Objective To compare the efficacy of endoscopic mucosal resection using band ligation(EMR-b) and endoscopic mucosal dissection(ESD) in the treatment of rectal neuroendocrine tumors(NENs).

Methods The data of 56 rectal NENs patients with rectal NENs < 10 mm in diameters, without lymphatic metastasis treated by ESD or EMR-b were retrospectively analyzed. According to different treatments, the patients were divided into EMR-B group (26 cases) and ESD group (30 cases). The complete resection rate, incidence of complications, and length of procedures were compared between the two groups.

Results The mean age was (51.05±11.31) years old of 56 cases. The tumor size of EMR-B group was (7.12±2.76) mm, and was (7.47±2.32) mm in the ESD group, and the between-group difference in tumor size showed no significant difference (P=0.599). The resection time in EMR-B group was (9.08±3.45) min, which was shorter than (18.50±3.25) min in the ESD group, and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.001). The complete resection rate of the EMR-B group was 92.31% (24/26), and was 93.33% (28/30) in the ESD group, and the difference was not statistically significant (P=1.000). In the cases of incomplete resection, there was neither local recurrence nor distant metastasis during the follow-up.

Conclusion Compared with ESD, EMR-b has similar histological complete resection rate, but has shorter resection time and simpler operation. EMR-b may be a better choice for rectal NENs with diameter < 10 mm and without invasion of submucosa.