• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2012

Purpose: To report the initial clinical experience with single-incision laparoscopic gastric wedge resection for submucosal tumors. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 10 patients who underwent single-incision laparoscopic gastric wedge resection between July 2009 and March 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic data, clinicopathologic and surgical outcomes were assessed. Results: The mean tumor size was 2.5 cm (range, 1.2~5.0 cm), and the tumors were mostly located on the anterior wall (4/10) or along the greater curvature (4/10), of the stomach. Nine of ten procedures were performed successfully, without the use of additional trocars, or conversion to laparotomy. One patient underwent conversion to multiport laparoscopic surgery, to get simultaneous cholecystectomy safely. The mean operating time was 66.5 minutes (range, 24~132 minutes), and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (range, 4~7 days). No serious perioperative complications were observed. Of the 10 submucosal tumors, the final pathologic report revealed 5 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 4 schwannomas, and 1 heterotopic pancreas. Conclusions: Single-incision laparoscopic gastric wedge resection for gastric submucosal tumors is feasible and safe, when performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons. This technique provides favorable cosmetic results, and also short hospital stay and low morbidity, in carefully selected candidates.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2022

Diagnosis of gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) is sometimes difficult with conventional endoscopy or tissue sampling with standard biopsy, so non-invasive imaging modalities such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and computed tomography are used to evaluate the characteristics of SETs features (size, location, originating layer, echogenicity, shape). However imaging modalities alone is not able to distinguish among all types of SETs, so histology is the gold standard for obtaining the final diagnosis. For tissue sampling, mucosal cutting biopsy and mucosal incision-assisted biopsy and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration or biopsy (EUS-FNA or EUS-FNB) is commonly recommended. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are used for resection of SETs involving the mucosal and superficial submucosal layers, could not treat adequately and safely the SETs involving the deep mucosa and muscularis propria. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is used as a therapeutic option for the treatment of SETs with the development of reliable endoscopic closure techniques and tools.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2015

Background: Surgical enucleation is the treatment of choice for esophageal submucosal tumors (SMTs) with symptomatic, larger, or ill-defined lesions. The enucleation of SMTs has traditionally been performed via thoracotomy. However, minimally invasive approaches have recently been introduced and successfully applied. In this study, we present our experiences with the thoracotomic and thoracoscopic approaches to treating SMTs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 53 patients with SMTs who underwent surgical enucleation between August 1996 and July 2013. Demographic and clinical features, tumor-related factors, the surgical approach, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: There were 36 males (67.9%) and 17 females (32.1%); the mean age was $49.2{\pm}11.8$ years (range, 16 to 79 years). Histology revealed leiomyoma in 51 patients, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in one patient, and schwannoma in one patient. Eighteen patients (34.0%) were symptomatic. Fourteen patients underwent a planned thoracotomic enucleation. Of the 39 patients for whom a thoracoscopic approach was planned, six patients required conversion to thoracotomy because of overly small tumors or poor visualization in five patients and accidental mucosal injury in one patient. No mortality or major postoperative complications occurred. Compared to thoracotomy, the thoracoscopic approach had a slightly shorter operation time, but this difference was not statistically significant ($120.0{\pm}45.6$ minutes vs. $161.5{\pm}71.1$ minutes, p=0.08). A significant difference was found in the length of the hospital stay ($9.0{\pm}3.2$ days vs. $16.5{\pm}5.4$ days, p<0.001). Conclusion: The thoracoscopic enucleation of submucosal esophageal tumors is safe and is associated with a shorter length of hospital stay compared to thoracotomic approaches.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2011

A composite glandular/exocrine-endocrine carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract is characterized by the co-existence of two adjacent, but histologically-distinct tumors in an organ. Composite glandular/exocrine-endocrine carcinomas are a special type of tumor comprised of common adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine components that account for at least one-third of the entire tumor area. Composite tumors have been reported in a range of organs, but are relatively rare in the stomach. We report a case of a composite neuroendocrine carcinoma with an adenocarcinoma of the stomach (mixed exocrine-endocrine carcinoma), which was misdiagnosed as a giant submucosal tumor preoperatively based on esophagogastroduodenoscopy and a contrast-enhanced axial computed tomographic scan.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2023

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive and effective treatment for early gastric cancer. The criteria for determining the suitability and success of ESD have expanded, with changes in the histopathological classification of gastric carcinoma, including results from molecular research. Treatment methods have also diversified to include targeted therapies and immuno-oncology agents. To improve communication between clinicians and pathologists, it is crucial to understand the standardized diagnostic forms of gastric cancer. This study aims to examine the handling method of ESD specimens and describe the pathological findings of gastric tumors.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2015

Purpose: Gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) located very close to the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) are a challenge for gastric surgeons. Therefore, this study reports on the experience of using endoscopic and laparoscopic full-thickness resection (ELFR) with laparoscopic two-layer suturing in such tumors. Materials and Methods: Six patients with gastric SMTs very close to the EGJ underwent ELFR with laparoscopic two-layer suturing at Kyungpook National University Medical Center. With the patient under general anesthesia, the lesser curvature and posterior aspect adjacent to the EGJ were meticulously dissected and visualized using a laparoscopic approach. A partially circumferential full-thickness incision at the distal margin of the tumor was then made using an endoscopic approach under laparoscopic guidance. The SMT was resected using laparoscopic ultrasonic shears, and the gastric wall was closed using two-layer suturing. Thereafter, the patency and any leakage were checked through endoscopy. Results: All the ELFR procedures with laparoscopic two-layer suturing were performed successfully without an open conversion. The mean operation time was $139.2{\pm}30.9$ minutes and the blood loss was too minimal to be measured. The tumors from four patients were leiomyomas, while the tumors from the other two patients were gastrointestinal stromal tumors with clear resection margins. All the patients started oral intake on the third postoperative day. There was no morbidity or mortality. The mean hospital stay was $7.7{\pm}0.8$ days. Conclusions: ELFR with laparoscopic two-layer suturing is a safe treatment option for patients with an SMT close to the EGJ, as major resection of the stomach is avoided.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2008

Purpose: To investigate the clinicopathlogical characteristics and the surgical methods for gastric submucosal tumors in Korea, the Information Committee of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association performed a nationwide survey. Materials and Methods: Data on 878 patients who underwent resection from 2005 to 2006 were collected from medical records obtained from 47 institutes. Diagnosis, demographics, symptoms, tumor factors (location, size, degree of malignancy) and operative factors (surgicalmethod and approach, mortality) were analyzed. Results: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) were the most common cancers (n=586, 66.8%), followed by leiomyomas (n=97, 11.1%), schwannomas (n=70, 8.0%), ectopic pancreas (n=67, 7.8%) and carcinoids (n=16, 1.8%). The mean age of patients was 56.0 years and the male to female ratio was 1:1.18. Only 40.9% of the patients had symptoms at the time of diagnosis, such as abdominal pain, dyspepsia and bleeding. Gastric submucosal tumors were most frequently located in the upper third of the stomach and 55.4% of the GISTs (n=319) and 84.5% of the leiomyomas (n=84.5%) were located in the upper third of the stomach. Wedge resection (n=726, 82.8%) was the most common operative method, and laparoscopic surgery was performed in 388 patients (44.2%). Only one patient (0.1%) died within 30 days of surgery. A total of 115 patients withGISTs (21.1%, 115/544) had a high risk of malignancy and 41 patients (8.3%, 45/495) received adjuvant imatinib mesylate therapy. Conclusion: The survey showed that about two-thirds of the patients with a gastric submuscoal tumor (SMT) had a GIST, and about one-half of the patients underwent laparoscopic resection. These data presented in the nationwide survey could be used as a fundamental resource for gastric submucosal tumors in Korea.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.188-195
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound to facilitate treatment of gastric submucosal tumors. Materials and Methods: The feasibility of laparoscopic wedge resection as determined by CT findings of tumor size, location, and growth pattern was correlated with surgical findings in 89 consecutive operations. The role of laparoscopic ultrasound for tumor localization was analyzed. Results: Twenty-three patients were considered unsuitable for laparoscopic wedge resection because of large tumor size (N=13) or involvement of the gastroesophageal junction (N=9) or pyloric channel (N=1). Laparoscopic wedge resection was not attempted in 11 of these patients because of large tumor size. Laparoscopic wedge resection was successfully performed in 65 of 66 (98.5%) patients considered suitable for this procedure. Incorrect interpretation of preoperative CT resulted in a change of surgery type in seven patients (7.9%): incorrect CT diagnosis on gastroesophageal junction involvement (N=6) and on growth pattern (N=1). In 18 patients without an exophytic growth pattern, laparoscopic ultrasound was necessary and successfully localized all lesions. Conclusions: Preoperative CT and laparoscopic ultrasound are useful for surgical planning and tumor localization in laparoscopic wedge resection.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.3-18
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• 2013

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor is the most common mesenchymal tumor in the gastrointestinal tract and is most frequently developed in the stomach in the form of submucosal tumor. The incidence of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor is estimated to be as high as 25% of the population when all small and asymptomatic tumors are included. Because gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor is not completely distinguished from other submucosal tumors, a surgical excisional biopsy is recommended for tumors >2 cm. The surgical principles of gastrointestinal stromal tumor are composed of an R0 resection with a normal mucosa margin, no systemic lymph node dissection, and avoidance of perforation, which results in peritoneal seeding even in cases with otherwise low risk profiles. Laparoscopic surgery has been indicated for gastrointestinal stromal tumors <5 cm, and the indication for laparoscopic surgery is expanded to larger tumors if the above mentioned surgical principles can be maintained. A simple exogastric resection and various transgastric resection techniques are used for gastrointestinal stromal tumors in favorable locations (the fundus, body, greater curvature side). For a lesion at the gastroesophageal junction in the posterior wall of the stomach, enucleation techniques have been tried preserve the organ's function. Those methods have a theoretical risk of seeding a ruptured tumor, but this risk has not been evaluated by well-designed clinical trials. While some clinical trials are still on-going, neoadjuvant imatinib is suggested when marginally unresectable or multiorgan resection is anticipated to reduce the extent of surgery and the chance of incomplete resection, rupture or bleeding.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Purpose: Laparoscopic gastric resection (LGR) is increasingly being used instead of open gastric resection (OGR) as the standard surgical treatment for gastric submucosal tumors. Yet there are few reports on which technique shows better postoperative outcomes. This study was performed to compare these two treatment modalities for gastric submucosal tumors by evaluating the postoperative outcomes. We also provide an analysis of the learning curve for LGR. Materials and Methods: Between 2003.4 and 2008.8, 103 patients with a gastric submucosal tumor underwent either LGR (N=78) or OGR (n=25). A retrospective review was performed on a prospectively obtained database of 103 patients. We reviewed the data with regard to the operative time, the blood loss during the operation, the time to the first soft diet, the postoperative hospital stay, the tumor size and the tumor location. Results: The clinicopatholgic and tumor characteristics of the patients were similar for both groups. There was no open conversion in the LGR group. The mean operation time and the bleeding loss were not different between the LGR group and the OWR group. The time to first soft diet (3.27 vs. 6.16 days, P<0.001) and the length of the postoperative hospital stay (7.37 vs. 8.88 days, P=0.002) were shorter in the LGR group compared to the OGR group. The tumor size was bigger in the OGR group than that in the LGR group (6.44 vs. 3.65 cm, P<0.001). When performing laparoscopic gastric resection of gastric SMT, the surgeon was able to decrease the operation time and bleeding loss with gaining more experience. We separated the total cases into 3 periods to compare the operation time, the bleeding losses and the complications. The third period showed the shortest operation time, the least bleeding loss and the fewest complications. Conclusion: LGR for treating a gastric submucosal tumor was superior to OGR in terms of the postoperative outcomes. An operator needs some experience to perform a complete laparoscopic gastric resection. Laparoscopic resection could be considered the first-line treatment for gastric submucosal tumors.