ACHALASIA OF THE CARDIA: REFLECTIONS UPON A CLINICAL STUDY OF OVER 100 CASES

Risk of esophageal cancer in achalasia cardia: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The association between cancer of the esophagus and achalasia has long been recognized. However, it has also been recognized that cancers themselves can give rise to achalasia-like syndromes. The risk of developing cancer is also a factor in assessing whether there is a potential role for surveillance in this disease. This paper uses published work to form the basis for a meta-analysis of the risk of developing esophageal cancer among patients with pre-existing achalasia.

METHODS

This paper considered cancer risk reported in a range of studies of achalasia published over a 50-year period. Twenty-seven potential studies were identified. In 16 reports, it was possible to extract information on both length of follow-up and duration of achalasia so that person-years duration (PYD) could be calculated. The analysis was stratified between cancers identified in the first year after diagnosis of achalasia and cancers identified in subsequent years.

RESULTS

From pooling the results of 16 studies, the incidence rate of esophageal cancer in achalasia patients was estimated to be 1.36 (95% CI: 0.56, 2.51) per 1000 person years. This is over 10 times higher than the general population incidence rates as reported by the lARC.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, our meta-analysis shows that achalasia is a major risk factor for the development of esophageal cancer. This is supported by the results from the time-stratified analysis. Incidence of esophageal cancer per 1000 person years was lower in the first year after diagnosis of achalasia than in subsequent years. This is strong evidence against the idea that achalasia may be induced by esophageal cancer instead of vice versa.

Esophageal achalasia: a risk factor for carcinoma. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Achalasia of the cardia is associated with an increased risk of esophageal carcinoma. The real burden of achalasia at the malignancy genesis is still a controversial issue. Therefore, there are no generally accepted recommendations on follow-up evaluation for achalasia patients. This study aims to estimate the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in achalasia patients. We searched for association between carcinoma and esophageal achalasia in databases up to January 2017 to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of 1,046 studies were identified from search strategy, of which 40 were selected for meta-analysis. A cumulative number of 11,978 esophageal achalasia patients were evaluated. The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma was 312.4 (StDev 429.16) cases per 100,000 patient-years at risk. The incidence of adenocarcinoma was 21.23 (StDev 31.6) cases per 100,000 patient-years at risk. The prevalence for esophageal carcinoma was 28 carcinoma cases in 1,000 esophageal achalasia patients (CI 95% 2, 39). The prevalence for squamous cell carcinoma was 26 cases in 1,000 achalasia patients (CI 95% 18, 39) and for adenocarcinoma was 4 cases in 1,000 achalasia patients (CI 95% 3, 6).The absolute risk increase for squamous cell carcinoma was 308.1 and for adenocarcinoma was 18.03 cases per 100,000 patients per year. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis estimating the burden of achalasia as an esophageal cancer risk factor. The high increased risk rate for cancer in achalasia patients points to a strict endoscopic surveillance for these patients. Also, the increased risk for developing adenocarcinoma in achalasia patients suggests fundoplication after myotomy, to avoid esophageal reflux and Barret esophagus, a known risk factor for adenocarcinoma.

Norman Barrett (1903-1979): Unorthodox pioneer of thoracic and oesophageal surgery

It is an interesting quirk of medical history that the legacy of Norman Barrett most ostensibly lies in the name of a disease the he was quite emphatically wrong about, at least when he first described it. Indeed, there are those who argue to remove the eponym in favour of the title 'Columnar Lined Epithelium', in part because of what little Barrett actually had to do with the correct initial characterisation of this disease. Yet the sum of Norman Barrett's contributions to modern medicine is much more than a mistaken characterisation of a pathological process. Barrett was truly a pioneer of chest surgery in the UK - a speciality in its embryonic stages when he first qualified. He was also renowned as a teacher and academic of the highest calibre. In tracing the story of his life we can see how his natural attributes, life experiences and keen appreciation of the arts (especially history) facilitated personal success and such sharp insight into the vagaries of modern academic medicine.

Is it an eating disorder or achalasia or both? A literature review and diagnostic challenges

INTRODUCTION

Achalasia is a rare oesophageal motility disorder characterized by physical, behavioural and psychosocial features that are strikingly similar to eating disorders (ED).

METHOD

A literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar identified 36 cases of achalasia from 11 countries misdiagnosed as ED between 1980 and 2013.

RESULTS

On average, the typical misdiagnosed case was an 18-year-old female with an average weight loss of 16.2 kg. Vomiting behaviour in achalasia was distinguished by occurring after both solids and liquids, occurring in public, and worsening at night or while lying down, and was associated with pain relief. Manometric investigations of oesophageal functioning in clinical ED samples are few and have shown little evidence of dysmotility.

DISCUSSION

Achalasia and ED share numerous clinical features including weight loss and vomiting. Pain associated with swallowing difficulties may lead to an increasingly restricted pattern of eating and food avoidance. Increased awareness of achalasia in ED treatment settings can help facilitate detection of achalasia, thereby reducing treatment delay.

Current diagnosis and management of achalasia

Achalasia is the best characterized primary esophageal motility disorder of the esophagus and typically presents with absent peristalsis of the esophageal body and a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax upon swallowing on manometry, associated with progressively severe dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration, chest pain, and weight loss. The diagnosis is suggested by barium swallow and endoscopy, and confirmed by manometry. As there is no curative treatment for achalasia, treatment is confined to disruption of the lower esophageal sphincter to improve bolus passage. Treatment modalities available for this purpose include pneumatic dilation, laparoscopic Heller myotomy and since recently peroral endoscopic myotomy or POEM. In this review, we will discuss the current diagnosis, management, and treatment options of achalasia.

Norman Barrett (1903-79): unorthodox pioneer of thoracic and oesophageal surgery

It is an interesting quirk of medical history that the legacy of Norman Barrett most ostensibly lies in the name of a disease the he was quite emphatically wrong about, at least when he first described it. Indeed, there are those who argue to remove the eponym in favour of the title 'Columnar Lined Epithelium', in part because of what little Barrett actually had to do with the correct initial characterization of this disease. Yet the sum of Norman Barrett's contributions to modern medicine is much more than a mistaken characterization of a pathological process. Barrett was truly a pioneer of chest surgery in the UK - a specialty in its embryonic stages when he first qualified. He was also renowned as a teacher and academic of the highest calibre. In tracing the story of his life we can see how his natural attributes, life experiences and keen appreciation of the arts (especially history) facilitated personal success and such sharp insight into the vagaries of modern academic medicine.

Mucosectomia esofágica no tratamento do megaesôfago avançado: análise de 60 casos

A ressecção do esôfago sem toracotomia vem sendo utilizada com maior freqüência, nos últimos anos, para as afecções benignas, sobretudo no megaesôfago avançado. A vantagem dessa via de acesso é a de evitar o comprometimento da dinâmica pulmonar, mas, entretanto, podendo haver abertura da pleura, com o conseqüente hemopneumotórax, além da potencial agressão a outros órgãos mediastinais com morbidade pós-operatória muitas vezes expressiva. Por sua vez, no megaesôfago avançado, a esofagite de estase predispõe à instalação de carcinoma. Com base nessas considerações, foi proposta, previamente em animais e cadáver humano, a retirada da mucosa-submucosa do esôfago, mediante sua invaginação completa, sem toracotomia. Os resultados satisfatórios estimularam a continuação nessa linha de pesquisa, iniciando-se a experiência na área clínica. Assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo demonstrar o resultado do pós-operatório imediato, a técnica de retirada da mucosa do esôfago pelo descolamento submucoso, conservando a túnica muscular intacta no mediastino. O procedimento foi realizado pela via cervicoabdominal em 60 pacientes portadores de megaesôfago graus III ou IV. Efetuou-se a reconstrução do trânsito grastrintestinal transpondo o estômago pelo mediastino posterior, por dentro da túnica muscular esofágica ou pela via retroesternal. O estudo permitiu concluir: 1) a ressecção da mucosa pelo plano submucoso, mediante a invaginação, mostrou ser de execução simples e viável em 98,4% dos casos; 2) ausência de sangramento, no intra ou no pós-operatório imediato, cuja origem fosse do leito da túnica muscular esofágica remanescente ao nível mediastinal; 3) baixa incidência de complicações pleuropulmonares - 5,0%.

Norman Barrett, "doyen of esophageal surgery"

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Achalasia complicated by oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective study in 195 patients

To determine the incidence of oesophageal carcinoma in patients with achalasia and to establish the efficacy of endoscopic surveillance, 195 consecutive patients with achalasia (90 men and 105 women, mean age 52 years), who were treated by pneumatic dilatation in our institution between 1973 and 1988 were prospectively studied. None of the patients had undergone cardiomyotomy. Follow up totalled 874 person years after pneumatic dilatation. In this period three patients developed an oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The mean age at diagnosis of the oesophageal carcinoma was 68 years (37, 77, and 89 years). The mean period between the onset of dysphagia and the diagnosis of the tumour was 17 years (19, 28, and 5 years); the mean interval between the diagnosis of achalasia and carcinoma was 5.7 years (5, 8, and 4 years). The incidence of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this series (3.4/1000 patients per year) is significantly higher than the statistically expected incidence (0.104/1000 patients per year) using age and sex specific incidence data from the population of the Netherlands (Poisson statistics: p less than 0.001). The risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in patients with achalasia is therefore increased 33 fold. Periodic endoscopy showed the potential for detecting early stage oesophageal carcinoma in two cases but a larger study with a longer follow up is required to determine the efficacy of endoscopic screening in improving the prognosis for patients with achalasia who develop oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Achalasia in the elderly. Effects of aging on clinical presentation and outcome

Clinical and manometric data from 13 elderly subjects with idiopathic achalasia (mean age 79 +/- 2 years) were compared with findings from younger subjects with the same disease (n = 79) to see if aging altered the presentation and outcome of this motor disorder. Fewer elderly subjects complained of chest pain (27% vs 53%), and the pain was significantly less severe (P less than 0.01). Other presenting features (including sex, duration of symptoms, and presence and severity of dysphagia) did not differ between the groups. Across all patients, age weakly and inversely correlated with residual postdeglutitive lower esophageal sphincter; (LES) pressure (R = -0.34), and residual pressure was significantly lower in the older subjects (8.0 +/- 1.3 mm Hg vs. 11.9 +/- 0.8 mm Hg; P = 0.02). No differences in basal LES pressure or esophageal-body contraction amplitudes were present between the groups. Initial success with pneumatic dilation was similar in the two subject groups, but the number of older subjects available for analysis was too small to draw strong conclusions. These results indicate that aging decreases the elevation of LES residual pressure that occurs with achalasia. As elderly achalasia patients also present with less chest pain, the findings may be interrelated.

Achalasia of the oesophagus: results of treatment

Achalasia of the oesophagus is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder characterized by symptoms of dysphagia and regurgitation of undigested food. The results of treatment of 43 patients with achalasia over 10 years are presented. Clinical data on presenting complaints and duration, and all subsequent treatments, were recorded. Patients were contacted to assess their current symptomatic status.

Esophageal achalasia secondary to mesothelioma

Achalasia secondary to malignancy is rare, with most cases associated with gastric adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. This report describes the clinicopathologic features of a 64-year-old man found to have mesothelioma as the cause of secondary achalasia. To our knowledge, this is the first case of secondary achalasia produced by a mesothelioma. We reviewed the English literature in regard to achalasia induced by tumors.

Esophageal achalasia syndromes

Esophageal achalasia, characterized by failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax normally with swallowing and esophageal aperistalsis, may be primary or secondary to another disorder (in the United States most often cancer). Primary achalasia is of unclear etiology but almost certainly is a disorder of the innervation of the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus. This article reviews the classification and clinical features of achalasia syndromes, as well as current concepts of pathogenesis, diagnosis, complications, and therapy of this group of disorders.

[Development of esophageal cancers in patients following cardiomyotomy]

During a 20 year period we observed that in six patients with carcinoma of the esophagus associated with achalasia, four patients had had a prior Heller operation. Fifty patients with achalasia of the esophagus took part in endoscopic and histologic surveillance 5-15 years after cardiomyotomy. We have found a correlation between the severity of histologic changes and the duration of symptoms before the operation. It seems reasonable to advise early therapy to avoid the development of a dilated, poorly emptying esophagus. Our results suggest that long-term regular surveillance of the patient with achalasia is essential even after surgical treatment.

Achalasia as a risk factor for esophageal carcinoma. A reappraisal

Achalasia has been purported to be a risk factor for the development of esophageal carcinoma. To test the validity of this association at the Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and its major affiliate, the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center (WHVA), two approaches were employed: (1) a prospective study identifying 100 subjects with manometrically documented achalasia for the development of esophageal cancer; (2) a retrospective review of esophageal cancer patients admitted to the YNHH and the WHVA from 1971 through 1981 for any evidence of achalasia. No cases of esophageal carcinoma were identified in the 91 evaluable achalasics. No case of achalasia was found or even suggested in association with the 153 cases of esophageal cancer reviewed. Our findings do not substantiate the association of achalasia and esophageal carcinoma. The clinical implications of this conclusion on surveillance and follow-up of achalasia patients are discussed.

Carcinoma associated with achalasia. Occurrence 23 years after esophagomyotomy

Carcinoma developed in a 67-year-old woman with achalasia of the esophagus 23 years after esophagomyotomy. Postoperative manometric and radiologic studies showed satisfactory relief of esophageal obstruction. The development of carcinoma after an unusually long interval after adequate surgical treatment emphasizes the need for lifelong surveillance for this complication.

Two decades of experience with modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia

We reviewed the hospital records of 36 patients who underwent modified Heller's myotomy for achalasia between January, 1961, and December, 1982. There were 18 male and 18 female patients ranging between 17 months and 75 years old. The most frequent symptom was dysphagia, followed by regurgitation of ingested food and weight loss. Modified Heller's myotomy was performed through a transthoracic incision in 35 patients and a transabdominal incision in 1. An antireflux procedure in addition to esophagomyotomy was performed in 20 patients. There was 1 postoperative death. Thirty-three patients were followed up for periods ranging from 9 months to 21 years. The results were considered good in 27, fair in 2, and poor in 4. One of the 4 underwent repeat esophagomyotomy 71/2 years after the initial operation with a good result. The remaining 3 had an antireflux procedure at the time of esophagomyotomy. Because of recurrence of symptoms, esophagogastrostomy was performed in 1 and colon interposition in 2. These results suggest that an antireflux procedure should not be added to modified Heller's operation in the treatment of achalasia.

Achalasia-like esophagus from amyloidosis. Successful treatment with pneumatic bag dilatation

A 78-year-old man with amyloidosis involving the esophagus is described. The clinical and radiographic features resembled classic achalasia, while esophageal manometrics demonstrated aperistalsis, incomplete LES relaxation, but a normal LES resting pressure. A review of the literature suggests that esophageal amyloid may have variable presentations. This patient was successfully managed with forceful pneumatic bag dilatation.

Achalasia in siblings

The occurrence of achalasia in two brothers who were successfully treated by oesophagomyotomy is reported. There was no evidence of oesophageal motor dysfunction in their parents or two other siblings who were also studied. The possibility that genetic factors may be important in the aetiology of achalasia is discussed.

A review of 74 patients with oesophageal achalasia: the results of Heller's cardiomyotomy, with and without Nissen fundoplication

A survey is presented of 74 patients with achalasia of the the oesophagus treated surgically at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. This survey spans a 27-year period. Thirty-nine patients underwent Heller's operation, 23 (58.9%) had excellent results six months after operation, and 17 (43.5%) still had excellent results more than two years after operation. This group had a high recurrence of symptoms due to oesophageal reflux (30.8%) and the development of strictures (20.5%) at the lower end of the oesophagus. Thirty-five patients underwent Heller's operation together with Nissen fundoplication. Thirty-two patients (91.4%) in this group had excellent results six months after operation, and 30 of these patients (85.7%) still had excellent results more than two years after operation. These results suggest that symptoms of oesophageal reflux and subsequent oesophageal stricture following Heller's operation for achalasia can be considerably reduced, if not prevented, by Nissen fundoplication--a reflux-preventing procedure.

Operation for sigmoid oesophagus

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Results of Heller's operation for achalasia of the cardia

A survey of 102 patients with achalasia of the cardia treated by cardiomyotomy is reported. The technique of operation was unchanged throughout and the patients were followed up for a maximum of 22 years. Only 6 patients (5.8 per cent) developed renewed symptoms of reflux and 7 patients (6.8 per cent) had peptic strictures. Over 80 per cent of the patients had no dysphagia or regurgitation postoperatively, but 61 per cent still complained of achalasic pain. The development of mucosal hernias after cardiomyotomy and the use of drinking times in the assessment of outflow at the cardia are discussed.

Results of Heller's operation for achalasia of the oesophagus. The importance of hiatal repair

A survey of 108 patients with achalasia treated by cardiomyotomy is reported. All the operations were done by the abdominal approach and all the patients were followed up for a minimum of 4 years. Fifty-five patients had some form of hiatal reconstruction, 11 of these having a formal plastic repair as practised for oesophageal reflux problems. At 4 years after operation 71 patients (65-5 per cent) had entirely satisfactory results. Twenty-seven patients had recurrent dysphagia and 20 patients had symptoms of reflux oesophagitis. The group who had had a formal repair of the hiatus had no reflux symptoms after operation and also had better swallowing than the other groups. These results suggest that much of the dysphagia following Heller's operation is due to occult gastro-oesophageal reflux and can be avoided by a reflux-preventing procedure. Adequate hiatal repair after myotomy is strongly recommended.

The treatment of achalasia by cardiomyotomy

The results of treatment in 27 cases of achalasia carried out in the Tehidy Thoracic Surgical Unit are reviewed. The value of air insufflation of the oesophagus to assist in the division of the muscle and to ensure that the mucosa is not damaged is stressed. The advantages of early operation using a modified Heller's procedure are shown, and the results demonstrate that a poor outcome is most common in cases with a long history and that usually these cases have been treated by conservative measures.

Heller's operation for achalasia of the cardia. A study of the early and late results

Thirty patients who had undergone Heller's operation for achalasia of the cardia have been studied. All but I had relief of the dysphagia at 1 year's follow-up. Five of the 14 patients followed for 10 years or more had severe reflux oesophagitis, 3 requiring further operative treatment.

Transition from symptomatic diffuse spasm to cardiospasm

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