Conversion of underwater endoscopic mucosal resection to gel immersion for the resection of a superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumor.

Recently, underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) was introduced for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs), and good treatment outcomes have been reported 1 2 . However, it can be difficult to maintain a sufficient amount of saline in the duodenum to soak the lesion. In some cases, the target lesion cannot be easily visualized because of the mixture of intestinal juice, blood, and saline, making accurate snaring difficult. To overcome this difficulty, we report a unique approach using a novel gel (VISCOCLEAR; Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Factory, Chiyoda, Japan), which allowed complete resection of a SNADET.

A 74-year-old woman presented with a flat-elevated tumor (diameter, 15 mm) at the superior duodenal angle ( Fig. 1 ). UEMR was attempted initially. After complete deflation of the gastric and duodenal lumens, saline was injected until the lesion could be adequately visualized. This improved the maneuverability of the endoscope. However, due to strong intestinal peristalsis, air bubbles, and bile regurgitation, the endoscope came into contact with the lesion and the lesion surface started bleeding. Bile and blood mixed with saline and it became difficult to visualize the lesion ( Fig. 2 ). Furthermore, the injected saline (400 mL in total) flowed into the jejunum. UEMR was converted to gel immersion EMR ( Fig. 3 ). Gel immersion secured clear endoscopic visualization and the lesion was completely resected without aspiration events, with large volumes of water and gel ( Fig. 4 and Video 1 ). Due to the viscous nature of the gel, it remained in the duodenum long enough that EMR could be performed easily. In total, only 160 mL of the gel was used. Recently, endoscopic examination and treatment of duodenal tumors using gel immersion has been performed 3 4 5 . Gel immersion EMR may be an alternative to UEMR for SNADET resection.

Fig. 1

 Endoscopic appearance of the tumor . A 15-mm flat-elevated tumor is found at the superior duodenal angle.

Fig. 2

 Underwater view. a Air bubbles and bile regurgitation in the area where the tumor is located. b Bleeding from the surface of the lesion due to contact with the endoscope.

Fig. 3

 Gel immersion endoscopic mucosal resection. a Gel immersion view. The gel improved the visibility of the lesion. b The lesion was accurately captured by a snare (Snare Master 15 mm, Olympus Medical System, Tokyo, Japan) and was resected without perforation and bleeding.

Fig. 4 

Gross appearance of the tumor. Resected specimen (17 × 12 mm). Pathologically, the tumor is a non-ampullary intestinal-type adenoma with negative margins.

Video 1  Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection was converted to gel immersion endoscopic mucosal resection for complete resection of a duodenal non-ampullary epithelial tumor.