{"title":"Adjuvant radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy in the management of esophageal cancer: a review of the literature.","authors":"Maurizio Carcaterrra, Martia Falchetto Osti, Vitaliana De Sanctis, Cristina Caruso, Francesca Berardi, Riccardo Maurizi Enrici","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Surgical resection remains the mainstay treatment for esophageal cancer and the failure of surgery alone is attributed to the systemic nature of the disease at the time of presentation. In an effort to improve local control of the disease that should correspond to a benefit in survival, postoperative adjuvant schemes of treatment have been explored. Current standard treatment, and future implications in light of the new knowledge are analyzed, based on the present literature. The possibility of different treatments in relation to different histology findings, is stressed.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"319-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26102402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alberto Biondi, Stefano Rausei, Marco Zoccali, Vincenzo Vigorita, Roberto Persiani
{"title":"Postoperative care after esophagectomy: the surgeon's view.","authors":"Alberto Biondi, Stefano Rausei, Marco Zoccali, Vincenzo Vigorita, Roberto Persiani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although in the past esophagectomy was associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, currently specialized centers have reported reduced hospital death rates of less than 10%. This reduction has been mainly attributed to preoperative patient selection, improvements in anesthesia, surgical techniques, and postoperative care management. In recent years, clinical care pathways, namely physician-directed clinical plans, have been developed to standardize postoperative care after specific surgical procedures: primary goals are improvement in quality of care and reduction in hospital costs. These pathways could be planned after identification of the complications with the highest incidence and the highest hospital costs in order to optimally allocate resources. Aim of this study is to delineate an ideal clinical care pathway after esophagectomy by reporting the most common complications with an overview of advances in perioperative care and providing pointers to what might be achievable.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"299-307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26101924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The surgeon's approach to preoperative evaluation of esophageal cancer: recent developments.","authors":"Gianlorenzo Dionigi, Francesca Rovera, Luigi Boni, Gianpaolo Carrafiello, Monica Mangini, Renzo Dionigi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Esophageal resection for cancer is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Postoperative complications may be either patient- or surgeon-related. Patient-related factors include age, malnutrition, immunodepression and associated diseases. Surgeon-related factors are surgical experience, hospital volume and multidisciplinary approach. In the last 20 years major improvements and new technologies have been proposed and applied in esophageal surgery: its evolution depended on a thorough knowledge of surgical anatomy and technique, as well as on important developments in pre- and postoperative care. Preoperative evaluation is defined as the process of clinical assessment that precedes the induction of anesthesia. The principle is to gain information about the patient that could lead to modify his/her management, and improve outcome.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"351-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26102403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Caputo, Uberto Fumagalli Romario, Stefano Bona, Riccardo Rosati, Alberto Peracchia
{"title":"Laparoscopic gastroplasty for esophagectomy.","authors":"Maria Caputo, Uberto Fumagalli Romario, Stefano Bona, Riccardo Rosati, Alberto Peracchia","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Minimally invasive surgery is currently becoming an accepted approach to esophageal cancer treatment. At the authors' Department laparoscopic gastroplasty is used in combination to either transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomy, associated with left cervicotomy and right thoracotomy, respectively. Outcomes of laparoscopic and open gastric mobilization during esophagectomy in terms of intra- and postoperative complications are compared. From February 2003 to September 2005 45 patients underwent laparoscopic gastroplasty (group A) and 26 patients underwent open gastroplasty (group B) during esophagectomy. Intraoperative complications were 2% vs. 11.5%; respiratory complications were 2.2% vs. 19%; leakages from the suture lines were 17.7% vs. 7.6% (p = n.s.); major long-term complications were 4.4% vs 3.8% (p = n.s.), respectively. Laparoscopic gastroplasty during esophagectomy was shown to be a safe procedure. Intraoperative splenic lesions were rare; respiratory complications seemed decreased after the laparoscopic approach in comparison to open gastroplasty; major long-term complications were specific to the open or laparoscopic approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"315-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26101923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giuseppe Colloca, Matteo Tosato, Giuseppe Zuccalà, Roberto Bernabei
{"title":"Preoperative assessment and risk factors in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer: the role of age.","authors":"Giuseppe Colloca, Matteo Tosato, Giuseppe Zuccalà, Roberto Bernabei","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Esophageal cancer is essentially a disease of the elderly. Several studies suggested that age per se should not be considered a risk factor for surgical mortality and morbidity, and access to surgical treatment should not be denied only on the basis of age. Indeed, advanced age may represent an indicator of several factors such as comorbidity or poor physical performance which in turn can increase surgical risk and dramatically reduce life expectancy. Therefore, a careful preoperative assessment of these factors, with particular regard to comorbid conditions (such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases), the physiological status, and social habits is necessary in elderly adults. In consideration of the need of a multidisciplinary assessment to identify comorbidities and operative risk, a close collaboration of pneumologists, cardiologists, radiologists, oncologists, thoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, geriatric specialists, physical therapists is highly recommendable.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"335-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26101926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of lymphadenectomy in esophageal cancer.","authors":"Francesco Carleo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The role of lymph node dissection for resectable esophageal carcinoma has remained controversial, addressed by two contradictory groups of surgeons: the more conservative ones considering esophageal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis to be a systematic disease and the others, supporters of extended lymph node dissection, viewing the metastatic disease phenomenon in sequential manner. In favor of extended lymphadenectomy that allows better postoperative staging, there are also the consistent event of skipping metastasis and the high rate of micrometastasis found mostly with immunohistochemical testing. The discussed concept of sentinel lymph node evaluation does not seem a feasible approach to esophageal cancer. Although there are not undoubted results that three-field resection may offer a survival benefit, before these techniques can be widely adopted, we need more experience and randomized studies to substantiate the benefit of such radical surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"323-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26102400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elisabetta Congedo, Paola Aceto, Rosanna Petrucci, Antonio Mascia, Elisabetta Gualtieri, Germano De Cosmo
{"title":"Preoperative anesthetic evaluation and preparation in patients requiring esophageal surgery for cancer.","authors":"Elisabetta Congedo, Paola Aceto, Rosanna Petrucci, Antonio Mascia, Elisabetta Gualtieri, Germano De Cosmo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Patients with esophageal cancer have frequently obstruction with dysphagia and they often develop malnutrition. In addition, patients can suffer from chronic aspiration leading to a poor preoperative respiratory status. Thorough preoperative evaluation is essential for assessing the operative risk in the individual patient. Respiratory and cardiac problems are the most common complications and assessment of surgical risk, preoperative performance status, particularly with regard to pulmonary and cardiac risk, is likely to be the most important factor. Clinical findings are more predictive of pulmonary complications than results of testing. Cardiac risk is evaluated according to the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association guidelines. With the identification of risk factors, patients undergoing esophageal surgery could be stratified. Appropriate preoperative risk-reduction strategies can be used to decrease morbidity and mortality rates associated with esophagectomy for cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"341-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26102401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesco Cellini, Sara Ramella, Marzia Ciresa, Venanzio Porziella, Elisa Meacci, Michele Fiore, Lucio Trodella, Rolando Maria D'Angelillo
{"title":"Role of induction therapy in esophageal cancer.","authors":"Francesco Cellini, Sara Ramella, Marzia Ciresa, Venanzio Porziella, Elisa Meacci, Michele Fiore, Lucio Trodella, Rolando Maria D'Angelillo","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Esophageal cancer ranks sixth among the causes of death from cancer worldwide. Patients undergoing surgery have a median survival ranging from 13 to 19 months; 2-year survival rates range from 35 to 42 percent, and 5-year survival rates from 15 to 24 percent. In particular, the 3 year survival (= SVV) is about 26%, with a median survival of 17 months. An interesting point is that about 20-25% of the patients has only locoregional involvement as pattern of failure. At least two randomized studies reported about the combined use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as sensibilization. They assessed that patients treated with chemoradiation had a longer median survival compared to patients receiving radiation therapy alone, both in early and advanced stages. Moreover radiochemotherapy seems able of achieving high rates of downstaging and of increasing overall and disease-free survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"329-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26101925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Medicolegal aspects of esophageal cancer surgery.","authors":"Fabio De Giorgio","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forensic implications of esophageal cancer surgery are varied and complex depending on the field of specialization involved i.e. civil law, criminal law, insurance or social security and for the distinct probative requirements related to each field. The aim of this article is to reconstruct the logical procedure of a forensic doctor who actually examines a practical case to establish the profiles of professional responsibility in particular in civil or criminal law.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"347-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26102405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pietro Familiari, Michele Marchese, Alberto Larghi, Cristiano Spada, Guido Costamagna
{"title":"Staging of esophageal carcinoma: endoscopic ultrasonography.","authors":"Pietro Familiari, Michele Marchese, Alberto Larghi, Cristiano Spada, Guido Costamagna","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has gained ground in the staging of esophageal cancer because of its high accuracy in determining depth of tumor invasion (greater than 80%) and lymph node metastases. The accuracy of EUS increases with increasing stage. However within T1 tumors, EUS performance in distinguishing mucosal (T1m) form submucosal invasion (T1sm) is poor. In this context high-frequency ultrasonography probes can play a major role. The advent of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has dramatically changed the impact of EUS on nodal staging, providing cytological confirmation of malignancy from peritumoral and celiac lymph nodes. Especially celiac node metastases, have a major clinical impact on patient management. Widespread use of EUS in the staging of esophageal cancer should be encouraged. However, EUS should not be considered as first line test for evaluation of these patients and should always be performed after negative CT or PET/CT.</p>","PeriodicalId":77342,"journal":{"name":"Rays","volume":"30 4","pages":"357-62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26102404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}