Accuracy of the revised Vienna Classification for predicting postendoscopic resection outcomes for gastric and oesophageal neoplasms: a retrospective cohort study of patients from a UK tertiary referral centre

Aims To review the effectiveness of the revised Vienna classification (rVC) at predicting histological outcome and defining the postendoscopic resection (ER) clinical management plan of gastro-oesophageal dysplasia and early neoplasia in a UK tertiary-centre population. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study between November 2011 and May 2018. 157 patients from Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in the UK were included. The primary outcome was the histological results of postsurgical resection (SR) specimens compared with their post-ER rVC. The secondary outcome was overall survival rates of patients with category 4.4 and 5 of the rVC. Results One-hundred and thirteen patients were diagnosed with category >= 4 of the rVC. 23 patients (20.4%) were referred for additional surgery, whereas 69 patients (61.1%) were on endoscopic surveillance only. 60.9% of post-SR specimens (14/23) revealed no residual neoplasia. 78.6% of these cancer-free specimens were classed as category 5 rVC. The overall 7-year survival rate of 25 patients with category >= 4.4 was 68% with causes of mortality not linked to upper gastrointestinal neoplasia. The overall 7-year and 3-year survival rates of category 4.4 and 5 were 73.6% and 50%, respectively, although age and comorbid state played a role. Conclusions This study provides evidence of outcomes comparable to other reported cohorts for cases after ER in a single-centre UK population even at rVC 4.4/5. It suggests surgery may not be necessary in all cases due to the lack of residual disease and further refinement of the rVC category 5 may help guide management.