The role of endoscopic ultrasound investigation in the diagnosis of submucosal neoplasms of the stomach and duodenum (literature review and our clinical observations)

Submucosal neoplasms of the stomach and duodenum include a group of diseases with different etiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and management. Conventional gastroduodenoscopy helps detect submucosal formations in 0.36–4 % of cases, while the stomach is the most common site of submucosal lesions (up to 60 %). Endoscopy and ultrasound endoscopic examination are important tools for the diagnosis of submucosal tumors of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, both benign (polyps, submucosal formations, extraorganic compression, cysts) and malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, especially small and accidentally detected. It is important not only to diagnose the tumor, but also to determine from which layers it comes, what level germinates, whether there is damage to regional lymph nodes. Only endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can answer these questions. EUS combines the capabilities of two studies: endoscopic and ultrasound, which significantly increased the informativeness of endoscopic examination, as it was possible to determine the site of the pathological process and the degree of intramural invasion, and also made it possible to carry out the differential diagnosis of submucosal tumors and pathological processes in organs adjacent to the esophagus, stomach, duodenum. The article presents examinations of patients with submucous formations of the stomach and duodenum at the Institute of Gastroenterology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. With the help of EUS, the diagnosis was confirmed in one patient, and in another one, the submucosal neoplasms was excluded.

P-O06 A scoring system to support surgical decision-making for cardial submucosal tumors

Background Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) and non-tunneling techniques are two alternative options for the treatment of cardial submucosal tumors (SMTs). We aimed to establish a regression model and develop a simple scoring system to help clinicians make surgical decisions for cardial submucosal tumors. Methods A total of 246 patients who suffered cardial SMTs and received endoscopic resection were included in this study. All of them were randomized into the training cohort (n = 147) or internal validation cohort (n = 99). Then, the scoring system was proposed based on multivariate logistic regression analysis in the training cohort and assessed in the validation cohort. Results Of 246 patients, 97 were treated with STER, and the others with non-tunneling endoscopic resection. In the training stage, four factors were weighted with points based on the β coefficient from the regression model, including irregular morphology (-2 points), ulcer (2 points), the direction of the gastroscope (-2 points for reversing direction and 1 point for entering direction), and originating from the muscularis propria (-2 points). The patients were categorized into low-score (< -4), medium-score (-4 - -3) and high-score (> -3) groups, and those with low scores were more likely to be treated with STER. Our score model performed satisfying discriminatory power in internal validation (Areas under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC), 0.829; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.694-0.964) and goodness-of-fit in the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P = .4721). Conclusions This scoring system could provide clinicians the references for making decisions about the treatment of cardial submucosal tumors.

Factors predicting technical difficulties during endoscopic submucosal excavation for gastric submucosal tumor

Objective Endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) has been established as an effective method for removal of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). The aim of the present study was to explore risk factors for technical difficulties in ESE. Methods In this retrospective study, we collected clinical data from patients who underwent ESE for gastric SMTs. Difficult ESE was defined as a procedure time ≥90 minutes, piecemeal resection, and/or occurrence of major adverse events. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the risk factors for a difficult ESE. Results ESE was successfully performed in 96.5% (195/202) of patients from April 2011 to December 2019. The average tumor size was 17.41 mm, and en bloc resection was achieved in 97.4% of patients (190/195). Five patients (2.56%, 5/195) had complications, including two with delayed bleeding, two with fever, and one with chest pain accompanying ST-T changes in an electrocardiogram. Twenty-four patients (11.88%, 24/202) had a difficult ESE. Logistic analysis showed that outgrowth behavior and an inexperienced surgeon were risk factors for a difficult ESE. Conclusion ESE may be safe and effective to treat patients with gastric SMTs. Outgrowth behavior and an inexperienced surgeon were risk factors for a difficult ESE.

Tunnel endoscopic interventions in esophageal diseases

The aim of the study is the evaluation of results of endoscopic tunnel interventions in submucosal tumors and achalasia.Material and methods. Endoscopic tunnel interventions during 2017–2020 years were performed in 80 patients (34-men, 46-women). The duration of the age ranged from 15 to 72 years. The indications for interventions were: achalasia in 53, subepithelial tumors in 27.Results. During the intervention, complications occurred in 22 patients. Among the complications: carboxyperitoneum in 16 cases, carboxytorax in 2, esophageal mucosa perforation in 2, bleeding moderate intensity bleeding in 2. Most of the complications (20) were in patients with esophageal achalasia. Postoperative complications were observed in two patients operated for esophageal achalasia (bleeding and hematoma, esophageal mucosa necrosis). All patients were treated by using conservative methods. The results of the interventions were assessed in terms of 1 month to 3 years. There were no violations of food or liquid the passage through the cardia. Patients after operation for submucous tumors of the esophagus had no complaints. The main complaint of patients after myotomy was heartburn. Endoscopic examination revealed erosive reflux esophagitis (A-C) in 18 patients.Conclusion. Tunnel endoscopic interventions in patients with esophageal achalasia and submucous tumors are highly effective and low-traumatic, allowing relatively safe restoration of the patency of the cardia and removal of the subepithelial neoplasm. The problem of gastroesophageal reflux after oral endoscopic myotomy requires further accumulation of data in order to develop optimal tactics. The limiting factor for the these operations performance is the material and technical equipment of medical institutions and the lack of trained specialists.