Adenocarcinoma of the cardia: treatment by thoracoabdominal R3 radical gastrectomy

The complications and mortality rate of R3 radical gastrectomy using a left thoracoabdominal approach were studied in 38 patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia. There were two hospital deaths and two anastomotic leaks. There was a high rate of complications following surgery (subphrenic abscess, eight; severe chest infection, five; aspiration pneumonia, two; wound infection, two; and reactivation of tuberculosis, one). The hospital stay ranged from 11 to 39 days (median 21 days). Thirty-five patients had microscopic evidence of serosal involvement (S2). Thirty-three of the patients had lymph node metastases and 17 patients had involvement of N2 nodes. Four patients had histological evidence of residual suture line tumour, but only two of these returned with recurrence at the anastomosis. Follow-up (median 3 years) revealed that splenic artery nodal involvement (N2) did not worsen the prognosis after radical resection. Despite a high complication rate, thoracoabdominal radical gastrectomy is associated with an acceptable perioperative mortality rate, adequate symptom palliation and encouraging medium-term survival. The left thoracoabdominal approach gives excellent exposure for radical resection of cancer of the gastric cardia and should be the procedure of choice for curative resection of this tumour.     

Multivisceral operations for carcinoma of the upper stomach and cardia

In this study are noted technical problems regarding "en bloc" multiple organ resections and the anatomic and functional reconstruction for carcinoma of the upper stomach and cardia. From 1997 to 2002, a total of 264 patients with cancers of the stomach were operated in the service. 75 patients presented cancers localized at the proximal stomach and cardia (97.33% adenocc.). The rate of resectability was 27.77% (27 pt.). Types of operations in this series were: standard esophagogastrectomy in 7 patients; total gastrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy in 9 patients; 11 patients underwent "en bloc" multiple organ resection, with the removal of the stomach, partial or total esophagectomy and, occasionally, ablation of the spleen, pancreas, left hepatectomy, resection of the diaphragm and an extensive lymphadenectomy. Surgical mortality for the complex multivisceral resections was noted in 3 patients (8.88%). The global 5 years survival in the service is poor: 15.9%.     

Stomach cancer: have changes in surgical strategy influenced the results? 20-year retrospective study

STUDY AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare a group of patients who underwent resection for gastric adenocarcinoma (cancer of cardia excluded) and to assess the influence of radical lymphadenectomy on postoperative mortality and morbidity and 5-year survival rate. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred and six patients were operated on from 1975 to 1985 and 99 from 1986 to 1995 for gastric adenocarcinoma located in the distal portion of the stomach in 56% and 61% respectively and, undifferenciated in 56%. Gastric resection was a subtotal gastrectomy for cancers of the lower third and total gastrectomy for cancers of the middle and superior thirds. In the first group (1975-1985), a D1 lymphadenectomy was performed in all patients. In the second group (1986-1995) a D1.5 lymphadenectomy without systematic splenectomy and pancreatectomy was applied to 49 patients. RESULTS: In the second group, the proportion of curative resection was higher (85% versus 75%) along with a higher rate of total gastrectomy (42% versus 17%). The postoperative mortality rate was 2% in the first group and 1% in the second group. The morbidity rate was 33% in the first group and 15% in the second group with a rate of anastomotic leak of 11% and 2% respectively. Among the second group, the morbidity rate was 20% after D1,5 lymphadenectomy versus 10% after D1 lymphadenectomy. The overall 5-year survival rate was 29% in the first group versus 38% in the second group. In this latter group, the overall 5-year survival was 32% after D1 lymphadenectomy and 46% after D1,5 (p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Radical lymphadenectomy without associated splenic or pancreatic resection in good general status patients may provide a better staging of resected gastric cancer without increase of the postoperative mortality. However, the influence of radical lymphadenectomy on long-term survival remains to be proven.     

Lymph node metastasis with adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia: clinicopathological analysis and indication for D1 dissection.

PURPOSE: To establish the indications for proximal resection with dissection of perigastric lymph nodes in order to treat adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia. METHODS: We analyzed the clinicopathological features of 110 resected adenocarcinomas of the gastric cardia with respect to the appropriate operative method and extent of lymphadenectomy for treatment. RESULTS: Of the 110 patients, 93 underwent curative resection. The D2 group (total gastrectomy with dissection of extended regional lymph nodes) revealed higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to the D1 group (proximal resection with dissection of perigastric lymph nodes). The risk of lymph node metastasis was determined by depth of invasion, size of tumors, and gross findings of tumors. CONCLUSION: The appropriate operative method for adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia requires: (i) tumor size less than 4 cm; and (ii) gross findings indicating a superficial type of lesion, which are recommended for proximal resection with dissection of perigastric lymph nodes.     

Individualized surgical strategies for cancer of the esophagogastric junction

Due to their borderline location between the stomach and esophagus the optimal surgical strategy for patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction is controversial. Irrespective of the surgical approach a complete removal of the primary tumor and its lymphatic drainage has to be the primary goal of surgical treatment of such tumors. Based on the experience with surgical resection of more than 1000 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction we recommend an individualized surgical strategy guided by tumor stage and topographic location of the tumor center or tumor mass. This requires detailed preoperative staging and classification of tumors arising in the vicinity of the esophagogastric junction into adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus (AEG Type I Tumors), true carcinoma of the gastric cardia (AEG Type II Tumors) and subcardial gastric carcinoma infiltrating the esophagogastric junction (AEG Type III Tumors). In patients with Type I Tumors transthoracic esophagectomy offers no survival benefit over radical transmediastinal esophagectomy, but is associated with higher morbidity. In patients with Type II or Type III tumors an extended total gastrectomy results in equal or superior survival and less postoperative mortality than a more extended esophagogastrectomy. In patients with early tumors, staged as uT1 on preoperative endosonography, a limited resection of the proximal stomach, cardia and distal esophagus with interposition of a pedicled isoperistaltic jejunal segment allows a complete tumor removal with adequate lymphadenectomy and offers excellent functional results. Multimodal treatment protocols with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or combined radiochemotherapy followed by surgical resection appear to markedly improve the prognosis in patients with locally advanced tumors who respond to preoperative treatment. With this tailored approach extensive preoperative staging becomes mandatory for an adequate selection of the appropriate therapeutic concept.     

贲门癌手术的理想途径—经左胸腹联合斜切口

目的:探讨经左胸腹联合斜切口(LOTAI)切除贲门癌的围手术期安全性和价值。方法:2001年7月至2003年7月共对244例贲门癌病人行全胃或近侧胃和下端食管切除、D2淋巴清扫术。对所取的切口、手术方式和术后并发症等进行统计分析。结果:196例(80.3%)病人行LOTAI,12例行正中切口,16例行左肋缘下切口,20例行左上腹斜切口;LOTAI组中60例(30.6%)有肺功能异常,56例有心电图异常。总切除率为91%(222/244),其中206例为D2根治术,16例为姑息性切除术,22例同时行联合脏器切除术。LOTAI组中44例(22.4%)发生胸腔积液,4例肺炎,4例吻合口漏,围手术期死亡2例。不同手术途径的手术时间、输血量、术后住院时间及滴流质时间无显著差异。结论:LOTAI能为贲门癌切除提供较理想的手术暴露,是根治性切除的首选手术途径,术后并发症在可接受的范围内。     

胃癌并局限型肝转移同步切除九例报告

目的探讨同步切除治疗胃癌并局限型肝转移的临床效果。方法回顾性分析胃癌并局限型肝转移行同步切除的9例患者的临床资料。结果行根治性远端胃大部分切除术7例,根治性近端胃大部分切除术1例,根治性全胃切除1例;局部肝切除8例,左半肝切除1例。无手术死亡病例。术后生存期分别为9、12、12、13、21、24、30、37和62个月,平均生存24.3个月。术后6例再发残肝转移。死亡原因中,3例死于残肝转移,3例死于腹膜转移。结论对胃癌并局限型肝转移患者施行原发灶根治性切除和肝转移灶同步切除可有效地延长生命。     

Prognostic factors in cardia cancer

Among 164 patients operated upon for adenocarcinoma of the cardia 102 (61%) were resected, 87 of them with curative intent. The mortality within 30 days was 20%, and the 5-year survival 15%. A total gastrectomy was performed in 36 patients, whereas a proximal partial gastrectomy was carried out in 66 cases. The median survival was 19 months after total gastrectomy, and 11 months after proximal resection (Breslow: 0.22). Only in stages N0 and N1 total gastrectomy resulted in a significantly longer (32 months) median survival than proximal resection (11 months; p = 0.03). The impact of total gastrectomy was more pronounced in the diffuse type according to Lauren, whereas lymphadenectomy was more effective in stages N0 and N1 and in Lauren's intestinal type. It is concluded that total gastrectomy should be carried out in all cases of carcinoma of the cardia.     

The radical treatment of gastric carcinoma

AIM: The aim of this paper is to review and assess the selective principles for a radical treatment of gastric carcinoma with respect to resection type as well as the role of lymphadenectomy. METHODS: From 1994 to 1999, we operated 222 patients affected by gastric adenocarcinoma at the 1st Surgical Clinic Institute in Padua. Out of the whole group, 138 patients (62.1%) underwent radical surgical treatment (75 patients with total gastrectomy, extended in 30 cases, and 63 patients by means of gastric resection). RESULTS: The overall survival rate at a median follow-up of 4 years was 58% for the patients treated with total gastrectomy, and 77% in case of distal gastric resection; 97% of patients with early gastric cancer are alive at a median follow-up of 3 years. CONCLUSION: Whenever it is feasible, subtotal gastrectomy could ensure a radical treatment of gastric carcinoma with low morbidity and mortality rate. The survival rate of such patients was 77%. Prognosis of early gastric cancer is excellent. Patients with IV stage tumors surgically treated had a poor outcome, and they should be susceptible of a multidisciplinary palliative approach.     

Surgical treatment of adenocarcinoma of the cardia.

BACKGROUND. Adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia presents different features from other gastric carcinomas. This study was performed to analyze the results of a 40-year experience with these lesions. METHODS. Of the 365 patients reviewed, 211 (57.8%) underwent resection. One hundred fifty patients underwent total gastrectomy with lower esophageal resection (TGER) and 46 underwent proximal gastrectomy with distal esophageal resection (PGER). More recently, 15 patients were submitted to total gastrectomy with subtotal esophagectomy (TGSE) without thoracotomy. RESULTS. The tumors were far advanced in most patients: extraparietal invasion in 77.7% of patients, lymph node involvement in 55%, and distant metastases in 11%. The postoperative mortality rate was 25.1% in patients who underwent resection: 26.7% after TGER, 17.4% after PGER, and 33.3% after TGSE (difference not significant). Cardiovascular and respiratory complications were common causes of death after both TGER and PGER. After TGSE, deaths were related exclusively to local complications, mainly as a result of cervical anastomotic leaks. The actuarial 5-year survival rate for all patients surviving resection was 16.7%. No improvement in the results of surgical therapy was observed during the past 20 years. The actuarial 5-year survival rate was significantly affected by pathologic staging: 61.0% stage I, 23.3% stage II, 9.8% stage III, and 0% stage IV (p less than 0.001). No significant differences in actuarial 5-year survival rates were observed between TGER (17.8%) and PGER (14.9%). Sex, duration of symptoms, and histologic type did not reveal prognostic significance. CONCLUSIONS. In early tumors a total gastrectomy with resection of 10 cm of esophagus above the tumor is advocated.     

Total Thoracic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Background: Many current methods of esophageal resection have drawbacks that result in inadequate proximal resection, inadequate lymphadenectomy, and difficult gastric and splenic access. We describe a technique that allows reliable and safe access to the chest, abdomen, and neck.

Study Design: From 1988 to 1995, 113 patients (82 men; mean age 65.3 ± 4.5 years) with carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction (middle third in 34, lower third in 41, and cardia in 38) underwent total thoracic esophagectomy. The histology was adenocarcinoma in 71 (62.8%), squamous cell carcinoma in 32 (28.3%), and undifferentiated carcinoma in 10 (8.9%) of the patients; 57 tumors (50.5%) were stage III. The esophagus and stomach were mobilized through a left thoracoabdominal incision. After completion of the esophageal resection, the fundus of the stomach was sutured to the esophageal stump to allow later delivery of the stomach into the neck. The esophagogastric anastomosis was performed with continuous single-layer absorbable suture through a left oblique cervical incision.

Results: The mean duration of the operation was 309.2 ± 47.9 minutes. Hospital stay ranged from 5 to 49 days (median, 12 days). The perioperative mortality rate was 4.4%. Anastomotic leak occurred in six patients (5.3%), one of whom died. The proximal resection margin was microscopically free of tumor in all cases, and with a minimum followup period of 18 months, there has been no anastomotic recurrence in any patient. Actuarial survival at 1 year was 63.4% ± 4.9%, at 3 years 41.4% ± 5.9%, and at 5 years 22.7% ± 6.3%.

Conclusions: Total thoracic esophagectomy through the left chest with a separate left cervical incision allows clear access to the esophagus and stomach and good tumor clearance. This procedure may be performed with a low rate of anastomotic leakage, a very low mortality rate, and no anastomotic tumor recurrence.     

Quality of Life following Radical Surgical Treatment of Gastric Carcinoma

Quality of life (QOL) in patients with gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy has so far not been studied using the EORTC QLQ-C30 (Quality of Life Core Questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) as a standardized European QOL instrument. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radical procedures such as extensive lymph node resection and combined resection of adjacent organs on patients' QOL. From 1992 to 1996, 152 patients underwent total gastrectomy. All patients alive on July 1, 1996 were included in the study (77/152). For assessing QOL, the EORTC QOL questionnaire QLQ-C30 version 2.0 and a validated gastric cancer module were sent home to the patients for self-completion. The response rate was 91%. It was possible to evaluate the questionnaires of 62 patients who had undergone resection with curative intent including 13 extended gastrectomies (21%). Of the 62 resections, 50 were combined with D2 lymphadenectomy (80.6%). The global health status was not negatively influenced by D2 lymphadenectomy and extended gastrectomy. Patients with splenectomy were more affected by treatment than patients without splenectomy. Radical gastrectomy combined with D2 lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice for gastric cancer patients, concerning not just survival but QOL as well.     

Surgical treatment of locally advanced esophago-gastric cancer; preliminary results

The aim of this paper is to sustain the palliative resection in neoplasm of the esophago-gastric junction, as a surgical approach that allows a better post-operative life comfort in comparison with simple gastrostomy. 62 observations with proximal neoplasm of the stomach (12.5%) were identified between January 1996-August 2001, representing 12.5% of the 496 patients with gastric neoplasm admitted in our unit in the same period. Out of these 62 cases, 55 (88.71%) underwent surgical procedures. Our attitude was aggressive in 25 cases. 40.32%, including the locally advanced lesions with palliative surgical indications (18 obs.). The other 30 patients underwent: 10 laparotomies, 5 gastrostomies and 15 jejunostomies. Local invasion to the neighboring organs imposed partial resection of the transverse colon--1 obs., of the transverse mesocolon--2 obs., and corporeo-caudal pancreatectomies--3 obs. The surgical approach was a left abdomino-thoracic incision, with total gastrectomy and distal esophagectomy, with N1 and N2 lymphadenectomy, splenectomy, and esojejunal intrathoracic anastomosis, with a Roux-en-Y loop, with or without jejunostomy (13 obs.). The immediate post-operative complications were 8 anastomotic leakage, one duodenal stump fistula, one occlusion due to a jejunostoma, and 13 extradigestive complications. There were 5 post-operative deaths. CONCLUSION: Neoplasm of the esophago-gastric junction is lately diagnosed, but whenever is possible, total gastrectomy with distal esophagectomy should be carried out.     

Resultados de las diferentes opciones quirúrgicas para el tratamiento del cáncer de la unión esofagogástrica. Revisión de la evidencia

There is significant controversy in the management of cardiac cancer. It seems unanimous that Siewert type I tumors be operated on as cancer of the esophagus and Siewert type III as gastric cancer. However, for “true” cancer of the gastric cardia or Siewert II, the authors do not agree. There is the obvious need for free proximal and distal margins, as well as correct lymphadenectomy. For some, esophagectomy is necessary to perform correct radical oncological surgery, but other authors defend that an abdominal approach is sufficient to perform total gastrectomy and distal esophagectomy. Recent and older papers published do not clarify this issue, and their results are contradictory. Chemotherapy prior to surgery can reduce the size of the tumor and the presence of lymphadenopathies.     

Gastric cancer surgery--a balance of risk and radicality

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine whether tailoring the extent of resection would allow radical gastric cancer surgery to be performed safely in a UK population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 180 consecutive patients (median age 70 years; male:female ratio 2:1) undergoing resection for gastric adenocarcinoma with curative intent were studied. Extent of lymphadenectomy was based upon pre-operative and intra-operative staging, and balanced against the patient''s age and fitness.

RESULTS

In the study group, 83 patients underwent subtotal or distal partial gastrectomy and 97 patients underwent total or proximal partial gastrectomy. Operative procedures were: D1 lymphadenectomy (n = 62); modified (spleen and pancreas preserving) D2 lymphadenectomy (n = 73); D2 lymphadenectomy (n = 42); and extended resection (n = 3). TNM classification was: stage 1 (n = 45); stage 2 (n = 37); stage 3 (n = 61); and stage 4 (n = 37). Of the patients, 48 developed postoperative complications including 17 patients with a major surgical complication. The in-hospital mortality was 1.7% (3 of 180). Predicted mortality according to POSSUM and P-POSSUM was 21.4% and 7.8%, respectively. Disease-specific 5-year survival according to stage was 85.4%, 64.2%, 33.3%, and 6.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

By tailoring the extent of resection and balancing risk and radicality, gastric cancer surgery can be performed with low mortality in Western patients.     

The role of D2 lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma

The authors examine 145 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent curative resection with additional D2 lymphadenectomy at the 2nd Surgical Department of DUMHSC between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2000. Subtotal resection was performed in 103 patients, and total, gastrectomy was performed in 42 patients. Postoperative mortality was 5.5% and disease-related complications occurred in 17.9%. The three-year survival was 49.7%, while in patients with "early" (maximum infiltration to the level of the submucosa) gastric carcinoma 3-year survival rate of was 86.3%. The results correlate with the data in the literature, so the use of D2 lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma is strongly advised.     

微创肌肉非损伤性开胸术治疗贲门肿瘤

目的探讨微创肌肉非损伤性开胸行贲门肿瘤手术的可行性. 方法采用经左胸第7肋间微创肌肉非损伤性开胸行贲门肿瘤手术25例. 结果 20例贲门腺癌,4例鳞癌,行近端胃大部和食管下段切除,残胃-食管胸内吻合术.1例贲门部增生型息肉,行胃底切开,肿瘤摘除术.全组患者无围术期严重并发症,无手术死亡. 结论微创肌肉非损伤性开胸术操作简单,暴露充分,对相对早期的贲门癌是一种可选择的手术方法.     

Adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia: what is the optimal surgical approach?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia is rising in Western countries. This study evaluates prognostic factors associated with surgical management of this cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of consecutive patients with gastric cardial cancer treated by surgical resection from 1991 through 2001 were reviewed. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were evaluated using log-rank test and Cox regression. Mean followup period was 34 months. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients met study inclusion criteria. Median patient age was 65 years (range 86 to 22). Fifty-nine (72%) patients had type II tumors and 23 (28%) patients had type III tumors, according to the Siewert classification for gastroesophageal junction tumors. Twenty-seven (33%) patients underwent total esophagectomy, 24 (29%) patients underwent extended gastrectomy with thoracotomy, and 31 (38%) patients underwent extended gastrectomy without thoracotomy. Overall postoperative 5-year survival rate was 30%. On multivariate analysis, patient age 65 years and older, absence of lymph node metastasis, and R0 resection emerged as factors independently associated with improved postoperative survival. Frequency with which proximal resection margin was infiltrated with cancer was a function of gross margin length and T stage. Proximal gross margin length of at least 6 cm was required to achieve a microscopically negative proximal margin for T3 and T4 cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving R0 resection should be the goal of surgical therapy for the gastric cardial cancer. The surgical approach should be tailored to individual patients to achieve this goal.     

胃上部癌根治术中脾门淋巴结清扫的现状与争议

淋巴结清扫是胃癌手术达到D2根治的关键,更与患者的预后息息相关。从开腹联合脾切除到腹腔镜下保留脾脏的脾门淋巴结清扫,No.10组淋巴结清扫始终是进展期胃上部癌根治术的难点所在。虽然有研究证实胃上部癌根治术清扫脾门淋巴结可取得好的短期疗效但目前仍缺乏高级别的循证医学证据,而且脾门区域淋巴结解剖复杂,盲目的清扫,常易造成不必要的损伤,甚至导致严重的并发症。胃上部癌根治术中脾门淋巴结清扫不同学者对手术安全性、手术入路、是否联合脾切除、脾血管后方淋巴结是否常规清扫,仍有较多争议。本文将从脾门淋巴结清扫的现状、腹腔镜下不同手术入路、脾门淋巴结清扫的争议等方面综述目前对胃上部癌根治术中脾门淋巴结的研究情况。     

胃底贲门癌根治性近端胃切除术与全胃切除的临床对照研究及术后随访

目的对比研究全胃切除术和近端胃大部切除术治疗胃底贲门癌的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析64例贲门癌病人的临床资料,其中31例行全胃切除术(total gastrectomy,TG),33例行近端胃大部切除术(proximal gastrectomy,PG),比较其围手术期的情况及术后1年、3年生存率。结果 TG组手术时间为(201±36)min,PG组手术时间为(188±50)min,TG手术失血量为(170±18)ml;PG组失血量为(166±29)ml;TG组术后排气时间为(3.6±0.5)d,PG组通气时间为(3.5±0.6)d;围手术期TG组发生并发症6例,PG组发生8例。两组相比,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。TG组1年、3年生存率分别为85%、63%;PG组1年、3年生存率分别为82%、53%。两组1年生存率差异无统计学意义(P0.05),3年生存率TG组明显高于PG组(P0.05)。结论全胃切除术在围手术期间疗效和短期生存率与近端胃切除术差别不大,但其远期疗效较好。