Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan

Background Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is gradually turning into the standard treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC), however, the long-term outcomes have hardly ever been reported outside Japan. Method We consecutively recruited patients with SESCC who had received ESD treatment at E-Da Hospital. The demographics, pathological characteristics, and Lugol staining background pattern (type A or B: none or 10 small or multiform LVLs) were collected, and then correlated to outcomes and survival. Results Total of 229 lesions were enrolled and the mean lesion size was 3.28 ± 1.69 (range 1–10) cm. 72% of the lesions had a type C-D Lugol staining background pattern. After ESD, the en bloc and R0 resection rates were 93.9% and 83.5%, respectively. Forty-nine subjects developed complications, including six (2.6%) with major bleeding, two (0.9%) with perforation, and 41 (17.9%) with strictures. Pathological staging showed that 19 cases had deep submucosal cancer invasion and subsequently received adjuvant therapies. During a mean follow-up period of 52.6 (range 3–146) months, 41 patients developed metachronous recurrence. The patients with a type C-D Lugol staining background pattern were associated with a higher risk of recurrence than those with few LVLs (log-rank P = 0.019). The 10-year survival rate was more than 90%, and only eight patients died of ESCC. Conclusion ESD has excellent long-term outcomes but a high risk of metachronous recurrence. The Lugol staining pattern over the background mucosa could offer the risk stratification of metachronous recurrence.