Outcome after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in Korea

Abstract

Endoscopic treatment, such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), has been established as one of the treatment options for selected cases with early gastric cancer (EGC). Most studies on this topic have been carried out by researchers in Japan. Recently, the experience in EMR/ESD for EGC outside Japan is increasingly reported. In Korea, gastric cancer is the most common malignant disease, and the second leading cause of cancer death. Currently, EMR for EGC is widely performed in many centers in Korea. Early results with a short-term follow-up period are very promising in Korea. The complete resection rate of EMR was 37.8%-94.3%, and that of ESD was 77.4%-93.1%. In this review, we will provide an overview of the outcomes of endoscopic treatments in Korea.

Keywords: Early gastric cancer; Endoscopic mucosal resection; Endoscopic submucosal dissection; Outcome.

Figure 1

Endoscopic submucosal dissection procedure for early gastric cancer. A: 1.5 cm × 1.2 cm sized hyperemic slightly elevated early gastric cancer was seen at the lesser curvature side of the lower body just above the gastric angle. Previous forceps biopsy results showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma; B: Indigo carmine dye was sprayed onto the lesion to define the lateral margin more clearly. Gastric mucosa around the cancer lesion showed severe metaplastic change; C: Using the tip of the needle knife, marking dots were made circumferentially at about 5 cm to 10 mm lateral to the estimated margin of the lesion; D: After submucosal injection of saline mixed with epinephrine and indigo carmine, a circumferential mucosal cutting was performed outside the marking dots to separate the lesion from the surrounding non-cancerous mucosa; E: After additional submucosal injection, direct dissection of the submucosal tissue was performed using an IT-knife and endoscopic hemostasis was carried out. A large artificial ulcer was made; F: The resected specimen with a central cancerous lesion. In the pathologic examination, a 1.8 cm × 1.1 cm sized moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma limited in the mucosal layer was identified. The resection margin was free of cancer, and there was no lymphovascular invasion.