Safety of Endoscopic Resection for Upper Gastrointestinal Subepithelial Tumors Originating from the Muscularis...

Although endoscopic resection is an accepted technique for upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors (SETs) originating from the muscularis propria (MP) layer, published data regarding its complications are highly variable and limited to small data series. This study aimed to analyze the safety of endoscopic resection in a large case series.

A total of 726 consecutive patients with 733 upper gastrointestinal SETs originating from the MP layer underwent endoscopic resection from June 2005 to December 2014. The complete resection rate, perioperative perforation rate, and perioperative bleeding rate were the main outcome measurements.

The complete resection rate was 97.1%. Ninety-four patients had complications (12.9%), including 88 with perioperative perforations (12.1%), 13 with perioperative bleeding (1.8%), 5 with localized peritonitis (0.7%), and one with delayed bleeding (0.1%). Eleven patients required surgery; the others were treated endoscopically. Risk factors for incomplete resection were extensive connection of the tumor to the MP layer (P=0.007) and extraluminal growth (P=0.048). Risk factors for perioperative perforation were larger tumor size (≤2.0 cm vs. 2.1-3.0 cm vs. >3.0 cm, P=0.021), extraluminal growth (P=0.046), and extensive connection (P<0.001). A risk factor for perioperative bleeding was larger tumor size (P=0.045). No residual or recurrent lesions were detected during the follow-up period (median: 28 months).

Endoscopic resection is an effective and reasonably safe therapeutic method for treating/removing upper gastrointestinal SETs originating from the MP layer when managed by an experienced endoscopic team.