Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Early Gastric Cancer Arising in a Small Adenomatous Polyp

Gastric cancer is the sixth commonest cancer and the fourth commonest cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite a gradual decline in the worldwide incidence of gastric cancer, there has been a relative increase in the incidence of tumors of the oesophago-gastric junction and gastric cardia. Advances in technology has made it possible for improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, and staging with cross-sectional imaging. Moreover, the increase in the elderly population with multiple co-morbidities is presenting significant clinical management challenges. We hereby present an elderly lady, who was found to have early gastric carcinoma in the antrum of the stomach, arising from a small adenomatous polyp and treated with Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR). This case highlights the successful endoscopic treatment with EMR in early gastric cancer, especially in patients who would not be fit for surgery. It also highlights the progression of gastric adenomas to carcinoma even in small polyps, when classically this is associated with larger polyps.