[Endoscopic mucosal resection of early esophageal cancer]

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is now thoroughly established as a therapeutic method for early oesophageal cancer. In adequately selected patients, EMR provides a comparable outcome to traditional surgical operations.

5 patients with early oesophageal cancer were treated fey simple snare resection in 2004 and 2005. These selected patients had distinct backgrounds one was known to have underlying Barrett's oesophagus, two of them had oesophageal varices, one case was an incidental finding for investigating abdominal pain, one was diagnosed during cancer surveillance of partial oesophagectomy. All these lesions were biopsy proven and evaluated by endoscopic ultrasound.

No acute complications were noticed after the procedure. Post-procedure oncological chemotherapy was given to the last four patients. Control exam was performed to all patient 1st, 3rd and every 3rd month after the procedure. Patient with recurrent cancer after partial oesophagectomy had recidive tumor.

Endoscopic mucosal resection of superficial oesophageal cancer can be performed without major complications representing a useful alternative treatment of oesophageal cancer.