Risk factors for local recurrence of superficial esophageal cancer after treatment by endoscopic mucosal resection

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: The aim of this study was to elucidate the risk factors for local recurrence after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) treatment for superficial esophageal cancer (SEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical course of 62 patients with 64 SECs that were treated by EMR between 1993 and 2004. Follow-up examinations by chromoscopy with iodine solution and biopsy were performed 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and then annually after EMR. Local recurrence was defined as a histologically confirmed finding of cancer cells at the site of the preceding EMR. The contributions of lesion-related and procedure-related factors to local recurrence were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Local recurrence was detected in 14/64 SECs 3-36 months after EMR. Of the lesion-related factors we assessed, local recurrence was found to be more frequent in SECs with a larger diameter (P = 0.01), larger circumferential spread (P = 0.04), or deeper invasion (P = 0.04), although the last two factors failed to demonstrate statistical significance after correction for multiple testing. Piecemeal resection did not increase the risk of local recurrence (P = 0.11), but the need for adjunctive coagulation therapy was found to increase the risk of local recurrence (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Larger SECs are associated with a higher risk of local recurrence after EMR. In patients with residual lesions, coagulation therapy does not seem to be adequate as additional endoscopic treatment.     

Simultaneous multiple early cancers of esophagus and stomach treated by endoscopic mucosal resection

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has been accepted as a completely curative treatment of gastrointestinal mucosal cancers. With advances in diagnostic techniques, the tendency to detect simultaneous multiple primary cancers is increasing. Patients with another cancer coexisting with esophageal cancer have had a poor prognosis, but if both cancers are detected in the early stage, complete treatment consisting only of endoscopic surgery, with a good prognosis, is expected. We describe two cases of simultaneous multiple early cancers of the stomach and esophagus, treated by EMR.     

内镜套帽法治疗食管早期癌及癌前病变

目的　探讨内镜套帽法切除食管早期癌及癌前病变的应用价值。方法　采用套帽法切除食管早期癌及癌前病变 5 7例 ,其中食管早期癌 33例 ,癌前病变 2 4例 ;全组术前和术后均经病理证实。结果　 5 7例中完全切除 4 8例 (84 .2 % ) ,不完全切除 9例中 1例改手术治疗 ,1例放射治疗 ,余行微波或氩离子凝固治疗 ;重度不典型增生灶 2 1例中 ,术后病理灶性癌变 6例 (2 8.6 % ) ;中度不典型增生灶 10例 ,术后重度不典型增生 2例 (2 0 .0 % ) ,灶性癌变 1例(10 .0 % ) ;1例术中出血 ,无穿孔、狭窄发生 ;随访 5年以上 12例 ,>3～ 5年 11例 ,1～ 3年 2 3例 ,不足 1年 11例 ,1例术后复发 ,非癌死亡 3例。结论　套帽法完全切除率较高 ,操作较简单 ,优于其他方法 ;病灶显示及切除技巧是影响完全切除的主要因素 ;中度不典型增生短期复查无好转和重度不典型增生 ,应采用内镜治疗 ;内镜黏膜切除治疗在食管癌防治策略中具有重要价值和意义     

Characteristics of metachronous multiple early gastric cancers after endoscopic mucosal resection

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of early gastric cancer is a minimally invasive procedure. The incidence and characteristics of metachronous multiple gastric cancers were investigated in a retrospective study in patients with early gastric cancer after EMR treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 143 patients with early gastric cancer who had undergone EMR treatment were periodically followed up with endoscopic examinations for 24 months or longer. RESULTS: The median period of endoscopic follow-up was 57 months (range 24 - 157 months). None of the patients died of gastric cancer, and there were no treatment-related deaths. Five patients died of other diseases. Of 20 patients (14 %) with metachronous multiple gastric cancers, 15 were treated by EMR. One patient with differentiated submucosal cancer and four with undifferentiated cancers underwent surgery. Sixteen patients (11 %) had synchronous multiple early gastric cancer lesions within 1 year of the initial EMR. About half of the multiple lesions were located in the same third of the stomach as the primary lesion, and most lesions were similar in macroscopic type to the primary lesions. Most multiple lesions were of the differentiated type. CONCLUSIONS: Annual endoscopic examinations can preserve the whole stomach in most patients with early gastric cancer after successful EMR.     

Endoscopic mucosal resection for squamous premalignant and early malignant lesions of the esophagus

BACK AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is used to treat premalignant and malignant digestive tract lesions. This report presents the efficacy and safety of EMR for squamous superficial neoplastic esophageal lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study presented data from 51 patients with 54 lesions over an 8-year period, between November 1997 and September 2005. Dysplasas or mucosal (m) T1 carcinomas were treated with repeated EMR until there was a complete local remission. Patients with submucosal (sm) T1 carcinomas were treated with repeated EMR until there was a complete local remission. Patients with submucosal (sm) T1 carcinomas or more advanced stage were offered surgery or chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: There was no mortality, perforation, or major hemorrhage, and there were three easily dilated stenoses. Of the patients, 16 had lesions graded as T1sm or more advanced and one patient was found to have normal tissue post EMR. Complete local remission was achieved in 31 of the 34 patients with dysplasia or T1 m cancers (91%). There was no distant relapse and there was local disease recurrence in eight of the 31 patients (26%). The 5-year survival rate was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: EMR for squamous superficial neoplastic lesions of the esophagus is safe and provides satisfactory survival results.     

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): results and prognostic factors in 21 patients

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic mucosectomy (EM), and to present our experience with the endoscopic removal of superficial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 21 patients were included in the study (16 men, 5 women), between September 1995 and May 1997. In 16 cases the site of the lesions was an esophageal carcinoma, in two cases a gastric carcinoma, and in three cases a sessile polyp of the duodenum with severe dysplasia. Surgery was not recommended for the patients with esophageal or gastric tumors (on account of cardiac disease, cirrhosis or poor health). All patients underwent an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination. The lesions were classified as usT1N0 in 20 cases, and usT0N0 in one case, according to the pretreatment EUS findings. We used the technique of polypectomy after submucosal injection of 10-15 ml of saline serum. RESULTS: Complications were encountered in 2/21 patients (9.5 %). Bleeding occurred in one case, but hemostasis was achieved endoscopically. In the other case, the patient presented with a thoracic pain and was treated by morphine injection. Endoscopic resection was considered to be complete in 19/21 patients (90.4%). In the other two cases, both involving esophageal tumors, histologic examination indicated only a partial tumor removal. However, these two patients had survived with negative EUS and endoscopic biopsy findings at 18 and 22 months later, respectively. None of the patients whose resections were considered complete presented with local recurrence, but three patients developed another superficial esophageal cancer, which was also treated by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The mean follow-up was 20 months. CONCLUSIONS: EMR is a safe and efficient treatment of early gastrointestinal tumors. The development of high-frequency EUS probes may further improve the results of this technique in the future.     

Expansion of the indications for endoscopic mucosal resection in patients with superficial esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a minimally invasive local treatment for superficial esophageal carcinoma (SEC). The use of EMR in patients with m3 or sm1 SEC remains controversial, however. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the histopathological risk factors for lymph-node metastasis and recurrence in patients with m3 or sm1 SEC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 43 patients with m3 or sm1 esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas: 23 patients were treated surgically (the surgery group), and 20 were treated by EMR (the EMR group). We assessed the following variables of the specimens resected by surgery or EMR: tumor depth, maximal surface diameter of the tumor (superficial size), maximum diameter of tumor invasion at the lamina muscularis mucosae (LMM invasion width), and lymphatic invasion. The relationships of these variables to lymph-node metastasis and recurrence were examined. RESULTS: In the surgery group, lymph-node metastasis was found in four patients, all of whom had tumors with lymphatic invasion, a superficial size of at least 25 mm, and an LMM invasion width of at least 2500 microm. In the EMR group, no patient met all three of these criteria, and there was no evidence of lymph-node metastasis or distant metastasis on follow-up after EMR (median follow-up 39 months). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with m3 or sm1 SEC, tumors that have lymphatic invasion, larger superficial size, and wider LMM invasion are associated with a high risk for lymph-node metastasis. EMR might be indicated for the treatment of patients with m3 or sm1 SECs without these characteristics.     

What are the findings of esophageal cancer to be treated endoscopically?

In Japan, the results of histopathologic analyses on esophageal carcinomas have shown that almost all of them are squamous epithelial cancers. The abnormal epithelium that is difficult to differentiate by endoscopy can be easily visualized by chromoendoscopy with the use of iodine staining. Since the establishment of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), it has been used increasingly to treat mucosal cancers. It is necessary to diagnose accurately the depth of invasion of mucosal cancer when it is to be treated by EMR. In this article, we explain our routine techniques to visualize and interpret the lesions that are candidates for EMR. It is of great benefit to detect lesions at their early stage, which leads to the most desirable endoscopic treatment.     

Present state and measures of Barrett's cancer in Japan

Barrett's adenocarcinoma is common esophageal cancer in western countries but very rare in Japan. We reviewed 206 cases of Barrett's cancer in Japanese literature that issued from 2000 to 2004. 80% of them were superficial cancer. There was no mucosal Barrett's cancer with lymph nodes metastasis, therefore EMR (endoscopic mucosal resection) method is an appropriate way for mucosal cancer. Barrett's cancer with submucosal invasion occur lymph nodes metastasis, so surgical operation should be applied for deeper invasion to submucosal cancer.     

Circumferential endoscopic mucosal resection in Barrett's esophagus with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or mucosal cancer. Preliminary results in 21 patients

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Treatment by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has been established for early lesions in Barrett's esophagus. However, the remaining Barrett's esophagus epithelium remains at risk of developing further lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of circumferential endoscopic mucosectomy (circumferential EMR)s in removing not only the index lesion (high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) or mucosal cancer), but also the remaining Barrett's esophagus epithelium. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 21 patients were included in the study (11 men, 10 women), who had Barrett's esophagus and either HGIN (n = 12) or mucosal cancer (n = 9). Of the patients, 17/21 were at high surgical risk and five had refused surgery. On the basis of preprocedure endosonography their lesions were classified as T1N0 (n = 19) or T0N0 (n = 2). The lesions and the Barrett's esophagus epithelium were removed by polypectomy after submucosal injection of 10-15 ml of saline; a double-channel endoscope was used in 15/21 cases. Circumferential EMR was performed in two sessions, the lesion and the surrounding half of the circumferential Barrett's esophagus mucosa being removed in the first session. In order to prevent the formation of esophageal stenosis, the second half of the Barrett's esophagus mucosa was resected 1 month later. RESULTS: Complications occurred in 4/21 patients (19 %), consisting of bleeding which was successfully managed by endoscopic hemostasis in all cases. No strictures were observed during follow-up (mean duration 18 months) and endoscopic resection was considered complete in 18/21 patients (86 %). For three patients, histological examination showed incomplete removal of tumor: one of these underwent surgery; two received chemoradiotherapy, and showed no evidence of residual tumor at 18 months' and 24 months' follow-up, respectively. Two patients in whom resection was initially classified as complete later presented with local recurrence and were treated again by EMR. Barrett's esophagus mucosa was completely replaced by squamous cell epithelium in 15/20 patients (75 %). CONCLUSIONS: Circumferential EMR is a noninvasive treatment of Barrett's esophagus with HGIN or mucosal cancer, with a low complication rate and good short-term clinical efficacy. Further studies should focus on long-term results and on technical improvements.     

Bronchoscopic Local Nd:YAG Laser Hyperthermia in the Treatment of Lung Cancer

Between March 1989 and July 1990, 13 patients with tracheobronchial cancer were treated by laser hyperthermia at the National Cancer Center Hospital. A complete response was achieved in 9 patients (with 9 carcinoma lesions), with no evidence of local recurrence on follow-up ranging from 4 to 29 months. Four patients had a partial response, requiring alternative therapy.The surface area of the lesions showing complete response was less than 3 cm(2). These lesions had a superficial appearance by bronchoscopic observation. Our experience suggests that laser hyperthermia may be a useful alternative to surgical resection in patients with small localized tumors confined within the tracheobronchial wall.     

Endoluminal intragastric treatment of gastric carcinoma

Summary

Early gastric cancer accounts for more than 50% of resected gastric cancer cases in Japan. Because of the increased incidence of early gastric cancer, endoluminal minimally invasive intragastric treatments have been developed. The rate of lymph node metastasis is very low in early gastric cancer, especially in mucosal cancer. There are two popular strategies in Japan for the management of patients with mucosal cancer: endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and intragastric mucosal resection (IGMR). EMR is more popular: from 1993 to 1997, over 35,000 cases of early gastric cancer have been treated by EMR in Japan. IGMR was developed in 1993, and 256 cases of early gastric cancer, which were not appropriate for EMR because of size and location, have been treated successfully by IGMR. These data suggest that in Japan 20%-30% of patients with early gastric cancer are treated by endoluminal intragastric procedures. In this paper we review the indications for, techniques pertaining to, and outcomes of EMR and IGMR in Japan.     

Évolution favorable à long terme des patients traités par résection muqueuse endoscopique pour une dysplasie de haut grade ou un cancer épidermoïde superficiel de l’œsophage

Introduction

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a curative treatment of early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, long-term outcome, and survival of EMR.

Patients and methods

Forty-four patients were treated by EMR between February 1998 and October 2005 for an early SCC of the esophagus. The technique of EMR was carried out by suction and section with cap or traction and section, or by the combination of both.

Results

Forty-four patients had endoscopic treatment with resection of 49 early SCC. They were all of T1N0 stage as found by standard endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). No major complications occurred. The median endoscopic follow-up was 44 months. A curative resection (T1m1, T1m2) was achieved in 68% of cases without recurrence. Among patients with T2 lesion (16%), 6 had a radio-chemotherapy and only 1 patient died because of the metastatic evolution of esophageal cancer. The remaining 2 left patients had a complementary esophagectomy, among whom 1 died after recurrence. Eight patients had a histologically significant risk of nodes invasion (2 m3, 3 sm1, 2 sm2, and 1 sm3), and 6 had a complementary radio-chemotherapy without recurrence in the follow-up.

Conclusion

SCC of the esophagus shown usT1N0 in EUS can be treated curatively by endoscopic mucosal resection with a high rate of resecability (98%) and an acceptable complication rate. In the subgroup of 12 patients (m3 sm1, sm2, sm3 and T2) that were treated by complementary radiochemotherapy, the 5-year overall survival was 91%.     

早期结直肠癌及癌前病变患者经内镜下黏膜切除术与黏膜剥离术治疗的疗效比较

目的比较内镜下黏膜切除术(EMR)与内镜下黏膜剥离术(ESD)在结直肠癌前病变与早期癌患者中的应用效果。方法选取2010年1月-2015年1月该院收治的116例早期结直肠癌患者与结直肠腺瘤患者为研究对象。其中,61例患者采用EMR治疗,为EMR组,55例采用ESD治疗,为ESD组。比较EMR与ESD在结直肠癌前病变与早期癌患者中的应用效果。结果 EMR组患者的手术时间明显短于ESD组患者,两组患者的病理情况、异型增生程度的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。ESD组病变最大径≥2 cm的整块切除和病变最大径≥2 cm的组织治愈性切除的患者明显多于EMR组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。ESD组病变最大直径≥2 cm的患者明显多于EMR组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。EMR组和ESD组患者并发症总发生率分别为6.56%和23.63%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。EMR组和ESD组患者的复发率分别为5(8.20%)例和3(5.45%)例,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。ESD术后出现并发症的危险因素为操作经验和病变大小(P0.05)。结论 ESD术和EMR术均能较好的整块切除病变最大径≥2 cm的早期结直肠癌与结直肠腺瘤,术后复发率较低。ESD术相对于EMR术更适合较大的病变,但术后复发率较高,且手术医师的操作经验和病变大小为ESD术后发生并发症的危险因素,应加强监测。     

Endoscopic mucosal resection scissors for the treatment of early gastric cancer

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is currently a common treatment for superficial gastrointestinal tumors. We have developed new EMR scissors for superficial lesions in the esophagus and stomach. These scissors have stainless steel blades with an electrocoagulation device for hemostasis. We report a case in which superficial gastric cancer was treated by means of the EMR scissors. The lesion was removed using the scissors and no major complication was encountered. EMR scissors can be used for endoscopic resection of superficial lesions of the esophagus and stomach.     

Head and neck cancer arising after endoscopic mucosal resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: It is well known that patients with head and neck cancer often have synchronous or metachronous squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. However, the prevalence of subsequent head and neck cancer in patients with early-stage esophageal cancer is still unknown. The aims of this study were to analyze the frequency of metachronous head and neck cancer after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for esophageal cancer and to investigate whether minute iodine-unstained areas, often associated with squamous cell carcinomas, would be an index for metachronous head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 99 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent EMR were studied. Based on the iodine-staining pattern at initial EMR, they were categorized into those with uniform (group U) and scattered (group S) types of background mucosa. Patients were monitored endoscopically and otolaryngologically (group U, median 46 months, range 12-83 months; group S, median 44 months, range 13-80 months). RESULTS: In total, 5/99 patients (5.1 %) were found to have metachronous head and neck cancer during the follow-up, including 4/20 patients (20 %) in group S. In three cases laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer was found by endoscopic examination. The cumulative proportion of metachronous head and neck cancer-free subjects was significantly lower in group S than group U (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients who undergo EMR for esophageal carcinoma, those with scattered-type iodine staining of the background mucosa have an increased risk of metachronous head and neck cancer, and should therefore be closely observed. Careful endoscopic observation led to early detection of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.     

Early esophageal carcinoma: endoscopic ultrasonography using the sonoprobe

Background: Almost all cases of superficial esophageal carcinoma are curable by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), but a precise diagnosis of the depth of tumor invasion is necessary to assess the indication for EMR. Although endoscopy has a high rate of accuracy for diagnosing the depth of tumor invasion, it depends on the experience of the examiner in interpreting surface information of the lesions. Today, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is one of the most powerful techniques for obtaining objective tomographic images of a tumor. The high-frequency ultrasound probe is appropriate for EUS in cases of superficial esophageal carcinoma because of its excellent near-field resolution that provides precise ultrasound images under direct control of the endoscope. Methods: We performed EUS with the Sonoprobe System in 85 cases of superficial esophageal carcinoma before treatment and evaluated the resected specimens histopathologically. We interpreted the depth of tumor invasion based on our fundamental studies of ultrasonograms taken with a 20-MHz probe. Results: The clinical usefulness of the Sonoprobe with linear and radial scanning modes is due to its capacity to differentiate between mucosal and submucosal carcinoma by means of analyses of the muscularis mucosae. Although a clear assessment of microinvasion and lymphoid hyperplasia surrounding the tumor of interest remains speculative, the diagnostic accuracy rate for 96 lesions of superficial esophageal carcinoma reached 93% in terms of differentiating between mucosal from submucosal carcinoma. Conclusion: EUS with the Sonoprobe can play an important role in the pretreatment diagnosis of superficial esophageal carcinomas.     

食管平滑肌瘤的内镜微创治疗

[目的]探讨内镜微创套扎手术在食管平滑肌瘤治疗中的临床应用价值.[方法]回顾性分析采用内镜微创套扎手术治疗的21例食管平滑肌瘤患者的临床资料.[结果]胃镜下食管平滑肌瘤套扎术16例,胃镜下黏膜切除术（EMR）3例,2例因为肿瘤瘤体过大转开胸手术,19例手术顺利,术后恢复平稳,无手术死亡及严重并发症,术后病理诊断均为平滑肌瘤.随访2～70个月,无复发.[结论]内镜微创套扎手术可作为食管平滑肌瘤的一种微创治疗方法,对于直径小于0.5 cm的食管平滑肌瘤,可行胃镜下黏膜切除术.     

Treatment of esophagogastric tumors

Esophageal and gastric tumors are often considered as a single group: they share similar symptoms - upper GI endoscopy with a flexible video-endoscope is the gold standard procedure of detection - similar techniques of endotherapy for cure or palliation are offered for both types of tumors. When the endoscopic procedure is performed for a superficial cancer or its precursors, with a curative intent, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is generally preferred to mucosal ablation with a thermal (Nd:YAG) or non-thermal (photodynamic therapy) procedure. In addition to esophageal squamous cell cancer and gastric cancer, new indications of EMR arise in the Barrett esophagus. Guidelines for safe indications concern diameter, polypoid or non polypoid morphology with the subtypes elevated, flat and depressed, and depth of invasion. A superficial invasion in the sub-mucosa is a relative contra-indication in the esophagus, but not in the stomach. The technique of EMR is now codified with an injection into the submucosa for lifting the lesion and either suction with a cap, grasping with a forceps if a 2 channel instrument is used, or tissue incision with a needle knife. En bloc, gives better results than piecemeal resection. The most frequent complication is bleeding. When legitimate indications are respected, the results of EMR are equivalent to those of surgical resection and have reached the consensus level. The major indication in palliation is the relief of dysphagia from malignant esophageal obstruction. Increased indications are proposed for malignant pyloric obstruction. Multiple models of metal expandable and coated stents with appropriate balance between rigidity and flexibility (nitinol alloy) and enough expansive radial force are now offered. After stenting the survival period is short and there is a toll of complications.     

Photodynamic therapy and endoscopic mucosal resection for Barrett's dysplasia and early esophageal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic ablation with porfimer sodium photodynamic therapy (PDT) have recently been combined to improve the accuracy of histologic staging and remove superficial carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia were evaluated with computed tomography and endosonography. Patients with nodular or irregular folds underwent EMR followed by PDT. RESULTS: In three patients, endoscopic mucosal resection upstaged the diagnosis to mucosal adenocarcinoma (T1N0M0). PDT successfully ablated the remaining glandular mucosa. Complications were limited to transient chest discomfort and odynophagia. CONCLUSIONS: The use of EMR resection in Barrett's high-grade dysplasia patients with mucosal irregularities resulted in histologic upstaging to mucosal adenocarcinoma, requiring higher laser light doses for PDT. PDT after EMR appears to be safe and effective for the complete elimination of Barrett's mucosal adenocarcinoma. EMR should be strongly considered for Barrett's dysplasia patients being evaluated for endoscopic ablation therapy.