Capsule endoscopy in small-bowel surveillance of patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes

Purpose Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) are hereditary polyposis syndromes with a high risk for benign small-bowel polyps and cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of small-bowel polyps beyond the duodenum in patients with FAP and PJS and to examine the clinical value and the optimal interval of capsule endoscopy (CE) for the surveillance of small-bowel polyps in patients with FAP. Methods Between 2002 and 2009, standard gastroscopy, duodenoscopy, and CE were performed on 19 consecutive patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes (FAP n = 15; PJS n = 4). The number, size, and location of polyps detected by CE were assessed. Five FAP patients had repeated CEs in intervals of 2–7 years. Results In 13 of the 15 (87%) FAP patients, small-bowel polyps were detected by CE ranging from estimated <5 mm to >10 mm in size. Thereof, in four patients, medium-sized (5–10 mm) or large-sized (>10 mm) polyps were seen—all of them located in the proximal jejunum. In three FAP patients with repeated CEs, the latest CE displayed medium- and large-sized polyps in the proximal jejunum, whereas previous CEs had detected only small-sized (<5 mm) polyps. In three of the four PJS patients, large-sized small-bowel polyps were visualized by CE which could then be removed by double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) or surgical resection. Conclusion CE is an effective and safe method for small-bowel surveillance in FAP and PJS.