Endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy for early gastric cancer

Abstract

The endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy devised by us was evaluated in 25 patients with early gastric cancer. Fourteen of them recieved microwave coagulation preoperatively, and the effect of the treatment was histologically investigated in the resected specimens. In 7 cases in which tumors were partially coagulated, the cosgulated area developed an ulcer (ul II-IV) with no viable cancer cell on the ulcer floor. In 3 of the other 7 cases in which tumors were almost completely coagulated, no malignancy was seen in the histopathologic series of the resected specimens. But in the other 4 cases, a few cancer cells were left viable. In two of them cancer cells were recognized partly on the ulcer circumference, and in the remaining 2 cases in the submucosal layer of the ulcer floor. Since almost all of whom were unable to undergo operation for some reasons, eleven patients recieved the endoscopic treatment by microwave coagulation therapy. One to 6 sessios of the treatment were needed before malignant findings disappeared in biopsy, and only 2 cases developed recurrence during 2 to 50 month (17 months on the average) follow up. These results suggest that the endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy may be applicable for early gastric cancer, even if it invades the submucosal layer especially in cases which are unable to undergo radical operation. Another point of interest is that local cure of early gastric cancer by microwave coagulation therapy may be expected. © 1986, Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society. All rights reserved.