Indications for EMR/ESD in cases of early gastric cancer: relationship between histological type, depth of wall invasion, and lymph node metastasis.

Background: Limited surgery by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric cancer is frequently performed in many institutions. These techniques do preserve gastric function and maintain a high quality of life but may compromise survival. The treatment strategy for early tumors should therefore be based on a complete cure, and limited surgery must thus have clear indications.