Adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and gastric cardia. Comparison of results of transhiatal esophagectomy and thoracoabdominal esophagogastrectomy

Between 1965 and 1984, 72 patients underwent operation for adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus or gastric cardia. A standard transthoracic esophagogastrectomy and esophagogastrostomy was performed in 43 and a transhiatal esophagectomy without thoracotomy and partial proximal gastrectomy was performed in 29. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, sex, or TNM tumor staging. The perioperative complication rate was 86% in the esophagogastrectomy patients and 48% in the transhiatal esophagectomy patients (p less than 0.05). Mortality was higher in the esophagogastrectomy group (14%) than in the transhiatal esophagectomy group (7%). Average operative blood loss was greater in the esophagogastrectomy patients (2,510 versus 1,187 ml). Average postoperative hospitalization was longer for the esophagogastrectomy patients (22.2 days versus 12.3 days). Both differences are statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Late results, as evaluated by life-table analysis, showed no significant difference in survival between the two groups of patients. Because the morbidity and mortality rates of transhiatal esophagectomy are as low as or lower than those for esophagogastrectomy, late survival is as good, and palliation is superior (less suture-line tumor recurrence and reflux esophagitis), we believe that transhiatal esophagectomy is the preferred operative approach in patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus or gastric cardia.     

Esophageal carcinoma: prognostic differences between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

Whether squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the esophagus differ in their natural history and treatment outcome remains controversial. The aim of the study was to identify the similarities and differences between SCC and ADC in terms of their clinical and histologic presentations and the oncologic results. Curative esophagectomy was attempted in 742 consecutive patients between January 1982 and January 2002. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy was proposed for patients with locally advanced tumors. Demographic parameters, histomorphologic tumor characteristics, treatment strategies, postoperative mortality and morbidity rates, recurrence, and long-term prognosis were recorded retrospectively.The SCC and ADC groups were composed of 624 and 118 patients, respectively. ADC occurrence increased significantly during the study period. Compared to the SCC group, patients in the ADC group were significantly older and had a lower incidence of respiratory and otolaryngologic histories; they also had more advanced tumors and a higher percentage of invaded lymph nodes, shorter time until resumption of feeding, shorter hospital stay, a higher diffuse recurrence rate, and a lower incidence of tobacco-related second primary tumors. Five-year survival rates after R0 resection were 46% and 45% in the SCC and ADC groups, respectively (p = 0.804). There was a significant survival advantage for ADC patients with pT1, pN0, or stage I tumors (p < 0.050) and different independent prognostic factors than those with SCCs. In conclusion, the clinical, histologic, and oncologic differences between SCC and ADC justify a differentiated therapeutic concept for these two tumor entities and distinct consideration in clinical reports.     

An audit of surgical outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were increasingly recognized as two entities with different biologic behaviors and prognosis. Surgical risks and oncologic benefits of transthoracic and transhiatal esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients are not confessed. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2005, 216 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients underwent esophagectomy were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy and 50 patients underwent transhiatal esophagectomy. The overall hospital mortality and postoperative complication rates were 9.7 and 49%, respectively. The amount of intra-operative blood loss or transfusion, postoperative complication rate, lengths of hospital stay and hospital mortality rate were not significantly different between both groups. However, shorter operative time was noticed in transhiatal group (p<0.001). The overall 5-year survival rate was 16.8%. ESCC patients underwent either transthoracic or transhiatal esophagectomy had comparable long-term survival. The pTNM stage was independent prognostic factor for patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. However, location of tumor (p=0.009) and pathologic tumor length (p=0.012) were predictors of prognosis for patients underwent transhiatal esophagectomy. CONCLUSIONS: For esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, no significant differences in postoperative mortality or morbidity rates were observed between transthoracic and transhiatal esophagectomy. However, traditional pTNM staging system might underestimate the severity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy. The information of dissimilar prognostic factors for transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomies will be helpful in tailoring more individualized adjuvant therapy to optimize esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patient's outcome.     

A Preliminary Study on the Postoperative Survival of Patients Given Aspirin After Resection for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus or Adenocarcinoma of the Cardia

Background  We examined the effect of aspirin on survival following resection for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus or adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia. Methods  Patients who underwent esophagectomy for these cancers between May 2000 and December 2002 were allocated to one of three groups and given daily either a low dose of aspirin, placebo, or no tablets. Results  The 5-year survival for all patients on aspirin (445) was 51.2%, placebo (658) 41%, and no tablet (495) 42.3% (P = 0.04 for difference between treatments). The 5-year survival for all SCC patients on aspirin (267) was 49.8%, placebo (433) 42.2%, and no tablet (343) 41.2% (P = 0.26). There was a significant improvement in survival for patients with adenocarcinoma of the cardia on aspirin compared with the two control groups combined (P = 0.029). Survival for T2N0M0 SCC patients was significantly improved with aspirin (71) compared with placebo (167) or no tablet (134) (P = 0.0004). However, there was no significant difference between the survival curves for T2N0M0 adenocarcinoma patients on aspirin (21) and the two control groups combined (65) (P = 0.29). Conclusions  The results of this preliminary study support further investigation of aspirin as adjuvant therapy to improve survival in subsets of postesophagectomy patients.     

Clinical Significance of Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen,Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Levels in Esophageal Cancer Patients

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen levels were assessed to determine if their levels are useful for staging esophageal cancer preoperatively and for predicting patient survival after esophagectomy. Hence their seropositivity was investigated for a correlation with resectability, clinicopathologic parameters of tumor progression, and treatment outcomes in patients with unresectable esophageal cancer (n = 63) and those undergoing esophagectomy for resectable disease (n = 267). Abnormal elevation of serum SCC antigen levels showed a significant correlation with resectability (p < 0.0001), depth of tumor invasion (p < 0.0001), lymph node status (p = 0.0015), TNM stage (p < 0.0001), lymphatic invasion (p = 0.0019), blood vessel invasion (p = 0.0079), and poor survival after esophagectomy (p = 0.0061). A significant relation (p = 0.0145) was found between elevated serum CEA levels and distant metastasis, whereas the seropositivity of CA 19-9 showed no association with resectability, tumor progression, or patient survival. These results indicate that abnormal elevation of serum SCC antigen is a useful predictor of advanced esophageal cancer associated with poor survival after esophagectomy.     

Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal squamous carcinoma:Preliminary results in a series of 15 patients

The purpose of this study is to analyze the experience of the Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation from Fundeni Clinical Institute (Bucharest) regarding the results of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in the squamous carcinoma of the esophagus. During 01.01.2001-09.07.2003, 15 patients with squamous carcinoma of the esophagus were treated using neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT); 13 patients (86%) underwent esophageal resection (in 2 patients resection was not possible due to the mediastinal invasion). Complete histological response (the lack of malignant tissue on the esophagectomy specimens) was noted in 5 cases. The morbidity and mortality rates were 48%, respectively 6%. RCT increases the resectability in esophageal cancer and decreases the postoperative morbidity and mortality.     

Extended transthoracic resection compared with limited transhiatal resection for adenocarcinoma of the mid/distal esophagus: five-year survival of a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether extended transthoracic esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the mid/distal esophagus improves long-term survival. BACKGROUND: A randomized trial was performed to compare surgical techniques. Complete 5-year survival data are now available. METHODS: A total of 220 patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus (type I) or gastric cardia involving the distal esophagus (type II) were randomly assigned to limited transhiatal esophagectomy or to extended transthoracic esophagectomy with en bloc lymphadenectomy. Patients with peroperatively irresectable/incurable cancer were excluded from this analysis (n = 15). A total of 95 patients underwent transhiatal esophagectomy and 110 patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. RESULTS: After transhiatal and transthoracic resection, 5-year survival was 34% and 36%, respectively (P = 0.71, per protocol analysis). In a subgroup analysis, based on the location of the primary tumor according to the resection specimen, no overall survival benefit for either surgical approach was seen in 115 patients with a type II tumor (P = 0.81). In 90 patients with a type I tumor, a survival benefit of 14% was seen with the transthoracic approach (51% vs. 37%, P = 0.33). There was evidence that the treatment effect differed depending on the number of positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen (test for interaction P = 0.06). In patients (n = 55) without positive nodes locoregional disease-free survival after transhiatal esophagectomy was comparable to that after transthoracic esophagectomy (86% and 89%, respectively). The same was true for patients (n = 46) with more than 8 positive nodes (0% in both groups). Patients (n = 104) with 1 to 8 positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen showed a 5-year locoregional disease-free survival advantage if operated via the transthoracic route (23% vs. 64%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: There is no significant overall survival benefit for either approach. However, compared with limited transhiatal resection extended transthoracic esophagectomy for type I esophageal adenocarcinoma shows an ongoing trend towards better 5-year survival. Moreover, patients with a limited number of positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen seem to benefit from an extended transthoracic esophagectomy.     

Transthoracic Esophagectomy After Endoscopic Mucosal Resection in Patients with Early Esophageal Carcinoma

Introduction  For patients with esophageal carcinoma limited to the mucosa endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is the therapy of choice whereas surgical resection is advocated for submucosal tumors. Methods  This study analyzes the histopathologic results of patients with early esophageal carcinoma who underwent EMR prior to transthoracic esophagectomy. Sixteen patients with early esophageal carcinoma and EMR as first line treatment were included in this retrospective study. Ten patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy because of submucosal infiltration combined incomplete tumor resection at the lateral/basal resection margin. In one patient each, surgical therapy was indicated due to submucosal infiltration or incomplete resection only. Three patients underwent surgical resection due to residual neoplasia within an esophageal stenosis following EMR. Surgical specimens were examined for pT and pN stage according to the UICC. Results  Three patients had a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 13 patients an adenocarcinoma (AC), nine patients with a long segment Barrett’s esophagus. The distribution of the pT stages was as follows: 6× pT0 (no histopathologic evidence of residual tumor), 1× pT1m1, 1× pT1m2, 3× pT1m3, 1× pT1sm1, 1× pT1sm2, 1× pT2, and 2× pT3. Three of 16 patients (18.8%) with a pT1sm1, pT2, and pT3 stage had nodal metastases. In all three patients metastatic nodes were located in the mediastinum. In two patients, a second carcinoma was detected during histopathologic work-up (1× AC in the cardia and 1× SCC in the cervical esophagus). Conclusion  The data of this highly selected patients indicate that the boundary between the therapy of mucosal and submucosal tumors is not as clear as stated. Therefore, treatment of early esophageal carcinoma demands a close interdisciplinary cooperation.     

下咽及颈段食管癌的手术治疗

目的：探讨下咽及颈段食管癌的手术疗效及颈段食管重建的方法,方法：1980年至2000年6月对86例下咽及颈段食管鳞状细胞癌进行了外科治疗,下咽癌的切除率为97．4％（37／38例）,食管重建包括喉及肿瘤切除后食管与口底吻合4例,咽,喉及颈段食管切除后用颈阔肌皮瓣重建15例,游离空肠间插3例,全咽,全喉,全食管切除后用胃重建12例,3例未行喉切除者采用食管与咽部直接吻合,颈阔肌皮瓣及用胃重建食管各1例,颈段食管癌的切除率为91．7％（44／48例）,均采用非开胸食管拔脱后用胃重建食管,结果：术后发生并发症在胃重建组有57例（35％）,（包括1例术后死于心力衰竭）,游离空肠组1例（33．3％）,颈阔肌皮瓣重建组3例（18．8％）,随访6－108个月（平均57个月）,下咽癌的1,3,5年生存率分别为80．6％,60．0％和31．6％,颈段食管癌分别为70．7％,9．5％和0。结论：下咽及颈段食管癌的切除率甚高,但下咽癌的远期疗效明显优于颈段食管癌,咽,喉及颈段食管切除后采用颈阔肌皮瓣重建是一种安全,有效的手术方法,并发症少,远期效果优良。     

Co-occurrence of mucoepidermoid carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: Report of a case

A case of co-occurrence of a mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the esophagus is described. The present patient was a 61-year-old man who underwent a curative esophagectomy with a regional lymph node dissection for a MEC in the lower esophagus and a SCC near the esophagogastric junction. The two lesions were endoscopically and histologically divided by a normal esophageal mucosa. The MEC of the esophagus consisted of SCC cells and signet-ring cells, and a mucin product and carcinoembryonic antigen, which were found at high levels in the blood serum before surgery, were detected histochemically in the signet-ring cells. The follow-up survey of the patients with esophageal MEC previously reported in Japan showed that most of the patients died of either local recurrence or widespread metastasis after treatment; the overall 5-year survival rate was 24.4% in the total 25 cases, and 27.7% in the 22 resected cases. However, 6 patients who died of therapeutic complications were included among these patients; furthermore, the 5-year survival rate after surgery was 29.2% in the patients treated over the last decade (1989–1998). We expect that the clinical outcome of patients treated for esophageal MEC will therefore improve in the future. Received: July 30, 1999 / Accepted: January 7, 2000     

Clinical biology and surgical therapy of intramucosal adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND: Mucosal ablation and endoscopic mucosal resection have been proposed as alternatives to surgical resection as therapy for intramucosal adenocarcinoma (IMC) of the esophagus. Acceptance of these alternative therapies requires an understanding of the clinical biology of IMC and the results of surgical resection modified for treatment of early disease. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of 78 patients (65 men, 13 women; median age 66 years) with IMC who were treated with progressively less-extensive surgical resections (ie, en bloc, transhiatal, and vagal-sparing esophagectomy) from 1987 to 2005. RESULTS: The tumor was located in a visible segment of Barrett's esophagus in 65 (83%) and in cardia intestinal metaplasia in 13 (17%). A visible lesion was present in 53 (68%) and in all but 4 the lesion was cancer. In those patients with visible Barrett's, the tumor was within 3 cm of the gastroesophageal junction in 66% and within 1 cm in 37%. Esophagectomy was en bloc in 23, transhiatal in 31, vagal-sparing in 20, and transthoracic in 4. Operative mortality was 2.6%. Vagal-sparing esophagectomy had less morbidity, a shorter hospital stay, and no mortality. Of the patients who had en bloc resection, a median of 41 nodes were removed. One patient had one lymph node metastasis on hematoxylin and eosin staining and two others, normal on hematoxylin and eosin staining, had micrometastases on immunohistochemistry. Actuarial survival at 5 years was 88% and was similar for all types of resections. Two patients died from systemic metastases and seven from noncancer causes. CONCLUSIONS: IMC occurred in cardia intestinal metaplasia and in Barrett's esophagus. Two-thirds of patients with IMC had a visible lesion. Most tumors occurred near the gastroesophageal junction. Node metastases were uncommon, questioning the need for lymphadenectomy. A vagal-sparing technique had less morbidity than other forms of resection and no mortality. Survival after all types of resection was similar. Outcomes of endoscopic techniques should be compared with this benchmark.     

Prediction of prognosis by the extent of lymph node involvement in squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

OBJECTIVES: Current criteria of the N-category in the TNM staging system for carcinoma of the esophagus needs further subgrouping due to its simplicity in mixing together patients with different prognosis. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study of 186 patients (176 men and ten women; mean age, 59.9 years) with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thoracic esophagus who underwent esophagectomy followed by two-field lymphadenectomy and cervical lymph node sampling between 1992 and 1999 was conducted. A proposed N-category which involved dividing the nodal status into N0 (no nodal involvement), N1 (< or =4 nodes or < or =20% nodal involvement), and N2 (>4 nodes, or >20%, or non-regional nodal involvement) subgroups was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: The overall 5-year cumulative survival rate was 27%. Lymph node metastases were identified in 101 (54.3%) patients. Cumulative survival rates were 46% at 4 years in the N0 group and 21% at 4 years in the N1 group, whereas no patients in N2 group survived longer than 3 years (P<0.01). A multivariable analysis revealed that independent prognostic factors included the depth of tumor invasion (P<0.01), nodal involvement (P<0.01), and organ metastasis (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In addition to the location of nodes, the extent of nodal involvement in SCC of the thoracic esophagus also plays an important role in prognosis prediction.     

Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus]

Between 1975 and 1988 we observed 169 patients with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus, 85 a carcinoma involving the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus, and 27 patients with a carcinoma of the cervical esophageal region arose after laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. The mean age was 57.5 years (range 41-73). 167 patients underwent surgical exploration (operability rate 59.5%) and in 152 cases the tumor was resected (resectability rate 91.1%). The resection was complete in 129 patients (84.9%) and palliative in 23 (14.1%). In 33 cases of laryngo-pharyngo-cervical segmentary esophagectomy with free intestinal loop transplantation was performed with an operative mortality of 6.1%. 101 patients underwent laryngo-pharyngo-total esophagectomy and the digestive tract was reconstructed by means of pharyngo-gastrostomy and pharyngo-colostomy in 85 and 16 cases, with an operative mortality of 12.9% and 18.3%, respectively. Total esophagectomy without laryngectomy was performed in 18 patients with a carcinoma of the distal cervical esophagus refusing laryngectomy with an hospital mortality of 5.5%. The overall 5-year actuarial survival, excluding the operative mortality, was 15.8%. After complete resection, better results were recorded with patients operated for carcinoma of the hypopharynx than with patients with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus: the 2-year and 5-year actuarial survival was 59% vs 26% and 43% vs 17%, respectively. No patient undergoing palliative resection was alive at the 3-year interval.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus

Between 1975 and 1988 we observed 169 patients with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus, 85 with a carcinoma involving the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus, and 27 patients with a carcinoma of the cervical esophageal region arising after laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. The mean age was 57.5 years (range 41-73). 167 patients underwent surgical exploration (operability rate 59.5%) and in 152 cases the tumor was resected (resectability rate 91.1%). The resection was complete in 129 patients (84.5%) and palliative in 23 (14.5%). In 33 cases a segmental laryngo-pharyngo-cervical esophagectomy with free intestinal loop transplantation was performed with an operative mortality of 6.1%. 101 patients underwent total laryngo-pharyngo esophagectomy and the gastrointestinal tract was reconstructed by means of pharyngo-gastrostomy and pharyngo-colostomy in 85 and 16 cases, with an operative mortality of 12.9% and 18.3%, respectively. Total esophagectomy without laryngectomy was performed in 18 patients with a carcinoma of the distal cervical esophagus refusing laryngectomy with a hospital mortality of 5.5%. The overall 5-year actuarial survival, excluding the operative mortality, was 15.8%. After complete resection, better results were recorded with patients operated for carcinoma of the hypopharynx than with patients with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus: the 2-year and 5-year actuarial survival was 59% vs 26% and 43% vs 17%, respectively. No patient undergoing palliative resection was alive at the 3-year interval.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. Role and limits of the surgical treatment

From 1975 to 1988, we observed 169 patients with a carcinoma of the cervical esophagus, 85 with a carcinoma involving the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus, and 27 with a carcinoma of the cervical esophagus occurring after laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma. The average age was 57.5 years (41-73). Exploration was surgical for 167 patients (operability ratio 59.5%), and the lesion was resected in 152 cases (resectability ratio 81.1%). Resection was complete in 129 patients (84.5%) and palliative in 23 (14.5%). A laryngopharyngoesophagectomy involving the cervical esophagus and requiring the transplantation of a free intestinal loop was performed in 33 cases, with an operative mortality rate of 6.1%. Pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy was performed in 101 patients, and the digestive tract was reconstructed by means of pharyngogastrostomy or pharyngocolostomy (respectively 85 and 16 cases) with an operative mortality rate of 12.9% and 18.3%, respectively. Complete esophagectomy without laryngectomy was performed for 18 patients with carcinoma of the distal cervical esophagus who refused laryngectomy, the hospital mortality rate being of 5.5%. The actuarial survival rate after 5 years (not including operative mortality) was 15.8%. Better results were achieved after complete resection for carcinoma of the hypopharynx than for carcinoma of the cerebral esophagus. The actuarial survival rates after 2 and 5 years were 59% vs. 26% and 43% vs. 17% respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transhiatal (blunt) esophagectomy for malignant and benign esophageal disease: clinical experience and technique

"Blunt" transhiatal esophagectomy was performed in 23 selected patients. Nineteen had squamous carcinoma of the esophagus (upper third, 1; middle third, 12; distal third, 6), and 2 had adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus. The other 2 patients had severe lye strictures. Resection with reconstruction was performed in one stage. Esophagogastric continuity was restored using the stomach in the posterior mediastinal position in 20 patients and in the substernal position in 2. The colon in the posterior mediastinal position was used in 1 patient with a lye stricture. Transmural tumor extension or cervical or celiac nodal metastases or both were present in 18 of 21 patients with carcinoma. There was 1 hospital death due to pericardial tamponade. Morbidity included a transient cervical anastomotic leak in 3 patients, one temporary and three permanent unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies, one intraoperative splenic injury, and severe hemorrhage requiring sternotomy for control in 1 patient. Pulmonary complications occurred in 4 patients: aspiration pneumonia (1) and moderate atelectasis (3). Three patients have died (11, 12, and 17 months postoperatively) in the group with cancer, with follow-up time of 3 to 30 months (mean, 15 months). Transhiatal blunt esophagectomy is a safe and effective procedure in many patients with either esophageal cancer or extensive, benign esophageal strictures.     

下咽及颈段食管癌的外科治疗

目的探讨下咽及颈段食管癌的外科治疗途径。方法分析１９８０年以来７６例下咽及颈段食管癌的外科治疗,其中位于下咽者３１例,颈段食管者４５例。结果下咽癌的切除率为９８６％（３０／３１）,食管重建包括口底食管吻合３例;咽、喉及颈段食管切除后用颈阔肌皮瓣重建１２例、游离空肠间插３例,全咽、全喉、全食管切除后用胃重建１２例。颈段食管癌的切除率为９１％（４１／４５）,除１例外均采用非开胸食管切除后用胃重建食管。术后并发症的发生率在用胃重建的５２例为３６５％（包括１例术后死于心力衰竭）,游离空肠者３３３％,颈阔肌皮瓣重建者为１６７％。随访２～１０８个月（平均５６５个月）,下咽癌的１、３、５年生存率分别为７９３％、６０％和３１６％,颈段食管分别为６８３％、９５％和０。结论下咽及颈段食管癌的切除率甚高,但下咽癌的远期疗效明显优于颈段食管癌。咽、喉及颈段食管切除后采用颈阔肌皮瓣重建是一种安全、有效的手术方法,并发症少,远期效果优良。     

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

Adenocarcinoma involving the distal esophagus usually is far advanced when the patient is first seen. Adenocarcinoma differs from squamous carcinoma of the esophagus since it is relatively unresponsive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus resembles gastric cancer in its tendency to form a bulky and locally invasive tumor with early regional lymph node metastases. It differs from gastric cancer in its tendency to spread proximally in the esophagus and in the relatively infrequent early involvement of the liver by metastases. From 1979-1986, 37 patients had resection for adenocarcinoma involving the distal esophagus. Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with American Joint Committee for Cancer Stage III or IV adenocarcinoma at the time of operation. Transhiatal esophagectomy in continuity with a proximal gastrectomy was done in 27 patients. Reconstruction was accomplished by cervical esophagogastrostomy using pedicled distal stomach. There were three postoperative deaths (30-day mortality rate: 8%). Anastomotic leak occurred in nine patients and caused significant morbidity in four patients. Eleven patients required dilation of the cervical anastomosis after operation for up to 6 months. Mediastinal recurrence affected three patients treated by transhiatal esophagectomy. The survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) was 44% at 1 year and 31% at 2 years. Resection of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus can be accomplished in most patients with acceptable risks of morbidity and mortality. Resection restores ability to swallow saliva and to consume a normal diet, and is associated with an appreciable improvement in the quality of life.     

Laparoscopic-Assisted Transhiatal Esophagectomy (LATE) for Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Total laparoscopic approach for the management of carcinoma of the esophagus has not gained much popularity due to its complexity. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety, feasibility, and outcome of laparoscopic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy (LATE) for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. This retrospective study involves a total of 26 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus who were considered for LATE by a single surgical team from January 2010 to September 2014. The median (range) age was 55 years (35–72), and male to female ratio was 20:6. The median (range) operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay were 300 min (180–660), 300 ml (100–500), and 11.5 days (8–25), respectively. Pulmonary complications and cervical anastomotic leak (including one patient with conduit necrosis) occurred in eight (30.7 %) and three (11.5 %) patients, respectively. AJCC stage (7th ed.) was IIA in 12 (46.15 %), IIB in 10 (38.46 %), IIIA in 3 (11.53 %), and IIIB in 1 (3.84 %) patient. Surgical resection margin was negative in all but one patient (3.8 %). The median (range) number of lymph nodes (LN) retrieved was 13 (8–28). During a median follow-up 19 months (8–39), five patients (19.23 %) developed recurrence and three (11.5 %) of them died. LATE is a safe and feasible for the management of selected patients with carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus.     

Bronchoscopic staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper thoracic esophagus

OBJECTIVE: To identify bronchoscopic findings that predict resectability of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper thoracic esophagus. DESIGN: Tracheobronchoscopy was performed in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus to assess the infiltration of the tracheobronchial tree by the tumor and predict the resectability. Bronchoscopic records were matched with clinical outcome and intraoperative findings. SETTING: University hospital, tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 113 patients with supracarinal esophageal carcinoma underwent bronchoscopy as part of the preoperative staging. In 47 patients the bronchoscopy was repeated after a regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. INTERVENTION: A total of 160 bronchoscopies performed by the same operator. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bronchoscopic records matched with clinical outcome and intraoperative findings. RESULTS: Including patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 27 of the 46 with no bronchoscopic abnormalities were operated on: in 24 (89%) of them radical surgical resection was possible. Among the 22 patients with a slight compression on the tracheobronchial tree admitted to surgery, a radical surgical resection was possible in 20 cases (91%). In none of the 5 patients with compression/deviation associated with fixation of the tracheobronchial tree but no mucosal infiltration who underwent surgery was a radical surgical resection possible because of tracheobronchial infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Compression of the tracheobronchial tree does not necessarily mean infiltration by esophageal carcinoma. If the compression is slight and the mobility of the tracheobronchial tree is normal, a radical esophagectomy is possible in 91% of patients.