Benign esophageal stricture after thermal injury treated with esophagectomy and ileocolon interposition.

Thermal injuries of the esophagus are rare causes of benign esophageal stricture, and all published cases were successfully treated with conservative management. A 28-year-old Japanese man with a thermal esophageal injury caused by drinking a cup of hot coffee six months earlier was referred to our hospital. The hot coffee was consumed in a single gulp at a party. Although the patient had been treated conservatively at another hospital, his symptoms of dysphagia gradually worsened after discharge. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and computed tomography revealed a pin-hole like area of stricture located 19 cm distally from the incisors to the esophagogastric junction, as well as circumferential stenosis with notable wall thickness at the same site. The patient underwent a thoracoscopic esophageal resection with reconstruction using ileocolon interposition. The pathological findings revealed wall thickening along the entire length of the esophagus, with massive fibrosis extending to the muscularis propria and adventitia at almost all levels. Treatment with balloon dilation for long areas of stricture is generally difficult, and stent placement in patients with benign esophageal stricture, particularly young patients, is not yet widely accepted due to the incidence of late adverse events. Considering the curability and quality-of-life associated with a long expected prognosis, we determined that surgery was the best treatment option for this young patient. In this case, we decided to perform an esophagectomy and reconstruction with ileocolon interposition in order to preserve the reservoir function of the stomach and to avoid any problems related to the reflux of gastric contents. In conclusion, resection of the esophagus is a treatment option in patients with benign esophageal injury, especially in cases involving young patients with refractory esophageal stricture. In addition, ileocolon interposition may help to improve the quality-of-life of patients.

[Magnesium premedication prevents Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with esophageal and hypopharyngeal cancer].

Hypomagnesemia is one of the well-known side effects in patients receiving cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. However, the relevance between hypomagnesemia and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity remain to be completely elucidated. Although patients with esophageal and hypopharyngeal cancer are susceptible to dehydration, there is no evidence yet that magnesium supplementation for these patients will prevent nephrotoxicity during cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of magnesium supplementation on the prevention of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity for patients with esophageal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Twenty-three patients with esophageal or hypopharyngeal cancer were studied over 2 weeks. Ten of them received magnesium supplementation and 13 did not. Magnesium sulphate(20 mEq) was administered before 5-fluorouracil(800mg/m2/24 h/day 1-5)and cisplatin(80mg/m2/day 1)(FP)treatment. The maximum serum creatinine concentration of magnesium-supplemented group demonstrated a significantly lower concentration compared to the non-magnesium-supplemented group(p=0. 018). As a result, magnesium supplementation successfully reduced the incidence rate of nephrotoxicity(p=0. 038). These results showed that magnesium supplementation before FP treatment may be quite beneficial for preventing nephrotoxicity in patients with esophageal and hypopharyngeal cancer, and it is therefore recommended that magnesium be routinely supplemented during FP treatment for esophageal or hypopharyngeal cancer.

[A retrospective study of UFT and oral leucovorin combination adjuvant chemotherapy for patients over 76 years old with stage III colon cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To perform a retrospective analysis of UFT and oral leucovorin combination adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage III colon cancer patients over 76 years old, in order to evaluate both treatment efficacy and toxicity. SUBJECTS: Between 2002 and 2011, 333 Stage III colon cancer patients had surgery performed in our institute, and we studied 25 of them on our chemotherapy regimen. RESULTS: Patients'median age was 78 years old, with 12 men and 13 women. Of all the patients, 19 had Stage IIIa and 6 had Stage IIIb. The 3-year disease-free survival rates for Stage III and Stage IIIa patients were 65. 1% and 83. 1%, respectively, and the 3-year overall survival rate for Stage III was 79. 9%. With regard to toxicity, liver function disorder was observed in 8% of the patients, being the adverse event that occurred the most, but there was no Grade 3 or 4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: UFT and oral leucovorin combination adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage III colon cancer patients over 76 years showed a good response, especially for Stage III a.

Three-arm phase III trial comparing cisplatin plus 5-FU (CF) versus docetaxel, cisplatin plus 5-FU (DCF) versus radiotherapy with CF (CF-RT) as preoperative therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer (JCOG1109, NExT study).

A three-arm Phase III trial was started in November 2012. Preoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil is the current standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer in Japan, while preoperative chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil is the standard in Western countries. Preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil is another promising regimen. The purpose of this study is to confirm the superiority of docetaxel, cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil over cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil and the superiority of cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil with chemoradiotherapy over cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil as preoperative therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus. A total of 501 patients will be accrued from 41 Japanese institutions within 6.25 years. The primary endpoint is overall survival and the secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, %R0 resection, response rate, pathologic complete response rate and adverse events.

[A retrospective study of UFT and oral leucovorin plus PSK combination adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To perform a retrospective analysis of UFT and oral leucovorin plus PSK combination adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer in order to evaluate both treatment efficacy and toxicity. SUBJECTS: Between 2003 and 2009, 273 stage III colon cancer patients underwent surgery in our institute, and we studied 156 of them. RESULTS: Patients' median age was 72 years old; 87 men and 69 women. Of all patients, 119 had stage IIIa and 37 had stage IIIb. The 3-year disease, free survival rates for stage III, stage IIIa and stage IIIb patients were 73. 9%and 80. 6%and 51. 4%, respectively, and the 3-year overall survival rates for stage III was 97. 6%. With regard to toxicity, liver function disorder was observed in 9. 6%of the patients as the most frequent adverse event, but there was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: UFT and oral leucovorin plus PSK combination adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer showed a good response especially for stage III a.

Post-esophagectomy chylous leakage from a duplicated left-sided thoracic duct ligated successfully with left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Three months after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, a 58-year-old man presented with fluid trapped in his upper mediastinum due to chylous leakage from a duplicated left-sided thoracic duct that remained after excision of the main thoracic duct. Classical lymphangiography using lipiodol confirmed the presence of duplicated thoracic ducts. Conservative treatments were not effective, and then we performed ligation of the left-sided thoracic duct with left-sided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Anatomic variations of the thoracic duct can result in chylous leakage after thoracic surgery. Even if the patient has anomaly of the thoracic duct, classical lymphangiography is useful for detecting locations of the thoracic duct precisely, allowing for certain ligation of the duct with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.