Abstract
Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has gained increasing popularity in
the treatment of esophageal and gastric mucosal cancers in Japan, for complete
local resection of the cancer-bearing mucosa. In Western countries, the concept
of mucosal cancer and the necessity of treating it are gradually but steadily
coming to be accepted. As a treatment for inoperable cases of advanced cancer,
on the other hand, intubation with self-expanding metal stents has been widely
accepted as a less invasive form of palliation for malignant obstruction of
the upper gastrointestinal tract. Tumor ingrowth into the stent can be mechanically
avoided by adding a membrane coating to it. In the last two years, applications
for therapeutic endoscopy in the treatment of esophageal and gastric tumors
have continued to widen.
