Published online May 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i19.6032
Peer-review started: September ??, 2014
First decision: September 30, 2014
Revised: October 1, 2014
Accepted: November 19, 2014
Article in press: November 19, 2014
Published online: May 21, 2015
Processing time: 258 Days and 22.2 Hours
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) with undifferentiated-type histology.
METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using the core databases. Complete resection, curative resection, en bloc resection, recurrence and adverse event rate were extracted and analyzed. A random effect model was applied. The methodological quality of the enrolled studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot, the trim and fill method, Egger’s test, and a rank correlation test.
RESULTS: Fourteen retrospective studies between 2009 and 2014 were identified (972 EGC lesions with undifferentiated-type histology). The total en bloc and complete resection rates were estimated as 92.1% (95%CI: 87.4%-95.2%) and 77.5% (95%CI: 69.3%-84%), respectively. The total curative resection rate was 61.4% (95%CI: 44.5%-75.9%). The overall recurrence rate was 7.6% (95%CI: 3.4%-16%). Limited to histologically diagnosed expanded-criteria lesions, the en bloc and complete resection rates were 91.2% and 85.6%, respectively. The curative resection rate was 79.8%.
CONCLUSION: In this analysis, ESD is a technically feasible treatment modality for EGC with undifferentiated-type histology. Long-term studies are needed to confirm these therapeutic outcomes.
Core tip: Controversies regarding proposed expansions of the indication for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) with undifferentiated-type histology still remain. In this meta-analysis, ESD is a technically feasible treatment modality for EGC with undifferentiated-type histology. However, cautious interpretation is needed because of heterogeneity among studies. Inconsistent implementation of indication, insufficient follow-up duration, and different outcome criteria are causes of heterogeneity. Further studies using common primary outcomes or large-scale, long-term studies will elucidate the feasibility of ESD for EGC with undifferentiated-type histology.