Pharyngolaryngo-Esophagectomy with Laparoscopic Gastric Pull-Up: A Reappraisal for the Pharyngoesophageal Junction Cancer

Background

Surgical treatment of advanced hypopharyngeal tumors is still a surgical challenge. We report a case of a hypopharyngeal tumor treated with a pharyngolaryngo-esophagectomy (PLE) and laparoscopic gastric tubulization and interposition.

Methods

A 56-year-old man presented with a relapsing hypopharynx carcinoma, after primary chemoradiation therapy. Preoperative workup showed a stage IV cancer with esophageal invasion and multiple cervical lymph node metastases. Surgical treatment consisted of a cervical phase, with larynx, pharynx, and esophagus dissection, radical lymph node dissection, homolateral hemithyroidectomy and definitive tracheostomy, and an abdominal phase with a 4-trocar laparoscopy. The gastrocolic ligament was opened, and short gastric and left gastric vessels were divided preserving an accessory left hepatic artery. Gastric tailoring was carried out with 45-mm linear staplers. The hiatus was opened and the esophagus dissected free with Ultracision (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) to the tracheal bifurcation. The upper esophagus was bluntly mobilized by finger and sponge stick dissection. The gastric tube was pulled up, and the anastomosis between the stomach and the tongue base was performed with a 2-layer interrupted hand-sewn technique.

Results

Total operative time was 390?min (abdominal time 180?min). Estimated blood loss was 400?cc. The number of dissected cervical lymph nodes was 32. Oral feeding was started after 10?days, and the patient was discharged after 14?days. Stage of disease was pT4N1M0 G3 R0.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic surgery allows a minimally invasive gastric tailoring and tubulization and transhiatal esophageal dissection and represents a valuable alternative for intestinal reconstruction after PLE.

Radical Resection or Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical Esophageal Cancer?

Background  

The prognosis and quality of life (QOL) for those with cervical esophageal cancer is extremely poor, and chemoradiotherapy remains the mainstay treatment. During the past few years, our surgical teams has implemented a more aggressive and radical resection: total laryngopharyngectomy with neck dissection, total esophagectomy, and reconstruction with stomach. This study compares the results of chemoradiotherapy and that of the aforementioned surgical approach.     

Larynx-Preserving Limited Resection and Free Jejunal Graft For Carcinoma of the Cervical Esophagus

Background

There is no generally accepted treatment strategy for cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of larynx-preserving limited resection with free jejunal graft for cervical esophageal cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data of 58 patients with cervical esophageal cancer who underwent limited resection and free jejunal graft with or without laryngeal preservation. Among them, 45 patients received neoadjuvant treatment.

Results

Larynx-preserving surgery was conducted in 33 of the 58 patients (56.9 %). A higher proportion of patients who underwent laryngopharyngectomy with cervical esophagectomy (larynx-nonpreserving group) had cT4 tumors than those who underwent larynx-preserving cervical esophagectomy (larynx-preserving group) (72 vs. 12 %). The overall incidence of postoperative complications was similar in the two groups (56 vs. 52 %). The 5-year survival rate was 44.9 % for the entire group. Laryngeal preservation did not reduce overall survival compared with the larynx-nonpreserving operation (5-year survival rate: 57.8 vs. 25.8 %). Multivariate analysis identified the number of metastatic lymph nodes as the only independent prognostic factor.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that larynx-preserving limited resection with free jejunal graft is feasible. Also, this approach did not worsen the prognosis compared with the larynx-nonpreserving operation. Limited resection with free jejunal graft and laryngeal preservation is a promising treatment strategy for cervical esophageal cancer.     

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative locoregional staging of resectable esophageal cancer

Background  

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been a useful method for the accurate staging of esophageal cancer. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of EUS, positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT) in the locoregional staging of resectable esophageal cancer.     

Esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery: a review of the literature for over half a century with a demonstrative case and a proposed novel algorithm

Purpose

To review relevant data for the management of esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery.

Methods

A case of delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery has been presented and the relevant literature between 1958 and 2014 was reviewed. A total of 57 papers regarding esophageal perforation following anterior cervical surgery were found and utilized in this review.

Results

The treatment options for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery were discussed and a novel management algorithm was proposed.

Conclusion

Following anterior cervical surgery, patients should be closely followed up in the postoperative period for risk of esophageal perforation. Development of symptoms like dysphagia, pneumonia, fever, odynophagia, hoarseness, weight loss, and breathing difficulty in patients with a history of previous anterior cervical surgery should alert us for a possible esophageal injury. Review of the literature revealed that conservative treatment is advocated for early and small esophageal perforations. Surgical treatment may be considered for large esophageal defects.

     

Surveillance and treatment for second primary cancer in the gastric tube after radical esophagectomy

Background  

Recent improvement in the survival of patients after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has led to increasing occurrence of second primary cancer in the pulled-up stomach as gastric tube cancer (GTC). However, a treatment strategy for GTC including surveillance has not been established. The aims of this study are to clarify the incidence and clinicopathological characteristics of GTC and to assess the treatment results of endoscopic resection.     

Prevention of postoperative chylothorax with thoracic duct ligation during video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer

Background  

Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a feasible technique that has been shown to be safe for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Chylothorax remains a challenging and potentially life-threatening postoperative complication of MIE. In this retrospective series, we evaluated the results of preventive intraoperative thoracic duct ligation in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for cancer.     

Multimodal treatment of esophageal cancer

Background

The treatment of localized esophageal cancer has been debated controversially over the past decades. Neoadjuvant treatment was used empirically, but evidence was limited due to the lack of high-quality confirmatory studies. Meanwhile, data have become much clearer due to recently published well-conducted randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.

Methods

Neoadjuvant and perioperative platinum fluoropyrimidine-based combination chemotherapy has now an established role in the treatment of stage II and stage III esophageal adenocarcinoma and cancer of the esophago-gastric junction. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is now the standard of care for treating stage II and stage III esophageal squamous cell cancer and can also be considered for treating esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Results

Patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation achieve comparable long-term survival compared with surgery. Short-term mortality is less with chemoradiation alone, but local tumor control is significantly better with surgery.

Conclusion

This expert review article outlines current data and literature and delineates recommendable treatment guidelines for localized esophageal cancer.     

Nutritional Support with Endoluminal Stenting During Neoadjuvant Therapy for Esophageal Malignancy

Background  

Perioperative nutrition remains a significant problem in patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of esophageal stenting, feeding tube placement, or observation among esophageal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.     

Technical Improvement of Total Pharyngo-Laryngo-Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose

Total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy (PLE) is highly invasive, and the subsequent reconstruction is difficult. The purpose of this study was to clarify the techniques that can decrease the surgical stress and allow for safe reconstruction after this operation.

Methods

The surgical method and clinical outcomes of total PLE were reviewed in 12 patients with either cervicothoracic esophageal cancer or double cancer of the esophagus and pharynx. Microscopic venous anastomosis was principally performed, and arterial anastomosis was added, if needed.

Results

A narrow gastric tube was used in ten patients, including two patients who underwent free jejunal interposition, while the colon was used as the main reconstructed organ in two other patients. Staged operations were performed in three high-risk patients. All six patients treated after 2010 were able to undergo thoracoscopic and/or laparoscopic surgery. No critical postoperative complications developed, although minor anastomotic leakage developed in two patients who were successfully treated conservatively.

Conclusion

When performing PLE, it is important to decrease the surgical stress and ensure a reliable reconstruction by adopting techniques that are appropriate for each case, such as thoracoscopic and laparoscopic surgery, staged operations, microvascular anastomosis, and muscular flaps.     

Use of Multimodality Neoadjuvant Therapy for Esophageal Cancer in the United States: Assessment of 987 Hospitals

Background  

Consensus guidelines recommend neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced esophageal cancer; however, whether this recommendation has been widely adopted is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the utilization of neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer and its association with outcomes in the United States.     

Preoperative and Early Postoperative Quality of Life Predict Survival in Potentially Curable Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Background  

In patients with esophageal cancer, evidence for prognostic significance of preoperative quality of life (QoL) is limited, while the prognostic significance of postoperative QoL has not been investigated at all.     

Pathologic Nonresponders after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Esophageal Cancer Demonstrate no Survival Benefit Compared with Patients Treated with Primary Esophagectomy

Background  

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) has become the preferred treatment for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Survival often is correlated to degree of pathologic response; however, outcomes in patients who are found to be pathologic nonresponders (pNR) remain uninvestigated. This study was designed to evaluate survival in pNR to NCRT compared with patients treated with primary esophagectomy (PE).     

Influences of pleural effusion on respiratory mechanics,gas exchange,hemodynamics, and recruitment effects in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background

Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) cause substantial morbidity and mortality despite improvements in the understanding of lung injury and advances in treatment. Recruitment maneuver (RM) with high sustained airway pressures is proposed as an adjunct to mechanical ventilation to maintain alveolar patency. In addition, RM has been advocated to improve pulmonary gas exchange. However, many factors may influence responses to RM and the effect of pleural effusion (PLE) is unknown.

Method

There were four groups in this study (n = 6 in each group). Group A was the control group, group B was the PLE group, group C was ARDS with RM, and group D was ARDS with PLE and RM. RM was performed in groups C and D, consisting of a peak pressure of 45 cm H₂O with positive end-expiratory pressure of 35 cm H₂O sustained for 1 min. Arterial blood gas, systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics, lung water, and respiratory mechanics were measured throughout.

Result

After the induction of ALI/ARDS, there were significant decreases in partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and lung compliance. There were also significant increases in the alveolar–arterial O₂ tension difference, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and lung water. The RM improved oxygenation, which was attenuated by PLE.

Conclusions

ALI/ARDS leads to poor oxygenation and hemodynamics. RM results in improved oxygenation, but this improvement is attenuated by PLE.     

FDG-PET Parameters as Prognostic Factor in Esophageal Cancer Patients: A Review

Background  

¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been used extensively to explore whether FDG Uptake can be used to provide prognostic information for esophageal cancer patients. The aim of the present review is to evaluate the literature available to date concerning the potential prognostic value of FDG uptake in esophageal cancer patients, in terms of absolute pretreatment values and of decrease in FDG uptake during or after neoadjuvant therapy.     

Gastric cancer in the reconstructed gastric tube after radical esophagectomy: A single-center experience

Purpose  

Metachronous gastric carcinoma arising in a gastric tube used for esophageal reconstruction has been occasionally encountered in long-term survivors of esophageal cancer. This study investigated 10 cases of gastric tube cancer in order to clarify the characteristics and the outcome of these patients.     

Correlation Between the Pretherapeutic Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and the Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Background  

An elevation in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with various tumors. The aim of this retrospective study was to clarify the correlation of the pretherapeutic NLR with the prognostic value of the pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with advanced esophageal cancer.     

Cytoplasmic Forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1) in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Significantly Correlates with Pathological Disease Stage

Abstract  

Esophageal cancer is a deadly cancer with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) as the major type. Until now there has been a lack of reliable prognostic markers for this malignancy. This study aims to investigate the clinical correlation between Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) and patients’ parameters in ESCC.     

Surgical Resection of Hypopharynx and Cervical Esophageal Cancer with a History of Esophagectomy for Thoracic Esophageal Cancer

Background

Cancer of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus (PhCe cancer) frequently develops synchronously or metachronously with esophageal cancer. The surgical approach is usually difficult, especially in metachronous PhCe cancer after esophagectomy. The purpose of this study was to clarify the treatment outcomes of patients with metachronous PhCe cancer with a history of esophagectomy.

Methods

The subjects evaluated in this study were 14 patients with metachronous PhCe cancer who underwent pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy after subtotal esophagectomy and gastric tube pull-up for primary esophageal cancer.

Results

Definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT; radiation dose >50 Gy) was performed for primary laryngeal (n = 1), pharyngeal (n = 2), esophageal (n = 1), and recurrent esophageal cancer (n = 2). For seven patients with metachronous PhCe cancer, induction CRT (radiation dose <40 Gy) was performed. In all 14 patients, pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy was followed by free jejunal graft interposition with reconstruction of the jejunal vessels. Although postoperative complications developed in four patients, no perioperative death or necrosis of the reconstructed free jejunum occurred. The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 84 and 50 %, respectively.

Conclusions

Pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy with free jejunal transfer is considered to be safe for metachronous PhCe cancer, even in patients with a history of CRT and esophagectomy.     

Is there any benefit to incorporating a laparoscopic procedure into minimally invasive esophagectomy? The impact on perioperative results in patients with esophageal cancer

Background  

The benefit of using the laparoscopic approach in minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has not been established. We therefore compared the outcome of esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer performed with open surgery, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)/laparotomy (hybrid MIE), and VATS/ laparoscopy (total MIE).