Curriculum for endoscopic treatment of esophageal neoplasia and precursor lesions: ESGE Position Statement - with competency assessment tools.

ABSTRACT: Prior to the start of practical training, the trainee should be aware of different treatment modalities and their specific indications and limitations for patients with esophageal neoplasia and precursor lesions. ABSTRACT: Before starting the esophageal cancer treatment curriculum, proficiency in management of adverse events such as bleeding, perforation, and strictures, is mandatory. ABSTRACT: Competency in optical diagnosis of esophageal (pre)neoplastic lesions is a prerequisite to achieve proficiency in the endoscopic management of early esophageal neoplasia. ABSTRACT: Proficiency in both endoscopic resection and endoscopic ablation is mandatory for being considered competent in the endoscopic management of early Barrett neoplasia. ABSTRACT: Endoscopic resection in the esophagus should be learned through a structured training program consisting of lectures, live demonstrations, and hands-on training on models, followed by training in humans under strict expert supervision in a hands-on setting. Ideally, a minimum of 10 supervised cases should be done on ex vivo/in vivo models. ABSTRACT: In order to maintain competence in the endoscopic management of early esophageal neoplasia, an annual caseload of at least 10 new cases per endoscopist with esophageal endoscopic resection and 10 new cases per endoscopist with endoscopic ablation is required.