A structured conversion score to guide oncologic colectomy during combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery for complex colonic polyps.

BACKGROUND

Management of complex colonic polyps with benign preoperative biopsy findings remains challenging when endoscopic resection is technically difficult or oncologic risk is uncertain. Combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery (CELS) offers an organ-preserving alternative to oncologic colectomy (OC), yet clear criteria for intraoperative decision-making are lacking. This study aimed to identify predictors of conversion from CELS to OC and malignant pathology and to develop an intraoperative risk score to guide escalation.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients treated between 2014 and 2024 for complex colonic polyps with benign preoperative biopsy findings using an endoscopy-first strategy requiring laparoscopic assistance. The primary endpoint was conversion to OC. Secondary endpoints included pathologic malignancy and ≥ T2 disease. Clinically relevant preoperative and intraoperative variables were analyzed using Firth penalized logistic regression. Internal validation was performed using bootstrap resampling. A 10-point CELS-OC score was derived and integrated into a stepwise operative algorithm.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were included, of whom 25 (35.7%) required conversion to OC. Final pathology revealed malignancy in 20 patients (28.6%). Ulceration or depression (aOR 19.15, 95% CI 3.45-106.36; p < 0.001), lesion size ≥ 40 mm (aOR 6.40, 95% CI 1.35-30.33; p = 0.019), and the non-lifting sign (aOR 5.36, 95% CI 1.05-27.44; p = 0.044) were independently associated with conversion. Ulceration or depression remained predictive of malignancy (aOR 13.07, 95% CI 3.10-55.04; p = 0.001). The score demonstrated strong discrimination for OC conversion (AUC 0.928) and malignancy (AUC 0.874). High-risk lesions (≥ 7 points) had OC conversion and malignancy rates of 93.8% and 75.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In complex colonic polyps with benign biopsy findings, specific morphologic and intraoperative features are associated with conversion to OC and malignant pathology. The CELS-OC score integrates these predictors into a structured intraoperative framework that may improve organ-preserving selection while maintaining oncologic safety. External validation is needed.