How Radical Should Surgery Be for Early Esophageal Cancer?

Background  

We have compared the oncologic effectiveness of limited resection (LR) techniques such as transhiatal (TH) or limited resection of the esophagogastric junction with intestinal interposition (LREGJ) in the treatment of early esophageal carcinoma with that of the extended resection such as the classical thoracoabdominal (TA) en bloc esophagectomy.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Esophageal Cancer: Should It Be Standard of Care?

Introduction  

Sentinel node mapping is established in some superficial cancers but remains controversial in harder-to-access solid tumors. There are an increasing number of recent studies suggesting that isolated tumor cells have prognostic significance in predicting poor survival, in breast cancer, esophageal cancer, and others. It is for this reason that we have persevered with the sentinel lymph node concept in our esophagectomy cancer patients, and we report our results since 2008.     

Should Stage T2 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Be Subclassified?

Background

In patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), pathologic examination allows T2 tumors to be further subclassified according to whether the circular or longitudinal muscle layers are invaded. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether subclassifying the T2 stages can aid in determining the prognosis for patients with ESCC.

Methods

The clinical and pathologic characteristics of 85 ESCC patients with T2 tumors who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy between 2008 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to compare survival differences with respect to each prognostic factor.

Results

Thirty-nine patients had tumors invading the circular muscle layer and were designated as having T2a disease. The remaining 46 patients had T2b disease, with tumors invading the longitudinal muscle layer. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 96.1, 53.8, and 36.4 %, respectively, with a median survival of 39.0 months. Univariate analysis indicated that sex, smoking history, grade, location, and tumor length did not significantly influence on survival. Only T stage (P = 0.017) and N stage (P = 0.003) were associated with survival. The results of multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that T stage (P = 0.045) and N stage (P = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusions

N stage and subclassified T stage are independent prognostic factors in patients with T2 tumors. Therefore, we concluded that T2 tumors can be subclassified further into T2a and T2b stages, and patients with different T2 stages may have different prognoses.     

Should En Bloc Esophagectomy Be the Standard of Care for Esophageal Carcinoma?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of radical node dissection on the recurrence patterns and survival rates of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The role of esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer is controversial. Most centers favor a limited operation with no attempt at nodal clearance. However, disease recurrence and patient survival rates remain dismal with or without preoperative therapy. The authors postulate that a more radical node dissection would reduce local failure rates and enhance survival. METHODS: One hundred eleven patients with esophageal cancer underwent en bloc esophagectomy with radical lymph node dissection between 1988 and 1998. In 90% of patients the procedure was applied nonselectively and without any preoperative therapy. Patients were prospectively followed up for recurrence patterns and survival. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate including noncancer deaths was 40%. The 5-year survival rates for patients with stage 1, 2A, 2B, 3, and 4 disease were 78%, 72%, 0%, 39%, and 27%, respectively. Forty percent of patients had node-negative disease (5-year survival rate, 75%), and 60% had nodal metastases (5-year survival rate, 26%). Recurrence occurred in 39% of patients and was local in only 8%. CONCLUSIONS: Radical esophagectomy results in superior overall and stage-specific 5-year survival rates. Extensive node dissection has a positive impact on survival rates, particularly in patients with nodal metastases.     

Secondary Cancer After Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Should We Be More Aware of the Risk?

OBJECTIVES: As the number of prostate cancer survivors is increasing, the long-term health of prostate cancer patients has become a significant health issue. Radiation is known to induce malignant transformation, and prostate cancer radiotherapy is suggested to induce secondary malignancies. This report reviews the available data regarding the risk of secondary cancer after radiation for prostate cancer. METHODS: Epidemiological studies of the secondary cancer risk in patients with a history of prostate cancer radiation and the literature regarding radiation-induced carcinogenesis were reviewed. RESULTS: Prostate cancer is not associated with an increased number of additional malignancies. The data suggests a modest increase in secondary cancers associated with radiation for prostate cancer, as approximately one in 70 patients undergoing radiation and surviving more than 10 yr will develop secondary cancer. The most common sites for secondary cancers are bladder and rectum. In addition to the cancers adjacent to the radiation field, there is also an increase of cancers in distant sites, such as lung. The increased risk for secondary cancers is reported after external radiation, not after brachytherapy. The available data originated from studies of patients undergoing conventional radiotherapy. New treatment methods, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, may be associated with a higher risk of secondary cancers. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of secondary cancers after prostate cancer radiotherapy is not dramatically different from the overall population, patients should be informed about this risk. Other treatment modalities should be considered for patients with long life expectancy and for patients with additional risk factors.     

Esophageal Motility after Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: the Manometry Should Be Preoperative Examination Routine?

Background

Our goal was to identify the changes of esophageal motility, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function, and eating adaptation before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and whether manometry should be a routine examination in patients who undergo this procedure.

Methods

A total of 81 patients underwent manometry before surgery and 1?year after surgery. The control group consisted of 10 nonobese volunteers. Patients were classified as presenting with vomiting and without vomiting 1?year after surgery. Manometric variables were compared before and after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon and Mann?CWhitney test.

Results

The patients (45.6%) had preoperative manometric findings, 29.8% had LES hypertonia, 18.9% LES hypotonia, 43.2% increase in wave amplitude of contraction, and three 8.1% abnormal peristalsis. One year after surgery manometry was abnormal in 62.9% of patients, 11.7% with hypertonia and 15.7% with hypotonia of the LES, 53% with changes in amplitude contraction and 19.6% with abnormal peristalsis. The control group showed no manometric abnormalities. Chronic vomiting was noted in 21% of patients. When comparing all variables between the pre and postoperative periods, there was no significant difference for all of them except for peristalsis. Comparing the results of manometric findings between the vomiting and non-vomiting groups, no significant changes were found in the variables studied.

Conclusions

There was an association between RYGBP and motor abnormalities in the esophagus but no differences in postoperative feeding adaptation. Thus, we conclude that esophageal manometry is not necessary as a routine preoperative examination.     

Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Who Really Benefits From Resection?

Background  

The 1-year disease-related mortality after resection for pancreatic cancer is approximately 30%. This study examined potential preoperative parameters that would help avoid unnecessary surgery.     

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.