Gastrointestinal (GI) stent has been developed for palliation of obstructive symptoms in various diseases causing obstruction of GI tract. Self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) has replaced old type of plastic stent, and endoscopic insertion of stent has replaced fluoroscopy-guided insertion. Nowadays, newly-designed SEMSs have been developed for prevention of complications such as stent migration and re-obstruction, and indications of stent recently have been widened into benign conditions as well as malignant obstruction. In this review, the types, method of insertion, indications and clinical outcomes of stent in the upper GI tract would be discussed.
Gastrointestinal Tract ; Plastics ; Stents ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

There are still some limitations in diagnosis of submucosal tumors of gastrointestinal tract. Surgical resection, fine needle aspiration and follow up studies have been considered to be the options for their treatments. However, severeal endoscopic resection techniques for the submucosal tumors are recently introduced and they have some advantages over the previous treatment options. This article is a review for the endoscopic treatment of the submucosal tumors of gastrointestinal tract.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been useful in evaluating submucosal lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract as well as providing guidelines for therapeutic plans. Large proportions of submucosal tumors are diagnosed as stromal tumors. Most are benign, but a significant proportion of them could be malignant. There are a few reports concerning EUS findings as being predictive of malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate specific EUS features favoring malignancy in stromal tumors of the UGI tract. METHODS: From January, 1992 to June, 1997, thirty-three cases appeared involving stromal tumors (18 benign, 15 malignant (including 8 STUMP)), and were either surgically (27 cases) or endoscopically (6 cases) resected. Videotapes and photographs were reviewed and EUS features that favored the malignancy were analyzed.
Endosonography* ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Videotape Recording

No abstract available.
*Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Foreign Bodies/diagnosis/*therapy ; Humans ; *Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Systematic review and meta-analysis is a research method that tries to provide the best evidence by comprehensive searching, combining of results, and evaluating methodological quality of studies focused on the undetermined clinical question. By keeping credibility of the research process and minimizing potential bias, authors can provide precise pooled estimates. Recently, meta-analysis publications have been increasing and there is a need for critical appraisal of this flow. This review aims to provide an overview of recent trends of meta-analysis in the upper gastrointestinal diseases by quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Endoscopic stents have evolved dramatically over the past 20 years. With the introduction of uncovered self-expanding metal stents in the early 1990s, they are primarily used to palliate symptoms of malignant obstruction in patients with inoperable gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. At present, stents have emerged as an effective, safe, and less invasive alternative for the treatment of malignant GI obstruction. Clinical decisions about stent placement should be made based on the exact understanding of the patient's condition. These recommendations based on a critical review of the available data and expert consensus are made for the purpose of providing endoscopists with information about stent placement. These can be helpful for management of patients with inoperable cancer or various nonmalignant conditions in the upper GI tract.
Consensus ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Stents ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

The July issue of Clinical Endoscopy deals with selected articles covering the state-of-the-art lectures delivered during the 50th seminar of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) on March 30, 2014, highlighting educational contents pertaining to either diagnostic or therapeutic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, which contain fundamental and essential points in GI endoscopy. KSGE is very proud of its seminar, which has been presented twice a year for the last 25 years, and hosted more than 3,500 participants at the current meeting. KSGE seminar is positioned as one of premier state-of-the-art seminars for endoscopy, covering topics for novice endoscopists and advanced experts, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. The 50th KSGE seminar consists of more than 20 sessions, including a single special lecture, concurrent sessions for GI endoscopy nurses, and sessions exploring new technologies. Nine articles were selected from these prestigious lectures, and invited for publication in this special issue. This introductory review, prepared by the editors of Clinical Endoscopy, highlights core contents divided into four sessions: upper GI tract, lower GI tract, pancreatobiliary system, and other specialized topic sessions, including live demonstrations and hands-on courses.
Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Lectures ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Publications ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

In this July issue of Clinical Endoscopy, state-of-the-art articles selected from the lectures delivered during the 52nd Seminar of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) on March 29, 2015 are covered, focusing on highlighted educational contents relevant to either diagnostic or therapeutic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Our society, the KSGE, has continued to host this opportunity for annual seminars twice a year over the last 26 years and it has become a large-scale prestigious seminar accommodating over 4,000 participants. Definitely, the KSGE seminar is considered as one of the premier state-of-the-art seminars dealing with GI endoscopy, appealing to both the beginner and advanced experts. Lectures, live demonstrations, hands-on courses, as well as an editor school, which was an important consensus meeting on how to upgrade our society journal, Clinical Endoscopy, to a Science Citation Index (Expanded) designation were included in this seminar. The 52nd KSGE seminar consisted of more than 20 sessions, including special lectures, concurrent sessions for GI endoscopy nurses, and sessions exploring new technologies. This is a very special omnibus article to highlight the core contents divided into four sessions: upper GI tract, lower GI tract, pancreatobiliary system, and other specialized sessions.
Consensus ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Humans ; Lectures ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

The finding of a mass lesion in the upper gastrointestinal tract at endoscopy with normal overlying mucosa is common. The differential diagnosis of these lesions is broad and includes those of intramural or extramural origin. Endoscopic ultrasound provides accurate imaging of subepithelial lesions and characterizes them according to size, echogenicity, and layer of origin if the lesion is intramural. Endoscopic ultrasound allows a guided tissue sample to be obtained for histological confirmation which is especially important for hypoechoic lesions arising from the 3rd or 4th echogenic layers. The purpose of this article is to review the diagnosis of the more common subepithelial lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Mucous Membrane ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of retrievable metallic stent with fixation string for benign anastomotic stricture after upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2009 to May 2015, a total of 56 retrievable metallic stents with fixation string were placed under fluoroscopy guidance in 42 patients who were diagnosed with benign anastomotic stricture after UGI surgery. Clinical success was defined as achieving normal regular diet (NRD). RESULTS: The clinical success rate after the first stent placement was 57.1% (24/42). After repeated stent placement and/or balloon dilation, the clinical success rate was increased to 83.3% (35/42). Six (14.3%) patients required surgical revision to achieve NRD. One (2.4%) patient failed to achieve NRD. Stent migration occurred in 60.7% (34/56) of patients. Successful rate of removing the stent using fixation string and angiocatheter was 94.6% (53/56). Distal migration occurred in 12 stents. Of the 12 stents, 10 (83.3%) were successfully removed whereas 2 could not be removed. No complication occurred regarding distal migration. CONCLUSION: Using retrievable metallic stent with a fixation string is a feasible option for managing early benign anastomotic stricture after UGI surgery. It can reduce complications caused by distal migration of the stent.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diet ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Reoperation ; Stents* ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract