State of the Art on Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) provide new alternatives for minimally invasive treatment of superficial gastrointestinal malignancies. Evidence suggests that these techniques can be performed safely and have comparable outcomes to surgery with less morbidity and better quality of life due to their tissue-sparing nature when compared with conventional surgery. Although the techniques and accessories have become standardized, there is room for improvement, and further research and development are required. Current challenges facing American gastroenterologists or endoscopic surgeons include access to training and lack of appropriate reimbursement for these heavy-weighted and technically demanding procedures. Nevertheless, EMR and ESD are here to stay and are only the first steps toward true radical endoluminal resection of GI malignancies.