Endoscopic mucosal resection is a minimally invasive procedure to remove irregular tissue from your digestive tract. Compared to open surgery, it allows you to recover more quickly with less pain. You may need endoscopic mucosal resection if you have tumors or precancerous lesions in your mucosa, the membrane lining your gastrointestinal tract.
Endoscopic mucosal resection is a minimally invasive procedure to remove irregular tissue from your digestive tract. Your digestive, or gastrointestinal, tract is the series of organs your food travels through as it’s digested. The technique allows your healthcare provider to reach your digestive tract without making any incisions from outside your belly. This means you experience less pain and recover faster after endoscopic mucosal resection than after open surgery.
During the procedure, a gastroenterologist (a doctor specializing in gastrointestinal diseases) uses a long, flexible tube with a camera called an endoscope. After sedation, they insert the endoscope through your mouth or anus, depending on what part of your digestive tract they need to reach. Then, they insert surgical tools through the endoscope to remove irregular tissue.
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You usually have endoscopic mucosal resection to treat early-stage cancer or precancerous growths (lesions or polyps). Gastroenterologists use endoscopic mucosal resection for tumors that grow in your mucosa, the inner membrane lining your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Endoscopic mucosal resection is typically used to treat:
You may be a candidate for endoscopic mucosal resection if you have a small tumor or precancerous lesion. Larger tumors may require other treatments, like:
Your gastroenterologist will give you specific instructions to prepare for endoscopic mucosal resection. If they’re treating your upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach or small intestine), you’ll need to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the procedure. If they’re treating your lower GI tract (large intestine, which includes your colon and rectum), you may need to complete a bowel prep.
Bowel prep involves taking laxatives to cleanse your colon. This allows your gastroenterologist to get a clear view of your colon and rectum.
You’ll receive anesthesia to remain comfortable and calm during the procedure. You may receive general anesthesia, where you’re put to sleep. Or you may get conscious sedation, where you’re awake but don’t remember anything afterward.
During endoscopic mucosal resection, your gastroenterologist:
The procedure usually takes around 30 to 60 minutes.
Your gastroenterologist may send a sample of the irregular tissue to a laboratory. A pathologist (a doctor specializing in studying body tissue) analyzes the tissue sample for signs of disease.
You’ll move to a recovery room while your anesthesia wears off. You’ll need someone to drive you home, as it can take up to 24 hours for the full effects of anesthesia to go away completely.
Depending on the area treated, you may have some mild to moderate side effects for a day or two. They may include:
Endoscopic mucosal resection removes precancerous or cancerous tissue before it grows and spreads (metastasizes) to other body parts. The technique allows your gastroenterologist to remove irregular tissue without making large incisions or removing part of your digestive tract.
Compared to open surgery, endoscopic techniques offer multiple benefits, like:
Complications of endoscopic mucosal resection are rare but may include:
Most people can return to work the day after endoscopic mucosal resection. You may need to follow a liquid diet for several days while your digestive tract heals.
You’ll likely have a follow-up appointment with your gastroenterologist within 12 weeks after endoscopic mucosal resection. Your gastroenterologist will use an endoscope to examine your digestive tract and make sure all the irregular tissue is gone. You may need additional exams or treatments, depending on what your gastroenterologist finds.
Call your gastroenterologist right away if you notice any signs of complications after endoscopic mucosal resection, including:
Endoscopic mucosal resection is a minimally invasive procedure. It doesn’t involve large incisions like you’d receive in a major open surgery.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
It’s scary to hear the word “cancer.” But with surgical innovations like endoscopic mucosal resection, it’s easier to remove small cancers and precancerous lesions. In fact, your surgeon won’t even make an incision. Compared to open procedures, you’ll recover from endoscopic procedures quicker, with less pain and a lower risk of complications. If your tumor is larger or more advanced, you may need other procedures or treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. Whatever your situation after endoscopic mucosal resection, you’ll be able to move on faster because you won’t be recovering from a major surgery.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/20/2023.
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