Endoscopic submucosal dissection or endoscopic mucosal resection for large colorectal laterally spreading lesions? Scientific and economic data are still lacking

We read with great interest the paper of Bahin et al comparing piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for large colorectal laterally spreading lesions (LSLs) from a medico-economic point of view.1 Since the expanded use of ESDs in Japan that began in the early 2000s, a debate still persists in Western countries about the absolute need for en bloc resection of large colorectal lesions with a low risk of submucosal cancer.2 3 ESDs are associated with a high en bloc resection rate, low risk of recurrence and perfect pathological analysis.4 Defenders of piecemeal EMR point out the higher risk of ESD, the long duration of procedures, the discrepancies between Eastern and Western series, and the low proportion of lesions with superficial submucosal cancer.5 They also point out the good results of wide-field (WF)-EMR for complete eradication even when several sessions are needed.6 Economic reasons are not often mentioned, although they could be considered …