Successful prevention of balloon dilatation after complete circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection including long-segment Barrett’s esophagus

Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection into submucosa is useful for prevention of stricture after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) [11]. However, despite attempts with steroid use, complete circumferential esophageal ESD still leads to high stricture rates (36.4% to 85.7% [22] [33] [44]). Although endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) is often necessary for stricture relief, it carries the risk of perforation [22]. In addition, in long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (BE) with Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEA), post-ESD ulcers can be too long, making EBD challenging. Thus, alternative stricture methods preventing EBD are needed.

Here we present a case of successful prevention of EBD after a circumferential ESD for BEA in long-segment BE (longitudinal length of resected area was 12 cm endoscopically) with intensive TA injections ([Video 1Video 1]). ESD utilized MucoUp (Seikagaku, Tokyo, Japan and Boston Scientific Japan, Kanagawa, Japan) with indigo carmine, 1.5-mm DualKnife J (Olympus Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan), and the clip-and-line method [55]. En bloc resection, including the entire long-segment BE (Prague classification C8M9), was performed ([Fig. 1Fig. 1]). The pathological finding was BEA with unclear horizontal margin and negative vertical margin ([Fig. 2Fig. 2]).

Weekly intensive triamcinolone acetonide injections were beneficial for preventing stricture in complete circumferential esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.Video 1Video 1

Fig. 1 Fig. 1 The details of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). a The patient was diagnosed with circumferential Barrett's adenocarcinoma with long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (BE) (C8M9 according to the Prague classification). The yellow arrows indicate the proximal boundary of long-segment BE. b ESD was performed with the clip-and-line method. c ESD was performed by creating a submucosal tunnel. The yellow arrows indicate the edge of the submucosal tunnel. d Immediately after ESD, en bloc resection was performed including the entire long-segment BE. The longitudinal length of the post-ESD defect measured endoscopically was up to 12 cm from the oral to the anal side. e A total of 100 mg of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) was locally injected into the remaining submucosa.

Fig. 2 Fig. 2 Pathological findings of the resected specimen. Histological photograph of an adenocarcinoma at the esophagogastric junction. Atypical glandular epithelium forms irregular tubules, creating polypoid, protruding lesions. Immunostaining shows a mutant pattern of p53 overaccumulation. Meanwhile, a flatly spreading adenocarcinoma is observed around the protrusions. Submucosal esophageal glands in the columnar epithelium region are identified, suggesting an adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's esophagus.

TA (KENACOLT-A 50 mg/5 mL; Bristol Myers Squibb, Tokyo, Japan) was diluted to 5 mg/mL with normal saline. A 26-gauge 4-mm needle (SG-A 26G FE 4 mm 2200 mm; TOP Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was used for injection. TA injection into the submucosa, starting immediately post-ESD, was performed at intervals of 0.5 mL (TA 2.5 mg), preventing injury to the muscularis propria. Subsequent injections occurred 3 days post-ESD and then weekly for 21 weeks, with additional injections on weeks 23 and 25, totaling 25 sessions. A total of 50–100 mg TA was administered in each session. At 40 weeks post-ESD, complete epithelialization without stricture was achieved ([Fig. 3Fig. 3]).

Fig. 3 Fig. 3 The healing process of the post-ESD ulcer. The epithelialization progressed in chronological order from [Fig. 3Fig. 3] a–f. A total of 50 mg or 100 mg of TA was locally injected into the regenerating submucosal layer from [Fig. 3Fig. 3] a–e, respectively. a 1 week after ESD (3rd local injection of TA). b 4 weeks after ESD (6th local injection of TA). c 8 weeks after ESD (10th local injection of TA). d 12 weeks after ESD (14th local injection of TA). e 20 weeks after ESD (22nd local injection of TA). f 40 weeks after ESD. Complete epithelialization without any stricture was achieved, and a φ9.8-mm scope (GIF-H290T; Olympus Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) passed easily.

Weekly intensive TA injections alone were beneficial for preventing stricture in complete circumferential esophageal ESD even if the resected area was long.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

• References

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Publication History

Article published online:
03 July 2024