Early gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection: Not to be ignored!

Abstract

This editorial comments on the article “Efficacy of multi-slice spiral computed tomography in evaluating gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection”. We focus on the importance of paying more attention to post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) gastric cancer recurrence in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) and how to manage it effectively. ESD has been a well-known treatment and the mainstay for EGC, with the advantages of less invasion and fewer complications when compared with traditional surgical procedures. Despite a lower local recurrence rate after ESD, the problem of postoperative recurrence in patients with EGC has become increasingly non-ignorable with the global popularization of ESD technology and the increasing number of post-ESD patients.

Keywords: Early gastric cancer; Recurrence; Endoscopic submucosal dissection; Postoperative; Prediction

Core Tip: Post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) gastric cancer recurrence in patients with early gastric cancer has become increasingly non-ignorable with the global popularization of ESD technology and the increasing number of post-ESD patients. A combination approach, including endoscopic techniques, radiographic examinations, predictive biological markers, and machine learning-based prediction models, should be recommended in the individualized surveillance and management of gastric cancer recurrence after ESD.