Current Challenge: Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Superficial Non-ampullary Duodenal Epithelial Tumors.

OPINION STATEMENT: With the widespread use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in recent years, the detection rate of superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) is increasing. Most SNADETs are early-stage adenocarcinoma or benign conditions, including adenoma. Therefore, endoscopic resection is desirable from the perspective of quality of life. However, endoscopic resection for SNADETs has not yet been established. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the most promising method for the treatment of SNADETs, because ESD provides a high rate of en bloc resection and a low rate of recurrence regardless of the tumor size. However, the difficulty of the procedure and a high rate of severe adverse events including perforation and bleeding have become major problems. Various preventive countermeasures for adverse events, such as use of specific devices, endoscope stabilization methods, and endoscopic closure of the post-ESD ulcer using clips, are reported to reduce the risk of the adverse events of ESD for SNADETs. This article reviews and highlights the current state of ESD for SNADETs and new challenges towards safe and effective ESD.

Endoscopic resection using the Clutch Cutter and a detachable snare for large pedunculated colonic polyps.

Background and study aims Endoscopic snare polypectomy with prophylactic detachable snare of large pedunculated colonic polyps (PCPs) is technically demanding. To facilitate removal of such polyps, we developed endoscopic resection using the Clutch Cutter and a detachable snare (ERCCDS). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure. Patients and methods From April 2010 to July 2015, 14 consecutive patients who had PCPs with head > 10 mm, stalk width > 5 mm, and stalk length > 10 mm were enrolled in this single-center prospective uncontrolled study. They were treated using ERCCDS by a single endoscopist. The efficacy and safety were assessed using a database prospectively formatted from the medical records. Results The Clutch Cutter was able to cut the distal side of the stalk an adequate distance from the detachable snare under good visual control. R0 resections were obtained in all lesions. There were no immediate or delayed complications. Conclusions ERCCDS appears to be a safe, easy, and technically efficient method for large PCPs, although larger studies are needed to compare ERCCDS and standard resection.

Gastric glomus tumor diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy: report of a case.

A glomus tumor of the stomach is rare. It is difficult to diagnose the tumor before surgery by only endoscopic biopsy and radiography, and there is no established method of diagnosis before surgical treatment. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) on a 50-year-old Japanese woman revealed a 10 mm submucosal tumor in the anterior wall of the gastric angle. Follow-up EGD revealed an increase in the size of the tumor to 15mm. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) demonstrated a 15mm subepithelial hypoechoic solid tumor with continuity to the proper muscle layer. Histologic diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was glomus tumor. The tumor was treated by laparoscopic local resection. The histologic diagnosis of the resected tumor was similar to the preoperative EUS-FNA results. EUS-FNA would appear to be an effective histologic test for early diagnosis of gastric glomus tumor.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection using the "Clutch Cutter" for early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: To reduce the risk of complications related to the use of knives in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), we developed the Clutch Cutter which can grasp and incise targeted tissue using electrosurgical current, similarly to a biopsy technique. The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD using the Clutch Cutter for early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ESD using the Clutch Cutter was performed on 32 consecutive patients with early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Therapeutic efficacy and safety were assessed. RESULTS: All lesions were treated easily and safely without unintended incision. En bloc resection was obtained in all patients. Histologically negative margins were obtained in 26/32 patients (81%). Endoscopic perforation due to the hood in one patient (3%), mediastinitis without endoscopic perforation in one patient (3%), and post-ESD stricture in 5 patients (16%) were observed. All were successfully managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: ESD using the Clutch Cutter appears to be a safe, easy, and technically efficient method for resecting early esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

Preserved gastric motility in patients with early gastric cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is now accepted as a minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC). To our knowledge, however, the functional effects of ESD have not been determined in patients with EGC. We therefore investigated whether gastric motility was affected by ESD. METHODS: Using the (13) C-octanoic acid breath test, gastric emptying of solid test meals was examined in 26 EGC patients and 18 healthy controls, with EGC patients assayed before and about 2 months after ESD. Based on (13) CO2 breath-excretion curves, the lag-phase time (T(lag) ), half-emptying time (T(1/2) ), and gastric emptying coefficient (GEC) were calculated as indices of gastric emptying. RESULTS: In healthy controls, the mean T(lag), T(1/2), and GEC were 85.5 ± 4.9 min, 148.5 ± 8.0 min, and 3.01 ± 0.09 h, respectively. Before ESD, the mean T(lag) , T(1/2), and GEC in the EGC patients were 90.1 ± 5.5 min, 174.7 ± 10.4 min, 2.64 ± 0.08 h, respectively. GEC, but not T(lag) or T(1/2), differed significantly in the two groups, with gastric emptying slower in EGC patients than in controls. Relative to before ESD, the mean T(lag), T(1/2), and GEC in EGC patients after ESD were 109.2% ± 7.8%, 107.9% ± 9.6%, 108.4% ± 4.7%, respectively, indicating that ESD did not significantly affect any of these gastric emptying parameters in EGC patients. CONCLUSION: ESD is an effective treatment for EGC both in preserving organs and gastric motility.

A new approach: endoscopic submucosal dissection using the Clutch Cutter® for early stage digestive tract tumors.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is accepted as minimally invasive therapy for early stage digestive tract tumors. It has allowed the achievement of histologically curative en-bloc resection of early stage digestive tract tumors regardless of size, including the resection of previously non-resectable tumors. Although numerous electrosurgical knives have been developed for ESD, technical difficulties and high complication rates (bleeding and perforation) have limited their use worldwide. Furthermore, conventional ESD usually needs several devices for each session. We developed the Clutch Cutter® (CC), which can grasp and incise the targeted tissue using electrosurgical current, to resolve such ESD-related problems. The ESD procedure using the CC is as follows: after marking using the CC and the injection of a solution into the submucosa, the lesion is separated from the surrounding normal mucosa by complete incision around the lesion using the CC. A piece of submucosal tissue is grasped and cut with the CC using electrosurgical current to achieve submucosal exfoliation. Intraoperative bleeding is also treated by the CC. Reported clinical studies showed that ESD using the CC is a safe, simple, easy-to-learn, technically efficient (en-bloc resection rate 100%), and a single-device method for the dissection of early stage digestive tract tumors. This new approach is promising to become the worldwide method of choice for early stage digestive tract tumors because it is technically simple and safe to perform.

Is a small-caliber or large-caliber endoscope more suitable for colonic self-expandable metallic stent placement? A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: The colonic self-expandable metallic stent (C-SEMS) with a 9-French (Fr) delivery system allows for a small-caliber endoscope (SCE) to be used to treat malignant colonic obstruction. Despite the lack of evidence, the SCE has become popular because it is considered easier to insert than the large-caliber endoscope (LCE). We aimed to determine whether the SCE is more suitable than the LCE for C-SEMS placement. METHODS: Between July 2018 and November 2019, 50 consecutive patients who were scheduled to undergo C-SEMS for colon obstruction were recruited in this study. Patients were randomized to the SCE or LCE group. The SCE and LCE were used with 9-Fr and 10-Fr delivery systems, respectively. The primary outcome was the total procedure time. Secondary outcomes were the technical success rate, complication rate, clinical success rate, insertion time, guidewire-passage time, stent-deployment time, and colonic obstruction-scoring-system score. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (SCE group, n = 22; LCE group, n = 23) were analyzed. The procedure time in the LCE group (median, 20.5 min) was significantly (p = 0.024) shorter than that in the SCE group (median, 25.1 min). The insertion time in the LCE group (median, 2.0 min) was significantly (p = 0.0049) shorter than that in the SCE group (median, 6.0 min). A sub-analysis of the procedure difficulties showed that the insertion time in the LCE group (median, 5.0 min) was significantly shorter than that in the SCE group (median, 8.5 min). CONCLUSION: Both LCE and SCE can be used for C-SEMS; however, LCE is more suitable than SCE as it achieved a faster and equally efficacious C-SEMS placement as that of SCE. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN 32748).

Endoscopic submucosal dissection using a grasping-type scissors forceps for early gastric cancers and adenomas.

AIM: To reduce the risk of complications related to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using knives, we developed a new grasping-type scissors forceps (GSF) that can grasp and incise the target tissue using electrosurgical current. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD using GSF for the removal of early gastric cancers and adenomas. METHODS: ESD using GSF was carried out on 35 consecutive patients with early gastric cancers or adenomas who had preoperative EUS diagnoses of mucosal tumor without lymph node involvement. Therapeutic efficacy and safety were assessed. RESULTS: All lesions were treated easily and safely without unexpected incision. The mean size of epithelial tumors and resected specimens was 15.6mm and 32.7mm, respectively. Curative en-bloc resection rates according to tumor size and location were 96% (26/27) in tumors ≤20mm, 100% (8/8) in tumors >20mm, 100% (18/18) of tumors in the lower portion, 100% (8/8) of tumors in the middle portion, 89% (8/9) of tumors in the upper portion, and 97% (34/35) overall. The mean operating time according to tumor size and location was 93.4min in tumors ≤20mm, 140min in tumors >20mm, 77.6min for tumors in the lower portion, 113.4min for tumors in the middle portion, 148.6min for tumors in the upper portion, and 104.1min overall. No intraoperative complication occurred, and postoperative bleeding was seen in 3% (1/35). CONCLUSIONS: ESD using GSF allows simple and safe en-bloc resection of early gastric cancer or adenoma irrespective of tumor size and location.

Is double-balloon colonoscopy a better aid to unskilled colonoscopists than conventional colonoscopy?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: To compare the clinical outcome of double-balloon colonoscopy (DBC) with conventional colonoscopy (CC) for colon evaluation performed by an unskilled colonoscopist. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2008 and November 2008, 1544 colonoscopies were performed in our hospital. Fifty-eight patients, (29 male and 29 female ; 19-86 years; mean age, 63 years) involving 60 intubations, were enrolled in this study and were assigned randomly to the DBC or CC group. One first-year GI fellow was enrolled and performed these 60 consecutive colonoscopies (30 DBCs, 30 CCs). Completion rate of colonoscopy, cecal intubation time, and rate of analgesic agent usage were analyzed. RESULTS: Completion of DBC was 100% (30/30), while completion of CC was 73% (22/30). There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The mean cecal intubation time was 36.2 +/- 14.4 minutes (DBC) and 36.5 +/- 15.2 minutes (CC). There was no statistically significant difference. Analgesic agent was used with 19 intubations (63%) (DBC) and with 27 intubations (90%) (CC) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For inexpert endoscopists, using DBC has a higher rate of effectiveness than using CC and can decrease the discomfort of patients during colonoscopic procedures.

[A case of rectal implantation cyst diagnosed by EUS and EUS-guided FNA].

A 73-year-old woman was referred to our hospital complaining of bloody stool. She had undergone high anterior resection with the double stapling technique for a sigmoid colon cancer 2 years prior to this admission. Colonoscopy revealed a soft submucosal tumor, 4cm in size, on the anal side of the previous anastomosis in the rectum. EUS revealed a cystic lesion located in the third and fourth layers of the rectal wall. EUS-FNA was performed, and the content of the cystic lesion was transparent mucinous liquid. Histologically, the specimen revealed PAS and Alcian blue-positive mucinous material and a small number of inflammatory cells such as foamy macrophages. Therefore, this cystic lesion was diagnosed as a rectal implantation cyst.

Advances in endoscopic therapy using grasping-type scissors forceps (with video).

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a globally accepted minimally invasive therapy for early-stage gastrointestinal tract tumors. Although numerous electrosurgical knives have been developed for ESD, technical difficulties and high complication rates (bleeding and perforation) have limited their use worldwide. The grasping-type scissors forceps [clutch cutter (CC)] is the first forceps-type resection device developed with reference to hemostatic forceps. The aim was to allow easy and safe ESD throughout the gastrointestinal tract, as a biopsy technique, using one device. The CC can grasp the target tissue accurately and pull it away from the underlying muscle layer prior to energizing the tissue, for safe and effective incision and hemostasis during ESD. Reported clinical studies showed that ESD using the CC (ESD-CC) is a safe (perforation rate: 0%-3.6%; delayed bleeding rate: 0%-4.2%), technically efficient (en-bloc resection rate: 88.9%-100%), and single-device method for dissecting early-stage gastrointestinal tract tumors. The ESD-CC technique is simple and easy to learn because it can be completed simply by repeating the grasp, pull, and coagulate and/or incise actions using an electrosurgical current. The reported self-completion rate by non-experts was significantly better with the CC than with conventional knives (61.7% vs 24.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Furthermore, the CC is used for other endoscopic therapies, such as endoscopic polypectomy for large pedunculated polyps, endoscopic myotomy for Zenker's diverticulum, endoscopic treatment of buried bumper syndrome, and endoscopic necrosectomy for wall-off pancreatic necrosis. The initial reports using CC for these therapies have shown favorable results. In this review, we describe the structural features of the CC, how to use the instrument, efficacies of ESD-CC, and other unique endoscopic therapies using the CC.

Successful endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the pelvic lesion through the sigmoid colon.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a useful modality when the target is a lymph node located in the mediastinum, perigastric area or perirectum. Although it is difficult to carry out EUS-FNA of the colon using an oblique view linear scope, we report two cases of successful EUS-FNA of the lesions via the proximal sigmoid colon using a recently available new convex type EUS scope. Case 1 was a 77-year-old Japanese woman noted to have multiple lymph node swelling in the para-aortic area and in the pelvis. Case 2 was a 60-year-old Japanese woman noted to have a large mass in the left lower abdomen. In case 1, oral EUS showed no lymph node swelling. In both cases, EUS with forward-viewing radial echoendoscope was carried out via the anus, and multiple lymph-node swelling or a large mass was observed near the proximal sigmoid colon. In the EUS-FNA for these cases, we used a new convex-type EUS scope that has an oblique view, but with a wide-angled optical device giving a view similar to a forward one. EUS-FNA was successfully carried out on the lesions. The pathological specimen revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in case 1 and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in case 2.

Endoscopic mucosal resection vs endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial non-ampullary duodenal tumors.

BACKGROUND: The selection of endoscopic treatments for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) is controversial. AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for SNADETs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with SNADETs from a database of endoscopic treatment for SNADETs, which included eight hospitals in Fukuoka, Japan, between April 2001 and October 2017. A total of 142 patients with SNADETs treated with EMR or ESD were analyzed. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for the differences in the patient characteristics between the two groups. We analyzed the treatment outcomes, including the rates of en bloc/complete resection, procedure time, adverse event rate, hospital stay, and local or metastatic recurrence. RESULTS: Twenty-eight pairs of patients were created. The characteristics of patients between the two groups were similar after matching. The EMR group had a significantly shorter procedure time and hospital stay than those of the ESD group [median procedure time (interquartile range): 6 (3-10.75) min vs 87.5 (68.5-136.5) min, P < 0.001, hospital stay: 8 (6-10.75) d vs 11 (8.25-14.75) d, P = 0.006]. Other outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups (en bloc resection rate: 82.1% vs 92.9%, P = 0.42; complete resection rate: 71.4% vs 89.3%, P = 0.18; and adverse event rate: 3.6% vs 17.9%, P = 0.19, local recurrence rate: 3.6% vs 0%, P = 1; metastatic recurrence rate: 0% in both). Only one patient in the ESD group underwent emergency surgery owing to intraoperative perforation. CONCLUSION: EMR has significantly shorter procedure time and hospital stay than ESD, and provides acceptable curability and safety compared to ESD. Accordingly, EMR for SNADETs is associated with lower medical costs.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection with a grasping-type scissors for early colorectal epithelial neoplasms: a large single-center experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Clutch Cutter (CC) can grasp, pull, coagulate, and incise targeted tissue with the use of electrosurgical current. It was developed as a biopsy technique to reduce the technical difficulty of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with knives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD using the CC (ESD-CC) for early colorectal epithelial neoplasms (ECENs). METHODS: In this prospective study, we enrolled 437 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of ECEN between January 2009 and January 2018. They all satisfied the Japanese colorectal cancer treatment guidelines for ESD; namely, confirmation by preliminary endoscopy, EUS, and endoscopic biopsy. The CC was used for all steps of ESD (mucosal incision, submucosal dissection, and hemostatic treatment); therapeutic efficacy and safety were assessed. RESULTS: The en bloc resection rate was 99.3% (434/437), and the R0 resection rate was 87.0% (380/437). The mean operating time was 88.3 minutes. Perforation occurred in 10 cases (2.3%) and was managed with conservative medical treatment. Post-ESD-CC bleeding occurred in 10 cases (2.3%) and was successfully treated by endoscopic hemostatic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ESD-CC is a technically efficient, safe, and easy method for resecting ECEN.

Role of EUS and EUS-guided FNA in the diagnosis of rectal implantation cyst at an anastomosis site after a previous low anterior resection for a rectal cancer without evidence of cancer recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Rectal implantation cysts occurring at an anastomosis site after a low anterior resection for rectal cancer need to be distinguished from locally recurrent rectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the role of EUS and EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of rectal implantation cyst. DESIGN: Case series. PATIENTS: A review of medical records identified 3 men and 1 woman who were diagnosed with rectal implantation cyst by EUS and EUS-FNA. RESULTS: All 4 cases had undergone a low anterior resection with the double-stapling technique for a rectal cancer from 12 to 67 months (median 33.8 months) earlier. Follow-up colonoscopy revealed a rectal submucosal tumor at an anastomosis site. EUS revealed cystic lesions with heterogeneous wall thickness from the third layer or the fourth layer to the surroundings. EUS-FNA revealed mucin that contained a few inflammatory cells and no malignant cells in any of the patients. From the findings of EUS and EUS-FNA, all patients were diagnosed with rectal implantation cyst, thus avoiding surgery. LIMITATION: Small number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: EUS and EUS-FNA are useful in the diagnosis of rectal implantation cyst and the avoidance of unnecessary radical surgery.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection by using a grasping-type scissors forceps: a preliminary clinical study (with video).

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with a knife is a technically demanding procedure associated with a high complication rate. The shortcoming of this method is the difficulty of fixing the knife to the target lesion. It can lead to an unexpected incision and result in major complications, such as perforation and bleeding. To reduce the risk of complications related to ESD, we developed a new grasping-type scissors forceps (GSF), which can grasp and incise the targeted tissue by using electrosurgical current. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD by using GSF for the removal of gastric neoplasms in human beings. DESIGN: Prospective, uncontrolled, single center. SETTING: Department of Gastroenterology, Aso Iizuka Hospital, Iizuka, Japan. PATIENTS: Four patients with early gastric neoplastic lesions. INTERVENTIONS: After marking and injection of a solution into the submucosa, the lesion was separated from the surrounding normal mucosa by complete incision around the lesion by using the GSF. A piece of submucosal tissue was grasped and cut with the GSF by using electrosurgical current to achieve submucosal excision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Technical success and complications. RESULTS: All lesions were treated easily and safely, without any unexpected incisions. No delayed hemorrhage and perforation occurred. An en bloc resection and a negative resection margin was obtained in all cases. LIMITATIONS: The small number of patients and an uncontrolled study. CONCLUSIONS: ESD with GSF appeared to be an easy, safe, and technically efficient method for resecting GI neoplasms.