Study on endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection with ligating device. I--Clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
EEMRL (endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection with a ligating device) has become increasingly popular. In this article, we review 13 clinical cases of EEMRL.


METHODS
Since 1993, we have performed EEMRL to treat 15 lesions in 13 patients. Twelve squamous cell carcinomas (mucosal cancer in 10 and submucosal cancer in 2) were included among the 15 lesions.


RESULTS
EEMRL failed to achieve complete resection of the 2 submucosal lesions (3.0 and 2.8 cm in maximum diameter). However, esophageal lesions could be removed successfully when 2.5 cm or less in maximum diameter. The procedure was not associated with any complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Our clinical study showed that this technique may be indicated for esophageal cancer with a maximum diameter < or = 2.5 cm and confined to the mucosa. EEMRL is a technically easy and minimally invasive therapy which could be useful for the treatment of early esophageal cancer.
Naritaka
Y
Y
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Daini Hospital, 2-1-10 Nishiogu Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8567, Japan. nari4121@ca.mbn.or.jp
Ogawa
K
K
Shimakawa
T
T
Wagatsuma
Y
Y
Katsube
T
T
Kajiwara
T
T
Aiba
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000601:surgery