Surgically resected stage I colon cancer results in the best possible prognosis for
patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. However, there remains some debate about
whether formal oncologic resection is necessary for the earliest of tumors—those detected
in a polyp. To best understand whether an oncologic resection is “avoidable” in select
cases of patients with a malignant polyp, it is necessary to review the contemporary
evidence on endoscopic techniques, risks of lymph node metastasis, and nuances of
the decision-making between oncologic resection and surveillance.
Keywords
colon cancer - colon polyp - polypectomy - endoscopic mucosal resection - endoscopic
mucosal dissection