Laparoscopic Resection for Benign Tumors of the Stomach

BACKGROUND: Of all gastric tumors, less than 5% are benign. The traditional treatment of symptomatic and some asymptomatic benign tumors has ranged from mucosal resection to limited gastrectomy. Since the advent of laparoscopy, many different laparoscopic approaches to resection of benign gastric tumors have now been described in the literature. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with laparoscopic approaches to surgical resection of 7 benign gastric tumors. The tumor locations were the body (posterior wall), 3 cases; body (anterior wall), 1 case; lesser curvature, 1 case; fundus, 1 case, and antrum, 1 case. Laparoscopic wedge resection was done in 6 cases. The seventh patient underwent a Billroth I procedure because he had leiomyoma at the antrum. There was no conversion to laparotomy. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 105±15 minutes, and mean blood loss was 50± 15 mL. The mean length of hospital stay was 5 days. There were no complications or mortalities. Tumor size ranged from 2 cm to 6 cm in the greatest diameter. There has been no tumor recurrence with a mean follow-up of 26 months. DISCUSSION: Laparoscopic approach is slowly carving a niche for itself in the treatment of benign tumors of the stomach. The basic principles are obtaining a precise preoperative pathological diagnosis; accurate tumor localization; achievement of tumor-free margins; avoidance of spillage of stomach contents, careful dissection of tumors in the esophagogastric junction, and preventing tumor seeding. CONCLUSION: Based on ours and other studies, laparoscopic resection of benign gastric tumors is safe and feasible.