Topic: Application and Innovation of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) in the Treatment of Digestive Tract Tumors

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the treatment of digestive tract tumors has become easier and safer, which, then, has been standardized gradually all over the word in relation to the progress of endoscopy and the equipment. There are various knives for ESD with each characteristic. Besides, new injection solution, counter traction device, distal attachment, suturing device, special endoscope, technical strategy, etc. have been reported.

Furthermore, the indication of ESD for digestive tract tumors has been expanded based on the new knowledge in relation to the curative histologic conditions for ESD resected specimens using many accumulated cases until now. ESD for digestive tract tumors is considered to be not only a therapeutic resection method but total excisional biopsy. Basically, benign tumor is allowed to be resected in piecemeal manner. However, cancerous lesion should be resected en bloc with tumor-free margin to obtain the precise histologic findings for determining curability. In this aspect, ESD is an effective and suitable therapeutic method in the treatment of digestive tract tumors.

In this Special Issue, we will introduce both indication of ESD and curative condition after ESD. Following that, we will also introduce recent innovative ESD technologies for whole digestive tract tumors from larynx to rectum.

31 Oct 2021