Comparing Endoscopy and Surgery: A Systematic Review of Early Colorectal Cancer Treatments

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a major type of gastrointestinal cancer that significantly contributes to disease burden and mortality, particularly among younger people. Early colorectal cancer refers to the early stages of the disease that require early detection and treatment to improve the overall prognosis and survival. There are various treatment options available for early colorectal cancer, such as endoscopic resection, including methods like transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), or submucosal dissection (ESD), as well as surgical resection, including open and laparoscopic techniques. However, to make informed decisions about which approach is best, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the long-term outcomes associated with each option. We systematically reviewed the PubMed and Google Scholar databases from 2013 to August 11, 2023, to obtain such knowledge. We selected nine for in-depth analysis after carefully reviewing 2761 articles, including those written in English and focusing on human studies. The review focused on individual benefits, merits, and drawbacks, considering the extent of the disease, clinical outcomes, survival, and complication rates. Although endoscopic resection has the advantage of being less invasive and promoting faster patient recovery, it should be noted that its primary objective may not necessarily be achieving complete excision (R0). This is because there are potential obstacles, including inadequate lymph node removal and inaccurate T staging that may prevent the achievement of R0. Nevertheless, it is important to stress that both endoscopic and surgical resection ultimately share the goal of complete excision and curing the patient. Finally, this systematic review emphasizes the need for additional research to fill knowledge gaps, improve clinical decision-making, and promote the application of sophisticated technology. As the landscape of early colorectal cancer treatment evolves, a balanced integration of endoscopic and surgical resection procedures, together with emerging technologies, can improve patient outcomes and increase treatment efficacy.