Novel combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery for advanced T2 gastric cancer: Two case reports

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment for advanced T2 gastric cancer (GC) is laparoscopic or surgical gastrectomy (either partial or total) and D2 lymphadenectomy. A novel combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery (NCELS) has recently been proposed as a better option for T2 GC. Here we describe two case studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of NCELS. CASE SUMMARY: Two T2 GC cases were both resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection and full-thickness resection and laparoscopic lymph nodes dissection. This method has the advantage of being more precise and minimally invasive compared to current methods. The treatment of these 2 patients was safe and effective with no complications. These cases were followed up for nearly 4 years without recurrence or metastasis. CONCLUSION: This novel method provides a minimally invasive treatment option for T2 GC, and its potential indications, effectiveness and safety needs to be further evaluated in controlled studies.