Laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients with high-risk post-operative complications.

Surgical treatment of esophageal cancer is challenging, due to considerable morbidity, especially in high surgical risk patients. While transhiatal esophagectomy leads to good oncological outcomes and reduced postoperative complications, less invasive techniques might further improve outcomes. Our goal was to compare results of laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (LTE) with open transhiatal esophagectomy (OTE) in esophageal cancer patients at high surgical risk. From 2014 to 2020, 128 patients were identified. Seventy received OTE while 51 received LTE. After propensity score matching (1:1), postoperative complications, analysis of overall and disease-free survival, and survival-related prognostic factors were assessed in two groups of 48 patients. Ninety-one (77%) patients were men with a mean age of 65 ± 10.3 years. Those who underwent OTE experienced more clinical and surgical complications. In LTE patients, the number of mean resected lymph nodes was 25.9, and in patients who had OTE, it was 17.4 (P < 0.001). Overall survival was 56.0% in the LTE group and 33.6% (P = 0.023) in the OTE group. In multivariable analysis of overall survival, open surgery and incomplete pathological response were seen as worse negative factors. In multivariable analysis, metastatic lymph nodes, incomplete pathologic response, surgical complications, and a Charlson's index > 2 (P = 0.014) were associated with poor prognosis. Both surgical methods are safe with similar morbidity and mortality; however, LTE was associated with fewer complications, a higher number of resected lymph nodes, better overall survival, and more prognostic factors related to global and disease-free overall survival in high-risk patients.

Prognostic Value of Tumor Regression Grade Based on Ryan Score in Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of Esophagus.

PURPOSES: Tumor regression grade (TRG) of the primary tumor after neoadjuvant therapy is one of the most sensitive prognostic factors among patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, although no TRG system is fully accepted. The Ryan score was proposed in 2005 to evaluate TRG in rectal cancer and could be adaptable for pathological evaluation of esophageal cancer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the Ryan score for esophageal cancer in the setting of trimodal therapy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study in which patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, submitted to neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection, were selected. One hundred thirty-four patients were selected. All tissue specimens were assessed as per the TRG system proposed by Ryan et al. Survival curves were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Chi-square test or likelihood-ratio test was used for absolute and relative variables. Kruskal-Wallis and analysis of variance tests were used to assess significant differences on a continuous dependent variable by a categorical independent variable. RESULTS: Of the 134 included patients, 94 (70.1%) had squamous cell carcinoma, and 40 (29.9%) adenocarcinoma. Ryan score was correlated with histological type (p < 0.001), and clinical (p = 0.044) and pathological (p < 0.001) staging. Mean follow-up was 31.1 months. Multivariate analysis showed that Ryan score can safely predict survival, and systemic and lymphatic recurrence (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ryan score is an effective system to evaluate TRG and can predict risk for lymph node or distant metastasis, overall survival, and disease-free survival.

The value of cellular components of blood in the setting of trimodal therapy for esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation status plays an important role in the natural history of malignancy. Consequently, hematological markers of systemic inflammation may predict prognosis in neoplasms. This study evaluated the value of cellular blood components changes during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy for cancer in predicting prognosis. METHODS: A cohort of 149 patients was analyzed. Cellular components of blood were assessed before neoadjuvant therapy (A); before surgery (B); and 3 to 5 months after surgery (C); for the following outcomes: pathological response, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to evaluate the independent prognostic significance of blood count variables. RESULTS: Low hematocrit (Ht) (C) (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.79-0.92) and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (C) (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.07-1.10) were related to poor OS. Low Hb (C) (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.88), red cell distribution width (RDW) (C-A) (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.31), and NLR (C-A) (1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09) were related to poor DFS. RDW (B-A) (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22), RDW (C) (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.2), NLR (C) (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.17) were related to systemic recurrence. CONCLUSION: Variables of routine blood count are easily assessable and their changes throughout trimodal therapy for esophageal carcinoma provide important information for cancer patient's prognosis.

Palliative laparoscopic resection of renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the stomach: report of a case.

The most common sites of metastases in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are lung and bone. However, unusual sites, including the stomach, are characteristic of RCC.This article presents a case of a metastatic RCC (lung and liver) with a symptomatic gastric metastasis treated by a laparoscopic wedge resection (LWR).A 66-year-old woman, diagnosed with RCC underwent a right nephrectomy. During her follow-up, an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy showed an ulcerated lesion at the stomach. A biopsy of the specimen revealed metastatic RCC. The patient underwent a palliative LWR and was discharged home 8 days after surgery.Therefore, LWR is a relatively simple technique with the advantages of minimal invasive access in the treatment of palliative cases.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus: a rare and aggressive disease.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is an uncommon tumor, with approximately 300 cases having been reported thus far. The purpose of this study was to describe a case of a 60 year-old man with a 10 month history of progressive dysphagia and thoracic pain, the investigations of which led to a diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus. The patient underwent a transhiatal esophagectomy with subcarinal lymphadenectomy, and isoperistaltic gastric tube replacement of the esophagus. Nine months after surgery, he developed ischemic colitis, and metastasis in the mesentery was diagnosed. His disease progressed and he died one year after the esophagectomy. A review of the literature was performed.

A case report of esophageal leiomyoma in Alport's syndrome treated with robotic-assisted distal myotomy: A surgical technique to avoid esophagectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Alport's syndrome is the most common hereditary nephropathy, characterized by progressive renal failure, sensorineural deafness, and ocular abnormalities. It may rarely coexist with diffuse leiomyomatosis of the digestive tract, respiratory tract, or female genitalia, and in this setting, it is called Alport-leiomyomatosis syndrome. The leiomyomas most commonly affect the esophagus, and the symptoms have early onset. Treatment is usually esophagectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of an 8 years-old girl in which we performed a novel strategy of an esophagus-sparing approach with a robotic-assisted myotomy. This conservative approach has never been described in the literature to our knowledge. DISCUSSION: The underpinning rationale was to resolve the patient's symptoms with partial resection of the benign tumor, avoiding an esophagectomy. Although it is likely related to a higher relapsing rate, it is more tolerable by an 8 years-old patient, and was highly effective in resolving her symptoms. CONCLUSION: The video of a successful minimally invasive conservative approach to esophageal leiomyomatosis is presented.

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPOLOGY IN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER PATIENTS.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is an environment-related disease, and the most important risk factors are alcohol intake and smoking, in addition to gastroesophageal reflux in obese patients. The characterization of the patients' personality can contribute to the perception of how everyone adapts to the social environment and what relationship one can establish with themselves and with others. AIM: The aim of this study was to identify the psychological typology in patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: The psychological typology of patients was defined using the Typological Assessment Questionnaire. In addition, the aspects of psychological assessment were studied to access the particularities of each patient, especially their reaction to the diagnosis and the meaning attributed to the disease. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients with esophageal cancer, aged over 18 years, who completed high school, and were interviewed at the first medical appointment, were included. The introverted attitude was predominant (83.33%). The most common psychological type was introverted sensation, with feeling as a secondary function (43.3%), and the second most frequent was introverted feeling, with sensation as a secondary function (24.4%). From this psychological assessment, a variety of defensive mechanisms were found to minimize distress. Most patients made use of adaptive defenses in the face of the illness process. CONCLUSION: The identification of the psychological typology allows the most effective assistance in directing the peculiar needs of each patient. In addition, it contributes to the care team to individualize treatments based on specific psychological characteristics.

Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia.

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is currently considered the standard definitive treatment of achalasia. With the advancements in technology, robotic Heller myotomy has emerged as an alternative approach to traditional laparoscopy due to three-dimensional (3D) visualization, fine motor control, and improved ergonomics provided by the robot. Although there is a lack of randomized controlled trials, robotic-assisted Heller myotomy seems to be associated with lower rates of intraoperative perforations compared to the laparoscopic approach. A robotic approach may also improve surgical outcomes by providing a more complete myotomy. Here, we describe the detailed steps of robotic myotomy and partial fundoplication for achalasia.

Tumor size predicts worse prognosis in esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEGJ) has an increasing incidence and is associated with limited overall survival. Several studies have tried to identify prognostic factors for AEGJ, although few have described relationships between prognosis and the tumor's size or anatomical location. Thus, this retrospective study evaluated 188 patients with resected locally advanced AEGJ. Tumor location was determined using upper endoscopy, and the following groups were created: E&E + EGJ (distal esophagus, esophagogastric junction, and distal esophagus), EGJ (esophagogastric junction), EGJ + G (esophagogastric junction and proximal stomach), G (proximal stomach), and E + EGJ + G (esophagus to the proximal stomach, including the esophagogastric junction). Other variables of interest were tumor size and differentiation, TNM stage, comorbidities, surgery type, and survival outcomes. Among 188 patients included, 163 were men (86.7%), and the mean age was 64.9 years. Forty-eight (25.6%) patients underwent total gastrectomy and distal esophagectomy, while 140 (74.4%) subtotal esophagectomy with proximal gastrectomy. Presence of comorbidities, tumor size, angiolymphatic and perineural invasion, and pTNM status were different between groups according to tumor location. The mean follow-up period was 47.4 months. The disease-free survival (DFS) rates were as follows: 72.7% (G), 68.0% (E&E + EGJ), 63.4% (EGJ), 57.1% (EGJ + G), and 44.4% (E + EGJ + G), while the overall survival (OS) rates were 81.0% (EGJ + G), 78.8% (G), 64.0% (E&E + EGJ), 54.9% (EGJ), and 48.1% (E + EGJ + G). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size of < 5 cm, and tumor location G subgroups were associated with better DFS. High histological grade and advanced pT status were independent factors related to worse OS. In conclusion, the prognosis of AEGJ may be preoperatively predicted by a tumor size of ≥ 5 cm and its anatomical location.