Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal epithelial neoplasms

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) provides a high en bloc resection rate with less invasiveness than surgical resection for large or scarring gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, detailed outcomes in colorectal ESD are still lacking. The aim of our study was to elucidate short- and long-term outcomes of colorectal ESD.

310 consecutive colorectal epithelial neoplasms (146 adenomas, 164 carcinomas), in 290 patients, which fulfilled our indication criteria and were treated with ESD between July 2000 and December 2008 were studied. ESD was done by three skilled endoscopists. As short-term outcomes, rates of en bloc resection, en bloc plus R0 resection, and major complications were analyzed. As long-term outcomes, disease-free and overall survival were assessed in 224 patients.

Rates of en bloc resection and en bloc plus R0 resection were 90.3 % and 74.5 %, respectively. Eight patients underwent additional colectomy due to histopathologically proven possible node-positive cancer. Intraoperative perforations occurred with 14 lesions (4.5 %), which were treated successfully only by endoscopic clipping. Emergent surgery was needed for one case of postoperative perforation. Blood transfusion due to intraoperative massive bleeding was required in 1 case (0.3 %). Postoperative bleeding occurred with four lesions (1.3 %), and was endoscopically managed without blood transfusion. Local recurrence was detected in 4 lesions (4/202 patients, 2.0 %); resection had been piecemeal in all 4. During a median follow-up of 38.7 months (range 12.8 - 104.2), the 3- and 5-year overall/disease-specific survivals were 97.1/100 % and 95.3/100 %, respectively.

Colorectal ESD showed favorable long-term outcomes. It may largely replace colectomy for node-negative colorectal epithelial neoplasia.