Pedunculated esophageal carcinoma endoscopically removed using SB knife Jr with detachable snare after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

An 82-year-old Japanese man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis was referred to our hospital for treatment of advanced esophageal cancer. A protruding tumor was endoscopically observed in the middle thoracic esophagus, and pathological findings of the biopsy specimens revealed a squamous cell carcinoma. The clinical tumor staging was stage II (T3N0M0). The patient received two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and nedaplatin. After the treatments, computed tomography showed significant reductions in the size of the target tumor. However, radical esophagectomy was not performed because the patient refused major invasive treatments. Instead, endoscopic resection was performed using a combination of polypectomy and endoscopic submucosal resection (ESD). To prevent bleeding during endoscopic treatment, we applied a detachable snare to the base of the tumor and cut the stalk using by an SB knife Jr, without hemorrhage. The pathohistology of the resected specimen was positively showed cancer cells on the margin of the esophageal carcinoma stalk. At 4 weeks after the initial operation, an additional ESD was successfully performed, which pathologically led to radical removal. The patient survived for more than 18 months after beginning the initial treatment. We describe a successful treatment using endoscopic resection after chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer with high surgical treatment risks.

Curative endoscopic treatment of intussusception due to a giant colonic lipoma using a wedged balloon and ligation with detachable snares

A 67-year-old woman presented with symptoms of bowel obstruction. Radiographic and ultrasonographic findings suggested colo-colonic intussusception caused by a colonic lipoma. Colonoscopy with an endoscope tip balloon was performed for reduction. The intussusception was partially reduced by injecting dilute contrast media with a wedged inflated balloon at the endoscope tip. For definitive treatment of the polyp, ischemia was induced using a detachable snare. The abdominal pain well improved after endoscopic treatment. However, ultrasonography suggested a residual lesion. Another detachable snare was applied to the stalk on day 6. A large amount of dark-red necrotic tissue was passed per anus the following day. One month later, complete scarring of the site was confirmed colonoscopically. This is the first report of curative endoscopic treatment of an intussusception due to a giant colonic lipoma with detachable snares after the reduction with a wedged balloon of colonoscope tip.

A large polypoid vascular ectasia removed by using a polypectomy with a detachable snare in an asymptomatic patient

Vascular ectasia is a well-known cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly. Endoscopically, it usually appears as a flat or elevated bright red lesion. We report on an extremely rare case of a large, pedunculated, polypoid vascular ectasia in an asymptomatic patient. A large pedunculated polypoid mass in the sigmoid colon was observed on colonoscopy during a regular health check-up, and a polypectomy was performed using a detachable snare. In histology, vessels with massive dilation were found mainly in the submucosa, which was consistent with vascular ectasia.

Endoscopic Management of Gastric Polyp with Outlet Obstruction without Polypectomy

Although gastric polyp is usually an incidental endoscopic finding, large-sized polyps can cause symptoms ranging from epigastralgia to bleeding from ulcerated polyps and gastric outlet obstruction. Although the gold standard of treatment is removal of the polyp either through endoscopic polypectomy or surgical excision, complications associated with these procedures cannot be ignored. The risk becomes a major concern for patients at high risk for surgery when complications arise. We describe a debilitated 74-year-old woman who presented with early satiety, intermittent postprandial nausea and vomiting for three months. Upper endoscopy revealed a 2.5 cm pedunculated polyp over the gastric antrum causing intermittent obstruction. Considering her high risk for polypectomy, detachable snaring was performed without polypectomy in an outpatient setting. The patient was complication-free with complete relief of obstructive symptoms one week after the procedure. Subsequent follow-ups showed satisfactory healing without signs of mucosal disruption or recurrence. The results suggest that detachable snaring without polypectomy may be a therapeutic option for high-risk patients with benign symptomatic gastric polyps.