Background

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) have become increasingly accepted and regularly used for the treatment of early gastric cancer and of superficial intestinal carcinomas with no risk of lymph node metastasis [1].

EMR can be performed using suction or lift technique such as EMRL/EMRC or EMR-strip biopsy [2–4]. Nevertheless, this method depends on the diameter of the lesions; if the neoplasm is larger than 2 cm, the method cannot always be feasible and is associated high recurrence rate, ranging between 2% and 35% [5].

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a new development in therapeutic endoscopy which allows for en bloc resection of sessile lesions regardless of the diameter, using special "devices" [6–8]. Briefly, the technique is performed as follows: 1) following 0,25% indigo carmine chromoendoscopy to evidence the margin of the tumour, the deeper submucosal tissue plane is opened using solutions such as saline, glycerol, sodium hyaluronate, or fructose; 2) the mucosa outside the markings is incised circumferentially using a flex-knife; 3) the connective tissue of the submucosal plane is dissected from the muscular layer [9].

However, this new technique, it is still associated with a higher incidence of complications than standard EMR procedure and requires a high level of endoscopic skill [10, 11].

Case Presentation

We herein report 3 cases of patients with rectal LSTs endoscopically treated at the Gastroenterology Unit of Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, between October 2006 and March 2007.

All patients presented with rectal LSTs larger than 3 cm (diameter was defined by positioning an open polypectomy snare close to the lesion); an en bloc resection was planned to ensure the accurate histopathologic assessment of the resected specimens and a sub-mucosal injection of hyaluronic acid was initially applied around the lesion. Nevertheless, in consideration of the impossibility to safety complete ESD, we decided to convert this technique into EMR- strip biopsy, performing a piecemeal resection of the centre of the polyps (two-three large pieces not less than 3 cm in diameter). Total procedure times were 45 minutes, 60 minutes, and 30 minutes respectively. All patients were hospitalized and discharged after 24-72 hours.

Only one intraoperative haemorrhage was observed. Given the ESD/EMR combined technique, patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months for the first year then they were followed once a year.

Patient 1

A 56-year-old male presented with a LST, 8-9 cm in diameter, located on the posterior wall of the rectum, 10 cm far from the anal verge and occupying 2/3 of the colonic lumen at colonoscopy (Figure 1a). The patient stated abdominal pain and lower gastrointestinal bleeding for 2 years.

Figure 1
figure 1

Patient 1 ESD/EMR combined procedure. a Detection of lesion. b Spraying with 1% indigo carmine. c Submucosal infiltration and lesion marking with Flex-Knife. d-e Removal of the lesion. f Endoscopic control at 3 months.

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Ecoendoscopy (Olympus GFUE160, Milan, Italy) showed a mucosal lesion with an area involving the superficial part of the submucosal layer (sm1), in absence of lymph node involvement.

The ESD/EMR combined procedure was carried out using a double-channel colonoscope (Olympus CF2T160I, Olympus, Milan, Italy) with the patient deeply sedated by propofol. Given the position and size of the lesion, a gastroscope (Olympus Gif Q 165, Olympus, Milan, Italy) retroflexed into the colon was used to resect the distal margin of the polyp.

The sub-mucosal injection of hyaluronic acid was performed around the lesion, previously enhanced with 1% indigo carmine (Figure 1b), followed by pre-cutting the surrounding mucosa of the tumor (Flex-knife Olympus, Tokio, Japan) (Figure 1c). The resection of the biggest part of the lesion was achieved using two knives (Hook-knife and insulation-tipped diathermic knife IT-knife; Olympus, Tokio, Japan). Nevertheless, even using a double-channel colonoscope (with the simultaneous use of forceps and knives), the excision of the central zone of the polyp was not completed. The remnant lesion was, therefore, removed by means of EMR-strip biopsy, with the "piecemeal" technique (Figure 1d). Post-operative course was uneventful. Histological examination revealed a tubulo-villous adenoma with high grade focal dysplasia. At 3 and 12 months' follow-up, no recurrence was detected in the excised area (Figure 1e, f).

Patient 2

A 74-year-old male presented with a LST, 10 cm in diameter, located on the posterior wall of the rectum and 8 cm far from the anal verge at colonoscopy (Figure 2a). The patient stated haematochezia and mucorrea for 12 months. The eco-endoscopy excluded involvement of the submucosa,

Figure 2
figure 2

Patient 2 ESD/EMR combined procedure. a Spraying with 1% indigo carmine and lesion marking with Flex-Knife. b Infiltration of submucosa and removal of the anterior part of the lesion with Hook-Knife. c Anterior and lateral excision. d Removal of a large flap of lesion. e Complete polyp removal f Follow up at 6 weeks.

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ESD was planned; the polyp spray with 1% indigo carmine was carried out, followed by the injection of hyaluronic acid at the base of the lesion and by the pre-cutting of surrounding mucosa of the polyp with the Flex-Knife (Figure 2b).

The circumferentially excision was then performed, from the margin to the central area. Despite the use of dual channel colonoscopy, hook knife and repeated injections of hyaluronic acid, the complete en bloc resection was impossible due to the size of the lesion already excised (Figure 2c, d). The procedure was completed by EMR - strip biopsy- using the "piecemeal" technique (Figure 2e). Histological examination revealed tubulo-villous adenoma with low grade dysplasia. At 6 months' follow up endoscopy showed lack of recurrence (Figure 2f).

Patient 3

A 59-year-old female presented with a LST approximately 8 cm in diameter, located at the recto-sigmoid junction at colonoscopy. The patient stated postdefecatory abdominal pain and rectal bleeding for few months. The ecoendoscopy, performed upon admission, excluded submucosa involvement.

ESD was planned (Figure 3a, b, c). ESD en bloc resection was not possible in consideration of the size and the site of the lesion. Thus, the resection was completed with EMR-strip biopsy, using piecemeal technique (Figure 3d), which allowed for complete removal (Figure 3e). During the procedure, a severe haemorrhage occurred at the base of the polyp and was successfully treated with the injection technique. At histology, a tubulo-villous adenoma with low grade dysplasia was detected. Three months' endoscopy showed intact mucosa in the procedure site (Figure 3f).

Figure 3
figure 3

Patient 3 ESD/EMR combined procedure. a Endoscopic view of the polyp at the recto-sigmoid junction. b Spraying with 1% indigo carmine. c Infiltration of submucosa and anterior and lateral excision of lesion with Hook-Knife. d Removal of residual flap with complete removal of lesion e Fragment of excised lesion (2 cm in diameter) f Endoscopic control at 3 months.

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Conclusions

EMR has been increasingly accepted for the treatment of gastrointestinal lesions at an early stage. Nonetheless, difficulty in correctly assessing the depth of tumour invasion and an increase in local recurrence have been reported for tumours larger than 2 cm, since such lesions are often resected piecemeal [12–14].

Furthermore, local recurrence after EMR is particularly difficult to treat, due to the submucosal fibrosis with an increased risk of complications [15–17].

ESD has been developed to remove the lesions in an en bloc fashion regardless of size, shape, coexisting ulcer, and location. ESD is, therefore, considered the treatment of choice to achieve en bloc resection of lesions > 2.0 cm and correct histological evaluation minimizing recurrence risk [18–20].

Although technically demanding, endoscopic submucosal dissection is quite effective and safe in experienced hands. Tanaka, Oka et al, in a study on 70 patients with LSTs successfully treated with ESD, reported 1.4% of cases of postoperative hemorrhage and 10.0% of cases of perforation. The rate of perforation markedly decreased with the practice of the technique. Moreover, the rate of perforation was high when an insulated-tip diathermic knife was used; practicing this technique was insufficient to reduce the rate of perforation. The average duration of follow-up was over 20 months, and no case of local persistence and recurrence or metastasis was observed [21].

The purpose of the present case series is to describe technical difficulties of ESD resection of rectal LST larger than 2 cm.

In all patients of our series ESD was planned, given the lesion size and depth. After the excision of the external part, we were unable to reach the centre of the LST removing the lesions en bloc [22]. This is due to the limited vision of the cutting area for huge lesions with difficulty in assessing the correct deeper submucosal tissue plane during the resection from the margins to the centre of the lesion.

Except for the excision of the distal part, achieved by a gastroscope retroflexed in the colon [23]. ESD treatment was performed with the dual channel colonoscope. The inconvenience of this device is the presence of both accessories emerging from the distal tract of the instrument, in a parallel vertical or transversal fashion, without the possibility of a co-ordinated action of the two equipments, effective both in lifting and cutting.

To solve this technical problem, in previous experiences we used other systems, most of which not successful, such as a 4.9 mm trans-nasal gastroscope and external grasping forceps parallel to the colonoscope [24], or clips to fix the excised part to the lesion still to be treated, or clips positioned below the excised flaps, acting as a "bridge" to reach the base of the lesion more easily. We also used the esophageal varices band ligator, without the straps, to make a dissection deeper than with the hood. An attempt was also made to position a polypectomy flap (25 mm wide and 50 mm long) on the residual base of the lesions, but the size of the previously excised flaps made correct placement of the snare for "en bloc" excision impossible.

In our case series, ESD was planned and we subsequently decided to perform a combined ESD/EMR procedure considering both the polyp bulk and the limited number and the size of the fragments obtained from the "piecemeal" excision, suitable for correct histopathological evaluation (Figure 4a, b, c).

Figure 4
figure 4

Patient 4. a Histological examination of the case 1 showing a tubulo-villous adenoma with high grade focal dysplasia. b microscopic view of the case 2 revealing tubulo-villous adenoma with low grade dysplasia. c histological examination of the patient d tubulo-villous adenoma with low grade dysplasia.

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The accurate histopathologic assessment of the specimens is essential because the depth of the invasion and lymphovascular infiltration of the tumor is associated with considerable risk for lymph node metastasis. In our experience, no recurrence was detected during the follow up period.

Most possible node-negative epithelial neoplasms can be resected en bloc by ESD, when they are treated by very experienced hands. This does not mean that all endoscopic resection should be performed as ESD. Polypectomy or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are beneficial for patients with pedunculated neoplasms, small neoplasms or large flat-elevated colorectal tumours because of the little invasiveness. If the lesions are apparently pre-malignant neoplasms, piecemeal resection by using EMR may be permissible with the best balance of risks and benefits [25].

Accordingly, Lishi and coworkers [26] removed 56 sessile colorectal polyps 2 cm or greater in diameter in 56 patients and reported a cure rate of 83% in patient submitted to piecemeal resection. They concluded that endoscopic piecemeal resection after submucosal saline injection with an intensive follow-up program is a safe and effective treatment for large, sessile colorectal polyps.

Therefore, although ESD en bloc resection, if possible, remains the treatment of choice [27, 28] our experience shows the feasibility of this combined ESD/EMR treatment to overcome the difficulty in dissecting central area of massive lesions, also considering the absence of neoplastic recurrence at follow-up and the post-operative complications detected.

Accordingly Smith et al [29] stated the efficacy and safety of the combined ESD-EMR using the Olympus KD-630 L insulation-tipped knife even for the resection of an adenoma-like mass in chronic ulcerative colitis in 67 patients. The authors reported at a median of 18 months follow-up, an overall cure rates for the ESD-assisted EMR cohort of 98% Bleeding complications occurred in 7/67 (10%) of cases in absence of bowel perforations.

Besides this, a new double-channel endoscope ("R-scope") seems promising to solve this technical problem [30, 31]; it allows for the vertical lifting of the mucosal layer with a forceps and the horizontal movement of a knife to cut the submucosal layer. Further studies are mandatory to confirm the validity of this new double-channel endoscope which would allow en bloc resection of complicated lesions on account not only of the large size, but also of the site, without ESD/EMR combined procedure.

In addition Uraoka and co-workers recently successfully treated 3 colorectal LSTs using the thin endoscope-assisted (TEA) ESD, a new traction system for improving submucosal cutting line visualization [32].

Hopefully, these devices will be forthcoming allowing to reach the central base of the lesions [31, 33]. Meanwhile, this combined ESD/EMR treatment could be proposed for rectal giant polyps' resection, since it allows endoscopic removal of lesions reducing the risk of complications, particularly perforation and recurrence, considering the size and number of polyp fragments that allow for correct histopathological evaluation and low recurrence risk.

In conclusion, depending on the clinicopathological characteristics of the colorectal tumor, the colorectal ESD is indicated for lesions difficult to remove en bloc with a snare EMR [25]. In our experience, in the treatment of huge rectal polyps, shows that the combined treatment - ESD/EMR may be considered a suitable therapeutic option, indicated in selected cases as an alternative to surgery, in which the two techniques are neither reliable nor safe separately.