Article Text
PDF
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Introduction
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the UK. Sporadic CRC evolves from premalignant lesions of the colorectum, through a cumulative effect of acquired genetic and epigenetic alterations, typically over the course of several years. Endoscopic polypectomy of these at-risk lesions can prevent the development of CRC. The paucity of lymphatic vessels above the muscularis mucosae enables curative endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of even very extensive lesions that are limited to the mucosa.1 2
This review is aimed at endoscopy trainees, consultants and allied healthcare professionals and describes the place of EMR in therapeutic colonoscopy, clarifying its capabilities and limits, as well as describing newer methods and adjuncts to EMR designed to prevent and treat recurrence.
When should EMR be performed?
EMR is a well-established therapeutic technique which can be performed as an outpatient, day-case procedure and has emerged as a safe, efficient and cost-effective alternative to surgery for suitable non-invasive lesions.
The use of fluid injection to facilitate polypectomy was first described in 1955 and by the 1990s was popularised by Japanese endoscopists and was termed EMR. Injection solutions are used to create a submucosal cushion, separating the colonic lesion from the underlying muscle layer to allow complete resection of the lesion and to prevent full thickness perforation and thermal injury to the colonic wall.
The vast majority of colorectal polyps are small, 10 mm or less in size. Most of these can be managed using standard snare polypectomy technique.3 EMR is considered the procedure of choice for more difficult polyps, including those greater than 20 mm in size, where submucosal invasion is not suspected and where location poses challenges, such as the involvement of haustral folds or within areas of diverticulosis. Although epidemiological data are lacking, approximately 10%–15% of polyps can be categorised as difficult. …
Footnotes
Twitter @SiwanTG, @DrMattChoy, @AngadDhillon
Correction notice This article has been corrected since it published Online First. A supplementary file has been added.
Contributors ST-G: manuscript planning, writing, review, responsible for overall content. MC: manuscript editing and video editing. ASD: manuscript writing, editing and submission.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.