title: Bipolar electrocoagulation vs conventional monopolar hot biopsy forceps in the endoscopic treatment of diminutive rectal adenomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether a cold biopsy from a diminutive rectal adenoma followed by destruction with bipolar (gold probe) electrocoagulation using large probes and high power setting would be a safe and efficient alternative to conventional monopolar hot biopsy forceps (MHBF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients were those undergoing colonoscopy, fulfilling the criteria of additional clearing colonoscopy and having at least one suspected rectal adenoma < or = 5 mm. At the time of endoscopy patients were randomized to receive treatment for their diminutive rectal adenomas either with cold biopsy followed by repeated gold probe electrocoagulation (Group A) using a 10 Fr catheter with setting 8 (40 W) for 1 second or with MHBF (Group B). These patients were followed up with a colonoscopy at 2-4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total number of 24 (15 males, 9 females; mean age 56 years) patients were included in group A and 26 (14 males, 12 females; mean age 58 years) in group B. A total number of 38 and 37 diminutive rectal adenomas was detected in patients of Group A and Group B, respectively. At follow up colonoscopy residual adenoma tissue was found in 2 (5.2%) adenomas of 38 in Group A and in 4 (10.8%) of 37 in Group B (P > 0.3). No complications related to colonoscopy or endoscopic treatments in both groups occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the use of cold biopsy followed by bipolar electrocoagulation using large probes and high power setting for destroying diminutive rectal adenoma seems to be equally effective and safe as MHBF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterogy, Benizelion General Hospital, Heraklion, Crete-Greece. paspati@admin.teiher.gr
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Paspatis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Charoniti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbatzas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zois
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D016896:Treatment Outcome