A novel technique of endoscopic submucosal dissection for circumferential ileocecal valve adenomas with terminal ileum involvement: the “doughnut resection” (with videos)

Background: Ileocecal valve (ICV) lesions are difficult to resect endoscopically and patients are often referred for laparoscopic colectomy. ICV involvement has been shown to be related to technical failure and tumor recurrence after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and represents a challenge for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Few publications have focused specifically on endoscopic management of ICV lesions. Methods: We developed a novel ESD technique, the “doughnut resection,” for circumferential ICV adenomas with terminal ileum involvement. Two circumferential mucosal incisions are performed, one in the ileum and the other in the cecum, followed by submucosal dissection of the disk of tissue between the two incisions around a guiding stent placed across the valve that helps guide the dissection as it crosses the valve orifice. The lesion is removed en bloc in the shape of a “doughnut” with two concentric assessable lateral margins. The underwater ESD technique and a gastroscope were used to facilitate the resection. Results: Seven patients received the doughnut resection. The median patient age was 67 years. All patients had prior biopsy and three had prior endoscopic resection (1–6 times). The median specimen diameter was 4.5 cm (range 3–8). All resections were en bloc and R0. There was no perforation, delayed bleeding, or other clinically significant adverse events. After a median follow-up of 21 months (range 12–32), there was no tumor recurrence. Conclusion: The “doughnut resection” is a feasible, safe, and effective method to remove circumferential ICV lesions endoscopically even for patients with multiple prior tumor manipulations.