Invasive endoscopy in oncology

Recent advances in interventional gastrointestinal endoscopy have led to a large variety of new diagnostic and minimally invasive endoscopic surgical procedures in oncological patients. Endoscopic ultrasound with the possibility of fi ne needle aspiration is currently one of the most accurate imaging technology for adequate staging of gastrointestinal cancers including oesophageal, gastric, rectal and pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection offers a minimal invasive endoscopic treatment modality as an alternative for laparoscopic surgery for patients with early intramucosal neoplasias, fl at adenomas and laterally spreading tumors of the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum and colorectum. Self-expandable metal stents are now readily available for endoscopic palliation of different type of malignant gastrointestinal obstructions including oesophageal, duodenal, colonic and biliary stenosis. These recent developments of interventional gastrointestinal endoscopy lead to more precise and accurate tumor staging and more effective oncological therapy for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.