCAN 2020 estimated more than 1.9 million new colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and approximately 935,000 deaths worldwide, placing CRC among the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and leading causes of cancer mortality ( 1 ). Contemporary reviews and guidelines emphasise that colorectal carcinogenesis is heterogeneous, involves both…
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