SAGES Magazine

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 1 | 45 Histology Results for Entire Cohort A total of forty-four patients who underwent endoscopies had biopsies and histology performed. The most common histological diagnosis was that of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (16/44, 36.36%). [Table 9] Table 7: Indications for Colonoscopy Symptoms Number of patients (N=42) % PR bleeding 19 45.24 Constipation 17 40.48 Diarrhoea 13 30.9 Suspected malignancy 5 11.9 Loss of weight 3 7.14 Abdominal pains 2 4.76 Table 8: Colonoscopy Findings Colonoscopy findings Frequency (N=42) % Normal 14 33.3 Haemorrhoids 10 23.8 Poorly prepared 9 21.4 Proctitis 4 9.5 Lower GI-malignancy 3 7 Colitis 2 4.7 Other 2 4.7 Table 9: Histology Results Histology results Frequency (n=44) % Normal 8 18.18 Oesophageal squamous carcinoma 16 36.36 Gastritis 9 20.45 Gastric cancer 4 9.09 Gastric ulcer 2 4.55 Oesophageal ulcer 1 2.27 Oesophageal candidiasis 1 2.27 Barrett’s oesophagus 1 2.27 Kaposi sarcoma 1 2.27 Adenoma 1 2.27 The majority of patients who presented with PR bleeding had haemorrhoids while 14.2% of patients with constipation had a normal colonoscopy. [Tables 10 &11] There were similar symptoms noted in both HIV negative and HIV positive patients with the commonest being epigastric pain (68(n), 22.6% vs 28, 9.3%, respectively). The second most frequent symptom reported in HIV negative patients was heartburn (28, 9.3%) vs. dysphagia (13, 4.3%) in HIV positive patients. [Table 12] There were also similar findings in both HIV negative and HIV positive patients. The commonest gastroscopy finding in both cohorts was that of diffuse gastritis (49, 16.3%, vs 31, 10.3%, respectively) followed by oesophagitis (17, 5.6% vs 11,3.6%%, respectively) and hiatus hernia (16, 5.3% vs 7, 2.3%%, respectively). In HIV positive patients, duodenitis (7, 2.3%) was also a common finding. [Table 12] The most frequent histological diagnosis found in HIV negative patients was that of oesophageal carcinoma (6, 2%) followed by gastritis (4, 1.3%) and then by normal results (3, 1%) while in HIV positive patients’ oesophageal carcinoma (2, 0.6%) and normal results (2, 0.6%) were the top two histological diagnoses. [Table 12] Table 10: Colonoscopy findings in patients with PR Bleeding (n=19) Colonoscopy Findings Number of Cases % Normal 1 5.26 Haemorrhoids 9 47.37 Polyp 0 0 Poorly prepared 3 15.79 Fissure in ano 1 5.26 Lower GI malignancy 1 5.26 Proctitis 3 15.79 Colitis 1 5.26 Table 11: Colonoscopy findings in patients with Constipation (n=17) Colonoscopy Findings Number of Cases % Normal 6 35.29 Polyps 0 0 Haemorrhoids 2 11.76 Inflammatory bowel disease 0 0 Lower Gi malignancy 0 0 Colitis 1 5.88 Proctitis 2 11.76 Poorly prepared 3 17.65 Diverticulitis 2 11.76 Cancelled due to bradycardia 1 5.88 CASE SERIES