Network Meta-Analysis: Comparison of Endoscopic Dysplasia Detection Technologies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Novel colorectal cancer endoscopic surveillance techniques for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have recently been developed.

Aims

Compare the efficacy of currently available techniques for dysplasia detection in colonic IBD.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search from inception to March 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective cohort studies enrolling adults with IBD and having surveillance colonoscopy for dysplasia screening. Primary outcome was the number of dysplastic lesions (per-lesion analysis). Secondary outcome was the number of patients with dysplasia (per-patient analysis). We assessed endpoints using the frequentist NMA random effect model.

Results

We included 25 studies (22 RCTs). 4837 patients met eligibility criteria (850 total dysplastic lesions; 105 with advanced dysplasia). Nine different screening techniques were studied. In per-lesion analysis, dye-based chromoendoscopy (DCE) ranked the highest (83%) per SUCRA ranking. DCE was superior to HD-WLE (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.06–3.00). There were no significant differences between NBI and DCE, HD-WLE with SR or CEM in head-to-head comparisons. In a sub-analysis confined to ulcerative colitis (UC), DCE ranked highest (98%) with per-lesion analysis, and was superior to NBI (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.03–2.77).

Conclusions

HD-WLE-SR, DCE and CEM demonstrated superiority over other techniques for detection of dysplasia in colonic IBD. DCE was superior for dysplasia detection in colonic IBD. DCE was superior to HD-WLE in colonic IBD. DCE was the best technique in UC. Further studies to compare HD-WLE-SR and NBI with DCE are warranted to ascertain performance equivalency and define the optimal surveillance technique.