Minimally invasive surgery for submucosal (subepithelial) tumors of the stomach

Figure 1 Endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection. A: After the mucosa is lifted by submucosal injection, a 2 cm mucosal incision is made approximately 5 cm proximal to the submucosal tumor (SMT); B: A submucosal tunnel is created using endoscopic submucosal dissection; C: The submucosal dissection is continued until the SMT is visible by endoscopy; D: Dissection is performed along the margin of the SMT with an endoscopic knife; E: The dissected SMT is removed through the mucosal defect.