Diana Zaffalon

Dr. Diana Zaffalon

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

12Years (2015-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2019 in European Journal of Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ABAndrea Burón
Andrea Burón
MRMarta Román
Marta Román
JAJosep M. Augé
Josep M. Augé
FMFrancesc Macià
Francesc Macià
JGJaume Grau
Jaume Grau
XCXavier Castells
Xavier Castells

1 April 2019 in Diseases of the Colon & Rectum
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MÁMarco Antonio Álvarez-González
Marco Antonio Álvarez-González
MPMiguel A. Pantaleon
Miguel A. Pantaleon
JRJuana A. Flores-Le Roux
Juana A. Flores-Le Roux
DZDiana Zaffalon
Diana Zaffalon
JAJaume Amorós
Jaume Amorós
JPJuan Pedro-Botet
Juan Pedro-Botet
BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend either a clear-liquid diet or a low-fiber diet for colonoscopy preparation. Participants in a screening program are usually motivated healthy individuals in which a good tolerability is important to improve adherence to potential surveillance colonoscopies. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess whether or not a normocaloric low-fiber diet followed the day before a screening colonoscopy compromises the efficacy of bowel cleansing and may improve the tolerability of bowel preparation. DESIGN: This is a randomized, endoscopist-blinded, noninferiority clinical trial. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS: A total of 276 consecutive participants of the Barcelona colorectal cancer screening program were included. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to a clear-liquid diet or a normocaloric low-fiber diet the day before the colonoscopy. Both groups received 4 L of polyethylene glycol in a split-dose regimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was the adequate bowel preparation rate measured with the Boston bowel preparation scale. Secondary outcomes included tolerability, fluid-intake perception, hunger, side effects, and acceptability. RESULTS: Participants in both groups were similar in baseline characteristics. Adequate bowel preparation was achieved in 89.1% vs 95.7% in clear-liquid diet and low-fiber diet groups, showing not only noninferiority, but also superiority (p = 0.04). Low-fiber diet participants reported less fluid-intake perception (p = 0.04) and less hunger (p = 0.006), with no differences in bloating or nausea. LIMITATIONS: The single-center design of the study could limit the external validity of the results. The present findings may not be comparable to other clinical settings. CONCLUSION: A normocaloric low-fiber diet the day before a screening colonoscopy achieved better results than a clear-liquid diet in terms of adequate colon preparation. Moreover, it also improved the perception of hunger and excessive fluid intake. Registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02401802. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A829.

6 July 2023 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DZDiana Zaffalon
Diana Zaffalon
MDMaria de los Angeles Daca-Alvarez
Maria de los Angeles Daca-Alvarez
Karmele Saez de GordoaKarmele Saez de Gordoa
Karmele Saez de Gordoa
MPMaría Pellisé
María Pellisé
Implementation of population-based colorectal cancer screening programs has led to increases in the incidence of pT1 colorectal cancer. These incipient invasive cancers have a very good prognosis and can be treated locally, but more than half of these cases are treated with surgery due to the presence of histological high-risk criteria. These high-risk criteria are suboptimal, with no consensus among clinical guidelines, heterogeneity in definitions and assessment, and poor concordance in evaluation, and recent evidence suggests that some of these criteria considered high risk might not necessarily affect individual prognosis. Current criteria classify most patients as high risk with an indication for additional surgery, but only 2–10.5% have lymph node metastasis, and the residual tumor is present in less than 20%, leading to overtreatment. Patients with pT1 colorectal cancer have excellent disease-free survival, and recent evidence indicates that the type of treatment, whether endoscopic or surgical, does not significantly impact prognosis. As a result, the protective role of surgery is questionable. Moreover, surgery is a more aggressive treatment option, with the potential for higher morbidity and mortality rates. This article presents a comprehensive review of recent evidence on the clinical management of pT1 colorectal cancer. The review analyzes the limitations of histological evaluation, the prognostic implications of histological risk status and the treatment performed, the adverse effects associated with both endoscopic and surgical treatments, and new advances in endoscopic treatment.

1 January 2018 in Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AUAgustín Seoane Urgorri
Agustín Seoane Urgorri
DZDiana Zaffalon
Diana Zaffalon
MRMiguel Pera Román
Miguel Pera Román
MGMarc Batlle García
Marc Batlle García
FPFaust Riu Pons
Faust Riu Pons
MÁMarco Antonio Álvarez-González
Marco Antonio Álvarez-González
International guidelines recommend a routine colonoscopy to rule out advanced neoplasm after an acute diverticulitis event. However, in recent years, this recommendation has been called into question following the advent of computerized tomography (CT), particularly with regard to uncomplicated diverticulitis. Furthermore, colonoscopy is associated with a risk and additional costs. to understand the diagnostic yield, quality and safety of colonoscopy in the setting of acute diverticulitis. this was a retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis via CT between 2005 and 2013, who subsequently underwent a colonoscopy. two hundred and sixteen patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis via CT were enrolled. These included 58 cases with complicated diverticulitis (27%) and 158 with uncomplicated diverticulitis (73%). An advanced neoplasm was found in 12 patients (5.6%); 11.7% were complicated and 3.2% were uncomplicated (p = 0.02). No major complications were identified. The quality was low but improved over time; the complete procedure rate was 88%, an effective preparation was achieved in 75% and excision of polyps < 2 cm was performed in 78% of cases. The optimum colonoscopy quality cu-off was 9.5 weeks. routine colonoscopy is advisable after a complicated diverticulitis event but its recommendation is unclear with regard to uncomplicated episodes. Colonoscopy is safe even when performed early. The overall quality is low but may be optimized via a subsequent endoscopy, two months after a diverticulitis diagnosis.

4 October 2021 in Endoscopy
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
SCSabela Carballal
Sabela Carballal
ASAriadna Sánchez
Ariadna Sánchez
LMLeticia Moreira
Leticia Moreira
JCJesús Eduardo Cuellar-Monterrubio
Jesús Eduardo Cuellar-Monterrubio
JBJulio Bernuy
Julio Bernuy
OGon behalf of the PROCOLON Group
on behalf of the PROCOLON Group
Background Current guidelines recommend genetic counseling and intensive colonoscopy surveillance for patients with ≥ 10 colorectal adenomas based on scarce data. We investigated the prevalence of this condition in a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based colorectal (CRC) screening program, and the incidence of metachronous lesions during follow-up. Methods We retrospectively included all FIT-positive participants with ≥ 10 adenomas at index colonoscopy between 2010 and 2018. Surveillance colonoscopies were collected until 2019. Patients with inherited syndromes, serrated polyposis syndrome, total colectomy, or lacking surveillance data were excluded. The cumulative incidence of CRC and advanced neoplasia were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Risk factors for metachronous advanced neoplasia were investigated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results 215 of 9582 participants (2.2 %) had ≥ 10 adenomas. Germline genetic testing was performed in 92 % of patients with ≥ 20 adenomas, identifying two inherited syndromes (3.3 %). The 3-year cumulative incidence of CRC and advanced neoplasia were 1 % and 16 %, respectively. In 39 patients (24.2 %), no polyps were found on first surveillance colonoscopy. The presence of an advanced adenoma was independently associated with a higher risk of advanced neoplasia at first surveillance colonoscopy (odds ratio 3.91, 95 %CI 1.12–13.62; P = 0.03). Beyond the first surveillance colonoscopy, the risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia was lower. Conclusions The prevalence of ≥ 10 adenomas in a FIT-based CRC screening program was 2.2 %; a small proportion of inherited syndromes were detected, even amongst those with ≥ 20 adenomas. A low rate of post-colonoscopy CRC was observed and the risk of advanced neoplasia beyond the first surveillance colonoscopy tended to progressively decrease throughout successive follow-ups. * Joint senior authors Received: 14 May 2021 Accepted after revision: 04 October 2021 Accepted Manuscript online: 04 October 2021 Article published online: 21 December 2021 © 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

26 November 2025 in Histopathology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PGPedro Genaro Delgado Guillena
Pedro Genaro Delgado Guillena
Miriam CuatrecasasMiriam Cuatrecasas
Miriam Cuatrecasas
SMSheyla Montori
Sheyla Montori
NFNayra Felípez
Nayra Felípez
JLJoan Llach
Joan Llach
EAEduardo Albéniz
Eduardo Albéniz
Introduction: The risk stratification of gastric cancer (GC) is graded by assessing well‐established precursor lesions, glandular atrophy (GA), and intestinal metaplasia (IM), resulting in both the operative link on gastritis assessment (OLGA), and intestinal metaplasia (OLGIM) systems. Although the OLGIM stage is reproducible among pathologists, the OLGA system is laborious to calculate and has poor reproducibility. In addition, it does not comprehensively address the severity of both GA and IM as recommended by the Sydney consensus. We aimed to propose the Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia and Glandular Atrophy Assessment (OLGIMA) system, which identifies OLGIM III–IV and upstages 0–II with advanced GA. Methods: A cross‐sectional study of consecutive diagnostic gastroscopies in adults was designed. Systematic gastric biopsies were taken. The updated Sydney guidelines were used for histological grading of GA and IM. Higher GC risk was defined as OLGIM III–IV and advanced GA. Results: The OLGIMA stage was assessed based on the most severe GA and/or IM findings in both antrum and corpus. We included 998 patients (median age 57; 64% women; 35% Helicobacter pylori infection). Thirty‐nine (3.9%) patients had higher GC risk: 17 (1.7%) with OLGIM III–IV; 12 (1.2%) with advanced GA, and 10 (1%) meeting both criteria. Among OLGIM 0‐II, 12 (1.2%) patients had advanced GA. The OLGIMA system upstaged 39 (3.9%) patients to III–IV, being more sensitive than OLGIM. Conclusions: The new OLGIMA system identifies patients at higher GC risk (OLGIMA III–IV), encompassing all OLGIM III–IV patients, and upstaging those OLGIM 0–II with advanced GA. This approach addresses the OLGA and OLGIM limitations by integrating GA and IM severity as recommended by the Updated Sydney consensus.