Endoscopic mucosectomy using an esophageal variceal ligation device for minute gastric cancer.

We present here a modified technique for endoscopic mucosal resection using the technique of esophageal variceal ligation for minute gastric cancer. This method of endoscopic mucosal resection requires only the commonly-used one-channel endoscope, an esophageal variceal ligation device, and some clinical experience with the ligation of esophageal varices and snare polypectomy. It can therefore be considered technically simple and safe. We treated four patients with minute gastric cancer using this endoscopic mucosal resection technique. All tumors were completely resected without major complications. Resected specimens were 1.0-1.5 cm in diameter, sufficient for histopathological evaluation, and curative resection was achieved in all patients.