Endosonography-guided endoscopic resection of duodenal carcinoid tumor

Endoscopic resection techniques using snare polypectomy with or without submucosal saline injection have also been applied to resect smaller duodenal carcinoid tumors. We report on two patients where endoluminal ultrasound using a small diameter probe was used to visualize the adherence of the carcinoids to the underlying wall layers and the separating effect of subtumoril saline injection. One patient, in whom a clear separation between the tumor and the underlying tissue after saline injection was visualized, underwent successful endoscopic resection. In the other patient no clear separation could be achieved after saline injection and the patient underwent surgical removal of his tumor; both tumors were 1 cm or less in their maximal diameter.