Endoscopic Therapies Endoscopic therapies can be an alternative approach to surgery, especially for small, localised, solitary neuroendocrine cancers. An endoscope is a long, thin medical device that is used to examine the hollow organs of the body such as the lungs or digestive system {stomach through to rectum}.There are also scopes that can be used to examine / treat small, solitary, cancers of the female or male reproductive and urinary systems. Some neuroendocrine cancers develop within, or as, polyps – others form small, solid tumours. A polyp is a small cell clump that develops in 2 ways: • Pedunculated polyps hang from a short stalk • Sessile polyps either have a broad base or are flat, with no stalk If your neuroendocrine cancer develops within a small polyp or tumour in the digestive system you may be able to have it treated or removed by: • Polypectomy: Polyps are removed during endoscopy using hot or cold forceps or a snare. • EndoMucosal Resection (EMR): An endoscope is introduced to the site of the polyp. Using a small needle a fluid is injected underneath to raise the polyp creating a safe field to remove it using a snare. The area is then cauterised (to stop bleeding). • Endocopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD): The procedure is similar to EMR but uses a small knife, rather than a snare, to remove the polyp, cauterising blood vessels at the same time to prevent bleeding.
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