title: Which endoscopic treatment is the best for small rectal carcinoid tumors?
abstract: The incidence of rectal carcinoids is rising because of the widespread use of screening colonoscopy. Rectal carcinoids detected incidentally are usually in earlier stages at diagnosis. Rectal carcinoids estimated endoscopically as < 10 mm in diameter without atypical features and confined to the submucosal layer can be removed endoscopically. Here, we review the efficacy and safety of various endoscopic treatments for small rectal carcinoid tumors, including conventional polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), cap-assisted EMR (or aspiration lumpectomy), endoscopic submucosal resection with ligating device, endoscopic submucosal dissection, and transanal endoscopic microsurgery. It is necessary to carefully choose an effective and safe primary resection method for complete histological resection.
authors.affiliation: Hyun Ho Choi, Young-Seok Cho, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Uijeongbu 480-717, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jin Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Carcinoid tumor; Endoscopic mucosal resection; Endoscopic submucosal dissection; Polypectomy; Rectum