Endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic mucosal resection for esophageal and gastric lesions: A comparison of procedures

Objective Esophageal and gastric lesions are effectively managed with minimally invasive upper endoscopic procedures such as endoscopic mucosa resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), offering patients alternatives to invasive interventions. While ESD is well established in Eastern Asia, its adoption in Denmark for superficial esophageal cancer is recent. This study presents real-world data on the feasibility, safety, and hospitalization duration associated with ESD and EMR for esophageal and gastric lesions. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent ESD or EMR at a specialized center in Denmark from October 2016 to June 2022. Data on treatment, indication, lesion location, hospitalization duration, procedure duration, specimen size, complications, recurrence, and one-year overall survival were collected. Statistical comparisons utilized the Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample median test, and chi-squared test. Results The study included 130 patients (144 procedures): 72 underwent ESD and 58 underwent EMR. Compared with EMR, ESD resulted in greater percentages of en bloc and R0 resections (98.8% vs. 64.1%, p<0.001; and 83.9% vs. 23.8%, p<0.001), greater complication rates (28.7% vs. 3.1%, p<0.001) and longer procedure times (119.5 min vs. 37.0 min, p<0.001). The ESD procedure time significantly decreased over time (p=0.01). The local recurrence rates were 14.5% for ESD and 23.8% for EMR (p=0.767). The one-year overall survival rates were similar between the groups (95.8% vs. 94.8%, p=0.553). Conclusion Both ESD and EMR are safe and viable for treating esophageal and gastric lesions. ESD offers advantages but requires more time and skill. These findings support the literature, emphasizing the importance of considering patient-specific factors and surgeon proficiency in selecting the appropriate procedure.