Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

What is EMR?

Endoscopic mucosal resection, or EMR, can be used throughout the gastrointestinal tract to remove large polyps, nodules and early cancers. It is performed in conjunction with endoscopic ultrasound (a test to ensure the lesion in question is removable). EMR allows for a minimally invasive method to stage and remove superficial (mucosal and submucosal) tumors of the gastrointestinal tract without surgery.

EMR has been used at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, for the removal of precancerous nodules in Barrett’s esophagus, superficial esophageal and gastric cancers, carcinoid tumors and large colonic polyps. EMR offers a significantly less invasive approach to precancerous and early cancerous lesions in the esophagus, where the alternative is surgery and removal of the esophagus. By avoiding surgery, EMR allows for quicker recovery time, no hospital stay and fewer complications.

For More Information

• American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy