Efficacy analysis of modified double band ligation-assisted endoscopic submucosal resection and endoscopic mucosal dissection in the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (≤ 1.5 cm).

Background: Recently, the application of double band ligation-assisted endoscopic submucosal resection (ESMR-DL) in the resection of rectal endocrine tumors ≤ 10 mm has shown promising prospects. However, the use of ESMR-DL has not been reported for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (gGISTs). In this study, we aimed to compare the application of modified ESMR-DL with ESD in gGISTs (≤ 1.5 cm).

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 472 patients who underwent modified ESMR-DL or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for resection of gGISTs (≤ 1.5 cm). To overcome selection bias, a propensity score matching method was applied using four covariates for 1:1 matching: sex, age, tumor size, and tumor location. Clinical data, surgical status, and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results: Of the 472 patients, 78 (16.5%) received modified ESMR-DL and 394 (83.5%) received ESD; after matching, there were 78 patients in each group. There was no statistical difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups after matching (p > 0.05). Compared to ESD, modified ESMR-DL resulted in shorter operation time, time to a liquid diet and postoperative hospitalization time, but had a higher incidence of intraoperative perforation (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the R0 resection rate of tumors, incidence of postoperative complications, and average hospitalization costs between the two groups after matching (p > 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the maximum dimension of the lesion (7 mm increments) and the surgical method were factors affecting procedure time, and the maximum dimension of the lesion (7 mm increments) and operator (novice vs instructor) were factors affecting intraoperative perforation in modified ESMR-DL (P < 0.05). During the follow-up, there were no recurrences or metastases of gGISTs in either group.

Conclusions: Modified ESMR-DL is noninferior to ESD with a similar complete resection rate. In addition, modified ESMR-DL had shorter procedure time and hospitalization time.