Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastric submucosal tumors

AIM:To assess the feasibility,safety,and advantages of minimally invasive laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery(LECS)for gastric submucosal tumors(SMT).METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 101 consecutive patients,who had undergone partial,proximal,or distal gastrectomy using LECS for gastric SMT at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2006to April 2013.All patients were followed up by visit or telephone.Clinical data,surgical approach,pathological features such as the size,location,and pathological type of each tumor;and follow-up results were analyzed.The feasibility,safety and effectiveness of LECS for gastric SMT were evaluated,especially for patients with tumors located near the cardia or pylorus.RESULTS:The 101 patients included 43(42.6%)menand 58(57.4%)women,with mean age of 51.2±13.1 years(range,14-76 years).The most common symptom was belching.Almost all(n=97)patients underwent surgery with preservation of the cardia and pylorus,with the other four patients undergoing proximal or distal gastrectomy.The mean distance from the lesion to the cardia or pylorus was 3.4±1.3 cm,and the minimum distance from the tumor edge to the cardia was 1.5 cm.Tumor pathology included gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 78 patients,leiomyoma in 13,carcinoid tumors in three,ectopic pancreas in three,lipoma in two,glomus tumor in one,and inflammatory pseudotumor in one.Tumor size ranged from 1 to8.2 cm,with 65(64.4%)lesions<2 cm,32(31.7%)>2 cm,and four>5 cm.Sixty-six lesions(65.3%)were located in the fundus,21(20.8%)in the body,10(9.9%)in the antrum,three(3.0%)in the cardia,and one(1.0%)in the pylorus.During a median follow-up of 28 mo(range,1-69 mo),none of these patients experienced recurrence or metastasis.The three patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy experienced symptoms of regurgitation and belching.CONCLUSION:Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery is feasible and safe for patients with gastric submucosal tumor.Endoscopic intraoperative localization and support can help preserve the cardia and pylorus during surgery.

Endoscopy and polyps-diagnostic and therapeutic advances in management

Despite multiple efforts aimed at early detection through screening, colon cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with an estimated 51000 deaths during 2013 alone. The goal remains to identify and remove benign neoplastic polyps prior to becoming invasive cancers. Polypoid lesions of the colon vary widely from hyperplastic, hamartomatous and inflammatory to neoplastic adenomatous growths. Although these lesions are all benign, they are common, with up to one-quarter of patients over 60 years old will develop pre-malignant adenomatous polyps. Colonoscopy is the most effective screening tool to detect polyps and colon cancer, although several studies have demonstrated missed polyp rates from 6%-29%, largely due to variations in polyp size. This number can be as high as 40%, even with advanced (> 1 cm) adenomas. Other factors including sub-optimal bowel preparation, experience of the endoscopist, and patient anatomical variations all affect the detection rate. Additional challenges in decision-making exist when dealing with more advanced, and typically larger, polyps that have traditionally required formal resection. In this brief review, we will explore the recent advances in polyp detection and therapeutic options.