Objective: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal band ligation(EMBL) in the treatment of esophageal precancerous lesions and esophageal early cancer.
Methods: Clinicopathological data of 21 cases with esophageal precancerous lesions and esophageal early cancer undergoing EMBL at the Endoscopic Center in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2012 to November 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Short-term efficacy and complications after operation were summarized.
Results: All the 21 cases underwent EMBL operation successfully. The mean operative time was(21.0±8.3) minutes. No subcutaneous emphysema, mediastinal emphysema, pneumothorax or delayed bleeding occurred. Esophageal stricture occurred in 2 cases and the symptoms were alleviated after balloon dilation. Pathological examination showed moderate dysplasia(n=1), moderate-severe dysplasia(n=2), severe dysplasia(n=10), carcinoma in situ(n=2) and early stage of squamous cell carcinoma(n=6). All the resection margins were negative except for 1 case of early stage squamous cell carcinoma, whose margin was only 1 mm and so underwent additional open surgery for esophageal cancer. No relapse of cancer was found during follow-up.
Conclusion: EMBL can cure esophageal precancerous lesions and esophageal early cancer effectively and is safe, minimally invasive and simple to perform.