Small-Bowel Endoscopy

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.