Abstract
Since June 1994, we have successfully treated 15 patients with early gastric cancer and one submucosal tumor (leiomyoma) by using two different procedures: laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach i. e.: lesion-lifting method (n=14) and endo-organ access technique (n=2). The advantages of these methods are minimal invasiveness, sufficient surgical margin, feasibility of detailed histology and early professional recovery with shorter hospital stay. In contrast, these are several problems to be solved such as preoperative diagnostic accuracy of the depth and width of cancer invasion, possibility of reoperation in case of final histology and possibility of postoperative stenosis after the resection near pylorus or cardia and incidence of metachronous multiple gastric cancer. In conclusion, if the indication is properly selected, these laparoscopic procedures are curative and could be considered as minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer.
