title: Clinical outcomes of argon plasma coagulation therapy for early gastric neoplasms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Argon plasma coagulation (APC) has some merits in the treatment of gastric neoplasms including a shorter operative time and fewer complications compared with endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, there are few reports on the outcomes of gastric neoplasms treated using APC. The aim of this study was to evaluate APC in the treatment of early gastric neoplasms in terms of clinical efficacy, safety, and local recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 28 patients who received APC therapy at the Kyungpook National University Hospital between May 2007 and April 2013. Clinical outcomes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up period was 24.8 months (range, 2 to 78). Among the 28 lesions treated using the APC procedure, tumor recurrence was encountered in seven lesions (25.0%). Recurrence was found in 50% (5/10) of single APC cases and 11% (2/18) of rescue APC cases. The mean time to recurrence was 16.1 months (range, 2 to 78). There were no serious APC-related complications such as perforation, bleeding, or infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APC therapy can be a useful treatment with a favorable safety profile for patients with early gastric neoplasms. However, further studies are necessary to determine the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hea Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Rim
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jeong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Kook
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Argon plasma coagulation; Early gastric cancer; Endoscopic treatment; Recurrence
references.citation: Gut. 2003 Mar;52(3):334-9
references.pmid: 12584212
references.citation: Endoscopy. 1997 Mar;29(3):176-81
references.pmid: 9201466
references.citation: Gastrointest Endosc. 2006 Jan;63(1):48-54
references.pmid: 16377315
references.citation: Gut. 2001 Feb;48(2):225-9
references.pmid: 11156645
references.citation: Gastrointest Endosc. 2003 Apr;57(4):455-61
references.pmid: 12665753
references.citation: Dig Liver Dis. 2004 Mar;36(3):212-7
references.pmid: 15046192
references.citation: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2011 Jul;45(6):e54-9
references.pmid: 20838235
references.citation: Gastrointest Endosc. 2011 Sep;74(3):485-93
references.pmid: 21741645
references.citation: Hepatogastroenterology. 2004 Nov-Dec;51(60):1658-61
references.pmid: 15532798
references.citation: Dig Dis Sci. 2009 Dec;54(12):2623-8
references.pmid: 19082886
references.citation: Surg Endosc. 2013 Apr;27(4):1211-8
references.pmid: 23076459
references.citation: Surg Endosc. 2013 Sep;27(9):3146-52
references.pmid: 23443483
references.citation: Gastric Cancer. 1998 Dec;1(1):10-24
references.pmid: 11957040
references.citation: J Gastroenterol. 2006 Oct;41(10):929-42
references.pmid: 17096062
references.citation: Endosc Surg Allied Technol. 1994 Feb;2(1):42-6
references.pmid: 8081915