Endoscopic management of gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumor

AIM: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumors (SMTs, including leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma) and to review our preliminary experiences on endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal SMTs. METHODS: A total of 69 patients with gastrointestinal SMT underwent routine endoscopy in our department. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was also performed in 9 cases of gastrointestinal SMT. The sessile submucosal gastrointestinal SMTs with the base smaller than 2 cm in diameter were resected by "pushing" technique or "grasping and pushing" technique while the pedunculated SMTs were resected by polypectomy. For those SMTs originating from muscularis propria or with the base size ≥ 2 cm, ordinary biopsy technique was performed in tumors with ulcers while the "Digging" technique was performed in those without ulcers. RESULTS: 54 cases of leiomyoma and 15 cases of leiomyosarcoma were identified. In them, 19 cases of submucosal leiomyoma were resected by "pushing" technique and 10 cases were removed by "grasping and pushing" technique. Three cases pedunculated submucosal leiomyoma were resected by polypectomy. No severe complications developed during or after the procedure. No recurrence was observed. The diagnostic accuracy of ordinary and the "Digging" biopsy technique was 90.0% and 94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic resection is a safe and effective treatment for leiomyomas with the base size ≤2 cm. The "digging" biopsy technique would be a good option for histologic diagnosis of SMTs.     

消化道黏膜下肿物内镜下切除及其并发症防治

目的探讨消化道黏膜下肿物(gastrointestinal submucosal tumor,SMT)的内镜下切除方法及其并发症的防治。方法对382例SMT采用内镜黏膜下挖除术(ESE)、胃镜与腹腔镜双镜联合、内镜黏膜下隧道肿瘤切除术(STER)以及内镜全层切除术(EFTR)进行肿物切除。结果 ESE切除332例,胃镜与腹腔镜双镜联合切除36例(其中20例为腹腔镜为主内镜辅助腹腔镜治疗,16例为瘤体较大,与浆膜层分界不清,单独内镜下挖除瘤体困难,术中转外科腹腔镜与胃镜双镜联合治疗),STER切除10例,EFTR切除4例。术中穿孔24例,其中内镜下瘤体剥离后发生胃壁穿孔转外科腹腔镜下缝合穿孔7例、内镜下尼龙绳荷包缝合9例、内镜下钛夹缝合6例、内镜下OTSC金属夹闭合器达到严密缝合2例。术后发生迟发性出血1例。术后感染1例。无死亡病例发生。结论 ESE、胃镜与腹腔镜双镜联合、STER以及EFTR是目前切除SMT微创、有效、安全、可行的方法。穿孔是其主要并发症,大多数穿孔可在内镜下达到严密缝合。     

Surgical Advantages of Gastric SMTs by Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Cooperative Surgery

Background/Aims: The treatment of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) is strictly surgical and enucleation of the tumor or wedge resection of the stomach is efficient to achieve R0 resection. Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) can be safely performed with adequate cutting lines. This study describes the initial 16 cases treated by LECS and evaluates the advantages by LECS for gastric SMTs retrospectively. Methodology: Sixteen patients with gastric SMT underwent LECS from June 2007 to December 2010, their surgical data, clinical characteristics and surgical specimens of SMTs were compared. The surgical specimens of 9 gastric SMTs treated by laparoscopic wedge resection (LWR) were compared as a control. Results: The median (range) length of operation time, blood loss, hospital stay after surgery were minutes 172 (115- 220), <5mL (<5-115) and 10 days (6-17), respectively. The median (range) ratio of the longest diameter of the tumor divided by the longest diameter of the surgical specimen in LECS and LWR were 0.86 (0.625-1.0) and 0.69 (0.44-1.0), respectively (p=0.0189, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Conclusions: LECS minimizes the surgical specimen while still providing sufficient surgical margins to successfully cure gastric SMTs.     

Interventionist endoscopic ultrasonography. A retrospective analysis of 60 procedures]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: interventionist endoscopic ultrasonography is increasingly used because of its growing indications. We present here our retrospective and initial experience (60 procedures) with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) both for diagnosis (EUS-FNA) and therapy (EUS-guided tumorectomy and mucosectomy). PATIENTS AND METHOD: in a group with 27 cases including 10 submucosal tumors (SMTs), 2 adenopathies, and 15 potential pancreatic tumors (8 pancreatic cancers), a sectorial EUS-FNA at 7.5 MHz was performed for diagnosis prior to therapy (mainly surgical). A pancreatic pseudocyst was drained. In 21 cases with 27 SMTs (10 patients with 13 carcinoids) a tumorectomy was carried out using the standard loop or assisted polypectomy technique with submucosal injection, and in a few cases (two) using elastic band ligation following a radial EUS at 7.5, 12, or 20 MHz. In 6 cases of superficial gastroesophageal cancer or gastric dysplasia an endoscopic mucosal resection (classic EMR) was performed after EUS or MPs at 7.5 and 20 MHz. Fifty-five patients with 60 lesions, 29 femaes and 26 males with a mean age of 60 years (30-88 years) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: diagnostic precision (P), sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for EUS-FNA was 85, 83, 100, 100, and 43%, respectively, when comparing results with specimen histology. P was higher for adenopathies (100%) and pancreatic tumors (87%) than for SMTs (80%). No complications arose, except for one episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) (3.7%) that was endoscopically and satisfactorily treated in a gastric SMT. In the group with 21 patients (10 carcinoids with 13 tumors) 27 SMTs were endoscopically treated by tumorectomy with no perforation and only 2 UGIBs (7.4%), one of them self-limited, recorded.Endoscopic resection was complete in 92% of cases. No complications occurred with classic EMR, and all patients are still alive with no evidence of relapse, either local or metastatic. In this group the rate of complete resections was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA is a safe technique with high diagnostic accuracy. EUS-guided tumorectomy and mucosectomy are also safe and effective techniques in the endoscopic management of these tumors.     

Submucosal tunneling and endoscopic resection of submucosal tumors at the esophagogastric junction

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of submucosal tunneling and endoscopic resection(STER) for treating submucosal tumors(SMTs).METHODS: Between August 2012 and October 2013, 21 patients with SMTs originating from the muscularis propria(MP) layer at the esophagogastric junction were treated by STER of their tumors. Key steps of the procedure include:(1) mucosal incision: a 2-cm longitudinal mucosal incision was made 5 cm proximal to the tumor;(2) submucosal tunneling: a submucosal tunnel was created 5 cm proximal to and 1 to 2 cm distal to the tumor;(3) tumor resection: the SMT was resected under direct endoscopic viewing;(4) hemostasis: while finishing the tumor resection, careful hemostasis of the MP defect and the tunnel was performed; and(5) mucosal closure: the mucosal incision site was closed by using hemostatic clips. During the operation, equipment used included a cap-fitted endoscope, an insulatedtip knife, a hook knife, hemostatic forceps, an injection needle, a snare, an endoclip, and a high-frequency generator. Carbon dioxide(CO2) insufflation was achieved by using a CO2 insufflator.RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 46.2 years(range, 35-59 years), and the majority were male(18 male vs 3 female). Complete resection rate was 100%(21/21). Eighteen lesions were resected en bloc. Mean tumor size was 23 mm(range, 10-40 mm), and mean procedure time was 62.9 min(range, 45-90 min). Pathological diagnosis of these tumors included leiomyoma(15 out of 21) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor(6 out of 21). Full-thickness MP resection was performed in 9 of 21 patients(42.9%), with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema occurring in all nine. At the completion of the procedure, all patients received closure of the incision with hemoclips. One patient required percutaneous drainage. The remaining 20patients required no further endoscopic or surgical intervention. There were no incidents of massive or delayed bleeding. The median follow-up period after the procedure was 6 mo(range, 2-14 mo). During followup, no patients were found to have residual or recurrent tumor or esophageal stricture.CONCLUSION: STER is safe, effective and feasible, which provides accurate histopathologic evaluation and curative treatment for SMTs originating from the MP layer at the esophagogastric junction.     

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonographic impression compared with pathologic diagnosis in gastrointestinal submucosal tumors]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a valuable imaging modality for the evaluation of gastrointestinal submucosal tumor (SMT). EUS is helpful in assessing the layer of origin, tumor diameter, shape, border characteristics, and internal echo patterns of SMTs and thus makes it possible to predict histologic diagnosis with educated guess. However, some studies have found no significant differences in EUS features between benign and malignant mesenchymal tumors. By comparing EUS impressions with histologic diagnosis, we evaluated the accuracy of EUS in differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal SMTs. METHODS: 58 cases of gastrointestinal SMTs with both EUS findings and pathologic reports were compared retrospectively from August 2001 to September 2003. RESULTS: 34 patients had lesions in the stomach and 13, 8, 3 in the esophagus, duodenum, and colon respectively. Benign lesions were predominant (46 of 58). The EUS and pathologic diagnosis coincided in 46/58 (79.3%) of the cases. Use of EUS led to the correct diagnosis in 7/9 (77.8%) of malignant GISTs (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) and leiomyosarcomas. Two small malignant gastric GISTs were diagnosed as benign with EUS. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal SMTs and predicting malignant lesions. However, some malignant GISTs were diagnosed as benign tumor with EUS examination.     

EFR治疗胃固有肌层肿物25例

目的探讨内镜全层切除术(EFR)治疗源于固有肌层的胃黏膜下肿物(SMT)的疗效和安全性。方法 25例于2011年1月至2013年9月于我院接受EFR治疗的胃SMT患者纳入研究,肿瘤经EUS和增强CT检查诊断为来源于固有肌层。对其治疗结果、并发症发生情况、近期随访结果等进行回顾性分析。结果 25例均完整切除病灶,病灶长径1.0~5.5 cm,黏膜切开至黏膜切口完整缝合时间为60~180 min,使用止血夹5~30枚,住院天数3~9 d,医疗费用8 000~20 000元。术后病理诊断间质瘤22例,平滑肌瘤2例,神经鞘瘤1例,切缘均为阴性。术后无出血,1例出现腹膜炎。出院后3个月内镜复查未见病变残留、复发。结论 EFR治疗来源于固有肌层的胃SMT安全、有效,可成为胃SMT的治疗选择。     

内镜下钛夹、尼龙圈套辅助高频电切术治疗胃肠道巨大有蒂息肉的临床研究

目的 评价内镜下钛夹、尼龙圈套辅助高频电切术治疗胃肠道巨大息肉的效果及安全性.方法 对50例患者共85处消化道巨大有蒂息肉样病变分别采用钛夹、尼龙圈套辅助高频电凝切除术的治疗方法进行回顾性分析.结果 85枚巨大息肉中,上消化道15枚,结肠66枚,直肠4枚.其中62枚息肉采用尼龙圈套＋高频电凝切除术治疗,23枚息肉采用高频电凝切除术＋肽夹钳夹术治疗,术中无一例发生出血;术后迟发性出血2例（2.4%）,急诊内镜下钛夹止血成功,无其它并发症发生.结论 消化道息肉高频电切术后最常见且最棘手的并发症是出血,巨大息肉发生在术中或术后迟发性出血的机率更大,采用尼龙圈套及金属肽夹辅助高频电凝切除术,能有效预防粗蒂大息肉样病变切除术中和术后出血,是消化道巨大息肉内镜下治疗安全有效的联合治疗技术.     

内镜下超声微探头在诊治消化道黏膜下隆起病变的作用

目的探讨超声微探头（MPS）对消化道黏膜下隆起病变的诊断正确率和MPS提供的诊断资料对内镜医师选择治疗方式的参考价值。方法对消化道黏膜下隆起病变进行内镜下超声微探头检查，根据隆起的大小、件质和存管壁的层次等超声资料来诊断黏膜下隆起病变并选择切除方法。结果在24例患者中，对MPS诊断位于黏膜下层以上的直径小于2cm的消化道黏膜下肿块11例（良性问质瘤2例，脂肪瘤3例，囊肿5例，食管颗粒细胞瘤1例）采用内镜下治疗（黏膜切除术、氩离子体凝固治疗），无出血、穿孔并发症对于MPS诊断直径2cm以上或位于固有肌层以下的消化道黏膜下肿块13例（恶性胃肠道间质瘤4例，良性胃肠道问质瘤6例，脂肪瘤1例，异位胰腺2例）行外科手术。其超声诊断与病理诊断结果相一致。结论MPS可诊断黏膜下隆起的大小、层次和性质，有助于选择适应内镜下治疗的黏膜下隆起病例，内镜下治疗位于黏膜下层以内直径小于2cm的消化道黏膜下肿块SMT是安全、有效的方法。     

内镜套扎治疗结肠黏膜下肿瘤40例

目的:评价结肠黏膜下肿瘤内镜套扎治疗的临床效果.方法:对我科40例结肠黏膜下肿瘤(submucosaltumors,SMT)(肿瘤直径≤19 mm)行超声内镜检查(endoscopic ultrasonography,EUS)并作出初步诊断,之后采取结肠镜下套扎技术进行治疗,且术后回收病变组织,定期复查,随访术后有无并发症及套扎术的疗效.结果:40例患者黏膜下肿瘤均完整清除,6例采用单纯结肠镜下套扎技术,34例采用结肠镜下套扎联合高频电切术治疗,34例回收的组织病理显示:12例为脂肪瘤,12例为类癌,8例为间质瘤,2例为平滑肌瘤.结论:内镜下套扎技术对于结肠黏膜下肿瘤的治疗是一种安全、可行的方法,能够对病灶进行有效清除,对于结肠肿瘤的早期防治起到重要作用.     

Detachable endoloop vs. elastic band ligation for bleeding esophageal varices

BACKGROUND: Variceal bleeding is a serious complication with a mortality rate that ranges from 20% to 50%. Patients who have variceal hemorrhage usually are treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy or elastic band ligation to eradicate the varices. Endoloop ligation is a newly developed technique for achieving hemostasis and variceal eradication. This study compared endoloop ligation with elastic band ligation in patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding. METHODS: Fifty patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding were recruited: 25 were treated by elastic band ligation and 25 by endoloop ligation. RESULTS: Although the number of patients in whom bleeding recurred during a follow-up period of 6 months was smaller in the endoloop group (12%) vs. the band group (28%), this difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups with respect to the number of patients in whom variceal eradication was achieved, the number of treatment sessions required for variceal eradication, or the frequency of variceal recurrence. The total cost for variceal obliteration by endoloop ligation was 342 dollars per patient, whereas, the total cost of variceal eradication by elastic band ligation was 356 dollars per patient. The endoloop had certain technical advantages over band application: a better field of vision, tighter application, good results with junctional varices, and a lack of strain exerted by the device on the endoscope. CONCLUSIONS: Endoloop ligation is a promising new technique for management of patients with bleeding esophageal varices.     

Endoscopic resection with hypertonic saline-solution-epinephrine injection plus band ligation for large pedunculated or semipedunculated gastric polyp

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic resection of pedunculated polyps with heads 1 cm or greater in diameter presents a risk of bleeding. To minimize this complication, we performed endoscopic resection with hypertonic saline-solution-epinephrine injection plus band ligation and evaluated its safety and effectiveness. METHODS: Seventeen patients with 20 pedunculated or semipedunculated polyps with heads 1 cm or greater in diameter were treated with this technique. Conventional upper-GI endoscope, hypertonic saline-solution and epinephrine, sclerotherapy needle, and endoscopic band ligator device are needed for the procedure. OBSERVATIONS: All lesions were easily and safely resected. During this procedure, a band ligation chamber proved to be satisfactory for accurate recognition of a postpolypectomy ulcer under good visual control. No hemorrhage, perforation, or other complication occurred as a result of the use of this technique. The histologic resection margin was affected by nonneoplastic components in 6 of 20 lesions. Follow-up endoscopy 1 week later revealed a small, shallow ulcer without residual polyp in all lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that endoscopic resection with hypertonic saline-solution-epinephrine injection plus band ligation is a simple and effective method for the prevention of polypectomy-associated bleeding. Prospective trials, including randomized controlled studies, are required to evaluate the suitability of this modality for wide clinical use.     

Endoscopic ultrasonography for gastric submucosal lesions

Gastric submucosal tumors(SMTs) are a rather frequent finding,occurring in about 0.36%of routine upper GIendoscopies.Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) has emerged as a reliable investigative procedure for evaluation of these lesions.Diagnostic EUS has the ability to differentiate intramural tumors from extraluminal compressions and can also show the layer of origin of gastric SMTs.Tumors can be further characterized by their layer of origin,echo pattern and margin.EUS-risk criteria of their malignant potential are presented,although the emergence of EUS-FNA has opened new indications for transmural tissue diagnosis and expanded the possibilities of EUS in SMTs of the stomach.Tissue diagnosis should address whether the SMT is a Gastrointestinal stromal tumour(GIST) or another tumor type and evaluate the malignant potential of a given GIST.However,there seems to be a lack of data on the optimal strategy in SMTs suspected to be GISTs with a negative EUS-FNA tissue diagnosis.The current management strategies,as well as open questions regarding their treatment are also presented.     

微型探头超声内镜对上消化道黏膜下肿瘤的诊治价值

目的探讨微型探头超声内镜（InEus）在上消化道黏膜下肿瘤的诊断和治疗中的作用。方法对30例疑为上消化道黏膜下肿瘤的患者进行微型探头超声内镜检查,根据黏膜下肿瘤的起源层次．部分患者接受内镜下治疗或外科手术。结果mEUS检查的30例患者中,发现消化道壁外压迫1例（主动脉弓1例）;黏膜下肿瘤29例,包括平滑肌瘤12例,良性间质瘤4例,恶性间质瘤1例,脂肪瘤4例,静脉瘤3例,异位胰腺1例,囊肿4例。12例起源于黏膜肌层的肿瘤行高频电切除术切除,3例静脉瘤行尼龙圈套结扎,4例脂肪瘤及4例囊肿行高频电切除。结论mEUS检查能清楚显示上消化道黏膜下肿瘤的大小．起源层次、生长方向及邻近组织结构关系,较准确地判断肿瘤的性质。进而指导黏膜下肿瘤治疗方案的选择。     

Endoscopic full-thickness resection for gastric submucosal tumors arising from the muscularis propria layer

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFR) for the treatment of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) arising from the muscularis propria.METHODS: A total of 35 gastric SMTs arising from the muscularis propria layer were resected by EFR between January 2010 and September 2013. EFR consists of five major steps: injecting normal saline into the submucosa; pre-cutting the mucosal and submucosal layers around the lesion; making a circumferential incision as deep as the muscularis propria around the lesion using endoscopic submucosal dissection and an incision into the serosal layer around the lesion with a Hook knife; a full-thickness resection of the tumor, including the serosal layer with a Hook or IT knife; and closing the gastric wall with metallic clips.RESULTS: Of the 35 gastric SMTs, 14 were located at the fundus, and 21 at the corpus. EFR removed all of the SMTs successfully, and the complete resection rate was 100%. The mean operation time was 90 min (60-155 min), the mean hospitalization time was 6.0 d (4-10 d), and the mean tumor size was 2.8 cm (2.0-4.5 cm). Pathological examination confirmed the presence of gastric stromal tumors in 25 patients, leiomyomas in 7 and gastric autonomous nerve tumors in 2. No gastric bleeding, peritonitis or abdominal abscess occurred after EFR. Postoperative contrast roentgenography on the third day detected no contrast extravasation into the abdominal cavity. The mean follow-up period was 6 mo, with no lesion residue or recurrence noted.CONCLUSION: EFR is efficacious, safe and minimally invasive for patients with gastric SMTs arising from the muscularis propria layer. This technique is able to resect deep gastric lesions while providing precise pathological information about the lesion. With the development of EFR, the indications of endoscopic resection might be extended.     

Histological diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumors: A pilot study of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy vs mucosal cutting biopsy

AIM: To compare the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy(EUS-FNAB) without cytology and mucosal cutting biopsy(MCB) in the histological diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumor(SMT).METHODS: We prospectively compared the diagnostic yield, feasibility, and safety of EUS-FNAB and those of MCB based on endoscopic submucosal dissection. The cases of 20 consecutive patients with gastric SMT ≥1 cm in diameter. who underwent both EUS-FNAB and MCB were investigated.RESULTS: The histological diagnoses were gastrointestinal stromal tumors(n = 7), leiomyoma(n =6), schwannoma(n = 2), aberrant pancreas(n = 2), and one case each of glomus tumor, metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, and no-diagnosis. The tumors' mean size was 23.6 mm. Histological diagnosis was made in 65.0% of the EUS-FNABs and 60.0% of the MCBs, a nonsignificant difference. There were no significant differences in the diagnostic yield concerning the tumor location or tumor size between the two methods. However, diagnostic specimens were significantly more frequently obtained in lesions with intraluminal growth than in those with extraluminal growth by the MCB method(P = 0.01). All four SMTs with extraluminal growth were diagnosed only by EUSFNAB(P = 0.03). No complications were found in either method.CONCLUSION: MCB may be chosen as an alternative diagnostic modality in tumors showing the intraluminal growth pattern regardless of tumor size, whereas EUSFNAB should be performed for SMTs with extraluminal growth.     

金属夹联合尼龙套圈在内镜带蒂大息肉摘除中的应用

背景：消化道出血是内镜息肉摘除术最常见的并发症。目的：观察金属夹联合尼龙套圈对内镜带蒂大息肉摘除术的效果和安全性。方法：选取2011年6月一2012年8月上海市第一人民医院分院89例带蒂大息肉患者,分为尼龙套圈组（A组）和金属夹联合尼龙圈套组（B组）,回顾性分析息肉形态、部位、大小以及并发症发生率。结果：A组和B组息肉形态均以山田Ⅳ型为主,主要位于乙状结肠,两组患者性别、年龄、息肉顶部、蒂部平均直径相比均无明显差异（P〉0．05）。A组和B组的术中出血发生率（12．8％对10．0％）、术后迟发性出血发生率（10．3％对4．0％）相比均无明显差异（P〉0．05）,经治疗后出血均停止。A组2例患者术后3个月息肉复发,B组手术创面愈合良好,无息肉残端残留。结论：金属夹联合尼龙套圈能有效预防内镜下带蒂大息肉切除术中和术后的出血。     

Oval mucosal opening bloc biopsy after incision and widening by ring thread traction for submucosal tumor

Gastric submucosal tumors(SMTs) less than 2 cm are generally considered benign neoplasms, and endoscopic observation is recommended, but SMTs over 2 cm, 40% of which are gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs), have malignant potential. Although the Japanese Guidelines for GIST recommend partial surgical resection for GIST over 2 cm with malignant potential as well as en bloc large tissue sample to obtain appropriate and large specimens of SMTs, several reports have been published on tissue sampling of SMTs, such as with endoscopic ultrasound sound fine needle aspiration, submucosal tunneling bloc biopsy, and the combination of bite biopsy and endoscopic mucosal resection. Because a simpler, more accurate method is needed for appropriate treatment, we developed oval mucosal opening bloc biopsy after incision and widening by ring thread traction for submucosal tumor(OMOB) approach. OMOB was simple and enabled us to obtain large samples under direct procedure view as well as allowed us to restore to original mucosa.     

Rarity of Severe Bleeding and Perforation in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration for Submucosal Tumors

Background

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is an established procedure for the pathological diagnosis of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs). Although bleeding and perforation are potentially severe complications of EUS-FNA, the incidences and severities of these complications have not yet been fully evaluated because of their relative rarity.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidences and mortality of severe bleeding and perforation in patients who underwent EUS-FNA for SMTs.

Methods

The records of 1,135 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-FNA for SMTs at 219 hospitals, with low- to high-volume, were reviewed using a Japanese nationwide administrative database.

Results

Of the targeted lesions 73.5 % were located in the stomach, 13.4 % in the esophagus, 8.2 % in the duodenum, and 4.9 % at other sites. Five patients (0.44 %) experienced severe bleeding requiring red blood cell transfusion or endoscopic treatment, with none experiencing perforation. Only one patient (0.09 %) died in-hospital within 30 days of EUS-FNA (0.09 %), with death not associated with bleeding or perforation.

Conclusions

EUS-FNA is safe in evaluating SMTs, with low risks of bleeding and perforation.     

Hamartomatous inverted polyp successfully treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection

We report a case of gastric hamartomatous inverted polyps that are a rare histological type of gastric polyp and difficult to diagnose. Gastric submucosal tumor was detected by upper gastrointestinal X-ray series in 37-year-old man. Endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor (SMT) , which eroded with a depression on its surface in the fornix. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a heterogeneous tumor in the third layer. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed to resect the tumor completely. The pathological diagnosis was a gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp. The patient was later discharged without any complications. Hamartomatous inverted polyps without a stalk are classified as the SMT type because the tumor is inverted down growth into the submucosal layer, otherwise polyps with a stalk are classified as the polyp type. All of the polyps were resected endoscopically, however, surgical resection was performed for those of the SMT type, because it is difficult to remove this type completely by en-block resection using conventional EMR technique. ESD method may be indicated for SMT-type hamartomatous inverted polyps.