title: Endoscopic resection of granular cell tumors in the gastrointestinal tract: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency of granular cell tumors (GCTs) identified in the gastrointestinal tract has recently increased with the increased use of routine endoscopy. Endoscopic treatment is increasingly used as an alternative to traditional surgical resection, but there are few reports on the efficacy, safety, and long-term prognosis of endoscopic treatment for GCTs. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and long-term prognosis of endoscopic resection for the gastrointestinal GCTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined a total of 27 GCTs in 25 patients who were treated by endoscopic resection from January 2007 to February 2011. For endoscopic resection, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty GCTs were located in the esophagus, 5 in the stomach, and 2 in the colon. The median size of the GCTs was 10 mm; the largest size, located in the ascending colon, measured 18 mm. EMR with a ligation device was performed in 20 cases, conventional EMR in 5 cases, and ESD in 2 cases. En bloc resection was performed in 25 cases (92.6%), and endoscopic complete resection piecemeal resection was achieved in 25 cases (92.6%). Pathologic complete resection was achieved in 22 lesions (81.5%). Intraprocedural bleeding was noted in three patients, with no occurrence of perforation or postprocedure stricture. No recurrence was observed during the mean follow-up period of 15 months (range 9-31 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic resection appears to be a safe and effective treatment for GCTs in the gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 1-10 Ami-dong, Seo-Gu, Pusan 602-739, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hwahn
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kahng
authors.forename: Gwang Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Do Youn
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Moo Song
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Yu Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Geun Am
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016586:Granular Cell Tumor / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome