Comparison of treatment outcomes between laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries for relatively small gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

BACKGROUND

Complete surgical resection remains the predominant treatment modality for primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). No therapeutic consensus exists for 2-5 cm gastric GISTs. We compared the efficacy, safety, and prognosis of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries in the treatment of relatively small (2-5 cm) intraluminal gastric GISTs.

METHODS

We collected 101 patients with relatively small intraluminal gastric GISTs who had integrated clinicopathological data and underwent laparoscopic or endoscopic resection (laparoscopic group n = 66; endoscopic group n = 35). Clinicopathological characteristics, perioperative data, and long-term oncological outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Comparative analysis of clinicopathological data in the two groups was performed by using a chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Student's t-test. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was analyzed by the log-rank test.

RESULTS

All clinicopathological characteristics had no significant difference between the two groups. Patients in the endoscopic group had shorter operation time (P < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.001), time to a liquid diet (P < 0.01), and time to a semi-liquid diet (P < 0.01), and lower hospital charges (P < 0.001), compared to those in the laparoscopic group. Four patients (6.1%) in the laparoscopic group and one patient (2.9%) in the endoscopic group had perioperative complications, but with no significant difference. Recurrence occurred in 6 patients (9.1%) and 2 patients (5.7%) in the laparoscopic and endoscopic groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in RFS between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic resection is a feasible and safe treatment modality for patients with relatively small (2-5 cm) intraluminal gastric GISTs. Due to faster recovery and lower cost, endoscopic resection is more suitable for elderly and weak patients, or patients with a poor financial situation.