Endoscopic resection is a procedure performed to remove cancerous or other abnormal tissues such as precancerous lesions arising in the gastrointestinal tract.

Endoscopic resection is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia or sedation. During the procedure, an endoscope, a long thin tube with a light and camera attached is inserted through your mouth and down your throat to inspect the esophagus, stomach and upper region of the small intestine. To examine the colon (region of the large intestine), the endoscope is inserted through your anus. Other instruments are inserted through the endoscopic tube to perform the resection. There are many techniques to remove the abnormal growths. Your doctor may:

• Inject a solution under the lesion to create a cushion with the healthy underlying tissue
• Lift the abnormal tissue and separate it from the healthy tissue by using suction
• Cut and remove the growth. The cut tissue may be examined in the laboratory for cancerous growth (biopsy).
• Mark the region with ink for future examination

As with all procedures, endoscopic resection may be associated with certain risks, which include bleeding, puncture of the wall of the digestive tract and narrowing of the esophagus.

Contact your doctor if you experience chills, fever, vomiting, pain in the abdomen or chest, shortness of breath, blood in stools or black stools, or fainting as it may suggest serious complications.