Metachronous esophageal cancer and colon cancer treated by endoscopic mucosal resection

Most cases of esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer in Taiwan are diagnosed in the advanced stage and treated by surgery or concurrent chemoirradiation. The detection rates of early esophageal cancer and early colorectal cancer are still low in Taiwan. Metachronous early esophageal cancer and early colorectal cancer have rarely been reported. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a well-established method for treatment of early gastrointestinal cancer in Japan. We report a 77-year-old man with metachronous early esophageal cancer and early colorectal cancer detected by chromoendoscopy with 3% Lugol's iodine and 0.2% indigo carmine, respectively. These two lesions were successfully treated by EMR. Endoscopic mucosal resection of early cancer in the gastrointestinal tract may be considered in patients who are not suitable for open surgery.