Improved Prognosis of Resected Esophageal Cancer

Because of the perceived high risk of esophagectomy and the assumed poor long-term results, the role of surgical resection as the mainstay of treatment for localized esophageal cancer is currently being challenged. Early tumors are increasingly approached by endoscopic mucosectomy or mucosal ablation techniques, whereas combined radiochemotherapy without surgery has become the treatment of choice for locally advanced tumors at many institutions. Several recent reports and our experience, however, indicate that surgical resection of esophageal cancer has become a safe procedure and long-term survival rates after surgical resection have improved markedly during the past two decades. A number of factors have been associated with the marked reduction in postoperative mortality and improved long-term survival after surgical resection. They include changes in the epidemiology with an increased rate of adenocarcinoma mostly located distally, patient selection for surgery, improvements in surgical technique and perioperative management, and the use of neoadjuvant treatment protocols. The treatment strategy and extent of the surgical procedure can now be tailored based on histologic tumor type, tumor location, tumor stage, and the general condition of the patient. With an individualized approach, surgical resection of esophageal cancer can predictably offer cure. Surgical resection thus remains the major pillar in the successful treatment of esophageal cancer.     

Enucleation of submucosal tumors of the esophagus: minimally invasive versus open approach

Background Surgical enucleation of submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the esophagus (mostly leiomyomas) is indicated when either the tumors are symptomatic or their biological behavior is unclear. The classic approach is a thoracotomy, but tumor enucleation can now also be performed via thoracoscopy or, for distal tumors, via laparoscopy.Methods We assessed our experience with the different approaches in a total of 25 patients (n = 13 minimally invasive approach and n = 12 open surgery). Enucleation of the SMT was the basic surgical principle; the choice of the approach was based on the preference of the surgeon.Results Compared to open surgery, the minimally invasive approach reduced pulmonary complications, hospital stay, and postoperative wound-related pain. The operating time was the same for both approaches.Conclusion Minimally invasive approaches are suitable for the surgical enucleation of submucosal esophageal tumors. Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic techniques are recommended as standard procedures in experienced centers.     

Current status of esophageal cancer – West versus East: the European point of view

Esophageal cancer and its treatment differ largely between the West and the East because West and East are concerned – at least in part – with different diseases: squamous cell cancers are the prevailing tumor type in Japan and other parts of Asia whereas this entity is now clearly outnumbered in Europe and North America by esophageal adenocarcinoma. The latter are mostly Barretts cancers, arising within the precancerous Barretts esophagus, promoted by the chronically damaging effect of gastro-esophageal reflux. The epidemiological differences entail differences in treatment concepts: esophageal cancer in principle is a surgical disease in Japan, with a high prevalence of early tumor stages in everyday clinical practice. In the West, a majority of esophageal cancers are seen in an advanced stage. Many tumors, in which R0 resection by primary surgery is unlikely, are approached with neo-adjuvant protocols that aim at downsizing of the tumor/downstaging of the disease before subsequent surgical resection. In Japan, by contrast, multimodal therapy is preferentially used in the adjuvant setting, in patients regarded at risk for recurrence. There have also been several very similar developments in the West and the East, especially the improved prognosis after esophageal cancer resection. Better long-term results (prolonged survival) are closely related to improved short-term results (decrease of morbidity and mortality) after esophagectomy. Both effects are multifactorial in nature and are attributable to better patient selection (risk analysis, improved staging), standardization of surgical techniques, and concentration of treatment in specialized high-volume centers.This lecture was presented during the international session at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Japan Esophageal Society     

Acute appendicitis: effect of increased use of CT on selecting patients earlier

PURPOSE: To explore the possibility of a relationship between increased use of computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of appendicitis and increased occurrence of minimal or subtle CT and surgical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups, each with 50 consecutive patients who underwent CT before appendectomy in 1997 and 2000, were compared. CT scans and surgery-pathology reports were evaluated on a six-grade scale from normal to abscess or inflammatory mass. The demographics, surgical techniques, hospital stay, and grade distribution for the two groups were compared, and the CT results were correlated with surgical findings. RESULTS: In 1997, CT was performed in 33% (50 of 152) of patients undergoing appendectomy, as compared with 59% (50 of 85) 3 years later (P <.001). There was excellent correlation between surgical-pathologic and CT grades (weighted kappa, 0.75; P <.001; Spearman rank correlation, 0.83). There was no significant difference in demographics, rate of surgery, or surgical techniques used, but there was a significant decrease in the median surgical-pathologic grades, from 3.0 to 2.5 (P =.05) for all patients and from 3.5 to 2.6 (P =.003) for patients who underwent CT. Similarly, the median CT grade decreased from 4 to 3 (P <.001). Seven patients had subtle CT findings in 1997 compared with 16 in 2000 (P =.004), and there was a significant decrease in mean hospital stay, from 2.8 days +/- 4 (SD) to 1.5 days +/- 2 (P =.008). CONCLUSION: With increased CT use, there were less severe imaging findings, including absence of periappendiceal stranding, and a significant decrease in surgical-pathologic severity of appendiceal disease and hospital stay.     

Return to work outcomes after work-related hand trauma: the role of causal attributions

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between workers' judgments of responsibility for their accidents (causal attributions) and work-site avoidance after work-related injuries. METHODS: Ninety-two hand-injured workers referred for psychologic treatment of posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were assessed for their beliefs about the cause(s) of their accidents. Causal attributions were obtained before and after psychologic intervention. RESULTS: Workers who blamed coworkers or equipment for their injuries were more likely to resist returning to former work activities than workers who judged themselves responsible for their accidents. In addition those with relatively minor injuries were as much at risk for work-site avoidance as those with more severe injuries. Age, gender, and length of employment with current employer were unrelated to avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the importance of causal attributions as potential predictors of work-site avoidance after traumatic work-related hand injuries, and support the risk for psychologic symptom development after less-severe injuries.     

The influence of periarterial papaverine application on intraoperative renal function and blood flow during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in a pig model

Background: The transplantation of live donor kidneys harvested laparoscopically is associated with a higher incidence of delayed graft function than the transplantation of grafts harvested via the open technique. The delay is believed to be due to a decrease in renal blood flow during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether renal function and blood perfusion can be enhanced by the periarterial application of papaverine during LDN. Methods: Renal function and blood flow were studied in a porcine model that included a total of 24 pigs (20–30 kg). In 12 of the pigs, urine output and creatinine clearance were determined as measures of renal function. In the other 12 pigs, renal blood flow was determined using fluorescent-labeled microspheres. In each group, the pigs were randomized into two subgroups, one with and one without a perivascular injection of 50 mg papaverine. Results: As compared to the controls, the animals receiving papaverine had a significantly higher urine output (3.1 ± 1.6 vs 0.9 ± 0.45 ml/h/kg; p = 0.02), superior creatinine clearance (2.22 ± 0.5 vs 0.95 ± 0.1 ml/min/kg; p = 0.038), and enhanced renal blood flow (4.9 ± 2.2 vs 2.1 ± 0.8 ml/min/g; p = 0.008). Conclusions: When applied to the tissue surrounding the renal artery, papaverine substantially improves renal function and blood flow during laparoscopic live kidney donation. Whether graft optimization during kidney procurement also translates into improved posttransplantation function remains to be established. Presented at the 8th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) meeting, New York, NY, USA, 13–16 March     

Individualizing therapy in gastric cancer

Although its incidence in developed countries has declined, gastric cancer remains one of the most common human malignancies. In western countries a shift from distal to proximal tumors has been noted during the past 15 years. Today, surgery is no longer the only treatment modality of gastric cancer, with the help of modern and sophisticated staging procedures it becomes increasingly possible to individually tailor therapy. Operative morbidity and mortality has markedly decreased. The importance of surgical expertise for short- as well as long-term outcome is emphasized. The knowledge of adequate surgery together with the use of combined modalities opens the door to the amelioration of the still dismal prognosis for patients with gastric cancer. This paper reviews the modern approach to gastric cancer using an individualized treatment concept.     

Lymphatic vessel invasion is an independent prognostic factor in patients with a primary resected tumor with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Little data exist about the prognostic role of a lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) in patients with esophageal carcinoma. The objective of this study was to clarify the presence and prognostic impact of LVI in a large group of patients resected for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at one surgical center. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-six patients, who had a primary resection for SCC, were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Follow-up was complete for 93.7% patients with a median follow-up of 8.3 years. RESULTS: The total rate of LVI was 39.1% (n = 143). Univariate analysis revealed a significant relation between LVI and different T classifications (P = 0.001), N classifications (P < 0.0001), M classifications (P < 0.0001), International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stages (P < 0.0001), and residual tumor (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis of the patients with R0-resected tumors proved LVI as an independent prognostic factor. The 2-, 5- and 10-year survival rates in patients with LVI were 28.5%, 11.1%, and 9.2% compared with 63.4%, 46.6%, and 27%, respectively, without LVI (P < 0.0001). Patients with LVI had a median survival time of 11.4 months compared with 28.6 months without LVI (P < 0.0001). Patients with R0-resected tumors without LVI had a median survival time of 54.1 months compared with 12.1 months in patients with LVI (P < 0.0001) and compared with 11.3 months in patients with R1-resected tumors P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data clearly show that LVI is an independent prognostic factor in patients with SCC and confirm the importance of a systematic pathohistologic workup. The prognosis of patients with R0-resected tumors with LVI is equal to patients with an incomplete tumor resection. This supports the inclusion of LVI in the UICC classification system for esophageal carcinoma.     

Pre-operative staging of cervical cancer: comparison of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) with histologic results

Thirty-two patients with histologically confirmed cervical carcinoma were preoperatively investigated using MRI; in addition, a CAT-scan was performed on 15 of these patients. The diagnostic results using both modalities were compared with the histological findings (after hysterectomy according to Wertheim-Meigs, including lymph node dissection in the pelvic and, in part, in para-aortal regions). Determination of tumour volume was possible with high accuracy using MRI. Accuracy in assessing the parametria was 86%, vagina 90%, bladder and rectum 97%. The shortcoming of MRI is still the detection of infiltrated lymph nodes. The accuracy of 69% achieved for lymph nodes is equal to results with computed tomography. The general accuracy for our patients in staging was 81% for MRI versus 47% for CT. MRI-based diagnosis enables us to determine a correct tumour staging preoperatively, and is therefore very helpful in planning an adequate therapy. If MRI were used more widely it would contribute to simplification and shortening of the preoperative diagnostic procedure in patients with cervical carcinoma.