EMR is often used for the management of early-stage cancers and precancerous lesions found in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. It can be an effective alternative to surgical resection in certain cases, allowing for a less invasive approach and potentially faster recovery.
In addition to treating precancerous and early-stage cancerous lesions EMR can also serve as a diagnostic procedure. If there are suspicious or abnormal tissues identified during an endoscopy, EMR can be used to collect larger tissue samples for further examination and accurate diagnosis.
The collected tissue samples are sent to a laboratory where they undergo pathological analysis. Pathologists examine the samples under a microscope to determine the nature of the tissue, whether it is benign, precancerous, or cancerous. This analysis helps in confirming the presence of cancer and provides important information about the cancer’s characteristics.
Furthermore, EMR allows pathologists to assess whether the cancer has invaded beyond the mucosal layer of the GI tract. If the cancer is found to be invasive, meaning it has penetrated deeper layers, this information is crucial for staging the cancer and guiding subsequent treatment decisions. The depth of invasion helps determine if additional treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, is necessary to address the cancer.
By combining both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, EMR plays a valuable role in assessing the nature of suspicious lesions, providing accurate diagnoses, and aiding in treatment planning for patients with gastrointestinal abnormalities or early-stage cancers.
