Recently, after conducting a complex of studies, scientists from the United States of America found out: it turns out that in the process of colonoscopy, the seeding of malignant cells is quite possible on the intestinal walls. However, the likelihood of such infection is extremely low, although it does exist. Such data on the results of the above-mentioned studies are provided by the journal "Gastroenterology".
American scientists have been doing genetic testing. And according to the results of the study, it was established for certain that malignant cells were introduced into the organisms of the examined patients precisely in the process of endoscopic examination, solely through the negligence of the medical staff. The possibilities of mechanical cell seeding of the tumor remained unclear, therefore, the most careful organic residues from the working channel of the endoscope, as well as from procedural instruments for injection.
Medical searches were aimed at detecting metachronous tumors in patients, the cause of which could be precisely the mechanical spread of malignant cells. In particular, the working surfaces of endoscopes (channels) after colorectal cancer biopsy were subjected to a detailed analytical review. As a result, data were obtained concerning 56 patients with developed secondary colorectal cancer. This sample included repeated detections of tumors after operations for a period ranging from six months to 3.5 years inclusive. Of them:
- 22 patients had metachronous carcinoma;
- 34 patients with recurrent surgical intestinal suture;
- and 3 patients with colorectal carcinoma.
In the last three, the transfer of tumor cells is supposed to be performed as a result of the negligence of the specialists who performed the colonoscopy.
According to the results of the genetic comparative analysis between the tumor of primary and metachronous carcinoma, regularities were revealed. But with previously removed polyps in patients, no intersection was found. Experienced doctors calculated only the risk of transfer of tumor cells during the biopsy / colonoscopy, as well as during polypectomy after the biopsy, which was 0.3-0.6%.
Testing the possibility of multiplication of cancer cells in the endoscopic canal, the Americans tried to experimentally grow the cells of 5 patients. For this, the materials taken were placed on an organic base. And only in one case the result was positive. And with genetic analysis, the same mutation was found in a biopsy and an organoid in the APC gene. And no mutations were found in the patient's healthy tissues.
Experts are unambiguous in their opinion: the probability of iatrogenic transfer of cancer cells during endoscopy is below 1%. But doctors need to be sure that this spread of tumors can be prevented. A number of experiments on animals are planned, which will prove or be able to refute the very possibility of sedimentation of cancer cells on the damaged intestinal mucosa.
It is highly likely that a fundamentally more effective way to protect patients from accidental (above-described) ingestion of tumor cells into the body careful cleaning of instruments used for endoscopy (say, using 7-90% ethyl alcohol or alcohol isopropyl).
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