Endoscopic Resection and Ablation for Early-Stage Esophageal Cancer

Endoscopic resection and ablation have become the preferred therapy for most patients with high-grade dysplasia or superficial esophageal cancer. Endoscopic therapy offers esophageal preservation with similar oncologic outcomes and significantly fewer complications compared with the alternative of esopahgectomy. The goal of endotherapy is eradication of all the premalignant intestinal metaplasia to minimize the risk for metachronous cancer development. Once accomplished, careful follow-up is necessary to address recurrent intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia and prevent long-term failure of an endoscopic approach in these patients.