Endoscopy 2010; 42(8): 677-680
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1255565
Case report/series

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cap-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection of large polyps involving the ileocecal valve

M.  Conio1 , S.  Blanchi1 , R.  Filiberti2 , C.  Ruggeri3 , D.  A.  Fisher4
  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital, Sanremo, Italy
  • 2Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, National Institute for Cancer Research, Genova, Italy
  • 3Department of Pathology, General Hospital, Sanremo, Italy
  • 4Department of Gastroenterology, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 13 March 2010

accepted after revision 7 April 2010

Publication Date:
30 June 2010 (online)

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Standard endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is limited with regard to lesions below or involving the ileocecal valve. We describe the treatment and outcomes when using cap-assisted EMR (EMR-C) to remove large laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) with ileal infiltration in seven patients (median age 74 years). Each LST (median size 40 mm) was successfully resected in one session (median procedure time 50 minutes). Intraprocedural and early bleeding occurred in two patients, and delayed hemorrhage in one. Circumferential resection of the ileum caused asymptomatic strictures in six patients, with regression during follow-up for five. We conclude that the novel EMR-C method is a potentially effective treatment for cecal LST involving the distal ileum. Serious complications such as perforation or symptomatic strictures of the ileocecal valve were not observed and any procedure-related bleeding was easily controlled.