Doctors are using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to remove some early gastrointestinal tumors without making external cuts, a shift that can speed recovery and keep organs intact when cancers are found early.

What is endoscopic submucosal dissection?

ESD is performed with a thin, flexible endoscope inserted through the mouth or rectum. Using miniature tools, clinicians inject fluid to lift a precancerous or early cancer lesion from surrounding tissue, then carefully dissect it away from the deeper lining in a single piece.

Traditional surgery for GI cancers often requires incisions, hospital stays, and removal of portions of the stomach, esophagus or colon. By avoiding external cuts and preserving the organ, ESD can shorten recovery, sometimes to the same day, and may reduce the

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