OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term effect and clinical value of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) with transparent cap for dysplasia and early-stage cancer of the esophagus and gastric cardia.

METHODSFrom September 1996 to June 2007, 154 lesions in the esophagus or gastric cardia of 147 patients were treated using EMR with transparent cap. Among the lesions, there were 69 early-stage squamous-cell carcinomas in 64 patients and 47 squamous cell precancerous lesions of the esophagus in 45 patients, with an average lesion size of (14.8 +/- 6.1) mm (range, 3-40 mm), furthermore, there were 23 early-stage adenocarcinomas in 23 patients and 15 precancerous lesions in the gastric cardia in 15 patients, with an average lesion size of (8.2 +/- 4.3) mm (rang, 5-25 mm). All lesions were finally confirmed histopathologically.

RESULTSOf the 154 lesions, 139 (90.3%) were resected completely through EMR procedure. A close relationship between the complete resection rate and the lesion size was observed. The bigger the lesion size, the lower the complete resection rate. Endoscopic follow-up was carried out in 7 patients for more than 10 years, in 43 for 5 - 10 years, in 31 for 3 - 5 years and in 66 for less than 3 years. Of 11 dead patients during following-up, 10 died of other diseases, only 1 of recurrence. The 5-year survival rate was 96.2% for early-stage esophageal cancer, and 100% for early cancer of the gastric cardia. Perioperative complications included oozing bleeding in 5 patients (3.4%) and stricture in 1 (0.7%), no perforation occurred in this series.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic mucosal resection is suitable to treat precancerous lesions or early-stage esophageal cancers without invasion into submucosa. Compared with conventional resection through open thoracotomy, similar long-term survival and curative effect can be achieved by this EMR treatment, preserving a good quality of life.