Guidelines for Endoscopic Resection of Early Gastric Cancer: Comparison of Japanese and European Guidelines

An endoscopic resection is performed widely and has been established as a standard therapeutic modality for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC) without lymph node metastasis. On the other hand, the selection of suitable patients by a thorough pre-procedural evaluation is mandatory for the successful management of EGC. Moreover, a clear and unified interpretation of a resected specimen and the definition of a curative resection is the mainstay for decision-making of an additional surgical resection and post-procedural surveillance schedule. This paper summarizes the key statements of Eastern (Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society) and Western (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) guidelines for an endoscopic resection of EGC, regarding the clinical staging and indication; pre-operative evaluation; definition of a curative resection; and post-procedural surveillance, focusing on the similarities and differences between the two guidelines