Review
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Endosc. Dec 16, 2011; 3(12): 256-260
Published online Dec 16, 2011. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v3.i12.256
Endoscopic tattooing of colorectal lesions: Is it a risk-free procedure?
Atthaphorn Trakarnsanga, Thawatchai Akaraviputh
Atthaphorn Trakarnsanga, Thawatchai Akaraviputh, Minimally Invasive Surgery Unit, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Author contributions: Trakarnsanga A wrote the manuscript; Akaraviputh T critically reviewed and edited manuscript.
Supported by Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Correspondence to: Dr. Thawatchai Akaraviputh, MD, MED, Minimally Invasive Surgery Unit, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. sitak@mahidol.ac.th
Telephone: +66-2-4198006 Fax: +66-2-4121370
Received: May 27, 2011
Revised: November 11, 2011
Accepted: December 1, 2011
Published online: December 16, 2011
Abstract

Endoscopic tattooing is one of the most useful tools for the localization of small colorectal lesions especially in the laparoscopic setting. This is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure without risk of major complications. However, many studies have revealed complications resulting from this procedure. In this article, several topics are reviewed including the accuracy, substance preparation, injected techniques and complications related to this procedure.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Complication; Endoscopic tattooing; Preoperative localization