Small Submucosal Tumors Research Articles

Clinical efficacy analysis of endoscopic band electrocision ligation surgical method in the treatment of small submucosal tumors of the gastric fundus

Background The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the clinical effects of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic band electrocision ligation (EEL) in the removal of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). Method We analyzed the clinical data of 130 patients with gastrointestinal SMTs (diameter ≤10 mm) who underwent endoscopic resection, including 62 cases in the EEL group and 68 in the ESD group, and compared indicators such as surgical time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, and surgical cost, between the EEL and ESD group. Results EEL surgery time (8.9 ± 1.1 min) was significantly shorter than the ESD group (62.3 ± 2.8 min) (p < .05), EEL surgery cost (5126.8 ± 26.5 yuan) was significantly lower than the ESD group (15721.3 ± 39.6 yuan) (p < .05), and intraoperative blood loss was also markedly lower in the EEL group (5.6 ± 1.7 ml) compared to the ESD group (42.3 ± 3.5 ml) (p < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative hospitalization time or postoperative complication incidence between the two groups (p > .05). Conclusions In treating gastric muscular, mucosal, or submucosal tumors with a diameter of less than 10 mm, the EEL surgical method was superior to the ESD surgical method in terms of surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, and cost. There was no difference in hospital stay and postoperative complication rate between the two methods, which was worthy of clinical application.

Transparent cap-assisted blunt dissection method for a small submucosal tumor in difficult-to-reach areas of the gastric fundus

Transparent cap-assisted blunt dissection method for a small submucosal tumor in difficult-to-reach areas of the gastric fundus

Efficacy and feasibility of snare-assisted endoscopic resection of small submucosal gastric tumors: A retrospective analysis.

The prevalence of small submucosal gastric tumors is rising. Despite the fact that high success rate of endoscopic resection of small submucosal gastric tumors originating from the muscularis propria has been reported, the procedure is technically challenging and has a high rate of complications. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and feasibility of a novel snare-assisted endoscopic resection technique for small submucosal gastric tumors. This is a single-center consecutive study of 50 patients who were diagnosed with small submucosal gastric tumors originating from the muscularis propria and who subsequently underwent snare-assisted endoscopic resection between January 2019 and January 2021 at our hospital. Data on the demographic characteristics, procedural success rate, complications, recurrence rate, and histopathology of the resected specimen were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The majority of the patient's population was male (66%) with the mean age of 48.4 ± 9 years (range, 20-70 years). The mean size of the tumor confirmed by endoscopic ultrasonography was 6.4 ± 1.6mm (range, 3.1-9.8 mm). All the tumors were resected successfully using snare-assisted endoscopic resection technique. The mean procedure time was 22.8 ± 9.6 (range, 15-35 min). The technical (performed the procedure successfully without converting to surgery) and clinical (the patient fully recovered after the procedure without experiencing any complications) success rate of the procedure was 100%. Eighteen (24%) patients had very small amount of mucosal damage, and wound closure was not needed in these patients. During 6-24 months of follow-up, no recurrence or metastasis occurred. No adverse event was noted during the follow-up time. The novel approach of snare-assisted endoscopic resection is simple, feasible, and effective for tumors with small size and originating from the gastric muscularis propria. In addition, it offers a better alternative therapy for the complete resection of small submucosal gastric tumors. Its advantages compared with traditional endoscopic approaches such as endoscopic submucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection include shorter procedure times, lesser cost, and a lower rate of complications (perforation, bleeding, and infection).

Band-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection for small (≤ 1.5cm) submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria in the gastric fundus: a prospective study.

To date, no prospective study has compared the safety and efficacy of band-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (BA-EMR) with those of endoscopic dissection (ESD) for the treatment of submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the gastric fundus. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of BA-EMR with those of ESD for SMTs ≤ 1.5cm in the gastric fundus. In total, 62 patients with SMTs ≤ 1.5cm in the gastric fundus underwent band ligation; the lesions that could be completely ligated were excised using a snare, while others were removed by ESD. Of 62 patients, 42 had their lesions completely ligated by the band and underwent BA-EMR, while 20 had lesions that could not be completely ligated and underwent ESD. The average tumor size was 0.94 ± 0.16 and 1.30 ± 0.16cm in the BA-EMR and ESD groups, respectively. Compared with ESD, BA-EMR had significantly fewer complications and a significantly shorter mean operating time and hospital stay. BA-EMR is a safe and effective method for small SMTs in the gastric fundus, but is only suitable for SMTs < 1.2cm. For small SMTs (< 1.2cm) in the gastric fundus, BA-EMR may simplify the treatment procedure, shorten the operation time, and reduce complications.

Submucosal Tumor-Like Lesion in Autoimmune Gastritis: A Rare Case of Fundic Gland Type of Gastric Adenocarcinoma

An 86-year-old woman, with no prior medical history, presented with a small submucosal tumor–like lesion on the greater curvature of the lower gastric corpus (Figures A and B) on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. She, without any history of acid secretion inhibitor intake, was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG) because of severe atrophic changes in the gastric corpus and the following clinical laboratory results: negative for anti–Helicobacter pylori antibody (no history of H pylori eradication therapy); negative for anti–parietal cell antibody; positive for anti–intrinsic factor antibody; and gastrin, 4900 pg/mL.

Adding trans-abdominal elastography to the diagnostic tool for an ileal gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a case report

BackgroundDiagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in the distal small intestine is difficult by endoscopic ultrasound. This is the first reported case of an ileal GIST, which is diagnosed by transabdominal sonography and strain elastography.Case presentationA 75 y/o woman presented with tarry stool and dizziness. No definite bleeder could be identified by esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy. The transabdominal sonography revealed a large heterogeneous tumor involving the muscular layer of the ileum. Strain elastography showed the strain ratio was 6.51. Strain histogram was skewed to the blue side, and mean color value was 230.5, signifying a stiff tumor. GIST was highly suspected. The patient underwent laparoscope-assisted tumor excision and the histological examination confirmed a malignant GIST. The patient was discharged without postoperative event.ConclusionTransabdominal strain elastography could play a role to discriminate small bowel GISTs and other submucosal tumors, especially in the location with difficulty in endoscopic ultrasound.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection for small submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer in the gastric fundus.

Gastric small submucosal tumors (SMTs) are becoming increasingly common. However, the fundus of stomach is regarded as a difficult area for endoscopic resection (ER). In this study, we investigated the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of ER for small SMTs of the gastric fundus in a large series of patients, research that was previously lacking. 537 consecutive patients with SMTs no more than 20mm in diameter, occurring in the gastric fundus and originating from the muscularis propria layer, which were treated with endoscopic submucosal excavation or endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) were included in this retrospective study at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2013 to September 2016. Clinicopathological, endoscopic, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. En bloc resection was achieved in 100% of patients, and complete resection was achieved for 530 (98.7%) lesions. Although the total rate of complications was 9.3%, few serious adverse events occurred in only three (0.6%) patients, including major pneumoperitoneum, major hydrothorax, and bleeding. Unlike lager tumor sizes and longer procedure times, endoscopist experience had a positive impact on decreasing the likelihood of complications. Based on statistical analysis, tumors with greater size near the cardia, which were treated by EFTR, were the significant contributors to longer operative times. A median follow-up of 32months was available, and all patients were free from local recurrence or distant metastasis during the study period. Although the gastric fundus presents technical difficulties, ER is effective for the resection of small gastric SMTs with a high complete resection rate and rare serious adverse events.

Characterization of Helicobacter pylori-Naïve Early Gastric Cancers

Aim: Helicobacter pylori-naïve gastric cancers(GCs) have not been well documented. We aimed to characterize early H. pylori-naïve GCs. Subjects and Methods: Of 666 patients with GC resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection, H. pylori-naïve patients were extracted according to the definition: no H. pylori eradication history, negative for serum H. pylori-antibody and current H. pylori-infection tests, and no gastric atrophy by pepsinogen (PG) test, endoscopy, and histology. Results: It was found that 16 GCs were H. pylori-naïve, and classified into undifferentiated and differentiated type adenocarcinoma. All 9 undifferentiated type GCs were pale, depressed, mucosal pure signet ring cell adenocarcinoma except one of them and 7 differentiated type GCs were classified into 3 fundic gland type GCs and 4 foveolar type GCs. All fundic gland type GCs positive for PG-1 were cardia small submucosal tumor (SMT)-like protrusions with dilated vessels on the surface. All 4 foveolar type GCs were composed of dysplastic clear cells resembling foveolar epithelium, negative for PG-1 but positive for mucin 6 (MUC6) and MUC5AC. Endoscopically, all were laterally spreading elevations with papillary or villous surface. Conclusions: H. pylori-naïve GCs were infrequent at 2.5%, and classified into 3 types: a small pale depression of signet ring cell adenocarcinoma, a small SMT-like protrusion of fundic gland type GC, and a large laterally spreading elevation of foveolar type GC.

Asian consensus guidelines for gastrointestinal stromal tumor: what is the same and what is different from global guidelines.

There are some disparities between the clinical practice and profiles of cancer in Asia and those in Europe & North America. In Asia, surgical oncologists still have a major role in the multidisciplinary therapy of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), whereas medical oncologists hold this status in the West. Although the incidence of clinical GIST is considered similar between the two areas, small gastric GISTs are more frequently treated by surgery in East Asia compared with Europe & North America. The diagnosis and treatment of small submucosal tumors (SMTs), including GIST, is important in Asian clinical practice guidelines for GIST. Most items of Asian and Western GIST guidelines are very similar. There are slight differences between the two guidelines in the degree of recommendation, which may come from disparities of clinical practice and available medicines. Importantly, most clinical evidence in the GIST guidelines has been established by clinical trials conducted in Western countries, and the number of clinical trials is still limited in Asia, suggesting that Asian GIST patients may have limited access to investigational drugs after standard therapy. Finally, both Asian and Western GIST guidelines are well-harmonized in some parts, and their contents may reflect the medical circumstances of each region.

Mo1276 Is Really Useful Endoscopic Ultrasonography for Differential Diagnosis of Small Gastric Submucosal Tumors?: Single-Center Cohort Study With Consecutive Cases

Mo1276 Is Really Useful Endoscopic Ultrasonography for Differential Diagnosis of Small Gastric Submucosal Tumors?: Single-Center Cohort Study With Consecutive Cases

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for small submucosal tumors of the rectum compared with endoscopic submucosal resection with a ligation device.

AIMTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for small rectal submucosal tumors (SMTs).METHODSBetween August 2008 and March 2016, 39 patients were treated with endoscopic submucosal resection with a ligation device (ESMR-L) (n = 21) or ESD (n = 18) for small rectal SMTs in this study. Twenty-five lesions were confirmed by histological evaluation of endoscopic biopsy prior to the procedure, and 14 lesions were not evaluated by endoscopic biopsy. The results for the ESMR-L group and the ESD group were retrospectively compared, including baseline characteristics and therapeutic outcomes.RESULTSThe rate of en bloc resection was 100% in both groups. Although the rate of complete endoscopic resection was higher in the ESD group than in the ESMR-L group (100% vs 95.2%), there were no significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.462). In one patient in the ESMR-L group with a previously biopsied tumor, histological complete resection with a vertical margin involvement of carcinoid tumor could not be achieved, whereas there was no incomplete resection in the ESD group. The mean length of the procedure was significantly greater in the ESD group than in the ESMR-L group (14.7 ± 6.4 min vs 5.4 ± 1.7 min, P < 0.05). The mean period of the hospitalization was also significantly longer in the ESD group than in the ESMR-L group (3.7 ± 0.9 d vs 2.8 ± 1.5 d, P < 0.05). Postoperative bleeding was occurred in one patient in the ESMR-L group.CONCLUSIONBoth ESMR-L and ESD were effective for treatment of small rectal SMTs. ESMR-L was simpler to perform than ESD and took less time.

A Case of Eosinophilic Granuloma Presenting as a Small Submucosal Tumor.

A Case of Eosinophilic Granuloma Presenting as a Small Submucosal Tumor.

Diagnostic and treatment strategy for small gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are considered to be potentially malignant mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinically relevant GISTs are rare; however, subclinical GISTs (mini‐GISTs) (1‐2 cm) and pathologic GISTs (micro‐GISTs) (<1 cm) are frequently reported. Most mini‐GISTs and almost all micro‐GISTs of the stomach may exhibit benign clinical behavior, and only mini‐GISTs with high‐risk features may progress. For this review, a provisional algorithm was used to propose diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with small GISTs. Because surgery is the only potentially curative treatment, in its application for small GISTs, the principles of sarcoma surgery should be maintained, and cost effectiveness should be considered. Indications for surgery include GISTs measuring ≥2 cm, symptomatic GISTs, and mini‐GISTs with high‐risk features (irregular borders, cystic spaces, ulceration, echogenic foci, internal heterogeneity, and tumor progression during follow‐up); however, a preoperative pathologic diagnosis is infrequently obtained. For small intestinal and colorectal GISTs, surgery is indicated irrespective of size because of their greater malignant potential. Otherwise, mini‐GISTs without high‐risk features, micro‐GISTs, and small submucosal tumors measuring <5 cm without high‐risk features may be followed by periodical endoscopic ultrasonography. Although surgical approaches and operative methods are selected according to tumor size, location, growth pattern, and surgical teams, laparoscopic surgery has produced similar oncologic outcomes and is less invasiveness compared with open surgery. After resection, pathologic examination for diagnosis and risk assessment is mandatory, and genotyping is also recommended for high‐risk GISTs. Endoscopic resection techniques, although feasible, are not routinely indicated for most mini‐GISTs or micro‐GISTs. Cancer 2016;122:3110–8. © 2016 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Duodenal Gastrinoma Associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) Detected by Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which was buried under Ulcer

A 66-year-old Japanese male was shown to have severe ulcers with hypergastrinemia in the stomach through proximal horizontal part of the duodenum, who complained of dysphagia and vomiting. He suffered from gastric ulcer at 63, proven to have undergone parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism at his 5th decade. Though had no definitely enlarged pituitary detectable by computed tomography (CT), he had slight defects in the visual field and hyperprolactinemia. A diagnosis of MEN1 was entertained. Follow up EGD revealed 5 small sessile submucosal tumors (SMTs) with a central depression or erosion in the duodenal bulb through descending part of the duodenum, which had been obscured beneath ulcers. Demonstrated in the regenerative mucosa by their biopsy were clusters of small tumor cells, which, though considered the tips of neuroendocrine (NE) tumor (NET) lying in the deeper layer, were not large enough to be proven so by immunostaining with the markers in the serial sections, and diffuse hyperplasia of synaptophysin-, chromogranin A- and gastrin-positive NE cells in Brunner glands (BGs), the preneoplastic lesion characteristic of MEN1-associated duodenal gastrinoma, supporting the diagnosis, which was firmly guaranteed by positively elevated glucagon-provoked plasma gastrin. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSPPD) established the final diagnosis of duodenal gastrinomas graded G1 associated with MEN1, which were shown to be tightly contained in the densely conglomerated hyperplastic BGs. No metastases were detected. This is the first case in the world, in which all the three characteristics of MEN1- associated duodenal gastrinoma were demonstrated by EGD. Difficulty in endoscopically detecting the NET lies in the fact that, in addition to its smallness and deep localization, it might be buried under peptic ulcer at a certain stage of the natural history and that an attempt to biopsy it is hampered by the densely conglomerated barrier of the hyperplastic BGs in some cases.

Laparoscopic and endoscopic co-operative surgery for non-ampullary duodenal tumors.

AIMTo assess the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic and endoscopic co-operative surgery (LECS) for early non-ampullary duodenal tumors.METHODSTwelve patients with a non-ampullary duodenal tumor underwent LECS at our hospital. One patient had two mucosal lesions in the duodenum. The indication for this procedure was the presence of duodenal tumors with a low risk for lymph node metastasis. In particular, the tumors included small (less than 10 mm) submucosal tumors (SMT) and epithelial mucosal tumors, such as mucosal cancers or large mucosal adenomas with malignant suspicion. The LECS procedures, such as full-thickness dissection for SMT and laparoscopic reinforcement after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for epithelial tumors, were performed for the 13 early duodenal lesions in 12 patients. Here we present the short-term outcomes and evaluate the safety and feasibility of this new technique.RESULTSTwo SMT-like lesions and eleven superficial epithelial tumor-like lesions were observed. Seven and Six lesions were located in the second and third parts of the duodenum, respectively. All lesions were successfully resected en bloc. The defect in the duodenal wall was manually sutured after resection of the duodenal SMT. For epithelial duodenal tumors, the ulcer bed was laparoscopically reinforced via manual suturing after ESD. Intraoperative perforation occurred in two out of eleven epithelial tumor-like lesions during ESD; however, they were successfully laparoscopically repaired. The median operative time and intraoperative estimated blood loss were 322 min and 0 mL, respectively. Histological examination of the tumors revealed one adenoma with moderate atypia, ten adenocarcinomas, and two neuroendocrine tumors. No severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade III or higher) were reported in this series, but minor leakage secondary to pancreatic fistula occurred in one patient.CONCLUSIONLECS can be a safe and minimally invasive treatment option for non-ampullary early duodenal tumors.

Multimodal imaging using optical coherence tomography and endolaryngeal ultrasonography in a new rabbit VX2 laryngeal cancer model.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides ultrahigh-resolution imaging of tissues within a depth of a few millimeters, whereas ultrasonography provides good imaging further below the surface. We aimed to develop a minimally invasive rabbit model of VX2 laryngeal cancer, suitable for these two imaging modalities through a transoral approach. We also sought to study the utility of combined OCT and endolaryngeal ultrasonography (EUS) for evaluation of early and advanced laryngeal cancer, using this model. VX2 tumor suspension was inoculated into the vocal folds of ten rabbits by injection through the trans-thyrohyoid membrane. The tumor model was characterized by rigid laryngoscopy and the tumor generation rate was 80% (8/10). Correlation between frequency-domain OCT and high-frequency EUS were used to visualize laryngeal tumors in the area of protruding mass formation in four rabbits, one week after injection (group A) and the remaining four rabbits two weeks after injection (group B). A small submucosal tumor was observed with rigid laryngoscopy in group A, and pathologic evaluation showed that the tumor was close to the basement membrane of the vocal fold mucosa, but had not invaded. OCT confirmed that the lining of the mucosa and basement membrane of the vocal fold was not broken, but the mucosa had thinned at the most elevated ridge. However, these lesions were not detected by EUS, and the overall shape of the tumor could not be clearly identified by EUS. A large tumor filling the laryngeal lumen was observed with rigid laryngoscopy in group B, and nearly the entire vocal fold, including the paraglottic space, was found to be involved on pathologic analysis. Distinguishing between normal structures and tumor was difficult using OCT; however, EUS confirmed the overall shape, size, and extent of the tumor, and the paraglottic space and thyroid cartilage were shown to be intact. This study is the first experimental trial, assessing the value of multimodal imaging using OCT and EUS in a rabbit VX2 laryngeal tumor model. Combining OCT and EUS helped to identify changes in laryngeal mucous membranes, and could potentially be used to identify laryngeal tumors and predict how tumors progress. This combined modality could help in determining tumor extent, assisting in diagnosis, and establishing a treatment plan for laryngeal cancer.

What kind of a gastric tumor is this?

This case report describes a gastric small submucosal tumor endosonographically resembling a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The presence of calcifications inside prompted for the surgical excision, and the pathologic examination revealed in fact the presence of a glomangioma (glomus tumor). The presented case is an illustration of the fact that not all masses arising from the muscularis propria layer are GISTs, and the endosonographer must always think of alternative diagnoses.

Submucosal tumors: Comprehensive guide for the diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors

Small submucosal tumors (SMT) without symptoms are frequently found by endoscopic and radiological examinations. To find proper diagnostic measures and therapeutic indications for histologically undiagnosed SMT, we reviewed published articles in PubMed between 1990 and March 2013 using the key words 'submucosal tumor' and the name of a specific disease. SMT is observed in a wide range of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and conditions, including compression by extra-GI organs and lesions, congenital tumors, inflammation, and benign as well as malignant neoplastic lesions. In the diagnosis of diseases and decision-making for therapy, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) may play a key role. Symptomatic SMT and SMT histologically diagnosed as malignant or potentially malignant tumors such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) should be treated by surgery. SMT >5 cm, SMT increasing in size and those with'high-risk features' including irregular border, heterogeneous internal echo such as anechoic area, and heterogeneous enhancement by contrast media may also be removed by surgery. Laparoscopic approach is feasible for gastric GIST <5 cm and this is considered less invasive than the open approach. Emerging techniques using flexible endoscopes appear less invasive, but require further evidence and are still under clinical study. Correct diagnosis of SMT is challenging; however, EUS and EUS-FNA are useful in the histological diagnosis and clinical decision-making. In the future, minimally invasive approaches may be a mainstream of surgical treatment for small SMT.

Sa1765 Characteristics of Small Bowel Submucosal Tumors Diagnosed by Double Balloon Enteroscopy (DBE)

Sa1765 Characteristics of Small Bowel Submucosal Tumors Diagnosed by Double Balloon Enteroscopy (DBE)

A Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Stomach Demonstrating a Stepwise Progression from Low- to High-Grade Malignancy

We report a case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach that demonstrated a stepwise progression from low- to high-grade malignancy. The patient had been followed for a small gastric submucosal tumor that had turned malignant after 8 years of indolence, manifested by tarry stools. The tumor was enucleated, and gastric GIST was diagnosed. The most significant histological finding was that the tumor comprised two clearly demarcated areas, one with less aggressive characteristics and the other with highly aggressive characteristics. The patient exhibited multiple liver metastases 24 months after surgery. Imatinib mesylate was not administered throughout the clinical course because it was not available for clinical use at that time. The patient followed an unfavorable clinical course and died of liver dysfunction 55 months after surgery. Autopsy was performed. By comparing the immunohistochemical profiles of primary and metastatic tumors, it was established that only the tumor cells with highly aggressive characteristics had metastasized.