Endoscopic or laparoscopic resection for small gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a cumulative meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Despite the recent large number of studies comparing endoscopic and laparoscopic resection for small gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) (diameter ≤5 cm), the results remain conflicting. The objective of this work was to perform a cumulative meta-analysis to assess the advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic resection vs. laparoscopic resection. METHODS The meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. We searched medical databases up to January 2020. Meta-analytical random or fixed effects models were used in pooled analyses. Meta-regression, cumulative meta-analyses, and sub-group analyses were performed to improve the accuracy of the conclusion. Sensitivity analyses were applied to assess the robustness of the results. RESULTS A total of 12 cohort studies with 1383 participants comparing endoscopic resection and laparoscopic resection were identified, while three cohort studies with 167 participants comparing endoscopic resection and laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery were found. We found that endoscopic resection had shorter operation times (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -27.1 min, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -40.8 to -13.4 min) and lengths of hospital stay (WMD = -1.43 days, 95% CI: -2.31 to -0.56 days) than did laparoscopic resection. The results were stable and reliable. There were no significant differences in terms of blood loss, hospitalization costs, incidence of complications or recurrence rates. For tumor sizes 2 to 5 cm, endoscopic resection increased the risk of positive margins (relative risk [RR] = 5.78, 95% CI: 1.31-25.46). Although operation times for endoscopic resection were shorter than those of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (WMD = -41.03 min, 95% CI: -59.53 to -22.54 min), there was a higher incidence of complications (RR = 4.03, 95% CI: 1.57-10.34). CONCLUSION In general, endoscopic resection is an alternative method for gastric GISTs ≤5 cm. Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery may work well in combination. Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate or update these results.