Thoracic lymph node involvement in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and lower esophageal squamous cell carcinoma relative to the location of the proximal end of the tumor

Current trends in the management of Gastro-oEsophageal cancers: Updates to the ESSO core curriculum (ESSO-ETC-UGI-WG initiative)

Gastro-oEsophageal Cancers (GECs) are severe diseases whose management is rapidly evolving. The European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) is committed to the generation and spread of knowledge, and promotes the multidisciplinary management of cancer patients through its core curriculum. The present work discusses the approach to GECs, including the management of oligometastatic oesophagogastric cancers (OMEC), the diagnosis and management of peritoneal metastases from gastric cancer (GC), the management of Siewert Type II tumors, the importance of mesogastric excision, the role of robotic surgery, textbook outcomes, organ preserving options, the use of molecular markers and immune check-point inhibitors in the management of patients with GECs, as well as the improvement of current clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with GECs. The aim of the present review is to provide a concise overview of the state-of-the-art on the management of patients with GECs and, at the same time, to share the latest advancements in the field and to foster the debate between surgical oncologists treating GECs worldwide. We are sure that our work will, at the same time, give an update to the advanced surgical oncologists and help the training surgical oncologists to settle down the foundations for their future practice.

Mapping of lymph node dissection determined by the epicenter location and tumor extension for esophagogastric junction carcinoma

Backgrounds

Previous studies identified the extent of lymph node dissection for esophagogastric junction (EGJ) carcinoma based on the metastatic incidence. The study aimed to determine the optimal extent and priority of lymphadenectomy based on the therapeutic efficacy from each station.

Methods

The studies on the lymph node metastasis (LNM) and therapeutic efficacy index (EI) for EGJ carcinomas were identified until April 2022. The obligatory stations with the LNM rates over 5% and therapeutic EI exceeding 2% should be routinely resected for D2 dissection, whereas the optional stations with EI between 0.5% and 2% should be resected for D3 dissection in selective cases.

Results

The survey yielded 16 eligible articles including 6,350 patients with EGJ carcinoma. The metastatic rates exceeded 5% at no. 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 11p, and 110 stations and were less than 5% in abdominal no. 4sa~6, 8a, 10, 11d, 12a, and 16a2/b1 and mediastinal no. 105~112 stations. Consequently, obligatory stations with EI over 2% were largely determined by the epicenter location and located at the upper perigastric, lower mediastinal, and suprapancreatic zones, corresponding to those with rates of LNM over 5%. Consistent with the LNM rates less than 5%, the optional stations with EI between 0.5% and 2% were largely dependent on the degree of tumor extension toward the lower perigastric, splenic hilar (grecurvature), para-aortic (less curvature of the cardia), and middle or upper mediastinal zones.

Conclusions

The obligatory stations can be resected as an “envelope-like” wrap by transhiatal proximal gastrectomy with lower esophagectomy, whereas the optional stations for dissection are indicated by the tumor extension. The extended gastrectomy is required for the lower perigastric in the stomach-predominant tumor with gastric involvement exceeding 5.0 cm, para-aortic dissection in the less curvature-predominant tumor and splenic hilar dissection in the grecurvature-predominant tumor whereas transthoracic subtotal esophagectomy is required for complete mediastinal dissection and adequate negative margin in the esophagus-predominant tumor with esophageal invasion exceeding 3.0 cm.

Clinical Outcome of Intraoperative Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring during Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy and Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection for Esophageal Cancer

Mediastinal lymph dissection in esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer is important. The dissection of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) lymph nodes could cause RLN injury, vocal cord palsy, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effects of intraoperative RLN monitoring in esophagectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection in preventing RLN injury and vocal cord palsy. This study included 75 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer with (38 patients) and without (37 patients) IONM at Changhua Christian Hospital from 2015 to 2020. The surgical and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Patients in the IONM group had more advanced clinical T status, shorter operation time (570 vs. 633 min, p = 0.007), and less blood loss (100 mL vs. 150 mL, p = 0.019). The IONM group had significantly less postoperative vocal palsy (10.5% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.006) and pneumonia (13.2% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.014) than that in the non-IONM group. IONM was an independent factor for less postoperative vocal cord palsy that was related to postoperative 2-year survival. This study demonstrated that IONM could reduce the incidence of postoperative vocal cord palsy and pneumonia.

Evidence-based approach to the treatment of esophagogastric junction tumors

The incidence of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma is increasing in developed nations due to the rising prevalence of obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Due to the peculiar location in a histological transition zone between the esophagus and the stomach, the management of EGJ tumors is controversial. Two main surgical approaches exist: total gastrectomy with distal esophagectomy or esophagectomy by either transhiatal or transthoracic approach. These operations differ significantly in the extent of lymphadenectomy. In addition, patients with locally advanced disease can receive either preoperative chemoradiation or perioperative chemotherapy. This evidence-based review analyzes current evidence regarding the management of EGJ tumors in order to help defining the best surgical and systemic treatment of these patients.

Can we predict mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis in esophagogastric junction cancer? Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to define clinical indicator that predicts mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis (MLNM) in patients with Esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC) to select patient population requiring esophagectomy.

METHODS

A systematic and electronic search of several electronic databases was performed up to August 2020. Studies containing information on risk factors for MLNM in patients diagnosed with EJGC and who underwent curative surgery were included.

RESULTS

Two predictors, including undifferentiated type (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.07-3.10, p = 0.03) and esophageal invasion length (EIL) (OR = 10.95, 95% CI = 6.37-18.82, p < 0.00001) were identified as significant predictors for the risk of MLNM.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the associations of these clinicopathological features with MLNM can be useful in determining operative strategy for EGJC.

Distribution of lymph node metastases in locally advanced adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (cT2-4): comparison between Siewert type I and selected Siewert type II tumors

INTRODUCTION

The distribution of lymph node metastases in locally advanced Siewert type I and type II AEG (adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction) remains unclear. The diversity of data in the literature reflects the non-uniformity of tumor stages and surgical procedures in previous studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on a retrospective analysis from our single-center database, we examined distributions of lymph node metastases in types I and II cT2-4 AEG. The dataset comprised 44 patients; 19 and 25 patients had type I and type II, respectively. All patients underwent subtotal esophagectomy and total mediastinal lymphadenectomy, which included dissection of the upper mediastinal lymph nodes. The histological data of the surgical specimens were analyzed to evaluate metastasis rates in each lymph node station according to the Japanese Esophageal Society (JES) and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines.

RESULTS

Lymph node metastases were observed in 75.0% cases (n = 33/44). There was no significant difference in the total lymph node metastasis rate between the two groups (type I 73.7% versus type II 76.0%). On comparing each lymph node region separately, no statistically significant differences were noted between the groups: upper mediastinal (type I 31.6% versus type II 24.0%), middle and lower mediastinal (type I 31.6% versus type II 44.0%), paragastric (type I 61.1% versus type II 76.0%), and celiac lymph nodes (type I 16.7% versus type II 25.0%).

CONCLUSION

In advanced clinical stages, the metastasis rate is high at all mediastinal lymph node regions in both type I and type II AEGs.

Tumor location is an independent prognostic factor of esophageal adenocarcinoma based on the eighth edition of TNM staging system in Chinese patients

Background

Whether tumor location has any impact on the survival of esophageal adenocarcinoma patients remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of tumor location for esophageal adenocarcinoma based on the eighth edition of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system in Chinese patients for the first time.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal adenocarcinoma in our department. We analyzed the data about demography, comorbidity, pathologic findings, surgical approach, adjuvant therapy, and survival time. Tumor location was categorized into two groups: adenocarcinomas at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and adenocarcinomas at other sites of the esophagus. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. And propensity-score matched (PSM) analysis was also conducted for comparison.

Results

A total of 107 patients from January 2009 to December 2015 were involved in the analysis. The median follow-up time was 60.0 months and the median survival time of all those patients was 41.0 months. In the univariate analysis, adenocarcinomas in the EGJ (P=0.047), early pT stage (P=0.030), and moderate/well differentiation (P=0.022) were significantly correlated with better survival. Moreover, in the multivariate analysis, tumor site [hazard ratio (HR) =0.536; 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.300-0.958], pT stage (HR =0.298; 95% CI =0.124-0.717), and tumor differentiation (HR =0.437; 95% CI =0.238-0.802) were significant independent prognostic factors for overall survival of these esophageal adenocarcinoma patients. After the adjustment by PSM, patients with adenocarcinomas at the EGJ still yielded significantly longer survival than these with adenocarcinomas at other sites of the esophagus (P=0.039).

Conclusions

Tumor location was an independent prognostic factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma based on the eighth edition of TNM staging system in Chinese patients. Therefore, different surgical therapeutic modalities may be applied for esophageal adenocarcinoma with different tumor locations.

Thoracoabdominal gastrectomy and distal 2/3 esophageal resection with wide lymph node dissection for type II and III adenocarcinoma at the gastro-esophageal junction

BACKGROUND

For locally advanced Siewert type II and III tumors we have performed total gastrectomy including resection of the distal 2/3 of the esophagus, through separate abdominal and right chest incisions (THX-ABD). The procedure involves wide lymphadenectomy in the abdomen/chest and a Roux-en-Y jejunostomy to the level of the azygos vein or above. The aim of the study was to investigate short- and long-term results for this rarely used procedure.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 83 radio-chemotherapy naïve patients with adenocarcinoma at the gastro-esophageal junction (Siewert type II n = 65 and type III n = 18) operated upon 1986-2011.

RESULTS

2/83 (2.4%) patients died in hospital. 70/83 (84%) patients had R0-resections. 82/83 (99%) patients had free longitudinal resection margins. Overall 5-year survival was 22/83 (27%).

CONCLUSION

THX-ABD can be performed with high rates of R0 resections and with low in-hospital mortality. Long-term survival rate was not better compared with less extensive surgical procedures.

Value of transabdominal ultrasoud in preoperative assessment of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

AIM

To assess the value of transabdominal ultrasound (TUS) in the preoperative assessment of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).

METHODS

A total of 65 patients who underwent TUS and computed tomography (CT) preoperatively and were pathologically diagnosed with AEG after surgery from December 2014 to May 2016 were included in this study. The TUS or CT results were compared with pathological findings.

RESULTS

With regard to Siewert's classification, the diagnostic accuracy of TUS in AEG was 90.8% (85.7% for type Ⅰ and 92.2% for non-type Ⅰ). The accuracy of TUS and CT in T-staging of AEG was 33.8% and 63.1%, respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two diagnostic modalities (P < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in accuracy of N-staging and M-staging between CT and TUS (P > 0.05). For those who were preoperatively diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, there was no significant difference in the accuracy of T-staging of AEG between TUS and CT (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TUS is an available tool for the typing of AEG, which is useful for deciding surgical approaches. TUS has high value in preoperative N- and M-staging, and for patients who are preoperatively diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, both TUS and CT can be used in preoperative TNM-staging.

Esophagectomy for superficial esophageal cancer after non-curative endoscopic resection

BACKGROUND

Additional surgical treatment after non-curative endoscopic resection for superficial esophageal cancer should be considered unless the tumor is pathologically proven to be categorized within the absolute indication of endoscopic resection. However, the significance of this treatment strategy has been poorly evaluated until now.

METHODS

Additional esophagectomy with lymph node dissection was carried out for a total of 34 patients with esophageal cancer pathologically diagnosed as in contact with or invading the muscularis mucosa (pT1a-MM) or submucosa (pSM) and/or accompanying vascular permeation after endoscopic resection. The surgical results, pathological diagnosis after esophagectomy, and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

The pathological diagnosis after endoscopic resection revealed pT1a-MM in 7 patients, pSM in 27 patients, and vessel permeation in 24 patients. The approach to esophagectomy was via right and left thoracotomy in 26 patients and 2 patients, respectively, and was transhiatal in 6 patients. Three-field lymph node dissection was performed in 12 patients, and the mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 72 (range 31-132). Pathological lymph node metastasis was noted in 10 patients. Postoperative complications developed in 10 patients, and death due to pulmonary complications was observed in one patient. No postoperative recurrence was observed during the follow-up period (1-87 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Esophagectomy after endoscopic resection provides favorable disease control for esophageal cancer with pT1a-MM/pSM and/or vessel permeation, while strict consideration is required to determine the indication and procedure for surgery because of its invasiveness.

Distribution of lymph node metastasis and clinical validity of gastric tube reconstruction in lower thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with gastric invasion

BACKGROUND

The distribution of lymph node (LN) metastases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with gastric invasion remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between gastric invasion and abdominal LN metastasis in patients with esophageal SCC. Furthermore, the clinical validity of gastric tube reconstruction for those with gastric invasion was investigated.

METHODS

Patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy at our institution were reviewed. Gastric invasion was evaluated with pretreatment upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and classified into 3 groups: no invasion, Gr 0; slight invasion (0-19 mm), Gr 1; and massive invasion (20 mm or longer), Gr 2. The correlations between gastric invasion, the number of abdominal LN metastases, and postoperative recurrence were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 79 patients, the distribution of pretreatment gastric invasion was Gr 0, 1, and 2 in 57, 15, and 7 patients, respectively. All patients underwent subtotal esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction. There was no significant difference in the number of abdominal LN metastases among groups. In survival analysis, the location of the distal end of the tumor was not a predictive factor for postoperative recurrence. Regarding patterns of recurrence, in patients with gastric invasion, there was no remarkable increase in the frequency of recurrence in the abdominal LNs or the regional LNs around the gastric tube.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment gastric invasion did not significantly influence abdominal LN metastasis and postoperative recurrence. In patients with esophageal SCC at the lower thoracic esophagus with gastric invasion, subtotal esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction might be a valid surgical procedure.

Lymph node metastasis and lymphadenectomy of resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Based on Siewert classification, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEGs) have different behaviors of perigastric-mediastinal nodal metastasis. Siewert type I AEGs have higher incidence of mediastinal nodal metastasis than those of type II or III, especially at middle-upper mediastinum. With regard to the necessity of mediastinal lymphadenectomy, theoretically, transthoracic esophagogastrectomy with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy is suggested for Siewert type I AEGs, while transhiatal total gastrectomy with lower mediastinal and D2 perigastric lymphadenectomy is a standard surgery for type II-III AEGs. Nevertheless, the mediastinal nodal metastasis is an independent factor of poor prognosis for any type of AEG.