Symptoms of Early Cancer Especially Barrett＇s Carcinoma

The incidence of the adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (AC) has been rising exponentially in the Western World within the last 30 years. The reasons for this increase are not yet understood.Massive and long lasting gastroesophageal reflux causes the Barrett‘s esophagus which is considered to be a precancerosis. Therefore early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of gastroesophageal reflux is essential for the prevention of this tumor. This makes heartburn the leading clinical symptom in the patient‘s history. In patients with heartburn it is possible to early endoscopically diagnose a Barrett‘s esophagus or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. However only few patients with this increased risk receive an index-endoscopy. In clinical studies a high rate of early carcinomas could be found and could be treated with mucosectomie or ablation. The majority of patients with AC present with symptoms suggestive of progressed disease such as dysphagia or weight loss. The prognosis in patients in late disease stages are with a 5-year survival of only 30% far worse than in patients with early carcinoma (85%). However the early symptoms such as heartburn or regurgitation are unspecific and make an effective diagnostical strategy difficult. To optimize screening it would be beneficial to identify patients with high risk for the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.     

Bioadhesive Dosage Forms for Esophageal Drug Delivery

No Heading The esophagus as a site for drug delivery has been much overlooked in comparison to the remainder of the gastrointestinal tract. The low permeability and transient nature of the esophagus means that it is unsuitable for delivery of drugs for systemic action. However, esophageal disorders including fungal infection, cancers, motility dysfunction, and damage due to gastric reflux may be treated using locally acting agents that offer benefits of reduced dosage and decreased side effects. Bioadhesive dosage forms that adhere to the esophageal mucosa and prolong contact have been investigated to improve the efficacy of locally acting agents. The rationale for local esophageal drug delivery and its limitations, the factors that determine adhesion to this organ, and the experimental models used in esophageal drug delivery research are reviewed.     

A case of esophageal stricture due to metastatic breast cancer diagnosed by endoscopic mucosal resection

Metastasis of breast cancer to the esophagus has been reported but is rare. It is often difficult to diagnose metastases of breast cancer to the esophagus because they are often located in the submucosa and covered with normal mucosa. Although several methods have been reported in order to obtain specimens for pathological diagnosis, the adverse effects including bleeding and perforation were considerable problems. We report a case of a patient with esophageal stricture due to metastatic breast cancer to the esophagus. Pathological diagnosis was successfully obtained using endoscopic mucosal resection of the esophagus.     

Sonographic demonstration of the normal thoracic esophagus

PURPOSE: Although conventional sonography has been used widely in evaluation of the abdominal and cervical esophagus, its use in the thoracic esophagus is seldom mentioned. The aim of this study was to assess whether conventional sonography could demonstrate the thoracic esophagus and to determine this structure's normal sonographic appearance and measurements. METHODS: Transthoracic sonography was performed in 253 healthy volunteers ranging in age from 12 to 72 years (mean, 41 +/- 15 years). The subjects were examined while supine with their hands raised over their heads; the transducer was placed along the left side of the sternum sequentially from the first to the fifth intercostal spaces. The ultrasound beam was directed to the thoracic aorta using the heart as an acoustic window. The detectable length of the thoracic esophagus was measured in the longitudinal scan from the upper most part visualized to the point at which it penetrated the diaphragm. The esophageal thickness was measured on the anterior wall at the level of the left atrium. RESULTS: In 188 (74%) of the 253 subjects, the thoracic esophagus could be demonstrated by sonography, except for the portion under the first and second intercostal spaces. In 3 of these 188 subjects, the esophagus also was not visualized at the third intercostal space. In these 188 subjects, the esophageal wall was shown as 3 layers. The esophageal lumen appeared as 1 or 2 hyperechoic bands in longitudinal sonograms. In 163 subjects, gas artifact and the comet-tail sign, with downward movement, were seen in the esophageal lumen after swallowing. The mean demonstrable length of the thoracic esophagus was 10.2 +/- 1.9 cm and the mean thickness 3.2 +/- 0.3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the thoracic esophagus can be visualized by sonography, except for a short portion at the back of the left main bronchus. The heart and the thoracic aorta are 2 important landmarks in scanning.     

Natural selection in neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus

Neoplasms progress to cancer through a process of natural selection. The rate of evolution, and thus progression is determined by three parameters: mutation rate, population size of the evolving neoplastic cells, and intensity of selection or rate of clonal expansion. All three parameters are reviewed in the context of Barrett's esophagus, a pre-malignant neoplasm. Although Barrett's esophagus is an ideal model for the study of neoplastic clonal evolution, similar studies may be carried out in a wide variety of human neoplasms. Evolutionary analyses provide insights for clinical management, including rates of progression to cancer and emergence of resistance to interventions.     

食管内支架置入术联合放射治疗晚期食管癌临床探讨

目的:评价食管内支架置入术联合放射治疗晚期食管癌的临床可行性和疗效.方法:67例晚期食管癌伴狭窄患者分别行食管内支架置入术和支架联合放射治疗,比较食管内支架置入术组(A组)和食管内支架置入术联合放射治疗组(B组)患者的生存率和并发症发生率.结果:A组3、6、9、12个月的生存率分别为86.05%、67.53%、39.77%、14.71%:B组分别为87.49%、72.58%、53.14%、30.04%,两组差异无显著性(P=0.156 2).并发症总体发生率B组高于A组.A组再狭窄,返流性食管炎发生率明显高于B组(P＜0.05).结论:晚期食管癌伴狭窄患者支架置入术联合放射治疗未能明显提高生存率,但降低了狭窄和返流性食管炎的发生率.     

HSP70基因在人胃癌、食道癌及宫颈癌中高表达和癌变关系的研究

背景与目的:对人的胃癌、食道癌及宫颈癌的癌组织中HSP70基因的表达进行研究,以了解细胞癌变机制和对癌症的基因治疗提供依据。材料与方法:由医院手术室提供癌组织(胃癌、食道癌、宫颈癌)样本,分离出癌组织、癌旁组织和正常组织,分别按异硫氰酸胍法提取RNA,并进行1%琼脂糖电泳,再将RNA从凝胶中转移到(Northernblot)滤膜中,之后采用人的HSP70基因探针P17与人的胃癌、食道癌及宫颈癌的癌组织中提取的RNA进行Northern杂交。结果:从胃癌、食道癌、宫颈癌样本分离的癌组织均出现了较相应正常组织强的杂交信号。结论:HSP70基因癌组织中高表达,表明该基因在组织癌变过程中起着重要的作用。从而为了解细胞癌变机制和对癌症的基因治疗提供了有价值的证据。     

Esophageal and gastric vasculature in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension: evaluation by intravenous CT portography

PURPOSE: To compare the findings related to esophageal/gastric varices and congestive gastropathy on intravenous computed tomography (CT) portography (CTP) and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHO) presented with hematemesis. METHODS/MATERIALS: Fifty pediatric patients (age < 15 years) with EHO (initially diagnosed on abdominal ultrasound) presented with hematemesis and underwent UGIE and intravenous CTP using a helical CT scanner. Axial sections of 2 mm each were obtained with a collimation of 2 mm and a table feed of 3 mm. CTP findings on these axial sections were compared with UGIE (gold standard). RESULTS: The sensitivity of CTP for detection of esophageal varices, gastric varices, and gastropathy was 32/33 (97%), 38/40 (95%), and 30/32 (93%), respectively. CTP showed false positivity as well, which was 5/17 (29%), 2/10 (20%), and 13/17 (76%) for esophageal varices, gastric varices, and gastropathy, respectively. On follow-up UGIE, the endoscopic features appeared in 14/19 (74%) of false positive patients. Therefore, false positivity for all the parameters on CTP when compared to the initial UGIE represented the changes in vasculature before they were endoscopically manifest. CONCLUSIONS: CTP was likely to pick up changes in esophageal and gastric vasculature earlier than UGIE in children with EHO presented with hematemesis.     

食管贲门癌中端粒酶活性与P27表达及其临床意义

目的探讨食管贲门癌组织中端粒酶活性及p27表达及其临床意义。方法采用PNA原位杂交方法和免疫组化方法,检测110例食管贲门癌及20例正常食管、贲门组织及30例癌旁组织端粒酶活性和p27的表达水平。结果110例食管贲门癌中,90例端粒酶表达呈阳性,阳性率迭81.8%,癌旁组织中5例呈阳性,阳性率4.5%,正常食管、贲门组织中阴性,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。端粒酶表达与肿块大小、淋巴结转移、病理分级和预后显著相关(P<0.05)。样本中51例p27表达呈阳性,阳性率达46.4%,癌旁组织中22例呈阳性,阳性率73.3%,二者间有显著性差异(P<0.05),p27表达与肿块大小、淋巴结转移、病理分级和预后显著相关(P<0.05)。端粒酶活性的表达和p27表达的水平呈负相关。结论食管贲门癌的发生发展及预后与端粒酶活性过度表达和p27表达水平下调有关,二者可作为食管、贲门癌诊断指标。     

71例食管异物临床分析

目的分析食管异物的发病因素及治疗的相关问题.方法回顾性分析1996年1月～2005年5月收治的食管异物71例发病与治疗情况,并探讨相关问题.结果本组15例经药物治愈,占21.1%;55例在硬质食管镜下行食管异物取出术,占77.5%;1例在直达喉镜下取食管异物.1例术后出血800ml,余无严重并发症发生,并观察到发病至就诊时间与住院日呈正比.结论发病后早诊、早治是预防食管异物发生严重并发症的保证.