Distal gastric tube resection with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery for gastric tube cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gastric tube cancer is increasing because of improved survival rates in patients with esophageal cancer treated by esophagectomy. Total resection of the gastric tube is expected to be highly curative, but it is associated with a higher risk of severe postoperative complications. Herein we report a case of early gastric tube cancer that was successfully treated by distal gastric tube resection with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA). CASE PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old man was diagnosed as having gastric tube cancer, B-12-O, Type 0-IIc, T1b, N0, M0, cStage IA (Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a Type 0-IIc lesion measuring 30 mm in length in the lower part of the gastric tube, and histopathological examination of biopsy specimens revealed the features of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The primary lesion could not be identified by computed tomography, and there was no obvious lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis. Considering that total resection of the gastric tube would have been highly invasive and that the gastric tube cancer was at a relatively early stage, we performed distal gastric tube resection with preservation of the RGEA. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 12. There has been no recurrence during the 17 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: We successfully treated a patient with gastric tube cancer by distal gastric tube resection with preservation of the RGEA. This treatment strategy may be acceptable for patients with early gastric tube cancer without lymph node metastasis, considering the balance between the surgical invasiveness and curability of the tumor.

Spatially restricted substrate-binding site of cortisol-synthesizing CYP11B1 limits multiple hydroxylations and hinders aldosterone synthesis.

Human cytochromes P45011ß (CYP11B1) and P450aldo (CYP11B2) are monooxygenases that synthesize cortisol through steroid 11ß-hydroxylation and aldosterone through a three-step process comprising 11ß-hydroxylation and two 18-hydroxylations, respectively. CYP11B1 also catalyzes 18-monohydroxylation and 11ß,18-dihydroxylation. To study the molecular basis of such catalytic divergence of the two enzymes, we examined a CYP11B1 mutant (Mt-CYP11B1) with amino acid replacements on the distal surface by determining the catalytic activities and crystal structure in the metyrapone-bound form at 1.4-Å resolution. Mt-CY11B1 retained both 11ß-hydroxylase and 18-hydroxylase activities of the wild type (Wt-CYP11B1) but lacked 11ß,18-dihydroxylase activity. Comparisons of the crystal structure of Mt-CYP11B1 to those of Wt-CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 that were already reported show that the mutation reduced the innermost space putatively surrounding the C3 side of substrate 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) bound to Wt-CYP11B1, while the corresponding space in CYP11B2 is enlarged markedly and accessible to bulk water through a channel. Molecular dynamics simulations of their DOC-bound forms supported the above findings and revealed that the enlarged space of CYP11B2 had a hydrogen bonding network involving water molecules that position DOC. Thus, upon positioning 11ß-hydroxysteroid for 18-hydroxylation in their substrate-binding sites, steric hindrance could occur more strongly in Mt-CYP11B1 than in Wt-CYP11B1 but less in CYP11B2. Our investigation employing Mt-CYP11B1 sheds light on the divergence in structure and function between CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 and suggests that CYP11B1 with spatially-restricted substrate-binding site serves as 11ß-hydroxylase, while CYP11B2 with spatially-extended substrate-binding site successively processes additional 18-hydroxylations to produce aldosterone.

Coexistence of gastric cancer and gastric GIST with intra-tumor bleeding: successful embolization with subsequent total gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare tumor, however, simultaneous development of gastric cancer and gastric GIST has been documented more frequently in recent years. Rupture of gastric GIST is even more rare and occurred in 7% of all GISTs. Although ruptured GIST might be occasionally difficult to be managed by endoscopy, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was reported to control bleeding from GIST effectively. We report herein a case of coexistence of gastric cancer and gastric GIST with progressing intra-tumor bleeding managed successfully by TAE and review the clinicopathological characteristics of this rare condition reported previously in the Japanese literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old woman with dyspnea and systemic edema was diagnosed as simultaneous occurrence of gastric cancer (histopathologically detected tubular adenocarcinoma pT2N1M0 fStageIIA) and gastric GIST (65 × 92 mm in diameter at the anterior wall of the fornix) with intra-tumor hemorrhage. Perceiving the progress of bleeding from tumor growth and exacerbating anemia, TAE of left gastric artery was performed. Then remission of anemia has been obtained, the patient underwent an elective radical surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous occurrence of gastric cancer and gastric GIST was speculated to be more common. TAE for ruptured GIST may be effective for hemostasis and reduction of tumor burden, which could facilitate minimal invasive surgery.

The Present Status and Future of Barrett's Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Europe and the United States rapidly increased from the latter half of the 1970s and exceeded that of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the latter half of the 1990s, currently accounting for approximately 60% of all esophageal carcinomas. Recently, its incidence has also increased in Japan, raising concerns that it will follow a course similar to that in Europe and the United States. SUMMARY: The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Japan was about 2% until the 1990s, but in recent years, it has risen to 6.5-7.1%. Causes include the increase in the incidence of obesity due to changes in eating habits with resultant increases in the incidence of hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis, a decrease in the rate of Helicobacter pylori infection, and the increased interest of physicians in the gastroesophageal junction. The number of gastroesophageal reflux disease patients in Japan rapidly increased from the 1990s, which accordingly increased the number of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma patients from the latter half of the 1990s. Tabulation and analysis of 1,794 reported cases of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma in Japan showed that superficial cancers accounted for 77.6%, and that the concomitant rates of hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis were high at 87 and 70% respectively. Key Message: The future trend in the incidence of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma in Japan will depend on the increase in the incidence of reflux esophagitis, which is essential for the development of Barrett's esophagus and Barrett's esophageal carcinoma. The obesity rate is lower in Japan than that in Europe and the United States, and the incidence and severity of reflux esophagitis are low. We expect that the incidence of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma in Japan will not rise as high as in Europe and the United States, and will remain below 10%.

Perforated gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the small intestine: A rare case of Torricelli-Bernoulli sign.

The Torricelli-Bernoulli sign is a computed tomography (CT) finding that occurs when ulceration/necrosis of a submucosal gastrointestinal tumor releases a stream of air bubbles into the intestinal lumen. A 75-year-old man developed acute abdominal pain at night and presented to a local doctor. Acute abdomen was diagnosed and he was referred to the Emergency Department at Tokai University Oiso Hospital. On CT scans, disseminated intestinal tumor-like lesions were seen in the right lower abdomen. The Torricelli-Bernoulli sign and free intraabdominal gas were observed, so perforation of an intestinal tumor was diagnosed and emergency surgery was performed. At operation, there was scanty opaque ascites in the right lower abdomen and an ileal tumor associated with nodules that suggested peritoneal dissemination. Partial resection of the ileum was performed and peritoneal lavage was conducted. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 11. Histopathological examination revealed a high risk gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The abdominal nodules were metastases, indicating that the tumor was Stage IV. The patient is currently on treatment with an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib).

Single-center analysis of appendiceal neoplasms.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the recent trend of diagnosing appendiceal diseases through the analysis of appendectomy materials, stressing the importance of their pathological examination. A clinicopathological assessment of patients undergoing an appendectomy was conducted, based on the pathological examination of resected appendiceal lesions. Using a pathological database of surgical specimens from patients who underwent an appendectomy between March 2002 and September 2014, a retrospective, single-center analysis was performed. Among the 803 patients identified, 752 with appendiceal disease were selected for clinicopathological analysis. The diagnosis was inflammation (i.e. appendicitis) in 97.7% (n=735) and appendiceal neoplasm in 2.3% (n=17) of the patients. The most frequent type of appendiceal neoplasm was an intramucosal neoplasm (23.5%, n=4). In conclusion, the incidence of appendiceal neoplasms has increased in recent years, potentially due to increased and earlier detection by newer imaging modalities.

Expandable Metallic Stent for Endobronchial Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer: Reports of 2 Cases.

In recent years, there have been many reports about the efficacy of stenting for central bronchial stenosis. When central bronchial stenosis is due to metastasis of a malignant tumor to the trachea and/or bronchi (endobronchial metastasis: EM), it is classified as "narrow EM" and "broad EM." [1] We managed two patients in whom bilateral stent placement was required for narrow and broad EM arising from colorectal cancer. Case 1: In September 2011, a 66-year-old man underwent low anterior resection for advanced colorectal cancer associated with unresectable liver metastasis. The liver metastasis became resectable after chemotherapy, with two resection procedures and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) being performed. Thereafter, lung metastasis occurred and a tumor in the left lung was resected. In May 2015, he developed respiratory distress. CT identified multiple lesions protruding into the lumen of the trachea and the left and right main bronchi. There was no evidence of mediastinal relapse or local relapse at the resection margin, and tumors were only detected in the tracheobronchial walls. Accordingly, narrow EM was diagnosed. An expandable metallic stent (EMS) was placed on the right side where stenosis was more severe, and radiation therapy was conducted for the non-stented tumors. The patient died 8 months later. Case 2: A 69-year-old woman had undergone laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage lllb cancer of the ascending colon. Due to subsequent elevation of tumor markers, PET-CT was conducted and abnormal uptake was seen in the apex of the right lung and right upper abdomen. Both lesions were resected, and omental and lung metastases were diagnosed. She received treatment with UFT / calcium folinate, but relapse occurred at the resection margin in the right lung. At 7 years and 5 months after initial surgery, she complained of respiratory distress at an outpatient visit. CT demonstrated displacement of the trachea and right main bronchus due to enlargement of upper mediastinal lymph nodes. There was also severe stenosis of the right main bronchus due to tumor infiltration. Because there was both infiltration from local recurrence after resection and upper mediastinal lymph node enlargement, broad EM was diagnosed. An EMS was placed at the site of severe stenosis in the right main bronchus. Similar to Case 1, radiation therapy was also conducted, but respiratory distress occurred after 3 months due to tumor re-growth at the stent margin. Accordingly, stent-in-stent placement was performed and her respiratory symptoms improved. However, superior vena cava syndrome occurred 1 month later and the patient died. We consider that placing an EMS is effective in patients with tracheal stenosis due to EM that is judged to be an oncological emergency.

Pulmonary artery hypoplasia associated with posterior mediastinal hematoma accompanied by a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the esophageal branch of the left gastric artery.

A 65-year-old woman with no significant medical history visited the emergency department complaining of epigastric discomfort. A computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen showed the attenuation of the pulmonary artery and a posterior mediastinal hematoma. Angiography showed a tortuous esophageal branch of the left gastric artery and a pseudoaneurysm, and during the later phase, the left lower lobe of the lung was enhanced, and finally, the left pulmonary vein was enhanced. We considered that the patient was exhibiting hypoperfusion of the left pulmonary artery arising from left pulmonary artery hypoplasia, since the left lung was supplying the systemic circulation. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed. The patient has not experienced any recurrence of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm or epigastric discomfort. Here, we report the first documented case of pulmonary artery hypoplasia associated with posterior mediastinal hematoma accompanied by a ruptured aneurysm of the left gastric artery.

Successful Eradication Therapy for Helicobacter pylori-positive Atrophic Gastritis at the Sixth Attempt: A Case Report.

A 74-year-old woman undergoing outpatient follow-up for reflux esophagitis and atrophic gastritis tested positive for Helicobacter pylori and underwent primary eradication therapy with lansoprazole (LPZ) 30 mg, amoxicillin (AMPC) 750 mg, and clarithromycin (CAM) 200 mg twice daily for 1 week in August 2012. A urea breath test (UBT) after this treatment revealed that eradication had failed. Secondary eradication therapy was carried out with esomeprazole (EPZ) 20 mg, AMPC 750 mg, and metronidazole (MNZ) 250 mg twice daily for 1 week, but this also failed. The third attempt at eradication consisted of EPZ 20 mg, AMPC 750 mg, and sitafloxacin (STFX) 100 mg twice daily for 1 week, but this also ended in failure. A fourth attempt using rabeprazole (RPZ) 20 mg (4 times daily) with MNZ 250 mg and STFX 100 mg twice daily for 2 weeks also failed, as did a fifth attempt in April 2015 using vonoprazan (VPZ) 20 mg, AMPC 750 mg, and MNZ 250 mg twice daily for 1 week. Eradication was finally successful after the sixth attempt, in which the patient was treated with vonoprazan 20 mg, MNZ 250 mg, and STFX 100 mg twice daily for 2 weeks.

Double Common Bile Duct with Ectopic Drainage into the Stomach Found in Asymptomatic.

The case of a patient with asymptomatic double common bile duct that was identified by chance is presented. A 41-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) as part of a regular health checkup, during which he was found to have an elevated lesion in the lesser curvature of the upper gastric corpus with bile draining from its tip. Further examination led to a diagnosis of double common bile duct from the left intrahepatic bile duct to the opening into the stomach. Morphological abnormalities of the biliary tree are commonly encountered in everyday gastroenterological practice, but a double common bile duct with an ectopic opening into the stomach is comparatively rare. It is also associated with an increased risk of developing cancer of the stomach or bile duct, and as such is a biliary abnormality that must be treated with caution. This case is reported together with a discussion of the literature.

Successful Endoscopic Resection in a Case of Ectopic and Metachronous Quintuple Gastric Cancers.

A 71-year-old man was referred to us from another hospital for endoscopic treatment of a IIc lesion at the anterior wall of the lower body of the stomach. In November 2008, he underwent resection of this lesion with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Follow-up endoscopy revealed a IIc lesion in the posterior wall of the lower body of the stomach, and ESD was again performed in February 2009. At the same time, Helicobacter pylori was detected, and successful first-line eradication therapy was verified in May 2009. Subsequent follow-up endoscopy detected multiple ectopic and metachronous gastric cancers at three sites, all of which were endoscopically resected (quintuple gastric cancer). Although ectopic and metachronous recurrence of gastric cancer was detected immediately after H. pylori eradication, recurrence of gastric cancer has not been detected in the 5 years since eradication. Future directions include determining the time point at which the preventative effects of H. pylori eradication therapy appear against gastric cancer recurrence. We report our findings herein, along with a review of the related literature.

A Long Surviving Case of Multiple Early Stage Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus and a Review of the Literature.

We report a 75 year old man in whom primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) was detected on an upper gastrointestinal radiographic contrast study and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during a regular medical checkup. An extensive black lesion with a 1.5 x 1.0 cm protrusion and diffuse 1 cm flat lesions were recognized. The results of radical surgery were PMME pT1a-MM ly1 v0 pN0 (0/86) multiple lesions (+). Adjuvant chemotherapy was not employed and he has survived almost 7 years with no evidence of recurrence. PMME is a very rare lesion and in the PubMed database only 85 cases in 73 reports accumulated in a 10 year period from 2005 to 2014. Until 2014 a total of 369 cases were reported. In the ICHUSHI database (a domestic medical literature database service provided by the NPO Japan Medical Abstracts Society), 65 lesions in 62 cases were reported in the same period. Also until 2014, 301 cases were reported. At present, surgery is the first choice of treatment for PMME extending to the submucosa or deeper, but with developments in molecular targeting agents, PMME is thought to likely become an expanded indication of this technique.

Resection of a Submucosal Tumor-Like Superficial Carcinoma in Middle Thoracic Esophagus Concomitant with Mucosal Adenocarcinoma and Submucosal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

A 67-year-old man was pointed out mucosal irregularity on health check-up and was referred to our institution. Diagnostic examinations were performed and an aggregated type 0-IIa lesion having 3 small protrusions was recognized in the middle thoracic esophagus. Endoscopic biopsy led to diagnosis of esophageal cancer concomitant with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Thoracic esophagectomy with 3-fields lymph node dissection was performed via a right thoracoabdominal approach and reconstructed with stomach roll. Three submucosal tumors like small protrusions were recognized in resected specimen. One of them was well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma which occupied in mucosal layer. The other two were moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. They existed very near but no connection was recognized by serial section. The adenocarcinoma existing in middle esophagus is very rare. Almost all of them were submucosal or advanced cancers. When we searched with the ICHUSHI database (a domestic medical literature database service provided by the NPO Japan Medical Abstracts Society) and the PubMed database, there was no report of mucosal adenocarcinoma occurred in middle thoracic esophagus in the past 10 years. Then this report was thought to be the first report of mucosal adenocarcinoma in middle thoracic esophagus in the world.

Small Cell Type of Esophageal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Resembling a Submucosal Tumor.

We report a rare case of primary small cell type esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma with a unusual endoscopic form similar to a submucosal tumor with the results of the histological and immunohistochemical analyses. A 57-year-old woman with dysphagia was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment, and was diagnosed as type 1s esophageal carcinoma in the middle thoracic esophagus. Endoscopy revealed a protruding esophageal carcinoma resembling a submucosal tumor with an irregular and nodular surface covered by non-neoplastic epithelium stained with iodine. Analysis of the esophageal biopsy specimen revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Based on a diagnosis of type 1s carcinoma in the middle thoracic esophagus that was 5 cm in size longitudinally, a radical esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection was performed. The pathological examination with histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the resected specimen revealed a small cell type neuroendocrine carcinoma overlaid by a non-neoplastic epithelium, extending into the adventitia without lymph node metastasis (T3, N0, M0, Stage II). However, multiple metastases in the brain and lung developed 3 months postoperatively, and the patient died of the cancer 7 months after the operation. This was a rare case of a highly malignant primary small cell type esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma showing extremely rare form.

Small Intestinal Metastasis from Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Perforated Peritonitis.

Metastatic tumors of the small intestinal tract from extra-abdominal sites are rare. We report herein a rare case of small intestinal metastasis from esophageal carcinoma that presented with perforated peritonitis. A 71-year-old man with dysphagia was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment, and was diagnosed with type 3 advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus. Based on a diagnosis of Stage II cancer, a radical esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection was performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy composed of 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, extending into the adventitia with lymph node metastasis (T3, N2, M0, Stage III). During postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient complained of abdominal pain and was found to have perforated peritonitis. Emergency laparotomy was performed. A jejunal perforation with a submucosal nodule approximately 80 cm distal from the ligament of Treitz was detected, and completely resected by jejunal partial resection. Histopathology of the specimen showed a perforation of the small intestine due to metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with mesenteric lymph node metastasis. The patient died of cancer 9 months after surgery. An extremely rare case of small intestinal metastasis from esophageal carcinoma presenting with perforated peritonitis was described.

Expression of podoplanin and vimentin is correlated with prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Podoplanin is a small membrane mucin, which is involved in cell migration and cancer cell invasion. However, the roles of podoplanin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are poorly understood. In the present study, 139 cases of surgically resected ESCC were analyzed and the clinicopathological significance of podoplanin membrane expression in ESCC was demonstrated. Podoplanin expression was positive in 66.2% (92/139) of ESCC samples; with weak expression in 32.4% (45/139), and strong expression in 33.8% (47/139). Membrane expression of podoplanin was significantly associated with tumor status (P=0.001), venous invasion (P=0.035) and Union for International Cancer Control stage (P=0.029). Patients who exhibited strong podoplanin expression, were shown to have a poorer prognosis [hazard ratio (HR), 3.949; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.001­7.794]. Expression of vimentin, a mesenchymal marker, was detected in 49 cases (35.3%) and was associated with venous invasion (P=0.020). Vimentin­positive cases were also more likely to have a worse prognosis than vimentin­negative cases (HR, 2.161; 95% CI, 1.300­3.592). Podoplanin membrane expression was significantly correlated with vimentin cytoplasmic expression in ESCC (P<0.001). The present study confirmed that podoplanin and vimentin are independent predictors of mortality (HR, 3.084; 95% CI, 1.543­6.164). These results suggest that podoplanin membrane expression results in epithelial­mesenchymal transition and promotes aggressive invasion in human ESCC.

A new approach to investigate thin surface layers of polymers: fatigue analysis of polycarbonate.

A new technique to investigate chemical structures of very thin surface (mesoscopic scale) layers of polar polymers is proposed. The chemical structures and conformations of ∼100 nm-thick slabs that were obtained from a polymer surface were studied by infrared spectroscopy combined with a previously developed thin sample preparation system. The dielectric functions were calculated using oscillator models from reflection spectra of the slabs, which were cut with a diamond blade. The molecular movements caused by shear force perturbations after the cutting process ("flexed state") were observed. The technique was applied to analyze the changes in the chemical structure of bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPAPC) throughout a bending cyclic fatigue test. Three characteristic stages of structural changes in the flexed state under the cyclic fatigue test were observed. Our technique has the potential to clarify the intrinsic structures of solid polymers such as the degree of entanglement and the tendency for order or disorder caused by the surrounding chain interaction.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy while in a prone position for esophageal cancer: a preceding anterior approach method.

BACKGROUND: In 2009, the rate of thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer was about 20% in Japan. This low rate may be due to the difficulty in maintaining a good surgical field and the meticulous procedures that are required. The purpose of this study was to establish and evaluate a new procedure for performing a thoracoscopic esophagectomy while the patient is in a prone position using a preceding anterior approach to make the esophagectomy easier to perform. METHODS: We have performed thoracoscopic esophagectomy using our new procedure in 60 patients with esophageal cancer. Each patient was placed in a prone position and five trocars were inserted; only the left lung was ventilated and a pneumothorax was maintained. The esophagus was mobilized from the anterior structure during the first step and from the posterior structure during the second step. The lymph nodes around the esophagus were also dissected anteriorly and posteriorly. The patients were sequentially divided into two groups and their clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean operative time for the thoracoscopic procedure for the latter 30 cases (203 min) was shorter than that for the former 30 cases (260 min) (P = 0.001). Among the 52 cases without pleural adhesion, the mean blood loss in the latter 26 cases (18 mL) was also less than that in the former 26 cases (40 mL) (P = 0.027). There were no conversions to a thoracotomy and no operative deaths in this series. Postoperative complications related to the thoracoscopic procedure occurred in 8 cases (27%) in the former group and in 4 cases (13%) in the latter group. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with the patient in the prone position using a preceding anterior approach is a safe and feasible procedure. As experience performing the procedure increases, the performance of the procedure stabilizes. This method seems to make the esophagectomy easier to perform.

New invasive patterns as a prognostic factor for superficial esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic factors for superficial esophageal cancer cannot be limited to such factors as lymph node metastasis (N factor), depth of tumor invasion (T factor), and genetic alterations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether invasive growth patterns of tumors, such as infiltrative growth pattern c (INFc) and budding, represent new useful prognostic factors for superficial esophageal cancer. METHODS: We investigated 87 cases of superficial esophageal cancer in patients treated with radical surgery. First, the invasive growth pattern of the tumor was pathologically evaluated based on the traditional infiltrative growth pattern (INF) classification. Next, new INF criteria were proposed, and the invasive pattern was re-evaluated. We also investigated budding (Bud) in the stroma of the invasive frontal lesion. RESULTS: When the patients were divided into two groups, with and without an INFc component, the group with an INFc component had a poorer outcome than the group without an INFc component. When the group with an INFc component was defined as "new INFc", new INFc was correlated with the T factor (p = 0.006) and the ly factor (lymphatic invasion) (p = 0.041). Bud was correlated with the T factor (p = 0.001), the N factor (p = 0.030), and new INFc (p < 0.001). An analysis of survival revealed new INFc (p = 0.002) and Bud (p = 0.006) to be prognostic factors. The survival of the group with new INFc(+)/Bud(+) was poorer than that with new INFc(-)/Bud(-) (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: New INFc and Bud, which represent new invasive patterns, were prognostic factors for superficial esophageal cancer.