Endoscopic mucosal resection of the colon: the Japanese technique

Early colorectal neoplasms, especially flat-type and depressed-type lesions, should be treated with an EMR technique. In general because depressed-type lesions, in contrast to flat-type or protruded-type lesions, tend to invade the submucosa rapidly, they ought to be treated by EMR at an early stage. Histopathologically in the case of lesions that only minimally invade the submucosa without vessel invasion (sm1a and sm1b without vessel invasion), a treatment can be completed with EMR. Massive submucosal invasive cancers ought to be resected by surgical treatment because of the risk of recurrence or metastasis. In addition, pit pattern diagnosis with magnifying colonoscopy is useful to determine a therapeutic method for colonic neoplasms. Lesions with the type VN pit pattern represent malignancy and usually invade the submucosa massively, so it is better to treat them surgically from the outset. Endoscopic mucosal resection should be conducted under fully controlled endoscopy to prevent complications. EMR is a superior therapeutic method and will be performed frequently in the future. It is necessary for colonoscopists to determine a suitable therapy for each colorectal neoplastic lesion. They also need to master the EMR technique in the correct manner.