Endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors assisted by endoscopic ultrasonography

The resection and histologic examination of the lesions is generally considered the treatment of choice in order to achieve diagnosis in gastrointestinal submucosal tumors. Moreover, the degree of malignancy of the tumor depends on certain features that can only be studied on the entire resected piece.

We revised the cases of patients who underwent endoscopic resection of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors in the period from 1997 through 2002.

Fifty submucosal lesions were resected in 45 patients (64.4% men). Patient mean age was 55.31 years. Of the lesions, 52% were gastric tumors and 88% were located in the second layer. Mean size was 12.34 mm, and 54% were smaller than 10 mm. Resection with submucosal injection of saline solution and diluted adrenaline was performed on 46% of the lesions, and standard resection using polypectomy snare on 48%. Ligation was used in three cases. Resection was successful in 98% and major complications were observed in 4% (two cases of bleeding, endoscopically resolved).

The endoscopic resection of submucosal tumors is a safe and efficient technique: It has few associated complications and allows diagnosis in all the cases and cure of the lesion in the great majority of cases.