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Objectives: Early gastric cancer endoscopic resection (ER) is prominent in Japan. However, evidence regarding ER of gastric submucosal tumors (SMT) is limited. This prospective multicenter phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic full‐thickness resection (EFTR) for gastric SMT. Methods: Endoscopic full‐thickness resection indication for gastric SMT was 11–30 mm, histologically proven or clinically suspicious (irregular margin, increasing size, or internal heterogeneity) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), with no ulceration and intraluminal growth type. The primary end‐point was the complete ER (ER0) rate, with a sample size of 42. Results: We enrolled 46 patients with 46 lesions between September 2020 and May 2023 at seven Japanese institutions. The mean ± SD (range) endoscopic tumor size was 18.8 ± 4.5 (11–28) mm. The tumor resection and defect closure times were 54 ± 26 (22–125) min and 33 ± 28 (12–186) min, respectively. A 100% ER0 was achieved in all 46 patients. The EFTR procedure was accomplished in all patients without surgical intervention. One patient had delayed perforation and was managed endoscopically. GIST accounted for 76% (n = 35) of the cases. R0, R1, and RX rates were 33 (77%), 3 (6.5%), and 7 (15%), respectively. Conclusion: Endoscopic full‐thickness resection for gastric SMT of 11–30 mm is efficacious. It warrants further validation in a large‐scale cohort study to determine the long‐term outcome of this treatment for patients with gastric GIST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is performed for the treatment of lesions with varied backgrounds and factors. However, the predictive factors associated with the technical difficulty of ESD remain unknown in patients with varied lesions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the predictive factors associated with the technical difficulty of ESD for ESCC using a retrospective cohort. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 10 hospitals in Japan. Consecutive patients who underwent esophageal ESD between January 2013 and December 2019 were enrolled. Lesions of subepithelial tumors, adenocarcinoma, and adenoma were excluded. Difficult lesions were defined as ESD requiring a long procedure time (≥120 min), perforation development, piecemeal resection, or discontinued ESD. In the present study, the clinical factors were assessed to identify the technical difficulty of ESD using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Among 1708 lesions treated with esophageal ESD, eight subepithelial tumors, 44 adenocarcinomas, and two adenomas were excluded. Finally, 1505 patients with 1654 lesions were analyzed, and 217 patients with 217 lesions (13.1%) were classified as patients with difficult lesions. In multivariate analysis, the predictive factors associated with the technical difficulty of ESD were as follows: tumors with varices, tumors with diverticulum, antiplatelet use (discontinued), circumference of tumor (≥1/2), preoperative tumor size ≥30 mm, trainee, and nonhigh‐volume center. Conclusion: This multicenter retrospective study identified the predictive factors associated with the technical difficulty of ESD for ESCC with varied backgrounds and factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Limited information is available on the efficacy and safety of endoscopic resection (ER) of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) in Japanese endoscopic practice where ER for gastric tumors is extremely popular. Methods: We conducted this study to elucidate the current scenario of ER for gastric SMTs in Japanese endoscopic practice. Patients (from 12 institutions) with gastric SMTs who underwent ER were enrolled from the first case until August 2020. Results: We enrolled 117 patients with 118 lesions. The number of patients who underwent ER increased over the years. The mean endoscopic tumor size was 20 ± 7.2 (8–40) mm. The growth type was primarily intraluminal (90%). The mean resection and wound closure times were 58 ± 38 (range, 12–254) min and 31 ± 41 (range, 3–330) min, respectively. Complete ER was achieved for 117 (99%) lesions. Full‐thickness resection rate was 44%; however, only 12 (10%) patients required abdominal paracentesis for decompression. Endoscopic treatments were completed in 115 (97%) lesions, while three lesions required conversions to laparoscopic surgery due to luminal collapse, uncontrolled bleeding, and difficulty in defect closure. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors were the most common pathology (74%). No recurrence was observed during the mean follow‐up period of 4.3 ± 2.9 years. The 5‐year overall survival rate was 98.9% (95% confidence interval 97.8–100%). Conclusion: Performance of ER for gastric SMTs is increasing in Japan. The technique seems feasible in Japanese endoscopic practice, warranting further validation in a prospective study. Watch a video of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]