Abstract: Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of modified endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and rubber band ligation assisted endoscopic dissection for treatment of small gastric submucosal tumors (SMT) originating from the muscularis propria layer. Methods A total of ninety-two patients diagnosed as gastric SMT (6 mm≤diameter≤13 mm) originating from the muscularis propria layer by EUS in our hospital were enrolled in this study. With intravenous anesthesia and tracheal intubation in all patients, modified ESD was performed firstly to stripe the small tumors. After being exposed to a certain extent, the tumors were ligated by rubber band and snared for endoscopic dissection. The situation of bleeding, perforation in both intraoperative and postoperative, the integrity and size of the resected specimens were observed and recorded. The resected specimens were identified with histopathological detection and immunohistochemistry assay. At the 6-month and 12-month after the operation, all patients were reviewed by gastroscopy and EUS in our hospital. Results All the 92 tumors were resected completely and successfully. The mean operating time was (19.2±2.3) min and the mean blood loss in operation was (2.6±0.5) mL. Perforation after resection occurred in 3 cases, which were closed with metal hemostatic clips and nylon ropes. No delayed bleeding and perforation occurred in one week after the operation. The tumor sizes ranged from 6 mm×5 mm to 13 mm×12 mm. Seventy-three gastric stromal tumors (risk classification: all were very low risk), 18 gastric leiomyomas and 1 gastric neurofibroma were identified. There were no residue or recurrence in all cases during the 12-month follow-up period. Conclusion The modified ESD and rubber band ligation assisted endoscopic dissection are effective and safe for treatment of small gastric submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer. The tumors are resected completely and successfully, showing certain significance to assess the nature, degree of malignancy of the tumor and prognosis of the patients.

Key words: stomach neoplasms, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, gastroscopy, ligation, endoscopic submucosal dissection, rubber band, tumor originating from the muscularis propria layer