Efficiency of an endoscopic resection strategy for management of submucosal tumors < 20 mm in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Background and study aims The histologic diagnosis of submucosal tumors (SMTs) < 20 mm is challenging. Monitoring is the main option offered, but compliance is debatable. Endoscopic resection (ER) of malignant SMTs or those with an uncertain diagnosis is an alternative that has already been reported about and proposed in our center. The aims of this study were to confirm the safety of this resection strategy and to perform long-term follow-up of malignant SMTs after resection. Patients and methods All patients who underwent ER for SMTs < 2 cm in a single center between 2007 and 2019 were included retrospectively. Patients were classified into two groups according to the need for postresection follow-up: benign SMTs (B-SMTs) and follow-up SMTs (FU-SMTs). Results One hundred and one patients were included. The mean tumor size was 16.7 mm. In total, 92 of 101 SMTs had an uncertain diagnosis. Macroscopic resection was completed for 95 SMTs (93.1 %), with en bloc resection in 94 (92.1%). The morbidity rate was 3 %, with no mortality. A total of 84 of 101 SMTs (84 %) were B-SMTs and did not need monitoring, and 17 SMTs (19.7 %) were FU-SMTs (8 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 6 neuroendocrine tumors, and 3 others). No relapse was reported in the FU-SMT group, with a median follow-up duration of 33 months [4–127] (61 months [17–127] for the gastrointestinal stroma tumor group). Conclusions The study results suggest ER is a potentially reliable and effective strategy for upper gastrointestinal tract SMTs < 20 mm. Although the strategy needs further validation in advanced care units, it could eliminate the need for long-term monitoring, therefore targeting such follow-up efforts to patients with FU-SMTs.