Hae Won Kim1, Jie-Hyun Kim2, Jun Chul Park3, Mi Young Jeon3, Yong Chan Lee3, Sang Kil Lee3, Sung Kwan Shin3, Hyun Soo Chung3, Sung Hoon Noh4, Jong Won Kim5, Seung Ho Choi5, Jae Jun Park2, Young Hoon Youn2, Hyojin Park2. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Seoul, Korea; Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Digestive Disease Center and Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Seoul, Korea; Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Seoul, Korea; Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 4. Department of Surgery, Division of Gastroenterology, Seoul, Korea; Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 5. Department of Surgery, Division of Gastroenterology, Seoul, Korea; Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No well-established treatment strategies exist for lateral margin positivity (LM+) alone after endoscopic resection (ER) of early gastric cancer (EGC). Thus, we aimed to clarify a treatment strategy for non-curative resection (non-CR) with LM+ alone after ER in EGC. METHODS: Among 2065 patients with EGC treated by ER, 76 (3.6%) with only LM+ after non-CR of EGC were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, 28 underwent gastrectomy, 25 underwent argon plasma coagulation (APC), and 23 underwent repeat ER (re-ER). We analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics of all patients and compared those who underwent additive surgery, APC, or re-ER. RESULTS: Of the 76 patients, 28 (36.8%) fulfilled the absolute criteria and 48 (63.2%) the expanded criteria for ER. Among the latter patients, the proportion undergoing additive surgery was 75.0%, higher than that of patients in the former group (P = .014). Residual cancer cells were observed in 70.6% of patients after additive surgery or re-ER. Residual cancer cells were observed significantly more often in patients with undifferentiated-type than in those with differentiated-type EGC (P = .02). However, no lymph node metastasis was observed in any patient after additive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that endoscopic treatment may be a sufficient additive therapy for patients with LM+ alone after ER, irrespective of whether the absolute or expanded ER criteria are used. However, as complete ablation of remnant cells cannot be guaranteed, re-ER is a better additive treatment than APC.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No well-established treatment strategies exist for lateral margin positivity (LM+) alone after endoscopic resection (ER) of early gastric cancer (EGC). Thus, we aimed to clarify a treatment strategy for non-curative resection (non-CR) with LM+ alone after ER in EGC. METHODS: Among 2065 patients with EGC treated by ER, 76 (3.6%) with only LM+ after non-CR of EGC were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, 28 underwent gastrectomy, 25 underwent argon plasma coagulation (APC), and 23 underwent repeat ER (re-ER). We analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics of all patients and compared those who underwent additive surgery, APC, or re-ER. RESULTS: Of the 76 patients, 28 (36.8%) fulfilled the absolute criteria and 48 (63.2%) the expanded criteria for ER. Among the latter patients, the proportion undergoing additive surgery was 75.0%, higher than that of patients in the former group (P = .014). Residual cancer cells were observed in 70.6% of patients after additive surgery or re-ER. Residual cancer cells were observed significantly more often in patients with undifferentiated-type than in those with differentiated-type EGC (P = .02). However, no lymph node metastasis was observed in any patient after additive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that endoscopic treatment may be a sufficient additive therapy for patients with LM+ alone after ER, irrespective of whether the absolute or expanded ER criteria are used. However, as complete ablation of remnant cells cannot be guaranteed, re-ER is a better additive treatment than APC.