Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection in treating gastric subepithelial tumors originating in the muscularis propria layer: a single-center study of 144 cases.

OBJECTIVE. Subepithelial tumors (SETs) in the stomach are usually considered benign. However, some do have potential for malignant transformation, especially when originating in the muscularis propria (MP). Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric SETs originating in MP. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A total of 145 gastric MP SETs in 144 patients were treated by ESD between September 2008 and December 2012. Characteristics of patients and SETs, therapeutic outcomes, pathologic characteristics, complications and follow-up outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS. Among the 144 patients, 104 were female (72.22%) and 40 were male (27.78%), and the mean age was 55.75 ± 11.29 years (range 18-78 years). The mean size of the tumors determined by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was 15.14 ± 9.70 mm (range 3-50 mm). En bloc complete resection was achieved in 134 of 145 tumors, giving a complete resection rate of 92.41%. The final histopathologic diagnoses included 52 leiomyomas, 89 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 3 neurogenic tumors and 1 lipoma. Perforations occurred in 21 patients (14.48%) and were endoscopically repaired with clips or nylon bands. Intraoperative bleeding occurred in seven patients (4.83%) and was corrected with argon plasma coagulation (APC) or hot biopsy forceps. No local recurrence or distant metastasis was detected during a mean follow-up of 19.14 ± 10.29 months (range 3-51 months). CONCLUSIONS. ESD appears to be an effective and safe treatment for gastric SETs originating in MP.