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Updated: May 23, 2026
Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Endoscopic ablation therapy for gastrointestinal superficial neoplasia
Naoki Muguruma1, Koichi Okamoto, Tetsuo Kimura
1Department of Gastroenterology and Oncology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. muguruma.clin.med@gmail.com
Aim:
In Japan, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) have been widely accepted and standardized for the treatment of gastrointestinal superficial neoplasia.
Methods:
In contrast, mucosal ablation techniques are more common in Western countries and a variety of endoscopic ablation modalities, including argon plasma coagulation (APC), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and lasers, are used.
Results:
Recently developed modalities such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryotherapy are also available for the treatment of superficial lesions such as dysplasia of Barrett's esophagus.
Conclusion:
Although we should understand that the completeness of destruction of neoplastic tissue can only be judged at follow up, endoscopic ablation is a viable alternative to endoscopic resection for dysplasia and early-stage malignancies, especially for poor candidates of surgery or endoscopic resection.