[Clinical value and development prospects of surgical treatment for early gastric cancer]

While endoscopic techniques have propelled the development of early gastric cancer (EGC) treatment, surgical intervention remains irreplaceable due to its thoroughness in lymph node dissection. The limitations of preoperative staging, the risk of lymph node metastasis, and technical constraints of endoscopy collectively establish surgery as the cornerstone of EGC therapy. Furthermore, it plays a critical role in managing post-endoscopic complications and non-curative resections. Concurrently, continuous innovations in surgical technology and life sciences, particularly the refinement of function-preserving gastrectomy, continue to consolidate the role of surgery. With the development of predictive models of early gastric cancers for lymph node metastasis, the synergy between surgery and endoscopy is poised to achieve precise and individualized treatment for patients with EGC.