OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application and indication of endoscopic dissection technique for submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) originating from the muscularis propria.

METHODSA total of 143 SMTs of the EGJ were treated by endoscopic resection in the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University between March 2007 and June 2011. The clinical and histopathologic feature, surgical approach, en bloc resection rate, complications, and postoperative follow up were evaluated.

RESULTSThere were 74 males and 69 females with a mean age of 49.1 years old. The en bloc resection rate was 94.4%(135/143). There were 126 patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal excavation in an en bloc fashion. Six patients underwent endoscopic full-thickness resection without laparoscopic assistance. Three patients underwent submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection. The other 8 SMTs were partially resected for histological evaluation and the residual tumors were further treated with nylon snare ligation. The mean lesion size was 17.6 mm. The mean procedure time was 45.1 minutes and the mean intraoperative bleeding was 50.0 ml. Perforations occurred in 6 patients and metal clips were used to close the defect. One patient with Mallory-Weiss syndrome was successfully treated with conservative treatment. Pathological examination showed that the lesions were leiomyoma (n=121), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n=20), granulosa cell tumor (n=1), and intermuscular lipoma (n=1). No local recurrence and distant metastasis were noted during the follow-up (range, 3-48 months).

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic resection technique is safe and effective, and should be selected for each patient individually.