title: Endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal lipomas: a single-center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal (GI) lipomas are benign, slow-growing subepithelial tumors. Most lipomas are detected incidentally at endoscopy, but they can cause GI bleeding, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and intussusception, particularly if they are larger than 2 cm in diameter. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, safety, and long-term prognosis of endoscopic treatment of GI lipomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 28 GI lipomas treated endoscopically from January 2005 to June 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Endoscopic treatment was performed by four methods: the unroofing technique, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), EMR after precutting (EMR-P), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 28 GI lipomas, 5 were located in the stomach, 2 in the duodenum, and 21 in the colon. Thirteen lipomas were <2 cm in diameter (small lipoma), and the other 15 were ≥2 cm (large lipoma). The unroofing technique was performed in 2 cases, EMR in 17 cases, EMR-P in 4 cases, and ESD in 5 cases. En bloc resection was performed with 21 lesions (75 %), and endoscopic complete resection was achieved with 26 lesions (93 %). Incomplete resection occurred in the 2 cases treated by the unroofing technique. On pathologic examination, complete resection was achieved with 21 lesions (75 %). Delayed bleeding was observed in one patient. There were no serious complications such as perforation or post-procedural stricture. During the mean follow-up period of 19 months (range 2-91 months), no recurrence was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic treatment appears to be a safe and effective treatment for GI lipomas, including large lipomas (≥2 cm in diameter).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 1-10, Ami-dong, Seo-gu, Pusan, 602-739, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gwang Ha
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Do Youn
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Na Ri
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Bong Eun
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Yup
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Dong Uk
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Geun Am
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography