ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF EARLY ESOPHAGEAL AND GASTRIC CANCER- INITIAL EXPERIENCE OF A WESTERN

for the treatment of early esophageal and gastric cancer – initial experience of a western center. Clinics. 2010;65(4):377-82. BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a new Japanese technique characterized by en-bloc resection of the entire lesion irrespective of size, with lower local recurrence when compared to endoscopic mucosal resection. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, early results and complications of the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique for treating early gastric and esophageal cancer at the Endoscopic Unit of Clinics Hospital and Cancer Institute of the São Paulo University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients underwent endoscopic resection using the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique for early gastric or esophageal cancer. The patients were evaluated prospectively as to the executability of the technique, the short-term results of the procedure and complications. RESULTS: Sixteen gastric adenocarcinoma lesions and six esophageal squamous carcinoma lesions were resected. In the stomach, the mean diameter of the lesions was 16.2 mm (0.6-3.5 mm). Eight lesions were type IIa + IIc, four were type IIa and four IIc