鉴别食管早期癌浸润深度的内镜分型初探

目的 研究新的内镜分型鉴别食管早期癌黏膜内及黏膜下浸润的价值.方法 对早期食管癌进行卢戈液及亚甲蓝染色,用普通胃镜根据病灶的生长方式、隆起高度、凹陷深度分为以下5种类型:表面扩散生长型、腔内生长型、壁内生长型、双向生长型及混合生长型.病灶经黏膜切除术或外科手术切除,经病理检查证实其浸润深度.比较44例食管黏膜内癌及34例食管黏膜下癌病灶的内镜分型特点与浸润深度的关系.结果 以表面扩散生长型、腔内生长型高度<5 mm、双向生长型高度<2 mm及壁内生长型深度<0.5 mm提示黏膜内癌,其特异性为89.1%(41/46),敏感性为93.2%(41/44);以腔内生长型高度≥5 mm、双向生长型高度≥2 mm、壁内生长型深度≥0.5 mm及混合生长型提示黏膜下癌,其特异性为90.6%(29/32),敏感性为85.3%(29/34).内镜分型鉴别黏膜内癌及黏膜下癌的准确性为89.7%(70/78).结论 该内镜分型可较准确地鉴别早期食管癌黏膜内及黏膜下浸润,对指导早期食管癌的内镜治疗有重要的价值.     

CLINICAL USEFULNESS OF HIGH‐FREQUENCY ULTRASOUND PROBES FOR NEW INVASION DEPTH DIAGNOSIS IN SUBMUCOSAL COLORECTAL CARCINOMA

Recently it has become very important to diagnose more precisely the invasion depth of submucosal carcinoma prior to endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) whether selecting lesion is with or without indications for EMR. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of high‐frequency ultrasound probes (HFUP) for preoperative diagnosis of vertical invasion depth < 1000 µm or not in superficial and sessile type submucosal colorectal carcinomas. Twenty‐seven cases of superficial and sessile type submucosal colorectal carcinoma were examined with high‐frequency ultrasound probes (HFUP; 15 or 20 MHz radial‐scan ultrasound probes; Olympus Optical, Tokyo, Japan and Fujinon Omiya, Saitama, Japan) at Hiroshima University Hospital and analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy was confirmed by comparing the ultrasonic with the pathologic vertical invasion depth of specimens resected either by EMR or surgical resection. Histologic depth of submucosal invasion was defined as the distance from muscularis mucosae measured microscopically with a micrometer. When muscularis mucosae in the tumor could not be detected, we measured the invasion depth from the surface of the carcinoma to the apex of the deepest invasive portion. As a result, invasion depth between ultrasonic image and histologic findings showed a significantly close correlation. HFUP diagnosis was demonstrated as useful in determining the distance of vertical invasion and for planning a therapeutic strategy against submucosal colorectal carcinomas.     

ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION FOR SUBMUCOSAL INVASIVE GASTRIC CANCER AND CURABILITY CRITERIA

Aims: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as curative treatment for node‐negative submucosal invasive early gastric cancer (EGC) and to consider further expansion of the curability criteria for submucosal invasive EGC. Methods: A total of 977 EGC in 855 patients treated by ESD were enrolled. They were divided into intramucosal cancer (M); minimally submucosal invasive cancer (<500 µm from the muscularis mucosa) (SM1); and deeper submucosal invasive cancer (>500 µm from the muscularis mucosa) (SM2). The technical feasibility of ESD for SM1 and M were compared, and the clinical prognosis of SM1 was evaluated. Furthermore, the volume of carcinoma invading to the submucosal layer, which we called the SM volume index, was calculated virtually to analyze its correlation with lymphatic‐vascular invasion. Results: There were no statistical differences in technical outcomes and complications between M and SM1. Curative resection rates were significantly better in M than in SM1 (M, 92.6%; SM1, 63.8%). No local recurrences and distant metastases were found in 48 SM1 patients declared to have undergone curative resections. Most cases (72.0%) with successful ESD but non‐curative resection exceeded 30 mm in maximum size, and no local recurrences and metastases were found in these patients. The SM volume index of these cases was comparatively small. Conclusion: The technical and theoretical validity of ESD for SM1 was validated. The possibility of further expansion of the curability criteria for submucosal invasive cancers was suggested by the evaluation of the SM volume index.     

Endoscopic mucosal resection for early esophageal cancer and esophageal dysplasia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Advances in diagnostic technology have led to increased detection of early esophageal cancer, which is suitable for endoscopic treatment. We performed endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection of such cancer and dysplasia using the endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection tube and evaluated the clinical benefit of this technique. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-nine patients with esophageal mucosal cancer (27 cases with 33 lesions) or dysplasia (2 cases with 2 lesions) diagnosed between September 1992 and March 1998 were assessed endoscopically for the depth and extent of invasion by double staining with toluidine blue and iodine. Endoscopic ultrasonography was also performed to assess the depth of invasion in 22 cases with 22 lesions. RESULTS: The 35 esophageal lesions comprised 27 esophageal carcinomas and 8 areas of dysplasia. Twenty of the 35 lesions were resected en bloc and 15 were resected piecemeal. Subsequent surgery was performed for 5 cases with 7 lesions out of 10 cases with 15 lesions that were histopathologically diagnosed as m3 or more invasive. No recurrence has been detected in 24 evaluable cases (including 1 who died of another disease, 2 in whom surgery could not be performed due to complications, and 3 who refused subsequent surgery). No patients died of esophageal cancer after a mean follow-up period of 30.9 +/- 18.9 months. The 4-year survival rate was 100% in the m2 or less invasive group of 19 cases with 20 lesions, 75% in the m3 or higher invasive group of 5 cases with 8 lesions and 100% in the surgery group of 5 cases with 7 lesions (NS). No serious complications occurred except for 1 patient. Circumferential mucosal resection was done in this patient, resulting in esophageal stenosis, which responded to esophageal dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal mucosal resection using the endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection tube is safe and beneficial for early esophageal cancer and dysplasia.     

结直肠肿瘤表面凹陷形态对判断病变性质及浸润深度的作用

目的评估应用放大色素内镜观察结直肠肿瘤表面凹陷形态判断病灶性质和浸润深度的作用。方法连续收集符合内镜黏膜切除术（EMR）指征的无蒂或平坦、凹陷型病灶。应用放大色素内镜,对伴有中央凹陷的病灶根据凹陷面形态分为1型（星芒状）和2型（圆盘形）。根据EMR术后病理诊断,分析病灶表面凹陷形态与病变性质和浸润深度的相关性。结果EMR切除病灶90个（无蒂型25个,平坦、凹陷型65个）。病灶中央有凹陷者占54．4％（49／90）,出现高度异型增生（HGD）或癌的比例（51．0％）显著高于没有凹陷者（17．1％）（P〈0．001）。其中,2型凹陷出现HGD或癌的比例（89．5％）又显著高于1型凹陷（26．7％、）（P〈0．001）。根据凹陷面形态区分黏膜下浅层（m·sm1）和黏膜下深层（sm2-sm3）浸润的总体准确性为83．7％（41／49）。结论根据结直肠平坦、凹陷型和无蒂肿瘤表面凹陷形态能够判断病变程度和浸润深度,从而指导EMR治疗。     

联合应用超声内镜与超声微探头在早期食管癌术前分期中的作用

目的 探讨超声内镜联合超声微探头对早期食管浅表癌浸润深度和淋巴结转移的判断及其临床意义.方法 联合应用超声内镜和超声微探头对121例共124处早期浅表型食管癌病灶行临床分期,并与术后及黏膜切除后病理分期相比较.结果 内镜超声检查对早期食管癌术前T分期总的准确率为82.3%(102/124).本组早期食管癌淋巴结总的转移率为5.0%(6/121),其中原位无一例淋巴结转移,黏膜内癌淋巴结转移率为1.3%(1/78),黏膜下癌淋巴结转移率为11.6%(5/43).结论 联合使用超声内镜及超声微探头对早期食管癌可以进行准确的分期,可以指导早期食管癌治疗策略的选择.     

超声内镜联合EMR或ESD在食管表浅隆起性病变诊断和治疗中的作用

目的：探讨超声内镜（EUS）联合内镜下黏膜切除术（EMR）或内镜下黏膜剥离术（ESD）在食管表浅隆起性病变诊断和治疗中的价值。方法对35例经EUS检查拟诊为食管表浅隆起性病变患者进行EMR或ESD治疗的病例资料进行回顾性研究,分析病变部位的EUS图像、病理诊断结果及随访治疗效果。结果35例中21例经EMR治疗,14例经ESD治疗。经病理组织学检查确诊为早期食管癌9例,重度不典型增生5例,良性间质瘤3例,腺瘤性息肉4例,非腺瘤性息肉6例,平滑肌瘤8例。经EUS及病理证实病变均起源于黏膜层、黏膜肌层和黏膜下层。34例分别于术后1、3、6月复查EUS随访,术后1个月后伤口均完全愈合,无出血、食管狭窄及局部复发现象发生。结论联合应用EUS和EMR或ESD技术,不仅可以提高食管表浅隆起性病变早期的确诊率,而且是一种微创、有效、安全、快速的治疗措施。     

Diagnosis and treatment of superficial oesophageal carcinoma

Oesophageal carcinoma is a major cause of cancer death in certain parts of the world. Early detection provides the only chance of cure. In this study, one female and nine male patients with superficial oesophageal carcinoma were investigated to determine the pertinent clinical and pathological features. All male patients were smokers and six patients drank various amounts of alcohol on a daily basis. Histologically, five cases were confined within the mucosal layer and five within the submucosal layer. All five mucosal cancer cases and two of the live submucosal cancer cases were asymptomatic. Endoscopically, all five mucosal cancer patients had flat lesions, whereas the five submucosal cancer tumours appeared either protruding or depressed. Barium oesophagography failed to demonstrate the lesions in four of five mucosal cancer and one of five submucosal cancer cases. Endoscopic ultrasonography correctly detected the depth of cancer invasion in six out of eight superficial oesophageal carcinoma cases. All patients received a one-stage operation that included oesophagectomy and lymph node dissection. All five mucosal cancer patients had no lymph node involvement and have experienced no tumour recurrence. Among them, one who had concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma died early. Of the five submucosal cancer cases, four died 1–5 years after the operation. It is concluded that oesophageal carcinoma is curable in its early stage. Physicians should be alert while performing endoscopic examination. We believe that the dyeing technique is a useful adjunct to endoscopic examination.     

Correlations between lymph node metastasis and depth of submucosal invasion in submucosal invasive colorectal carcinoma: a Japanese collaborative study

Background Depth of submucosal invasion (SM depth) in submucosal invasive colorectal carcinoma (SICC) is considered an important predictive factor for lymph node metastasis. However, no nationwide reports have clarified the relationship between SM depth and rate of lymph node metastasis. Our aim was to investigate the correlations between lymph node metastasis and SM depth in SICC.Methods SM depth was measured for 865 SICCs that were surgically resected at six institutions throughout Japan. For pedunculated SICC, the level 2 line according to Haggitts classification was used as baseline and the SM depth was measured from this baseline to the deepest portion in the submucosa. When the deepest portion of invasion was limited to above the baseline, the case was defined as a head invasion. For nonpedunculated SICC, when the muscularis mucosae could be identified, the muscularis mucosae was used as baseline and the vertical distance from this line to the deepest portion of invasion represented SM depth. When the muscularis mucosae could not be identified due to carcinomatous invasion, the superficial aspect of the SICC was used as baseline, and the vertical distance from this line to the deepest portion was determined.Results For pedunculated SICC, rate of lymph node metastasis was 0% in head invasion cases and stalk invasion cases with SM depth <3000µm if lymphatic invasion was negative. For nonpedunculated SICC, rate of lymph node metastasis was also 0% if SM depth was <1000µm.Conclusions These results clarified rates of lymph node metastasis in SICC according to SM depth, and may contribute to defining therapeutic strategies for SICC.     

Argon plasma coagulation for superficial esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma in high-risk patients

AIM: To evaluate the usefulness and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) for superficial esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (SESC) in high-risk patients. METHODS: We studied 17 patients (15 men and 2 women, 21 lesions) with SESC in whom endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and open surgery were contraindicated from March 1999 through February 2009. None of the patients could tolerate prolonged EMR/ESD or open surgery because of severe concomitant disease (e.g., liver cirrhosis, cerebral infarction, or ischemic heart disease) or scar formation after EMR/ESD and chemoradiotherapy. After conventional endoscopy, an iodine stain was sprayed on the esophageal mucosa to determine the lesion margins. The lesion was then ablated by APC. We retrospectively studied the treatment time, number of APC sessions per site, complications, presence or absence of recurrence, and time to recurrence.RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 36 mo (range: 6-120 mo). All of the tumors were macroscopically classified as superficial and slightly depressed type (0-Ⅱc). The preoperative depth of invasion was clinical T1a (mucosal cancer) for 19 lesions and clinical T1b (submucosal cancer) for 2. The median treatment time was 15 min (range: 10-36 min). The median number of treatment sessions per site was 2 (range: 1-4). The median hospital stay was 14 d (range: 5-68 d). Among the 17 patients (21 lesions), 2 (9.5%) had recurrence and underwent additional APC with no subsequent evidence of recurrence. There were no treatment-related complications, such as bleeding or perforation. CONCLUSION: APC is considered to be safe and effective for the management of SESC that cannot be resected endoscopically because of underlying disease, as well as for the control of recurrence after EMR and local recurrence after chemoradiotherapy.     

Ultrasonic Tactile Sensor: An Experimental Study to Evaluate the Depth of Invasion in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Abstract: To date, an objective scale for evaluation of tissue stiffness has been lacking. A new instrument, the “ultrasonic tactile sensor (UTS)”, allows objective evaluation of stiffness. For the purpose of evaluating cancer stiffness, we first introduce an experimental study on tissue stiffness using surgically resected specimens of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with no special preoperative treatment. From November 1995 to January 1996, the authors examined 11 esophageal cancer specimens. Although this experiment revealed no differences between normal mucosa and mucosal cancer in the esophagus, significant differences between mucosal and submucosal cancers in terms of tissue stiffness were clearly demonstrated. Therefore, UTS examination is useful for assessing malignant invasion, thereby providing valuable information for determining appropriate indications for endoscopic mucosal resection. We currently perform this UTS examination using a miniature probe during preoperative endoscopy. We anticipate that this new method will become an essential tool for evaluating the depth of invasion in esophageal cancer preoperatively.     

Size does not determine the grade of malignancy of early invasive colorectal cancer

AIM： To clarify the clinicopathological characteristics of small and large early invasive colorectal cancers （EI-CRCs）, and to determine whether malignancy grade depends on size. METHODS： A total of 583 consecutive EI-CRCs treated by endoscopic mucosal resection or surgery at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1980 and 2004 were enrolled in this study. Lesions were classified into two groups based on size： small （≤10 ram） and large （〉10 ram）. Clinicopathological features, incidence of lymph node metastasis （LNM） and risk factors for LNM, such as depth of invasion, lymphovascular invasion （LVI） and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma （PDA） were analyzed in all resected specimens. RESULTS： There were 120 （21%） small and 463 （79%） large lesions. Histopathological analysis of the small lesion group revealed submucosal deep cancer （sin： 1〉1000 μm） in 90 （75%） cases, LVI in 26 （22%） cases, and PDA in 12 （10%） cases. Similarly, the large lesion group exhibited submucosal deep cancer in 380 （82%） cases, LVI in 125 （27%） cases, and PDA in 79 （17%） cases. The rate of LNM was 11.2% and 12.1% in the small and large lesion groups, respectively.CONCLUSION： Small EI-CRC demonstrated the same aggressiveness and malignant potential as large cancer.     

Endoscopic ultrasound using ultrasound probes for the diagnosis of early esophageal and gastric cancers

Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) devices were first designed and manufactured more than 30 years ago,and since then investigators have reported EUS is effective for determining both the staging and the depth of invasion of esophageal and gastric cancers.We review the present status,the methods,and the findings of EUS when used to diagnose and stage early esophageal and gastric cancer.EUS using high-frequency ultrasound probes is more accurate than conventional EUS for the evaluation of the depth of invasion of superficial esophageal carcinoma.The rates of accurate evaluation of the depth of invasion by EUS using high-frequency ultrasound probes were 70%-88% for intramucosal cancer,and 83%-94% for submucosal invasive cancer.But the sensitivity of EUS using high-frequency ultrasound probes for the diagnosis of submucosal invasive cancer was relatively low,making it difficult to confirm minute submucosal invasion.The accuracy of EUS using highfrequency ultrasound probes for early gastric tumor classification can be up to 80% compared with 63% for conventional EUS,although the accuracy of EUS using high-frequency ultrasound probes relatively decreases for those patients with depressed-type lesions,undifferentiated cancer,concomitant ulceration,expanded indications,type 0-Ⅰ lesions,and lesions located in the upper-third of the stomach.A 92% overall accuracy rate was achieved when both the endoscopic appearance and the findings from EUS using high-frequency ultrasound probes were considered together for tumor classification.Although EUS using high-frequency ultrasound probes has limitations,it has a high depth of invasion accuracy and is a useful procedure to distinguish lesions in the esophagus and stomach that are indicated for endoscopic resection.     

Pilot study on confocal endomicroscopy for determination of the depth of squamous cell esophageal cancer in vivo

Background and Aim:  Confocal endomicroscopy is ultra-high-magnification endoscopy with histological observation during ongoing endoscopy. We planned a pilot study of the diagnosis of the depth of esophageal cancer using confocal endomicroscopy for treatment strategies.
Methods:  Patients had 14 superficial esophageal cancers and one dysplasia. The depth of neoplasms in 15 lesions was confirmed by endoscopic mucosal resection or surgery.
We examined the rate of delineation and compared results of confocal imaging with histological findings. We classified two cellular and three microvascular patterns on confocal endomicroscopic images: CP-N for normal squamous mucosa and CP-Ca for cancerous lesion; VP-type A for normal squamous mucosa; VP-type B for T1a-EP and T1a-LPM cancers; and VP-type C for T1a-MM or a more invasive cancer pattern. We measured diameters of microvessels for the three patterns of confocal endomicroscopic images and histological specimens.
Results:  The rate of delineation was 73.3% (11/15) for esophageal cancer. The results of confocal imaging coincided well with microvessel distribution on horizontal histology. Two endoscopists blindly diagnosed the two types by cellular pattern and the three types by vascular pattern: their overall accuracies were 96% and 89% for the cellular pattern and 85% and 85% for the vascular pattern, respectively. The k value of the cellular pattern and the vascular pattern diagnosis was 0.84 and 0.75, respectively.
Conclusion:  Scoring and quantification of confocal endomicroscopic images may be useful for the differential diagnosis and diagnosis of superficial invasion by squamous cell carcinoma.     

Does immunohistochemical staining have a clinical impact in early gastric cancer conducted endoscopic submucosal dissection?

AIM: To evaluate clinicopathologic parameters and the clinical significance related lymphovascular invasion (LVI) by immunohistochemical staining (IHCS) in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).METHODS: Between May 2005 and May 2010, a total of 348 lesions from 321 patients (mean age 63 ± 10 years, men 74.6%) with early gastric cancer (EGC) who met indication criteria after ESD were analyzed retrospectively. The 348 lesions were divided into the absolute (n = 100, differentiated mucosal cancer without ulcer ≤ 20 mm) and expanded (n = 248) indication groups after ESD. The 248 lesions were divided into four subgroups according to the expanded ESD indication. The presence of LVI was determined by factor VIII-related antigen and D2-40 assessment. We compared LVI IHCS-negative group with LVI IHCS-positive in each group.RESULTS: LVI by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HES) and IHCS were all negative in the absolute group, while was observed in only the expanded groups. The positive rate of LVI by IHCS was higher than that of LVI by HES (n = 1, 0.4% vs n = 11, 4.4%, P = 0.044). LVI IHCS-positivity was observed when the cancer invaded to the mucosa 3 (M3) or submucosa 1 (SM1) levels, with a predominance of 63.6% in the subgroup that included only SM1 cancer (P < 0.01). In a univariate analysis, M3 or SM1 invasion by the tumor was significantly associated with a higher rate of LVI by IHCS, but no factor was significant in a multivariate analysis. There were no cases of tumor recurrence or metastasis during the median 26 mo follow-up.CONCLUSION: EGCs of the absolute group are immunohistochemically stable. The presence of LVI may be carefully examined by IHCS in an ESD expanded indication group with an invasion depth of M3 or greater.     

Curative ESD for intraepithelial esophageal carcinoma with leiomyoma mimicking submucosal invasive carcinoma

This case report presents a 65-year-old man who developed early esophageal cancer with leiomyoma treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). There have been several reports of co-existing superficial esophageal cancer and leiomyoma treated by endoscopic mucosal resection. However, there is no previous report describing the co-existing lesion treated by ESD. In order to determine treatment strategies for esophageal cancer, accurate endoscopic evaluation of the cancerous depth is essential. In the present case, the combination of endoscopic ultrasonography and narrow-band imaging system with magnifying endoscopy was extremely useful to evaluate the superficial esophageal cancer with leiomyoma, which lead to the appropriate treatment, ESD.     

Diagnostic accuracy of tumor staging and treatment outcomes in patients with superficial esophageal cancer

Background We examined the current status and diagnostic accuracy of currently available techniques for tumor staging and assessed treatment outcomes in patients with superficial esophageal cancer who received esophaguspreserving therapy, such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) alone or combined with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods In 274 patients with superficial esophageal cancer, we examined the depth of tumor invasion and the degree of lymph node metastasis by means of endoscopy, magnifying endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), computed tomography (CT), and cervical and abdominal ultrasonography (US). We compared treatment outcomes among treatment groups according to the depth of tumor invasion. Results The rates of correctly diagnosing the depth of tumor invasion were 89.6% on conventional endoscopy, 90.1% on magnifying endoscopy, and 85% on scanning with a high-frequency miniature ultrasonic probe (miniature US probe). Diagnostic accuracy for the m3 or sm1 cancers was poor. Magnifying endoscopy allowed invasion to be more precisely estimated, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy. However, lesions that maintained their surface structure despite deep invasion were misdiagnosed on magnifying endoscopy. A miniature US probe was useful for the assessment of such lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS for lymph node metastasis was 83%, with a sensitivity of 76%. The sensitivity of CT was 29%, and that of cervical and abdominal US was 17%. Patients with m1 or m2 cancer had good outcomes after esophagus-preserving therapy. Although there were no significant differences in survival rates, many patients with sm2 or sm3 cancer who received CRT died of their disease. Nodal recurrence was diagnosed by EUS. In patients who received CRT, the time to the detection of recurrence was slightly prolonged. Conclusions Long-term follow-up at regular intervals is essential in patients with m3 or sm esophageal cancers who receive esophagus-preserving treatment. At present, EUS is the most reliable technique for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis and is therefore essential for pretreatment evaluation as well as for follow-up. Earlier detection of recurrence at a level that would potentially salvage treatment remains a topic for future research. Review articles on this topic also appeared in the previous issue (Volume 4 Number 3). An editorial related to this article is available at .     

Prediction of the indication criteria for endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer

AIM: To find risk factors of lymph node metastasis(LNM) in early gastric cancer(EGC) and to find proper endoscopic therapy indication in EGC.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the 2270 patients who underwent curative operation for EGC from January 2001 to December 2008. EGC was defined as malignant lesions that do not invade beyond the submucosal layer of the stomach wall irrespective of presence of lymph node metastasis.RESULTS: Among 2270 enrolled patients, LNM was observed in 217(9%) patients. LNM in intramucosal(M) cancer and submucosal(SM) cancer was detectedin 3 8( 2. 8 %, 3 8 / 1 3 4 0) patients and 1 7 9(19%, 179/930) patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for LNM in EGC were size of tumor, Lauren classification, ulcer, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion. However, in multivariate analysis, size of tumor, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in EGC. Size of tumor, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in cases of intramucosal cancer and submucosal cancer. In particular, there was no lymph node metastasis in cases of well differentiated early gastric cancer below 1 cm in size without ulcer regardless of lymphovascular invasion.CONCLUSION: Tumor size, perilymphatic-vascular invasion, and depth of invasion were risk factors for LNM in EGC. There was no LNM in EGC below 1 cmregardless risk factors.     

Predictive factors for esophageal stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal cancer

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been utilized as an alternative treatment to endoscopic mucosal resection for superficial esophageal cancer. We aimed to evaluate the complications associated with esophageal ESD and elucidate predictive factors for post‐ESD stenosis. The study enrolled a total of 42 lesions of superficial esophageal cancer in 33 consecutive patients who underwent ESD in our department. We retrospectively reviewed ESD‐associated complications and comparatively analyzed regional and technical factors between cases with and without post‐ESD stenosis. The regional factors included location, endoscopic appearance, longitudinal and circumferential tumor sizes, depth of invasion, and lymphatic and vessel invasion. The technical factors included longitudinal and circumferential sizes of mucosal defects, muscle disclosure and cleavage, perforation, and en bloc resection. Esophageal stenosis was defined when a standard endoscope (9.8 mm in diameter) failed to pass through the stenosis. The results showed no cases of delayed bleeding, three cases of insidious perforation (7.1%), two cases of endoscopically confirmed perforation followed by mediastinitis (4.8%), and seven cases of esophageal stenosis (16.7%). Monovalent analysis indicated that the longitudinal and circumferential sizes of the tumor and mucosal defect were significant predictive factors for post‐ESD stenosis (P < 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for a circumferential mucosal defect size of more than 71% (100 and 97.1%, respectively), followed by a circumferential tumor size of more than 59% (85.7 and 97.1%, respectively). It is of note that the success rate of en bloc resection was 95.2%, and balloon dilatation was effective for clinical symptoms in all seven patients with post‐ESD stenosis. In conclusion, the most frequent complication with ESD was esophageal stenosis, for which the sizes of the tumor and mucosal defect were significant predictive factors. Although ESD enables large en bloc resection of esophageal cancer, practically, in cases with a lesion more than half of the circumference, great care must be taken because of the high risk of post‐ESD stenosis.     

Detection of desmoplastic reaction in biopsy specimens is useful for predicting the depth of invasion of early colorectal cancer: a Japanese collaborative study

Background

We have previously demonstrated a relationship between the depth of submucosal invasion (SM depth) and the frequency of lymph node metastasis in resected submucosal invasive colorectal cancers (SICRCs). Here, we assessed the desmoplastic reaction (DR) in pretreatment biopsy specimens of SICRC to predict the SM depth.

Methods

A total of 359 patients with SICRCs, who had undergone surgical or endoscopic mucosal resection, were enrolled. The SM depth of the SICRC lesions was evaluated according to the procedure established by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, and the patients’ corresponding pretreatment biopsy specimens were examined histologically to evaluate the prevalence of DR.

Results

For pedunculated SICRCs, the prevalence of DR in pretreatment biopsy specimens was significantly higher in moderately differentiated than in well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, but was not significantly related to SM depth. For nonpedunculated SICRCs, the prevalence of DR in pretreatment biopsy specimens was significantly related to histological type, tumor size, and SM depth. When non-pedunculated SICRCs were further divided using a specific cutoff value of 1000 μm for SM depth, the DR positivity rate in pretreatment biopsy specimens was significantly higher in SICRCs with an SM depth of ≧1000 μm (termed “SM massive CRCs”) than in cases where the SM depth was <1000 μm (termed “SM slight CRCs”).

Conclusions

Detection of DR in pretreatment biopsy specimens is useful for the prediction of SM depth in nonpedunculated SICRCs, and may be useful for the selection of such cases that would be treatable by endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection (EMR/ESD).