The impact of endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric adenocarcinomas in the United States
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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Intraoperative Gastroscopy for Tumor Localization in Laparoscopic Surgery for Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Published on: August 9, 2016
Shria Kumar1, David C Metz1, Vinay Chandrasekhara2
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Background And Aims:
Recent studies show promise for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the US, but do not identify the potential impact of ESD among newly diagnosed gastric cancers. We utilize the Veterans Health Administration to identify cancers suitable for ESD, to define the role of ESD in the US.
Methods:
Retrospective cohort study using the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry to identify patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgical resection from 1995-2018. TNM stage was used to categorize those who would meet absolute vs expanded indications for ESD. Primary outcome was lymph node status. Secondary analysis was performed with death as outcome.
Results:
Of 12,584 primary gastric cancers, 4,735 (37.6%) were non-metastatic gastric adenocarcinomas. Median age at diagnosis was 70.3 years, 4,676 (98.8%) male. 2,306 (48.7%) underwent surgical resection, of which 636 (27.6%) were T1 lesions or cancer in situ. Of these, 44 (6.9%) met absolute indications for resection, 99 (15.6%) met established expanded criteria, and 98 (15.4%) may meet expanded criteria. Half of all tumors in each group were proximal in location.Rate of lymph node positivity was: 4.5%; 95% CI:0.5-15.5% in absolute group; 8.1%; 95% CI:3.6-15.3% in expanded group; 13.3%; 95% CI:7.3-21.6 in those potentially meeting expanded criteria. Lymph nodes positivity was associated with death (HR 1.49; 95% CI:1.36-1.62, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
Less than 10% of T1 or in situ cancers meet absolute criteria for ESD. Those that meet expanded criteria had higher risk for lymph node metastases, particularly proximal tumors. Future studies should evaluate the safety of ESD in proximal gastric tumors.
