Current prognostic factors of advanced gastric cancer patients treated with chemotherapy: real world data from a Japanese 12 institutions.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the prognostic factors of advanced gastric cancer before starting chemotherapy is important to determine personalized treatment strategies. However, the details of chemotherapy and the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer patients have changed with the time and environment. The aim of this study was to understand the current reality of chemotherapy and to estimate the prognostic factors of advanced gastric cancer patients before starting chemotherapy at multiple centers. This includes specialized cancer hospitals and community hospitals, with the latest data under the Japanese insurance system. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical parameters and treatment details of 1025 patients who received systemic chemotherapy for unresectable advanced gastric cancer from 2012 to 2018 at 12 institutions in Japan. Prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: As of April 2021, 953 (93%) patients had died, while 72 (7%) patients survived. The median overall survival and progression-free survival of first-line chemotherapy was 11.8 months (95% confidence interval, 10.8-12.3 months) and 6.3 months (95% confidence interval, 5.9-6.9 months), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed eight prognostic factors: age < 40 years, performance status ≥2, no gastrectomy, diffuse histological type, albumin <3.6, alkaline phosphatase ≥300, creatinine ≥1.0 and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 3.0. Patients using trastuzumab showed better survival than patients without (16.1 months vs. 11.1 months; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: We identified eight prognostic factors for patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing Japanese standard chemotherapy. Our results will help clinicians develop treatment strategies for every patient.

Efficacy and safety of cold forceps biopsy for diminutive pharyngeal neoplasms: Single-center, prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Management of diminutive pharyngeal neoplasms is controversial. Thus, we conducted a single-center, prospective pilot study to investigate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic excision with cold forceps biopsy (CFB) of these lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine lesions endoscopically diagnosed with narrow-band imaging as pharyngeal neoplasms of 3 mm or smaller were excised with CFB using jumbo biopsy forceps (cap diameter 2.8 mm, jaw volume 12.4 mm3 ). The primary outcome was endoscopically determined local remnant/recurrence rate 3 months after CFB. The secondary outcomes were histopathologically determined local remnant/recurrence rate; risk factors associated with the endoscopic remnant/recurrence; and incidence of intraoperative or delayed bleeding and other adverse events. RESULTS: Histological diagnosis of the 39 CFB-excised lesions were: 11 high-grade dysplasia (28.2%), 22 low-grade dysplasia (56.4%), two basal cell hyperplasia (5.1%) and four atypical squamous epithelium (10.3%).Twenty-seven patients (30 lesions) underwent follow-up endoscopy 3 months after CFB; the endoscopic and pathological local remnant/recurrence rate was 20% (6/30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.7-36.6%) and 16.7% (5/30; 95% CI, 5.6-34.7%), respectively. Location of the lesion in the hypopharynx was a significant risk factor associated with the endoscopic local remnant/recurrence (P = 0.049). No significant adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Cold forceps biopsy with jumbo biopsy forceps appears to be a safe and effective technique for excising diminutive pharyngeal neoplasms. Although small, the excised lesions may have a remarkably high frequency of high-grade dysplasia. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000037980).

[Nivolumab‒Induced Severe Thrombocytopenia in a Patient with Advanced Gastric Cancer].

Here, we report a case of severe thrombocytopenia induced by nivolumab. A 70‒year‒old woman with advanced gastric cancer was treated with nivolumab. After the first dose, she noticed an erythematous rash. During the second cycle, fever and purpura on the lower extremities were also noted. Laboratory examinations revealed severe thrombocytopenia of grade 4, mild hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, and coagulopathy. Immune‒related adverse events(irAE)were suspected, and we started 40 mg(0.7 mg/kg)prednisolone(PSL)per day. Her symptoms and laboratory data immediately improved. However, when we reduced the dose of PSL, she developed rash and thrombocytopenia again. We increased the dose of PSL to 40 mg, which was effective for improving these abnormalities. We then gradually reduced the PSL, paying attention to avoid a relapse of irAEs. We could not restart chemotherapy thereafter, and she died from progression of gastric cancer. As shown in this case, PSL is effective for immune‒related thrombocytopenia; however, determining how to reduce the dose of PSL and when to restart chemotherapy requires careful consideration.

Impact of submucosal saline solution injection for cold snare polypectomy of small colorectal polyps: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) of small colorectal polyps is widely used. However, the technique is still troubled by insufficient resection depth, which may prevent precise pathologic evaluation. In this study, we investigated whether submucosal injection of saline solution helps to achieve deeper resection in CSP. METHODS: The study was a single-center, prospective, randomized trial. Patients with small (3- to 10-mm diameter) nonpedunculated adenomatous or sessile serrated colorectal polyps were randomly allocated to either conventional CSP (C-CSP) or CSP with submucosal injection (CSP-SI). Primary outcome was the rate of complete muscularis mucosae (MM) resection, defined by the proportion of MM under the tumor more than 80% of the tumor's horizontal dimension. Secondary outcomes were the rates of negative lateral and vertical margins, fragmentation of resected specimens, conversion to hot snare mucosal resection, intraprocedural bleeding, delayed bleeding, and perforation. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen patients were randomly assigned to the CSP-SI (n = 107) or C-CSP (n = 107) group. The rate of complete MM resection was 43.9% in the CSP-SI group and 53.3% in the C-CSP group, a statistically insignificant difference. The rates of negative lateral margin and vertical margin (42.3% and 56.7%, respectively) in the CSP-SI group were significantly lower than those (58% and 76%) in the C-CSP group (P = .03 and P = .006, respectively). There was no polypectomy-related major bleeding or perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Saline solution injection into the submucosa did not improve the resection depth of CSP of small colorectal polyps, and the method resulted in lower rates of negative lateral and vertical margins of resected lesions. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000037980.).

Effect of Vonoprazan on Delayed Bleeding after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Neoplasia among Antithrombotic Drug Users: A Single-Center, Single-Arm Prospective Observational Case Control Study.

Antithrombotic therapy is a major risk factor for delayed bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric neoplasia. A potassium-competitive acid blocker, vonoprazan, is expected to prevent delayed bleeding better than conventional proton pomp inhibitors (PPIs), but the evidence is controversial. We sought to clarify the efficacy of vonoprazan for prevention of delayed bleeding after gastric ESD in patients under antithrombotic therapy. We prospectively registered 50 patients who underwent gastric ESD while receiving antithrombotic therapy and vonoprazan in our institution between October 2017 and September 2018. The incidence of delayed bleeding was compared with that in a historical control group of 116 patients treated with conventional PPI. We also evaluated risk factors associated with delayed bleeding. Delayed bleeding was observed in 8 of 50 patients (16.0%), which was not dissimilar from the incidence in the historical control group (12.1%) (p=0.49). In the univariate analysis, age (> 70 years) (p=0.034), multiple antithrombotic drug use (p<0.01), procedure time (> 200 min) (p=0.038) and tumor size (> 40 mm) (p<0.01) were associated with delayed bleeding after gastric ESD, but vonoprazan was not (p=0.49). Vonoprazan may not be more effective than conventional PPIs in preventing delayed bleeding after gastric ESD in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.

Post-polypectomy bleeding in hot-snare polypectomy of colonic polyps under continued warfarin or short interruption of direct oral anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Newly published guidelines of the Japanese Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES) suggest to consider endoscopic procedures with high risk of bleeding without stopping warfarin and with stopping direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) only on the day of the procedure. In this study, we aimed to test the validity of these recommendations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 344 patients with anticoagulant therapy who underwent hot-snare polypectomy between January 2012 and October 2018. Patients (n = 132) with interruption of anticoagulants (3-7 days for warfarin and 2-3 days for DOACs before the procedure) and without heparin-bridging were excluded. Among the remaining 212 patients, the incidence of post-polypectomy bleeding was compared between the following 2 patient groups: patients who had interruption of anticoagulants with heparin-bridging (HB group, n = 139) and patients treated according to the new JGES guideline (FG group, n = 73). RESULTS: The rate of post-polypectomy bleeding (PPB) in FG group (9.6%) was not significantly different from that in HB group (12.9%, p = 0.5). In subgroup analysis, the incidence of bleeding in patients with warfarin (12.2%) and with DOAC (6.3%) in FG group was not significantly different from corresponding figures in HB group (14.2%, 0%). In multivariate analysis, number of resected polyps was associated with PPB, but the administration of anticoagulants according to the new guidelines was not a significant risk factor for PPB (p = .98). CONCLUSIONS: Our study affirms the recommendations of JGES for the management of anticoagulants in patients who undergo colonic polypectomy regarding post-polypectomy bleeding.

[Sclerosing mesenteritis diagnosed using computed tomography- and ultrasound-guided needle biopsy -utility of the coaxial technique].

Here, we report the case of an 82-year-old woman with sclerosing mesenteritis diagnosed using needle biopsy under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US). The patient manifested appetite loss, weight loss, and epigastric pain. CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed increased density of the mesentery adjacent to the small bowel along with enlarged lymph nodes. Hence, we suspected sclerosing mesenteritis but also considered malignancies, such as lymphoma. We then performed CT- and US-guided needle biopsy with coaxial technique. We inserted an introducer needle by verifying its location using CT and extracted multiple specimens using a finer needle that passed through the introducer without incident. The collected specimens were adequate and histological diagnosis revealed sclerosing mesenteritis. We treated the patient with corticosteroids, and her symptoms and radiographic findings improved. Thus, the coaxial technique was a useful and minimally invasive tool for the diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis.

Risk factors for recurrent bleeding from acute hemorrhagic rectal ulcer.

OBJECTIVES: Acute hemorrhagic rectal ulcer (AHRU) occurs suddenly with painless massive bleeding from rectal ulcers, usually in patients who have severe underlying disorders. The rate of recurrent bleeding from AHRU is high, but there have been few studies on the risk factors for recurrent bleeding. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for recurrent bleeding from AHRU. METHODS: Among 27,151 patients who underwent colonoscopy from 2006 November to 2017 March in our hospital, 120 patients with AHRU were retrospectively reviewed to identify risk factors for recurrent bleeding. Factors analyzed were: age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), comorbidities (congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, renal failure, respiratory failure, diabetes mellitus and malignancy), medications (antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants and steroids); endoscopic therapy and endoscopic features of AHRU. RESULTS: Recurrent bleeding from AHRU occurred in 30% of patients (36/120). In multi-variate analysis, individual comorbidities, medications, endoscopic features and endoscopic hemostasis were not significant or independent risk factors for recurrent bleeding. However, a high CCI score (4 or more) was a risk factor (odds ratio, 7.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-27.1). Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in 61% (73/120) of AHRU patients, and successful hemostasis was achieved in 99% of the treated patients (72/73). CONCLUSIONS: High CCI score was a predictor of recurrent bleeding from AHRU, but individual comorbidities, medications, endoscopic features or endoscopic hemostasis were not. Endoscopic hemostasis for bleeding from AHRU was achieved in most patients, but the recurrent bleeding rate was high.

Safety of cold polypectomy for small colorectal neoplastic lesions: a prospective cohort study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Cold polypectomy has been widely accepted for removal of small colorectal polyps. However, no large-scale prospective study exists as for its safety in Japan. We investigated this issue in this single-center, prospective cohort study in a total of 1198 colorectal polyps resected with cold polypectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and seventy-four patients who underwent cold polypectomy for colorectal neoplastic lesions less than 10-mm diameter between September 2014 and October 2016 were enrolled. Primary outcome was the incidence of delayed bleeding within 2 weeks after the procedure. Secondary outcomes were the rate of immediate bleeding, perforation, endoscopic en bloc resection, and advanced histology. RESULTS: Cold polypectomy was performed on 1198 polyps in the 474 patients. No delayed bleeding or colonic perforation was observed. Immediate bleeding during the procedure, requiring endoscopic hemostasis, occurred in 97 lesions (8.1%), and all of them were successfully managed endoscopically. The endoscopic en bloc resection rate was 97.2%. Twenty-eight lesions (2.3%) were histologically diagnosed as advanced neoplasia; among them, three lesions were well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, and in two of them, a negative margin was not histologically confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Cold polypectomy for small colorectal polyps is a safe technique without significant complication, but careful endoscopic diagnosis at cold polypectomy is necessary to identify advanced neoplasia. The reliability of cold polypectomy in excision of polyps with high-grade neoplasia should be established before the procedure becomes standard in the excision of small colorectal polyps. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000014812.

Two cases of acute gastric dilation after radiofrequency catheter ablation for supraventricular arrhythmia.

We describe our experience with two cases of acute gastric dilation after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for supraventricular arrhythmia. After the RFCA procedure, patients experienced epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and vomiting. Computed tomography showed marked dilation of their stomachs, but without apparent obstruction of the gastric antrum or the duodenum. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and upper gastrointestinal series revealed significant gastroparesis. We considered that gastric hypomotility had been induced by vagus nerve injury after RFCA. Peristaltic stimulants effectively improved the patients' symptoms by improving gastric motility. There have been few reports of acute gastric dilation after RFCA in Japan to date, but the possibility of encountering this condition is expected to increase in parallel with the recent increased use of RFCA. Therefore, gastroenterologists should be alert to this rare complication.

Risk factors for active bleeding from colonic angiodysplasia confirmed by colonoscopic observation.

PURPOSE: Colonic angiodysplasia is an important cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly. Here, we investigated the risk factors for bleeding from colonic angiodysplasia seen at endoscopy. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study by reviewing records of 435 patients with angiodysplasia at colonoscopy from November 2006 to November 2015 in our hospital. To identify risk factors for active bleeding, the following were analyzed: age, sex, comorbidities, use of antithrombotic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the size and location of the lesions. RESULTS: Among the 435 patients, active bleeding from angiodysplasia was observed at endoscopy in 29 patients (6.7 %). Using multivariate analysis, we identified advanced age (odds ratio 5.15, 95 % confidence interval, 1.61-16.5), comorbidity of heart disease (6.88, 1.04-45.5), use of anticoagulant drug (4.22, 1.21-14.7), multiple lesions (6.67, 1.77-25.2), and small lesions (≤5 mm) (17.7, 4.90-64.0) as independent and significant risk factors for active bleeding. Actively bleeding colonic angiodysplasia lesions were very small in most cases (1-2 mm, 24/29, 83 %) and predominantly located in the right-side colon (26/29, 90 %). All of the 29 patients with active bleeding were successfully and safely treated endoscopically, but re-bleeding occurred in nine patients (31 %, 9/29) during the follow-up period of 2-84 months. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple and small colonic angiodysplasia lesions in patients of advanced age, with heart disease, or receiving anticoagulants have increased risk for bleeding. We should be aware that small colonic angiodysplasia lesions in the right-side colon at colonoscopy in these patients may be a source of bleeding.

The superficial elevated and depressed lesion type is an independent factor associated with non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The expanded criteria for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) have led to an increase in the number of EGC patients who receive curative treatment involving endoscopic techniques. Identifying the factors that are associated with treatment outcomes would be helpful in the application of ESD for EGC. METHODS: Potential factors associated with incomplete ESD and with non-curative ESD were investigated using a multiple logistic regression model in EGC patients who consecutively underwent ESD according to the expanded criteria. RESULTS: A total of 363 patients with 398 EGC lesions were enrolled. The rates of complete ESD and curative ESD were 96.2 % (383/398) and 85.7 % (341/398), respectively. No significant factors associated with incomplete ESD were identified. In contrast, a tumor size >20 mm [odds ratio (OR) 3.31; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.74-6.29], the superficial elevated and depressed type (0-IIa + IIc or IIc + IIa) (OR 4.37; 95 % CI 1.88-9.88), and the undifferentiated type (OR 5.93; 95 % CI 1.65-19.41) were identified as independent factors associated with non-curative ESD. The superficial elevated and depressed type in particular was found to be highly related to submucosal and lymphovascular invasion. The rate of non-curative ESD in cases of this macroscopic type occurring together with a tumor size >20 mm was 58.3 %, and the adjusted OR was 16.48 (95 % CI 4.69-62.09). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the superficial elevated and depressed type is an independent factor associated with non-curative ESD and that the risk of non-curative ESD is increased when this macroscopic type is present along with a large tumor size.

[A case report of endosonography used for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

A 79-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of weight loss. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a flat, elevated lesion of 30-mm diameter located on the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. The lesion was histologically diagnosed as a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Endosonography showed a submucosal tumor under the carcinoma, which was highly suspicious of a gastrointestinal tumor derived from the muscle layer. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed as an intramucosal lesion, but laparoscopic fundectomy was performed because of the submucosal tumor. Pathological diagnosis was U, less, pType 0-IIa, 18×30 mm, pT1b (SM1), tub2, int, INFa, ly0, v0, pN0, H0, P0, CYX, M0, pStage IA, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, prognostic group 1.

Endoscopic evaluation by the Kyoto classification of gastritis combined with serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody testing reliably risk-stratifies subjects in a population-based gastric cancer screening program.

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated that the Kyoto classification of gastritis was useful for judging the status of Helicobacter pylori infection in a population-based screening program, and that adding H. pylori antibody test improved its accuracy (UMIN000028629). Here, we tested whether our endoscopic diagnosis of H. pylori infection status reliably estimated gastric cancer risk in the program. METHODS: Data were collected from1345 subjects who underwent endoscopic follow-up 4 years after the end of the registration. We analyzed the association of three diagnostic methods of H. pylori infection with gastric cancer detection: (1) endoscopic diagnosis based on the Kyoto classification of gastritis; (2) serum diagnosis according to the ABC method (H. pylori antibody and pepsinogen I and II); and (3) endoscopic diagnosis together with H. pylori antibody test. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 19 cases of gastric cancer were detected. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the detection rates of cancer were significantly higher in the past or current H. pylori infection groups than in the never-infected group with all 3 methods. By the Cox proportional hazards model, the hazard ratio for cancer detection was highest in evaluation with the combined endoscopic diagnosis and the antibody test (method 3; hazard ratio 22.6, 95% confidence interval 2.99-171) among the three methods (the endoscopic diagnosis (method 1); 11.3, 2.58-49.8, and the ABC method (method 2); 7.52, 2.49-22.7). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic evaluation of H. pylori status with the Kyoto classification of gastritis, especially combined with serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody testing, reliably risk-stratified subjects in a population-based gastric cancer screening program.

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Superficial Barrett's Adenocarcinoma in a Japanese Population: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study.

Objective Although Barrett's adenocarcinoma (BA) remains a minor disease in Japan, its incidence has been gradually increasing. We analyzed the characteristics of BA in Japanese populations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records and analyzed the clinicopathological differences between short-segment Barrett's esophagus (SSBE) and long-segment Barrett's esophagus (LSBE), as well as metastasis. Local recurrence and metachronous lesions were analyzed only in patients who underwent endoscopic resection (ER). Patients Consecutive patients who had pathological T1 BAs resected by ER or surgery from January 2003 to December 2017. Results A total of 168 patients were analyzed, including 139 with SSBE and 29 with LSBE. In total, 67% of the SSBE lesions and 32% of the LSBE lesions were located between 0 and 3 o'clock (p=0.0014). No patients who achieved pathological margin-free resection (pR0) and 17% of patients who did not achieve pR0 experienced local recurrence (p=0.0131). None of the patients without lymphovascular involvement, a poorly differentiated component, lesion size of >30 mm, and submucosal invasion of >500 µm experienced metastasis. The 5-year cumulative incidence rate of metachronous BA after ER was 0% in patients with SSBE and 40% in patients with LSBE (p=0.0005). Conclusion Superficial BA was likely to be detected at the right anterior wall of SSBE in the Japanese population. The risk for metachronous BA after ER was high in Japanese patients with LSBE, as in Western patients.

Feasibility of endoscopic evaluation of Helicobacter pylori infection status by using the Kyoto classification of gastritis in the population-based gastric cancer screening program: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We have started a new population-based endoscopic gastric cancer screening program in Kurashiki city with consideration of Helicobacter pylori infection status based on endoscopic features. We aimed to verify the feasibility of this attempt in a prospective case-registration study (UMIN000028629). METHODS: Data were collected from 1784 subjects without past eradication of H. pylori and who underwent endoscopic gastric cancer screening in Kurashiki Central Hospital Preventive Healthcare Plaza from September 2017 to June 2018. Endoscopic judgment of H. pylori infection status was made according to the Kyoto classification of gastritis. For comparison, a combination serum test of anti-H. pylori antibody and pepsinogen I and II, the ABC method, was used. RESULTS: The endoscopic diagnoses were nongastritis, 1215 (68.1%); active or inactive gastritis, 469 (26.3%); and undefined, 23 (1.3%). With the ABC method as a reference standard, the false-negative rate of the endoscopic judgment for H. pylori infection was 16.3% (95% confidence interval: 13.1%-20.0%). Most false-negative cases were of Group B in the ABC method, which is considered gastritis with mild mucosal atrophy. Antibody titers in this population were mostly in the weak-positive range but clinically significant elevation of the antibody suggesting current infection was observed in some cases. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic diagnosis of H. pylori infection status in a population-based gastric cancer screening program is mostly reliable, but false-negative results may occur, especially in patients with mild gastric atrophy. To avoid this limitation, we recommend adding H. pylori antibody test to the program.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric tube cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Recent improvements in the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer have led to the increased occurrence of gastric tube cancer (GTC) in the reconstructed gastric tube. However, there are few reports on the treatment results of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for GTC. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD for GTC after esophagectomy in a multicenter trial. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 48 GTC lesions in 38 consecutive patients with GTC in the reconstructed gastric tube after esophagectomy who had undergone ESD between January 2005 and December 2019 at 8 institutions participating in the Okayama Gut Study group. The clinical indications of ESD for early gastric cancer were similarly applied for GTC after esophagectomy. ESD specimens were evaluated in 2-mm slices according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma with curability assessments divided into curative and non-curative resection based on the Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines. Patient characteristics, treatment results, clinical course, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 71.5 years (range, 57-84years), and there were 34 men and 4 women. The median observation period after ESD was 884 d (range, 8-4040 d). The median procedure time was 81 min (range, 29-334 min), the en bloc resection rate was 91.7% (44/48), and the curative resection rate was 79% (38/48). Complications during ESD were seen in 4% (2/48) of case, and those after ESD were seen in 10% (5/48) of case. The survival rate at 5 years was 59.5%. During the observation period after ESD, 10 patients died of other diseases. Although there were differences in the procedure time between institutions, a multivariate analysis showed that tumor size was the only factor associated with prolonged procedure time. CONCLUSION: ESD for GTC after esophagectomy was shown to be safe and effective.