Clinical efficacy and pathological outcomes of transanal endoscopic intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Transanal endoscopic intersphincteric resection(ISR)surgery currently lacks sufficient clinical research and reporting.AIM To investigate the clinical effectiveness of transanal endoscopic ISR,in order to promote the clinical application and development of this technique.METHODS This study utilized a retrospective case series design.Clinical and pathological data of patients with lower rectal cancer who underwent transanal endoscopic ISR at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between May 2018 and May 2023 were included.All patients underwent transanal endoscopic ISR as the surgical approach.We conducted this study to determine the perioperative recovery status,postoperative complications,and pathological specimen charac-teristics of this group of patients.RESULTS This study included 45 eligible patients,with no perioperative mortalities.The overall incidence of early complications was 22.22%,with a rate of 4.44%for Clavien-Dindo grade≥III events.Two patients(4.4%)developed anastomotic leakage after surgery,including one case of grade A and one case of grade B.Postoperative pathological examination confirmed negative circumferential resection margins and distal resection margins in all patients.The mean distance between the tumor lower margin and distal resection margin was found to be 2.30±0.62 cm.The transanal endoscopic ISR procedure consistently yielded high quality pathological specimens.CONCLUSION Transanal endoscopic ISR is safe,feasible,and provides a clear anatomical view.It is associated with a low incidence of postoperative complications and favorable pathological outcomes,making it worth further research and application.

Double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following endoscopic resection of large(≥3 cm)gastric submucosal tumors

BACKGROUND Endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR)of gastric submucosal tumors(SMTs)is safe and effective;however,postoperative wound management is equally important.Literature on suturing following EFTR for large(≥3 cm)SMTs is scarce and limited.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and clinical value of double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following EFTR of large(≥3 cm)SMTs.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data of 85 patients with gastric SMTs in the fundus of the stomach or in the lesser curvature of the gastric body whose wounds were treated with double-nylon purse-string sutures after successful tumor resection at the Endoscopy Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.The operative,postoperative,and follow-up conditions of the patients were evaluated.RESULTS All tumors were completely resected using EFTR.36(42.35%)patients had tumors located in the fundus of the stomach,and 49(57.65%)had tumors located in the body of the stomach.All patients underwent suturing with double-nylon sutures after EFTR without laparoscopic assistance or further surgical treatment.Postoperative fever and stomach pain were reported in 13(15.29%)and 14(16.47%)patients,respectively.No serious adverse events occurred during the intraoperative or postoperative periods.A postoperative review of all patients revealed no residual or recurrent lesions.CONCLUSION Double-nylon purse-string sutures can be used to successfully close wounds that cannot be completely closed with a single nylon suture,especially for large(≥3 cm)EFTR wounds in SMTs.

Hypertrophic Anal Papillotomy by Transparent Cap-Assisted Endoscopic Hot Snare Resection

Background/Aim: Conventional treatment for hypertrophic anal papillae (HAP) has effectiveness and safety concerns. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection for the treatment of HAP. Methods: Endoscopic and clinical data of patients treated with transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection for HAP at the Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University from June 2019 to June 2021, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 56 patients with HAP were treated with transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection, including 53 patients (94.6%) with single hypertrophic anal papillae and 3 patients (5.4%) with multiple HAP;51 patients (83.6%) with basal diameter <5 mm and 10 patients (16.4%) with basal diameter ≥5 mm. The procedures that were performed together with transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection for HAP treatment included total colon examination in 56 cases (100%), endoscopic polypectomy in 20 cases (35.7%), endoscopic sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids in 29 cases (51.8%), and endoscopic rubber band ligation for hemorrhoids in 11 cases (19.6%). No patient experienced bleeding during or after HAP with transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection. Pain level was evaluated by the visual analog score (VAS) method. 52 patients (92.9%) did not have pain and 4 patients (7.1%) had mild pain 3 days after surgery. At a postoperative follow-up of 2 to 18 months, patient satisfaction with transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection for HAP treatment was 100% (56/56). Conclusion: Transparent cap-assisted endoscopic hot snare resection is safe and effective for treating HAP.

Ligation-assisted endoscopic submucosal resection following unroofing technique for small esophageal subepithelial lesions originating from the muscularis propria

BACKGROUND The majority of esophageal subepithelial lesions originating from the muscularis propria(SEL-MPs)are benign in nature,although a subset may exhibit malignant characteristics.Conventional endoscopic resection techniques are time-consuming and lack efficacy for small SEL-MPs.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ligation-assisted endoscopic submucosal resection(ESMR-L)following unroofing technique for small esophageal SEL-MPs.METHODS From January 2021 to September 2023,17 patients diagnosed with esophageal SEL-MPs underwent ESMR-L following unroofing technique at the endoscopy center of Shenzhen People’s Hospital.Details of clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed.RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 50.12±12.65 years.The mean size of the tumors was 7.47±2.83 mm and all cases achieved en bloc resection successfully.The average operation time was 12.2 minutes without any complications.Histopathology identified 2 Lesions(11.8%)as gastrointestinal stromal tumors at very low risk,12 Lesions(70.6%)as leiomyoma and 3 Lesions(17.6%)as smooth muscle proliferation.No recurrence was found during the mean follow-up duration of 14.18±9.62 months.CONCLUSION ESMR-L following roofing technique is an effective and safe technique for management of esophageal SEL-MPs smaller than 20 mm,but it cannot ensure en bloc resection and may require further treatment.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic mucosal resection for esophageal and gastric lesions:A comparison of procedures

Objective Esophageal and gastric lesions are effectively managed with minimally invasive upper endoscopic procedures such as endoscopic mucosa resection(EMR)and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),offering patients alternatives to invasive interventions.While ESD is well established in Eastern Asia,its adoption in Denmark for superficial esophageal cancer is recent.This study presents real-world data on the feasibility,safety,and hospitalization duration associated with ESD and EMR for esophageal and gastric lesions.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent ESD or EMR at a specialized center in Denmark from October 2016 to June 2022.Data on treatment,indication,lesion location,hospitalization duration,procedure duration,specimen size,complications,recurrence,and one-year overall survival were collected.Statistical comparisons utilized the Mann-Whitney U test,independent sample median test,and chi-squared test.Results The study included 130 patients(144 procedures):72 underwent ESD and 58 underwent EMR.Compared with EMR,ESD resulted in greater percentages of en bloc and R0 resections(98.8%vs.64.1%,p<0.001;and 83.9%vs.23.8%,p<0.001),greater complication rates(28.7%vs.3.1%,p<0.001)and longer procedure times(119.5 min vs.37.0 min,p<0.001).The ESD procedure time significantly decreased over time(p=0.01).The local recurrence rates were 14.5%for ESD and 23.8%for EMR(p=0.767).The one-year overall survival rates were similar between the groups(95.8%vs.94.8%,p=0.553).Conclusion Both ESD and EMR are safe and viable for treating esophageal and gastric lesions.ESD offers advantages but requires more time and skill.These findings support the literature,emphasizing the importance of considering patient-specific factors and surgeon proficiency in selecting the appropriate procedure.

Clinical characteristics of patients with early gastric prematurity cancer and analysis of complications by endoscopic resection

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer,a prevalent malignancy,poses a severe threat to the health of residents in China.Timely intervention in early stages can extend patients’survival.AIM To analyze clinical characteristics of patients with early gastric cancer and efficacy and risk of complications associated with endoscopic resection.METHODS This study included 175 patients with early gastric cancer treated at our hospital,with no restrictions on sex or age.General data,pathological information,and endoscopic biopsy results were obtained.The clinical characteristics of early gastric cancer were analyzed,and endoscopic resection was performed.Postoperative efficacy and incidence of complications were monitored.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0 software.RESULTS A total of 175 patients with early gastric cancer were included,with 75.43%(n=132)males and 24.57%(n=43)females.38.29%(n=67)and 35.43%(n=62)of patients had a history of smoking and alcohol consumption,respectively.Comorbidities included diabetes(8.57%,n=15),coronary heart disease(10.29%,n=18),and hypertension(43.43%,n=76),which was highly prevalent.A history of abdominal surgery and family history of digestive system cancer accounted for 21.14%and 17.14%,respectively.The most common lesion location was the antral part of the stomach(52.00%,n=91),followed by the gastric angle,body,and fundus.The pathological types were predominantly high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia(28.00%,n=49)and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma(26.86%,n=47),followed by moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma,high-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma,and moderate-lowly differentiated adenocarcinoma.89.14%of the patients had intestinal metaplasia and 85.14%had atrophy.After endoscopic resection,re-examination revealed that 13 patients had cancer cells at the tissue margin,with a positive margin rate of 7.43%.Postoperative complications included no cases of gastrointestinal obstruction,but incisional infection(2.86%,n=5),gastric perforation(1.14%,n=2),and gastric bleeding(4%,n=7)were present,with an overall incidence of 8.00%.CONCLUSION Analysis of the clinical characteristics indicated that early gastric cancer is more prevalent in males with a history of hypertension,with lesions most commonly occurring in the antral region of the stomach.The pathological types are often high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma,with over 85%of patients having comorbid intestinal metaplasia and atrophy.Despite endoscopic resection,a positive margin rate persisted,indicating a probability of residual cancer at the margins.Postoperative complications,such as gastrointestinal obstruction,incisional infection,gastric perforation,and gastric bleeding can occur and require timely symptomatic treatment.

Effect of endoscopic full-thickness resection assisted by distal serosal turnover with floss traction for gastric submucosal masses

BACKGROUND Complex and high-risk surgical complications pose pressing challenges in the clinical implementation and advancement of endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR).Successful perforation repair under endoscopy,thereby avoiding surgical intervention and postoperative complications such as peritonitis,are pivotal for effective EFTR.AIM To investigate the effectiveness and safety of EFTR assisted by distal serosal inversion under floss traction in gastric submucosal tumors.METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients with gastric and duodenal submucosal tumors treated with EFTR assisted by the distal serosa inversion under dental floss traction from January 2023 to January 2024 was conducted.The total operation time,tumor dissection time,wound closure time,intraoperative bleeding volume,length of hospital stay and incidence of complications were analyzed.RESULTS There were 93 patients,aged 55.1±12.1 years.Complete tumor resection was achieved in all cases,resulting in a 100% success rate.The average total operation time was 67.4±27.0 min,with tumor dissection taking 43.6±20.4 min.Wound closure times varied,with gastric body closure time of 24.5±14.1 min and gastric fundus closure time of 16.6±8.7 min,showing a significant difference(P<0.05).Intraoperative blood loss was 2.3±4.0 mL,and average length of hospital stay was 5.7±1.9 d.There was no secondary perforation after suturing in all cases.The incidence of delayed bleeding was 2.2%,and the incidence of abdominal infection was 3.2%.No patient required other surgical intervention during and after the operation.CONCLUSION Distal serosal inversion under dental-floss-assisted EFTR significantly reduced wound closure time and intraoperative blood loss,making it a viable approach for gastric submucosal tumors.

Postoperative encapsulated hemoperitoneum in a patient with gastric stromal tumor treated by exposed endoscopic full-thickness resection: A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric stromal tumors,originating from mesenchymal tissues,are one of the most common tumors of the digestive tract.For stromal tumors originating from the muscularis propria,compared with conventional endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR)can remove deep lesions and digestive tract wall tumors completely.However,this technique has major limitations such as perforation,postoperative bleeding,and post-polypectomy syndrome.Herein,we report a case of postoperative serous surface bleeding which formed an encapsulated hemoperitoneum in a patient with gastric stromal tumor that was treated with exposed EFTR.Feasible treatment options to address this complication are described.CASE SUMMARY A 47-year-old male patient had a hemispherical protrusion found during gastric endoscopic ultrasonography,located at the upper gastric curvature adjacent to the stomach fundus,with a smooth surface mucosa and poor mobility.The lesion was 19.3 mm×16.1 mm in size and originated from the fourth ultrasound layer.Computed tomography(CT)revealed no significant evidence of lymph node enlargement or distant metastasis.Using conventional ESD technology for mucosal pre-resection,exposed EFTR was performed to resect the intact tumor in order to achieve a definitive histopathological diagnosis.Based on its morphology and immunohistochemical expression of CD117 and DOG-1,the lesion was proven to be consistent with a gastric stromal tumor.Six days after exposed EFTR,CT showed a large amount of encapsulated fluid and gas accumulation around the stomach.In addition,gastroscopy suggested intracavitary bleeding and abdominal puncture drainage indicated serosal bleeding.Based on these findings,the patient was diagnosed with serosal bleeding resulting in encapsulated abdominal hemorrhage after exposed EFTR for a gastric stromal tumor.The patient received combined treatments,such as hemostasis under gastroscopy,gastrointestinal decompression,and abdominal drainage.All examinations were normal within six months of follow-up.CONCLUSION This patient developed serous surface bleeding in the gastric cavity following exposed EFTR.Serosal bleeding resulting in an encapsulated hemoperitoneum is rare in clinical practice.The combined treatment may replace certain surgical techniques.

Endoscopic“calabash”ligation and resection for small gastric mesenchymal tumors

BACKGROUND Gastric mesenchymal tumors(GMT)are identified as soft tissue neoplasms that arise from mesenchymal stem cells within the gastrointestinal tract.GMT pri-marily encompass gastric stromal tumors(GST),gastric leiomyomas,and gastric schwannomas.Although most GMT are benign,there are still potential malignant changes,especially GST.Thus,early surgical intervention is the primary treat-ment for GMT.We have designed a simple endoscopic“calabash”ligation and resection(ECLR)procedure to treat GMT.Its efficacy and safety need to be com-pared with those of traditional endoscopic techniques,such as endoscopic sub-mucosal excavation(ESE).AIM To assess the safety and effectiveness of ECLR in managing small GMT(sGMT)with a maximum diameter≤20 mm by comparing to ESE.METHODS This retrospective analysis involved patients who were hospitalized in our institution between November 2021 and March 2023,underwent endoscopic resection,and received a pathological diagnosis of GMT.Cases with a tumor diameter≤20 mm were chosen and categorized into two cohorts:Study and control groups.The study group was composed of patients treated with ECLR,whereas the control group was composed of those treated with ESE.Data on general clinical characteristics(gender,age,tumor diameter,tumor growth direction,tumor pathological type,and risk grade),surgery-related information(complete tumor resection rate,operation duration,hospitalization duration,hospitalization cost,and surgical complications),and postoperative follow-up were collected for both groups.The aforementioned data were subsequently analyzed and compared.RESULTS Five hundred and eighty-nine individuals were included,with 297 cases in the control group and 292 in the study group.After propensity score matching,the final analysis incorporated 260 subjects in each cohort.The findings indicated that the study group exhibited shorter operation duration and lowered medical expenses relative to the control group.Furthermore,the study group reported less postoperative abdominal pain and had a lower incidence of intraoperative perforation and postoperative electrocoagulation syndrome than the control group.There were no substantial variations observed in other parameters among the two cohorts.CONCLUSION ECLR is a viable and effective approach for managing sGMT.

Endoscopic resection for calcifying fibrous tumors of the gastrointestinal tract

BACKGROUND Calcifying fibrous tumors(CFTs)are rare mesenchymal lesions that can occur in various sites throughout the body,including the tubular gastrointestinal(GI)tract.AIM To analyze the clinical findings of 36 patients with GI tract CFTs to provide guidance for diagnosis and treatment.METHODS This retrospective study included 36 patients diagnosed with CFTs of the GI tract.We collected demographic and clinical information and conducted regular follow-ups to assess for local recurrence.RESULTS The stomach was the most commonly involved site,accounting for 72.2%of the 36 CFTs.Endoscopic mucosal resection(n=1,2.8%),endoscopic submucosal dissection(n=14,38.9%),endoscopic full-thickness resection(n=16,44.4%),and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(n=5,13.9%)were used to resect calcifying fibrous tumors.Overall,34(94.4%)CFTs underwent complete endoscopic resections with a mean procedure time of 39.8±29.8 min.The average maximum diameter of the tumors was 10.6±4.3 cm.No complications,such as bleeding or perforation,occurred during an average hospital stay of 2.9±1.2 d.In addition,two patients developed new growth of CFTs near the primary tumor sites,and none of the patients developed distant metastases during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION GI tract CFTs are rare and typically benign tumors that can be effectively managed with endoscopic procedures.

Giant Brunner's gland hyperplasia of the duodenum successfully resected en bloc by endoscopic mucosal resection: A case report

BACKGROUND Duodenal Brunner's gland hyperplasia(BGH)is a therapeutic target when complications such as bleeding or gastrointestinal obstruction occur or when malignancy cannot be ruled out.Herein,we present a case of large BGH treated with endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR).CASE SUMMARY An 83-year-old woman presented at our hospital with dizziness.Blood tests revealed severe anemia,esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a 6.5 cm lesion protruding from the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb,and biopsy revealed the presence of glandular epithelium.Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)demonstr-ated relatively high echogenicity with a cystic component.The muscularis propria was slightly elevated at the base of the lesion.EMR was performed without complications.The formalin-fixed lesion size was 6 cm×3.5 cm×3 cm,showing nodular proliferation of non-dysplastic Brunner's glands compartmentalized by fibrous septa,confirming the diagnosis of BGH.Reports of EMR or hot snare polypectomy are rare for duodenal BGH>6 cm.In this case,the choice of EMR was made by obtaining information on the base of the lesion as well as on the internal characteristics through EUS.CONCLUSION Large duodenal lesions with good endoscopic maneuverability and no evident muscular layer involvement on EUS may be resectable via EMR.

Endoscopic resection techniques for colorectal neoplasia:Current developments

Endoscopic polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) are the established treatment standards for colorectal polyps. Current research aims at the reduction of both complication and recurrence rates as well as on shortening procedure times. Cold snare resection is the emerging standard for the treatment of smaller(< 5 mm) polyps and is possibly also suitable for the removal of noncancerous polyps up to 9 mm. The method avoids thermal damage, has reduced procedure times and probably also a lower risk for delayed bleeding. On the other end of the treatment spectrum, endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)offers en bloc resection of larger flat or sessile lesions. The technique has obvious advantages in the treatment of high-grade dysplasia and early cancer. Due to its minimal recurrence rate, it may also be an alternative to fractionated EMR of larger flat or sessile lesions. However, ESD is technically demanding and burdened by longer procedure times and higher costs. It should therefore be restricted to lesions suspicious for high-grade dysplasia or early invasive cancer.The latest addition to endoscopic resection techniques is endoscopic fullthickness resection with specifically developed devices for flexible endoscopy.This method is very useful for the treatment of smaller difficult-to-resect lesions,e.g., recurrence with scar formation after previous endoscopic resections.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection for small(≤4.0cm) gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer

AIM To evaluate the long-term efficacy of endoscopic resection(ER) for small(≤ 4.0 cm) gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs) originating from the muscularis propria layer.METHODS Between June 2005 and February 2015, we retrospectively analyzed 229 consecutive patients with gastric MP-GISTs who underwent ER with a follow-up at least 36 mo. The main outcome measurements included complete resection rate, complications, and long-term follow-up outcomes.RESULTS ER included endoscopic muscularis excavation in 179 cases, endoscopic full-thickness resection in 32 cases, and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection in 18 cases. The median size of GISTs was 1.90 cm. Of the 229 GISTs, 147 were very low risk, 72 were low risk, 8 were intermediate risk, and 2 were high risk. Shortterm outcomes showed the complete resection rate was 96.5%, and 8 patients(3.5%) had complications. Of the 8 patients with complications, only one patient required surgical intervention. Long-term outcomes showed 225 patients were actively followed-up until composition of this manuscript. The remaining 4 patients were lost because of unrelated death. During the follow-up period(median, 57 mo), no residual, recurrent lesions, or distant metastasis were detected in any patients. Binary logistic regression analysis showed tumor size was a risk factor associated with a high mitotic index(≥ 5/50 HPF) of GISTs(P = 0.002).CONCLUSION ER seems to be an effective and safe method for gastric MP-GISTs ≤ 4.0 cm, and, for some intermediate or high risk GISTs, adjuvant therapy and/or additional surgery might be required to reduce the risk of recurrence or metastasis.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection vs endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer: A meta-analysis

AIM: To compare endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) for early gastric cancer(EGC).METHODS: Computerized bibliographic search was performed on PubMed/Medline, Embase, Google Schol-ar and Cochrane library databases. Quality of each included study was assessed according to current Co-chrane guidelines. Primary endpoints were en bloc re-section rate and histologically complete resection rate. Secondary endpoints were length of procedure, post-treatment bleeding, post-procedural perforation and re-currence rate. Comparisons between the two treatment groups across all the included studies were performed by using Mantel-Haenszel test for fixed-effects mod-els(in case of low heterogeneity) or DerSimonian and Laird test for random-effects models(in case of high heterogeneity).RESULTS: Ten retrospective studies(8 full text and 2 abstracts) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall data on 4328 lesions, 1916 in the ESD and 2412 in the EMR group were pooled and analyzed. The mean operation time was longer for ESD than for EMR(stan-dardized mean difference 1.73, 95%CI: 0.52-2.95, P =0.005) and the "en bloc " and histological complete re-section rates were significantly higher in the ESD group [OR = 9.69(95%CI: 7.74-12.13), P < 0.001 and OR = 5.66,(95%CI: 2.92-10.96), P < 0.001, respectively]. As a consequence of its greater radicality, ESD provided lower recurrence rate [OR = 0.09,(95%CI: 0.05-0.17), P < 0.001]. Among complications, perforation rate was significantly higher after ESD [OR = 4.67,(95%CI, 2.77-7.87), P < 0.001] whereas the bleeding incidences did not differ between the two techniques [OR = 1.49(0.6-3.71), P = 0.39].CONCLUSION: In the endoscopic therapy of EGC, ESD showed a superior efficacy but higher complication rate with respect to EMR.

Submucosal tunneling and endoscopic resection of submucosal tumors at the esophagogastric junction

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of submucosal tunneling and endoscopic resection(STER) for treating submucosal tumors(SMTs).METHODS: Between August 2012 and October 2013, 21 patients with SMTs originating from the muscularis propria(MP) layer at the esophagogastric junction were treated by STER of their tumors. Key steps of the procedure include:(1) mucosal incision: a 2-cm longitudinal mucosal incision was made 5 cm proximal to the tumor;(2) submucosal tunneling: a submucosal tunnel was created 5 cm proximal to and 1 to 2 cm distal to the tumor;(3) tumor resection: the SMT was resected under direct endoscopic viewing;(4) hemostasis: while finishing the tumor resection, careful hemostasis of the MP defect and the tunnel was performed; and(5) mucosal closure: the mucosal incision site was closed by using hemostatic clips. During the operation, equipment used included a cap-fitted endoscope, an insulatedtip knife, a hook knife, hemostatic forceps, an injection needle, a snare, an endoclip, and a high-frequency generator. Carbon dioxide(CO2) insufflation was achieved by using a CO2 insufflator.RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 46.2 years(range, 35-59 years), and the majority were male(18 male vs 3 female). Complete resection rate was 100%(21/21). Eighteen lesions were resected en bloc. Mean tumor size was 23 mm(range, 10-40 mm), and mean procedure time was 62.9 min(range, 45-90 min). Pathological diagnosis of these tumors included leiomyoma(15 out of 21) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor(6 out of 21). Full-thickness MP resection was performed in 9 of 21 patients(42.9%), with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema occurring in all nine. At the completion of the procedure, all patients received closure of the incision with hemoclips. One patient required percutaneous drainage. The remaining 20patients required no further endoscopic or surgical intervention. There were no incidents of massive or delayed bleeding. The median follow-up period after the procedure was 6 mo(range, 2-14 mo). During followup, no patients were found to have residual or recurrent tumor or esophageal stricture.CONCLUSION: STER is safe, effective and feasible, which provides accurate histopathologic evaluation and curative treatment for SMTs originating from the MP layer at the esophagogastric junction.

Management of a large mucosal defect after duodenal endoscopic resection

Duodenal endoscopic resection is the most difficult type of endoscopic treatment in the gastrointestinal tract(GI) and is technically challenging because of anatomical specificities. In addition to these technical difficulties, this procedure is associated with a significantly higher rate of complication than endoscopic treatment in other parts of the GI tract. Postoperative delayed perforation and bleeding are hazardous complications, and emergency surgical intervention is sometimes required. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to establish a management protocol for preventing serious complications. For instance, the prophylactic closure of large mucosal defects after endoscopic resection may reduce the risk of hazardous complications. However, the size of mucosal defects after endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) is relatively large compared with the size after endoscopic mucosal resection, making it impossible to achieve complete closure using only conventional clips. The over-the-scope clip and polyglycolic acid sheets with fibrin gel make it possible to close large mucosal defects after duodenal ESD. In addition to the combination of laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic resection, endoscopic full-thickness resection holds therapeutic potential for difficult duodenal lesions and may overcome the disadvantages of endoscopic resection in the near future. This review aims to summarize the complications and closure techniques of large mucosal defects and to highlight some directions for management after duodenal endoscopic treatment.

Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection: An effective and safe therapy for upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer

AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(STER) and compare its outcomes in esophageal and cardial submucosal tumors(SMTs) of the muscularis propria(MP) layer.METHODS From May 2012 to November 2017, 173 consecutive patients with upper gastrointestinal(GI) SMTs of the MP layer underwent STER. Overall, 165 patients were included, and 8 were excluded. The baseline characteristics of the patients and SMTs were recorded. The en bloc resection rate, complete resection rate,residual rate, and recurrence rate were calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of STER, and the complication rate was recorded to evaluate its safety. Effectiveness and safety outcomes were compared between esophageal and cardial SMTs.RESULTS One hundred and twelve men and 53 women with a mean age of 46.9 ± 10.8 years were included. The mean tumor size was 22.6 ± 13.6 mm. Eleven SMTs were located in the upper esophagus(6.7%), 49 in the middle esophagus(29.7%), 46 in the lower esophagus(27.9%), and 59 in the cardia(35.7%). Irregular lesions accounted for 48.5% of all lesions. STER achieved an en bloc resection rate of78.7%(128/165) for GI SMTs with an overall complication rate of 21.2%(35/165).All complications resolved without intervention or were treated conservatively without the need for surgery. The en bloc resection rates of esophageal and cardial SMTs were 81.1%(86/106) and 72.1%(42/59), respectively(P = 0.142), and the complication rates were 19.8%(21/106) and 23.7%(14/59), respectively,(P =0.555). The most common complications for esophageal SMTs were gas-related complications and fever, while mucosal injury was the most common for cardial SMTs.CONCLUSION STER is an effective and safe therapy for GI SMTs of the MP layer. Its effectiveness and safety are comparable between SMTs of the esophagus and cardia.

Endoloop ligation after endoscopic mucosal resection using a transparent cap: A novel method to treat small rectal carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND Local endoscopic resection is an effective method for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors, but remnant tumor at the margin after resection remains to be an issue.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of resection of small rectal carcinoid tumors by endoloop ligation after cap-endoscopic mucosal resection(LC-EMR) using a transparent cap.METHODS Thirty-four patients with rectal carcinoid tumors of less than 10 mm in diameter were treated by LC-EMR(n = 22) or endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)(n =12) between January 2016 and December 2017. Demographic data, complete resection rates, pathologically complete resection rates, operation duration, and postoperative complications were collected. All cases were followed for 6 to 30 mo.RESULTS A total of 22 LC-EMR cases and 12 ESD cases were enrolled. The average age was48.18 ± 12.31 and 46.17 ± 12.57 years old, and the tumor size was 7.23 ± 1.63 mm and 7.50 ± 1.38 mm, respectively, for the LC-EMR and ESD groups. Resection time in the ESD group was longer than that in the LC-EMR group(15.67 ± 2.15 min vs 5.91 ± 0.87 min; P < 0.001). All lesions were completely resected at one time. No perforation or delayed bleeding was observed in either group.Pathologically complete resection(P-CR) rate was 86.36%(19/22) and 91.67%(11/12) in the LC-EMR and ESD groups(P = 0.646), respectively. Two of the three cases with a positive margin in the LC-EMR group received transanal endoscopic microsurgery(TEM) and tumor cells were not identified in the postoperative specimens. The other case with a positive margin chose follow-up without further operation. One case with remnant tumor after ESD received further local ligation treatment. Neither local recurrence nor lymph node metastasis was found during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION LC-EMR appears to be an efficient and simple method for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors, which can effectively avoid margin remnant tumors.

Endoscopic mucosal resection of colorectal polyps in typical UK hospitals

AIM:To evaluate the outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) for colorectal polyps,with particular regard to procedural complications and recurrence rate,in typical United Kingdom(UK) hospitals that perform an average of about 25 colonic EMRs per year.METHODS:A total of 239 colorectal polyps(≥ 10 mm) resected from 199 patients referred to Rochdale Infirmary,Salford Royal Hospital and Royal Oldham Hospital for EMR between January 2003 and January 2009 were studied.RESULTS:The mean size of polyps resected was 19.6 ± 12.4 mm(range 10-80 mm).The overall major complication rate was 2.1%.Complications were less frequent with non-adenomas compared with the other groups(Pearson's χ 2 test,P < 0.0001).Resections of largersized polyps were more likely to result in complications(unpaired t-test,P = 0.021).Recurrence was associated with histology,with carcinoma-in-situ more likely to recur compared with low-grade dysplasia [hazard ratio(HR) 186.7,95% confidence interval(95% CI):8.81-3953.02,P = 0.001].Distal lesions were also more likely to recur compared with right-sided and transverse colon lesions(HR 5.93,95% CI:1.35-26.18,P = 0.019).CONCLUSION:EMR for colorectal polyps can be performed safely and effectively in typical UK hospitals.Stricter follow-up is required for histologically advanced lesions due to increased recurrence risk.

Endoscopic and surgical resection of T1a/T1b esophageal neoplasms: A systematic review

AIM: To investigate potential therapeutic recommendations for endoscopic and surgical resection of T1a/ T1b esophageal neoplasms. METHODS: A thorough search of electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Pubmed and Cochrane Library, from 1997 up to January 2011 was performed. An analysis was carried out, pooling the effects of outcomes of 4241 patients enrolled in 80 retrospective studies. For comparisons across studies, each reporting on only one endoscopic method, we used a random effects meta-regression of the log-odds of the outcome of treatment in each study. "Neural networks" as a data mining technique was employed in order to establish a prediction model of lymph node status in superficial submucosal esophageal carcinoma. Another data mining technique, the "feature selection and root cause analysis", was used to identify the most impor-tant predictors of local recurrence and metachronous cancer development in endoscopically resected patients, and lymph node positivity in squamous carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) separately in surgically resected patients. RESULTS: Endoscopically resected patients: Low grade dysplasia was observed in 4% of patients, high grade dysplasia in 14.6%, carcinoma in situ in 19%, mucosal cancer in 54%, and submucosal cancer in 16% of patients. There were no significant differences between endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the following parameters: complications, patients submitted to surgery, positive margins, lymph node positivity, local recurrence and metachronous cancer. With regard to piecemeal resection, ESD performed better since the number of cases was significantly less [coefficient: -7.709438, 95%CI: (-11.03803, -4.380844), P < 0.001]; hence local recurrence rates were significantly lower [coefficient: -4.033528, 95%CI: (-6.151498, -1.915559),P < 0.01]. A higher rate of esophageal stenosis was observed following ESD [coefficient: 7.322266, 95%CI: (3.810146, 10.83439), P < 0.001]. A significantly greater number of SCC patients were submitted to surgery (log-odds, ADC: -2.1206 ± 0.6249 vs SCC: 4.1356 ± 0.4038, P < 0.05). The odds for re-classification of tumor stage after endoscopic resection were 53% and 39% for ADC and SCC, respectively. Local tumor recurrence was best predicted by grade 3 differentiation and piecemeal resection, metachronous cancer development by the carcinoma in situ component, and lymph node positivity by lymphovascular invasion. With regard to surgically resected patients: Significant differences in patients with positive lymph nodes were observed between ADC and SCC [coefficient: 1.889569, 95%CI: (0.3945146, 3.384624), P<0.01). In contrast, lymphovascular and microvascular invasion and grade 3 patients between histologic types were comparable, the respective rank order of the predictors of lymph node positivity was: Grade 3, lymphovascular invasion (L+), microvascular invasion (V+), submucosal (Sm) 3 invasion, Sm2 invasion and Sm1 invasion. Histologic type (ADC/SCC) was not included in the model. The best predictors for SCC lymph node positivity were Sm3 invasion and (V+). For ADC, the most important predictor was (L+). CONCLUSION: Local tumor recurrence is predicted by grade 3, metachronous cancer by the carcinoma insitu component, and lymph node positivity by L+. T1b cancer should be treated with surgical resection.