Endoscopic mucosal resection: May 2000

Cold Versus Hot Snare Polypectomy for Colorectal Polyps: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic polypectomy is an excellent tool for colon cancer prevention. With the innovation of novel resection techniques, the best method is still being investigated. Hence, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cold snare polypectomy (CSP) versus hot snare polypectomy (HSP) for colorectal polyp resection.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing evidence from randomized controlled trials retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, WOS, SCOPUS, and CENTRAL until July 16, 2022. We pooled dichotomous outcomes using risk ratio (RR) with the corresponding CI. This review's protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42022347496.

RESULTS

We included 18 randomized controlled trials with a total of 4317 patients and 7509 polyps. Pooled RR favored HSP regarding the complete resection rate (RR: 0.96 with 95% CI: 0.95, 1, P = 0.03) and local recurrence incidence (RR: 5.74 with 95% CI: 1.27, 25.8, P = 0.02). Pooled RR favored CSP regarding the colonoscopy time (mean difference: -6.50 with 95% CI: -7.55, -5.44, P = 0.00001) and polypectomy time (mean difference: -57.36 with 95% CI: -81.74, -32.98, P = 0.00001). There was no difference regarding the incidence of immediate bleeding ( P = 0.06) and perforation ( P = 0.39); however, HSP was associated with more incidence of delayed bleeding ( P = 0.01), abdominal pain ( P = 0.007), and postresection syndrome ( P = 0.02).

DISCUSSION

HSP is associated with a higher complete resection and lower recurrence rates; however, HSP is also associated with a higher incidence of adverse events. Therefore, improving the complete resection rate with CSP still warrants more innovation, giving the technique safety and shorter procedure duration.

Facilitating endoscopic submucosal dissection: double balloon endolumenal platform significantly improves dissection time compared with conventional technique (with video)

BACKGROUND

Flexible endoscopes ability to manipulate the intestinal environment is limited. As a result, complex endolumenal procedures are often technically demanding and result in long procedure times, impacting institutional resources. Single- and double-balloon add-on endoscopic devices have been employed throughout the GI tract to facilitate tissue control e.g., small bowel enteroscopy, with recent reports suggesting a possible colonic utility for complex procedures e.g., ESD. Our objective was to objectively analyze the efficacy of a new double-balloon device in performing ESD.

METHODS

Ex vivo-12 simulated colonic lesions were created in porcine rectum using a standard 40 mm diameter template. Two categories were evaluated, standard cap technique ESD and double-balloon assisted ESD with retraction (ESD-R). Cases were performed sequentially. In vivo-Six, 40 mm lesion ESD-R's were performed in a porcine model. The primary outcomes of this study were total procedure and dissection times.

RESULTS

In ex vivo studies, the median total procedure time with the double-balloon platform was significantly shorter than the traditional ESD technique (29 ± 18 vs. 57 ± 21 min, p = 0.03). In the in vivo studies, lesions were successfully removed in a mean time of 48 min, with a dissection time of 20 min with no significant complications. Balloon-clip retraction and specimen retrieval capabilities were used in all double-balloon assisted cases. After 6 cases, times were significantly shorter (ex vivo 47 vs. 17 min; in vivo 57 vs. 27 min).

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated the development of a unique technical ESD method facilitated by a new double-balloon device. Ex and in vivo investigation demonstrated superiority of ESD-R over the conventional ex vivo method. The DB device provided increased stability, improved visualization and tissue traction, which significantly reduced dissection time. Such an approach may increase safety, improve patient outcomes, and may prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign conditions.

Determination of Effective Factors on Survival of GI Cancers: Results of Five Years Follow up in Iranian Population

Background:

The gastrointestinal cancers are among the most common cause of cancer-related death and their long term survival is very low. This study was aimed to determine the effective factors on survival of gastrointestinal cancers among Iranian population during 5 years of follow up.

Methods:

In total, 157 patients diagnosed as gastrointestinal cancers from 2007 to 2009 in the only center of endoscopy in Alvand city, northwest of Qazvin province were included and followed for five years. The univariate and multivariate analysis were done using Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox model respectively.

Results:

Observations of 146 patients were analyzed (99 (67.8%) males and 47 (32.2%) females). The mean age was 64.73± 13.23 and 58.28±13.91 for females and males respectively. The one and three years survival rates for esophageal cancer were 28% and 9% and the one, three and five years survival rates for gastric cancer were 31%, 26% and 14% and for colorectal cancer were 96%, 86% and 75% respectively. In the univariate analysis, variables of age, educational level, ethnicity, smoking, type of cancer, stage of disease and type of treatment had significant effects on survival. In the multivariate analysis, the type of cancer and type of treatment affected the survival of patients as effective factors (p<005).

Conclusion:

Patients with esophageal cancer and those who underwent RT &/or CT are exposed to higher risk of death. Combination therapies (Surgery and adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy) were related to be her survival. Early diagnosis and use of extended cancer screening programs seem necessary to improve survival.

Trangastric endo-organ resection of a proximal gastric lesion

INTRODUCTION

Gastric tumors confined to mucosa and submucosa can be resected with endoscopic resection techniques. They include endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) [1, 2]. These techniques can be challenging when the tumor is large or is near the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. Transgastric resection is a novel technique of removing gastric tumors that are unresectable by endoscopy due to their size and location.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We present a case of a 41-year-old male where a suspicious appearing lesion near the GE junction was removed using combined trans-gastric laparoscopic and endoscopic technique. The stomach was inflated using endoscopy, and three 5-mm balloon-tipped trocars were inserted directly into the stomach. The lesion was lifted with submucosal injection of saline and was resected using ultrasonic dissection device. The specimen was retrieved using Rothnet through the endoscope. The mucosal defect was closed with absorbable sutures. Trocars were removed and gastrostomy sites were closed with Endostitch device. Swallow study done on post-op day 2 did not show any signs of leak. Patient was discharged home on post-op day 5. Final pathology was consistent with hyperplastic polyp.

CONCLUSION

Proximal Gastric lesions can be safely removed with combined Laparoscopic trans-gastric and endoscopic approach.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in early gastric cancer in elderly patients and comorbid conditions

The prognosis of early gastric cancer (EGC) is good if there is no concomitant lymph node metastasis. Therefore, the early detection of EGC is important to improve the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. In Japan, 40% to 50% of all gastric cancers are EGC, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely accepted as a local treatment for these lesions, particularly for large lesions that at one time were an indication for gastrectomy because of the difficulty of en-bloc resection. Consequently, this procedure can preserve the entire stomach and the patient’s postoperative quality of life. ESD has become a general technique with improved procedures and devices, and has become the preferred treatment for EGC rather than gastrectomy. Therefore, ESD may demonstrate many advantages in patients who have several comorbidities, particularly elderly population, patients taking antithrombotic agents, or patients with chronic kidney disease, or liver cirrhosis. However, it is not yet clear whether patients with both EGC and comorbidities are feasible candidates for ESD and whether they would consequently be able to achieve a survival benefit after ESD. In this review, we discuss the clinical problems of ESD in patients with EGC and those comorbid conditions.

Colon polypectomy: a review of routine and advanced techniques

The value of performing comprehensive screening colonoscopy with complete colon polypectomy is widely accepted. Colon cancer is a significant cause of worldwide mortality and prospective studies have proven that colonoscopic polypectomy reduces both the incidence and mortality related to this disease. Over the past few decades the array of instruments and techniques have greatly expanded to assist with the safe endoscopic removal of colon polyps. This article will review the published literature regarding efficacy and safety of standard polypectomy techniques such as snare polypectomy, electrocautery, and endoscopic mucosal resection along with newer techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection and combined laparoscopic techniques.

Programmed cell death 4 nuclear loss and miR-21 or activated Akt overexpression in esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis

The programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) tumor suppressor is down-regulated in several malignancies, and the (subcellular) expression of its protein product is modulated by both oncomiR miR-21 and protein kinase B (Akt). PDCD4 and activated Akt (phosphorylated Akt [pAkt]) expression were assessed immunohistochemically in 53 tissue samples obtained from 25 endoscopic esophageal mucosal resections performed for squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) or squamous intramucosal carcinoma (IM-SSC). In total, 33 IEN (low-grade = 15; high-grade = 15) and 20 IM-SSC specimens were considered; 50 additional tissue samples of histologically proven normal esophageal mucosa were considered as normal controls. To further validate the results achieved, miR-21 expression (as assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization) was tested in another series of 15 normal esophageal tissue samples, 15 high-grade IEN, and 15 IM-SCCs. Normal suprabasal squamous epithelial layers consistently featured strong PDCD4 nuclear immunostaining, which was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in IEN (both low-and high-grade) and in IM-SSC. Conversely, pAkt and miR-21 expression was significantly up-regulated in the whole spectrum of preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions considered. PDCD4 down-regulation, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, is a reliable biomarker of early-stage squamous cell esophageal neoplasia, providing additional information in the histological assessment of these lesions.

A decade in gastric cancer curative surgery: Evidence of progress (1999-2009)

To investigate the progress in evidence-based surgical treatment of non-metastatic gastric cancer, we reviewed the last ten years’ literature. The data used in this review were identified by searches made on MEDLINE, Current Contents, PubMed, and other references taken from relevant original articles (on prospective and retrospective studies) concerning gastric cancer surgery. Only papers published in English between January 1999 and December 2009 were selected. Data from ongoing studies were obtained in December 2009, from the trials registry of the United States National Institutes of Health (http://www.clinicaltrial.gov). The citations list was presented according to evidence based relevance (i.e., randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, retrospective series). In the last ten years, many challenges have been faced relating to the extension of gastric resection and nodal dissection as well as surgical timing, but we found only limited evidence, regardless of latitude of study. The ongoing phase-III trials may provide answers that will be valid for the coming decades, and which may bring definitive answers for the currently unresolved questions.

[Endoscopic mucosal resection of colorectal tumors--our first experience]

BACKGROUND/AIM

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or mucosectomy is an interventional procedure for minimal invasive endoscopic removal of benign and malignant digestive tract tumors. Mucosectomy removes flat and sessile neoplasms, early colorectal cancer (CRC) confined to mucosa or submucosa and lateral spreading tumors. The aim of the study was to show our first experience in application of this procedure in everyday practice in regarding completeness and efficacy of the procedure, complication rate and incidence of recurrent adenomas.

METHODS

In the prospective study 51 colorectal adenomas were removed in 44 patients by EMR.

RESULTS

Single mucosectomy was done in 43 patients, while multiple (8) in one patient. Complete resection was obtained in all procedures. In 36 (68.62%) procedures "en block" resection was done, but in 15 (31.37%) procedures "piece meal" resection was performed. Synchronous colorectal tumors (benign or malignant) were detected in 20 (45.45%) patients. Moderate dysplasia was found in 30 (58.82%) adenomas, but high grade dysplasia in 9 (17.64%) of adenomas. Intramucosal CRC was detected in 11.77% of adenomas. A total of 37 (72.54%) advanced adenomas were removed. There were 3 (5.88%) of recurrent adenomas, 6-30 months after the EMR. Only one (2.2%) case of post procedure bleeding was observed.

CONCLUSION

EMR is a safe and efficious method for removal of flat, sessile adenomas, as well as early CRC. EMR is a routine endoscopic procedure in everyday practice of interventional endoscopist.

Outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection versus endoscopic mucosal resection in management of superficial squamous esophageal neoplasms outside Japan

GOALS

This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) versus endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in management of superficial squamous esophageal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic resection is a potential alternative in treatment of superficial squamous esophageal neoplasms. However, there have been limited reports comparing the outcomes of ESD versus EMR in the treatment of these lesions outside Japan.

STUDY

A retrospective analysis of all patients with high-grade superficial neoplasms (moderate to severe dysplasia and noninvasive carcinoma) or intramucosal carcinoma resected endoscopically between January 2002 and December 2007 was carried out. Clinical and pathologic outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

ESD was done in 22 lesions (18 patients) and cap-EMR in 13 lesions (10 patients). ESD allowed resection of larger lesions indicated by a significantly longer endoscopic length (P=0.015), larger specimen size (P<0.001), and more lesions extending for more than half the circumference of the esophagus (P=0.005) when compared with cap-EMR. ESD also achieved with a higher en bloc resection rate (P=0.052) and lower piecemeal resection rate (P=0.015). Procedure-related morbidities were not significantly different (P=1.0). There was no procedure-related mortality in the entire series.

CONCLUSIONS

ESD allows en bloc resection of larger mucosal lesions of the esophagus, earlier not possible by cap-EMR. This is achievable without significantly increasing the risks to the patient even in low-volume centers outside Japan. Whether ESD decreases the local recurrence and improves survival when compared with cap-EMR will require further long-term follow-up studies.

Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection in esophageal and gastric cancers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the literature to date on endoscopic mucosal removal techniques as applied to the upper gastrointestinal tract, predominantly the stomach and esophagus. This is an area that has rapidly advanced in terms of new procedures and techniques with a large body of outcomes that support their use.

RECENT FINDINGS

The resection techniques can be divided into two forms, mucosal resection and submucosal dissection. Mucosal resection is typically done with cap techniques and is more suitable for removable of neoplastic lesions that are less than 1.5 cm in size. Submucosal dissection techniques are more difficult, associated with increased complications, and typically reserved for lesions greater than 1.5 cm and less than 3 cm in size. Ideal lesions for mucosal resection are generally flat and are located in areas easily accessible by the endoscope.

SUMMARY

Endoscopic tissue removal methods are capable of removing neoplastic lesions en bloc in the upper gastrointestinal tract. These techniques fulfill cancer treatment guidelines by having histological confirmation of total removal of neoplastic lesions with assessment of the margins of resections. Long-term clinical outcomes of these techniques are emerging and seem promising in terms of disease-free and overall survival.

Endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) using endoscopy, namely endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), has been adopted for about 20 years, but the effectiveness and safety of the modality are still controversial. Furthermore, the risk of bias of trials of this technique has not been assessed systematically.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this review was to compare the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection with gastrectomy for the treatment of early gastric cancer.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Searches were conducted on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) which includes the Cochrane Upper Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases Group (UGPD) Trials Register (The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 1), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2005), EMBASE (1980 to March 2005), CINAHL (1985 to March 2005) and CBM (Chinese BioMedical Database 1982 to 2002). The searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE were updated in February 2006 and January 2009. Reference lists from trials selected by electronic searching were handsearched to identify further relevant trials. Published abstracts from conference proceedings from the United European Gastroenterology Week (published in Gut) and Digestive Disease Week (published in Gastroenterology) were handsearched. Members of the Cochrane UGPD Group, and experts in the field were contacted and asked to provide details of outstanding clinical trials and any relevant unpublished materials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials of early gastric cancer patients involving a treatment arm of EMR and a comparison arm of gastrectomy were to be included, but no RCTs were found.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three review authors (YP Wang, C Bennett and T Pan) independently assessed the eligibility of potential trials and extracted the data.

MAIN RESULTS

There were no randomised controlled trials identified for systematic review. Available evidence derived from non-randomised controlled trials is discussed in the main text of this review.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is a lack of randomised controlled trials in which endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is compared with gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. There is, therefore, a need for well-designed randomised controlled trials to determine the effects of EMR compared to gastrectomy.

A prospective randomized trial of either famotidine or pantoprazole for the prevention of bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been reported to have a higher bleeding rate than conventional methods. However, there are few reports on whether a proton pump inhibitor or a histamine2-receptor antagonist is the more effective treatment for preventing bleeding after ESD. In a prospective trial, patients undergoing ESD due to gastric adenoma or adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to pantoprazole or famotidine. Both drugs were given intravenously for the first 2 days, thereafter by mouth. Eighty-five in the pantoprazole group and 79 in the famotidine group were included for analysis. Primary outcome measure was the delayed bleeding rate. Clinical characteristics were not different between the two groups. The delayed bleeding rate was significantly lower in the pantoprazole group compared with the famotidine group (3.5% vs. 12.7%, p=0.031). On multivariate analysis, the preventive use of pantoprazole (relative hazard: 0.220, 95% CI: 0.051- 0.827, p=0.026) and the specimen size (> or =34 mm, relative hazard: 4.178, 95% CI: 1.229-14.197, p=0.022) were two independent factors predictive of delayed bleeding. There were no significant differences in en bloc and complete resection rate between the two groups. In conclusion, pantoprazole is more effective than famotidine for the prevention of delayed bleeding after ESD.

Iatrogenic perforation associated with therapeutic colonoscopy: a multicenter study in Japan

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Colonic perforation is the serious accidental complication. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical presentation and management of recent iatrogenic perforations during therapeutic colonoscopy.

METHODS

Consecutive patients referred to four academic cancer centers in Japan were retrospectively reviewed using each center's endoscopy database of medical records. Data was obtained by means of an extensive data collection sheet. Since we evaluated the data including iatrogenic perforation during newly developed therapeutic procedure such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or hemoclips, the collection of patient data was set from the period of the beginning of ESD technique in each hospital in this study.

RESULTS

The overall rate of occurrence of perforation was 0.15% (23/15, 160). Perforation rate for EMR (0.58%) showed a significantly higher rate (P < 0.0001) than that for hot biopsy and polypectomy. The rate for ESD (14%) showed a markedly higher rate (P < 0.0001) than that for other standard procedures. Of those perforations, endoscopic clipping was performed in 56.5% of the patients, and conservative treatment was successful in 100% of the patients with successful closure. Both CT scan findings and serology results (WBC, CRP) after perforation were poor predictors for need for surgery as opposed to conservative management.

CONCLUSIONS

Further improvements in EMR with special knife techniques are required to simply and safely remove large colorectal neoplasms, because perforation rate for ESD shows a markedly higher. Conservative management may be possible in patients who have undergone complete endoscopic clipping.

Risk factors for bleeding after endoscopic mucosal resection

AIM

To clarify the risk factors for bleeding after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).

METHODS

A total of 297 consecutive patients who underwent EMR were enrolled. Some of the patients had multiple lesions. Bleeding requiring endoscopic treatment was defined as bleeding after EMR. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), calculated by logistic regression with multivariate adjustments for covariates, were the measures of association.

RESULTS

Of the 297 patients, 57 (19.2%) patients with bleeding after EMR were confirmed. With multivariate adjustment, the cutting method of EMR, diameter, and endoscopic pattern of the tumor were associated with the risk of bleeding after EMR. The multivariate-adjusted OR for bleeding after EMR using endoscopic aspiration mucosectomy was 3.07 (95%CI, 1.59-5.92) compared with strip biopsy. The multiple-adjusted OR for bleeding after EMR for the highest quartile (16-50 mm) of tumor diameter was 5.63 (95%CI, 1.84-17.23) compared with that for the lowest (4-7 mm). The multiple-adjusted OR for bleeding after EMR for depressed type of tumor was 4.21 (95%CI, 1.75-10.10) compared with elevated type.

CONCLUSION

It is important to take tumor characteristics (tumor size and endoscopic pattern) and cutting method of EMR into consideration in predicting bleeding after EMR.

Endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) using an endoscopy, namely, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), has been adopted for about 20 years, but the effectiveness and the safety of the modality are still controversial. The quality of these trials has not been assessed systematically.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this review was to compare the effectiveness and the safety of EMR with gastrectomy for the treatment of EGC.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Searches were conducted on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials - CENTRAL (which includes the Cochrane Upper Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases Group Trials Register) on The Cochrane Library (Issue 1 2005) MEDLINE (1966 to March 2005) and EMBASE (1980 to March 2005), CINAHL (1985-March 2005) and CBM (Chinese BioMedical Database 1982 -2002). Reference lists from trials selected by electronic searching were handsearched to identify further relevant trials. Published abstracts from conference proceedings from the United European Gastroenterology Week (published in Gut) and Digestive Disease Week (published in Gastroenterology) were handsearched. Members of the Cochrane UGPD Group, and experts in the field were contacted and asked to provide details of outstanding clinical trials and any relevant unpublished materials

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials of EGC patients involving a treatment arm of EMR and a comparison arm of gastrectomy were to be included, but no RCTs were found.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three reviewers (YP Wang, C Bennett and T Pan) independently assessed the eligibility of potential trials and extracted the data.

MAIN RESULTS

There are no included randomised control trials for the systematic review. Available evidence derived from non-randomised controlled trials is discussed in the main text of this review.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is a lack of randomised controlled trials in which EMR is compared with gastrectomy for EGC. There is a need for well designed randomised controlled trials to determine the effects of EMR compared to gastrectomy.

ASGE guideline: the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, staging, and management of colorectal cancer

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of GI endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. In preparing this guideline, a MEDLINE literature search was performed, and additional references were obtained from the bibliographies of the identified articles and from recommendations of experts. When little or no data exist from well-designed prospective trials, emphasis is given to results from large series and reports from recognized experts. Guidelines for appropriate utilization of endoscopy are based on a critical review of the available data and expert consensus. Further controlled clinical studies are needed to clarify aspects of this statement and revision needed to clarify aspects of this statement and revision may be necessary as new data appear. Clinical consideration may justify a course of action at variance to the recommendations.

N/A

N/A

[Endoscopic resection with polypectomy snare and argon plasma coagulation in early gastric adenocarcinoma in a patient at high surgical risk]

We report a patient at high surgical risk with an early gastric adenocarcinoma. Due to the size of the tumor, endoscopic mucosal resection alone was not feasible and consequently a combination of endoscopic resection with polypectomy snare and argon plasma coagulation was applied. Four years later the patient remains asymptomatic.

Yield of tissue sampling for submucosal lesions evaluated by EUS

BACKGROUND

Evaluation of submucosal nodules or large gastric folds is a common indication for EUS. Establishing a tissue diagnosis is challenging because the yield of forceps biopsies is low. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic yield of EUS-guided endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection and forceps biopsy for submucosal nodules and large gastric folds.

METHODS

Patients who underwent EUS from March 1997 through January 2002 for evaluation of submucosal nodules or large gastric folds were identified, and the procedure and pathology reports reviewed. Patients were included who underwent endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection (n = 45) or large-capacity ("jumbo") biopsy (n = 36) of submucosal lesions (arising from third endosonographic layer) or large gastric folds. Endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection was performed with an electrosurgical snare or with a cap-fitted endoscopic mucosal resection device.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients (62% men; mean age, 61 years; range 27-80 years) underwent 69 EUS procedures to obtain tissue samples of subepithelial lesions. Diagnostic yields were as follows: endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection 40/45 (89%; 95% CI [80%, 98%]), jumbo biopsy 15/36 (42%; 95% CI [26%, 58%]) (p < 0.001 by two-tailed Fisher exact test). There were 9 complications: 7 instances of bleeding (6 endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection, 1 jumbo biopsy), 3 requiring hospitalization (2 endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection, 1 jumbo biopsy) and 2 requiring transfusion; 1 chest pain and odynophagia (esophageal endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection); and 1 oversedation (requiring administration of reversal agents).

CONCLUSIONS

For submucosal lesions and large gastric folds, endoscopic submucosal-mucosal resection has a better diagnostic yield than the jumbo biopsy, but may have a higher complication rate.

A medical uncertainty principle

Acquisition of diagnostic knowledge and improvement of patient health often are mutually exclusive goals. A perfect understanding of a disease process is only obtained through unrestricted testing that exposes the patient to adverse events and discomfort. In a patient completely undisturbed by test procedures, the physician remains ignorant about the nature of the disease. The interplay of diagnostic knowledge and patient health can be formulated in terms of an uncertainty principle, which allows one to mathematically derive the parameters that influence the balance between the two competing goals. The majority of clinical conditions permit the pursuit of perfect diagnostic knowledge. Occasional medical disasters occur because physicians underestimate the patient's functional reserve or the cumulative toll exerted by multiple tests. Especially in emergency situations or serious illness, the maximum amount of knowledge that can be achieved is far less than perfect. Under such circumstances, the best management option takes into account a "calculated" amount of diagnostic uncertainty.

Successful en bloc resection of a large superficial gastric cancer by using sodium hyaluronate and electrocautery incision forceps

BACKGROUND

The advisability of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for treatment of large superficial gastric cancers has been challenged. For more reliable en bloc resection, a new method of EMR was developed that uses a viscous substance, sodium hyaluronate, and two newly designed devices.

METHODS

A large superficial gastric cancer was treated with this new EMR technique. Sodium hyaluronate was injected into the submucosa and mucosal incisions were made with a needle-knife. The newly developed incision forceps and flat-ended transparent hood were used for submucosal incisions.

RESULTS

The large cancer was successfully resected endoscopically as a single piece of mucosa 6 cm in diameter without complication. Histopathologic evaluation of the specimen confirmed that the resection was curative.

CONCLUSIONS

EMR with sodium hyaluronate along with two new devices may be a reliable method for en bloc resection of large superficial gastric lesions.