Can the Risk of Lymph Node Metastases Be Gauged in Endoscopically Resected Submucosal Esophageal Adenocarcinomas? A Multi-Center Study

Esophagectomy Following Endoscopic Resection of Submucosal Esophageal Cancer: a Highly Curative Procedure Even with Nodal Metastases

BACKGROUND

Despite the increased risk for nodal disease, definitive endoscopic resection is being increasingly offered for lesions invasive into the submucosa based on the success with intramucosal tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate survival after esophagectomy alone for confirmed submucosal tumors after endoscopic resection.

METHODS

Patients from seven centers in the USA who underwent esophagectomy for submucosal tumors removed with endoscopic resection were analyzed. Nodal involvement was correlated with recurrence and survival.

RESULTS

We identified 23 patients with submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma. Esophagectomy was performed at a median of 2 months (Interquartile range 1-3) after the endoscopic resection. There was no postoperative mortality. Positive nodal disease was seen in 26 % of patients on final pathology. At a median of 37 months (Interquartile range 25-55), 91 % of patients were alive and free of disease. The disease-specific 5-year survival was 88 %. Disease-specific 5-year survival was 67 % in patients with positive nodal metastases and 100 % in those without (p = 0.159).

CONCLUSIONS

Esophagectomy is curative in the majority of patients with submucosal tumors even in the presence of nodal metastases. These data serve as a benchmark for comparison when considering extending the indications for therapeutic endoscopic resection for submucosal tumors in the future.

Role of endoscopy in early oesophageal cancer

Incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased exponentially in the West over the past few decades. Following detection of advanced cancers, 5-year survival rates remain bleak, making identification of early neoplasia, which has a better outcome, important. Detection of subtle oesophageal lesions during endoscopy can be challenging, and advanced imaging techniques might improve their detection. High-definition endoscopy has become a standard in most endoscopy centres, and this technology probably provides better delineation of mucosal features than standard-definition endoscopy. Various image enhancement techniques are now available with the development of new electronics and software systems. Image enhancement with chromoendoscopy using dyes has been a cost-effective option for many years, yet these techniques have been replaced in some contexts by electronic chromoendoscopy, which can be used with the press of a button. However, Lugol's chromoendoscopy remains the gold standard to identify squamous dysplasia. Identification and characterization of subtle neoplastic lesions could help to target biopsies and perform endoscopic resection for better local staging and definitive therapy. In vivo histology with techniques such as confocal endomicroscopy could make endotherapy feasible within a shorter timescale than when relying on histology on tissue samples. Once early neoplasia is identified, treatments include endoscopic resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection or various ablative techniques. Endotherapy has the advantage of being a less invasive technique than oesophagectomy, and is associated with lower mortality and morbidity. Endoscopic ablation therapies have evolved over the past few years, with radiofrequency ablation showing the best results in terms of success rates and complications in Barrett dysplasia.

Management of patients with T1b esophageal adenocarcinoma: a retrospective cohort study on patient management and risk of metastatic disease

BACKGROUND

Esophagectomy for submucosal (T1b) esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is performed in order to optimize patient outcomes given the risk of concurrent lymph node metastases (LNM). However, not seldom, comorbidity precludes these patients from surgery. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the course of follow-up after treatment in submucosal EAC patients undergoing surgery versus conservative therapy and to evaluate the incidence of metastatic disease.

METHODS

Between 2001 and 2012, all patients undergoing diagnostic endoscopic resection for EAC in two centers were reviewed. Only patients with histopathologically proven submucosal tumor invasion were included. Submucosal EACs were divided into tumors that were removed radically (R0) and irradically (R1). Subsequently, in the R0 group, EACs were classified as either low risk (LR; submucosal invasion <500 nm, G1-G2, no LVI) or high risk (HR; deep submucosal invasion >500 nm, G3-G4 and/or LVI). Metastatic disease was defined as LNM in surgical resection specimen and/or evidence of malignant disease during follow-up (FU).

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients with a submucosal EAC were included [23 R1-resections and 46 R0-resection (14 R0-LR and 32 R0-HR)]. Twenty-six patients underwent surgical treatment (1 R0-LR, 12 R0-HR and 13 R1). None of the 14 R0-LR patients developed metastatic disease after a median FU of 60 months. In the R0-HR group and R1 group, metastatic disease was diagnosed in 16 and 30 % of patients, respectively. Surgical patients tended to have a better overall survival than non-surgical patients (p = 0.09). Tumor-related deaths, however, were 12 % in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In LR submucosal EAC, the risk of metastatic disease appears to be very low. In deep submucosal EAC (either R0- or R1-resection), the rate of metastatic disease is lower than reported in earlier surgical series. Given the reasonable disease-free survival and high background mortality, conservative management of these patients seems to be a valid alternative for surgery in selected cases.

Interventions for Barrett's oesophagus and early cancer

Evolution of endoscopic treatments