Adjuvant Therapy for Node-Positive Esophageal Cancer After Induction and Surgery: A Multisite Study

BACKGROUND

The benefit of adjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer patients with positive lymph nodes after induction therapy and esophagectomy is uncertain. This in-depth multicenter study assessed the benefit of adjuvant therapy in this population.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study from 9 institutions included patients who received neoadjuvant treatment, underwent esophagectomy from 2000 to 2014, and had positive lymph nodes on pathology. Factors associated with administration of adjuvant therapy were assessed using multilevel random-intercept modeling to account for institutional variation in practice. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed based on adjuvant treatment status. Variables associated with survival were identified using Cox proportional hazards modeling.

RESULTS

The study analyzed 1082 patients with node-positive cancer after induction therapy and esophagectomy: 209 (19.3%) received adjuvant therapy and 873 (80.7%) did not. Administration of adjuvant treatment varied significantly from 3.2% to 50.0% between sites (P < .001). Accounting for institution effect, factors associated with administration of adjuvant therapy included clinically positive and negative prognostic characteristics: younger age, higher pathologic stage, pathologic grade, no neoadjuvant radiotherapy nonsmoking status, and absence of postoperative infection. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed patients receiving adjuvant therapy had a longer median survival of 2.6 years vs 2.3 years (P = .02). Cox modeling identified adjuvant treatment as independently associated with improved survival, with a 24% reduction in mortality (hazard ratio, 0.76; P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant therapy was associated with improved overall survival. Therefore, consideration should be given to administration of adjuvant therapy to esophageal cancer patients who have persistent node-positive disease after induction therapy and esophagectomy and are able to tolerate additional treatment.

Induction chemoradiation is associated with improved survival in chest wall invasion lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine if induction chemotherapy with concurrent high-dose radiation followed by resection is associated with improved survival in patients with nonsuperior sulcus lung cancer with chest wall invasion.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of clinical T3 (chest wall invasion) N0/N1 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical resection between January 1, 1992, and January 31, 2017. Exclusion criteria included superior sulcus tumors and resection performed for palliation/recurrence. Patients undergoing induction chemoradiation followed by surgical resection were compared to those undergoing resection first or those receiving induction radiation followed by resection. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were included in the analysis, with 5-year overall survival (OS) of 30%. By clinical stage, 31 (91%) were IIB (T3N0) and 3 (9%) were IIIA (T3N1). Sixteen patients (47%) received induction chemoradiation before surgery. Of the remaining 18 patients, 5 (15%) received induction radiation followed by surgery, and 13 (38%) underwent surgery as the first treatment. Three patients belonging to the group not receiving induction chemoradiation died within 30 days after surgery and were excluded from survival analysis. In the remaining 31 patients, induction chemoradiation was associated with improved 5-year OS (53% for induction chemoradiation vs 7% for others; P<0.01). Disease recurrence was evident in 9 cases, 2 (12.5%) in the induction chemoradiation group and 7 (46.6%) in the others (median disease-free time 103.0 months for induction chemoradiation group vs 8.0 months for others; P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

In patients with nonsuperior sulcus lung cancer with chest wall invasion, induction chemoradiation therapy followed by resection is associated with improved OS.

Approach to resection of sternoclavicular tumor abutting the common carotid artery in irradiated field

Head and neck cancer recurrence at the sternoclavicular junction (SCJ) in irradiated field poses a special challenge in terms of surgical planning. We herein present a case of tonsillar squamous cell cancer recurrence at the SCJ in a patient with history of tracheostomy and head and neck radiation. We describe our preoperative planning for vascular control and possible reconstruction as well as our approach for safe resection.

Initial surgical experience following implementation of lung cancer screening at an urban safety net hospital

BACKGROUND

Safety net hospitals provide care mostly to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations, in whom delays in cancer screening are established barriers. Socioeconomic barriers might pose important challenges to the success of a lung cancer screening program at a safety net hospital. We aimed to determine screening follow-up compliance, rates of diagnostic and treatment procedures, and the rate of cancer diagnosis in patients classified as category 4 by the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS 4).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all patients enrolled in our multidisciplinary lung cancer screening program between March 2015 and July 2016. Demographics, smoking status, Lung-RADS score, and number of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and cancer diagnoses were captured.

RESULTS

A total of 554 patients were screened over a 16-month period. The mean patient age was 63 years (range, 47-85 years), and 60% were male. The majority (92%; 512 of 554) were classified as Lung-RADS 1 to 3, and 8% (42 of 554) were classified as Lung-RADS 4. Among the Lung-RADS 4 patients, 98% (41 of 42) completed their recommended follow-up; 29% (12 of 42) underwent a diagnostic procedure, for an overall diagnostic intervention rate of 2% (12 of 554). Eleven of these 12 patients had cancer, and 1 patient had sarcoidosis. The overall rate of surgical resection was 0.9% (5 of 554), and the rate of diagnostic intervention for noncancer diagnosis was 0.1% (1 of 554).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a multidisciplinary lung cancer screening program at a safety net hospital is feasible. Compliance with follow-up and interventional recommendations in Lung-RADS 4 patients was high despite anticipated social challenges. Overall diagnostic and surgical resection rates and interventions for noncancer diagnosis were low in our initial experience.

Endoscopic mucosal ablation and resection of Barrett's esophagus and related diseases

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease as well as the incidence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) has increased in the Western world over the last decades. The chronic reflux of gastric secretions injuries the esophageal mucosa and triggers cellular and molecular changes inducing the transformation of the normal squamous mucosa into columnar metaplastic epithelium. BE is a premalignant condition that can progress to low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia and ultimately esophageal adenocarcinoma. An early diagnosis of dysplastic changes and the adoption of appropriate therapeutic approaches are essential to improve patient outcomes and survival. Endoscopic therapies such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) have been developed to treat dysplastic changes and mucosal abnormalities suspicious of malignancy. RFA has shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of low and high-grade dysplasia. EMR is diagnostic for mucosal lesions and potentially therapeutic for high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal adenocarcinoma. Proficient endoscopic skills and frequent practice are essential elements for a successful result. Here, we describe patient selection, the pre- and post-operative management, and the surgical technique for RFA and EMR in patients with the diagnosis of dysplastic BE and intramucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Incidental posterior mediastinal paraganglioma: The safe approach to management, case report

INTRODUCTION

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells located in sympathetic paraganglia. Mediastinal paragangliomas are extremely rare and can be classified as functional or non-functional according to their ability for secreting catecholamines. Patients can be asymptomatic and the diagnosis is usually incidental. Complete surgical resection remains the standard of care for paragangliomas.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We present a 44-year-old woman with a functional mediastinal paraganglioma incidentally found during the perioperative imaging workup for a diagnosed breast carcinoma. Chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) showed a well-defined lesion in the posterior mediastinum suspicious for an esophageal malignancy. Endoscopic and CT-guided biopsies were performed confirming the diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumor. Laboratory studies showed elevated catecholamines and chromogranin A levels, consistent with a paraganglioma. Appropriate pre-operative management was done and successful surgical resection without catecholamine related complications was achieved.

DISCUSSION

The workup and treatment of incidentally discovered adrenal and extra-adrenal lesions are controversial. Because of the absence of symptoms and the wider differential diagnosis of extra-adrenal lesions, an attempt for biopsying and surgically remove these lesions prior to biochemical testing is not an uncommon scenario, although this could be potentially harmful. Surgeons should have an index of suspicion for catecholamine-secreting tumors and hormonal levels should be assessed prior to biopsy or surgical resection.

CONCLUSION

Surgeons should consider paragangliomas as a differential diagnosis for extra-adrenal lesions. Biochemical testing with catecholamines and chromogranin A levels should be performed prior to biopsy or surgical removal in order to avoid catastrophic complications.

Navigation bronchoscopy for diagnosis and small nodule location

Lung cancer continues to be the most common cause of cancer death. Screening programs for high risk patients with the use of low-dose computed tomography (CT) has led to the identification of small lung lesions that were difficult to identify using previous imaging modalities. Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) is a novel technique that has shown to be of great utility during the evaluation of small, peripheral lesions, that would otherwise be challenging to evaluate with conventional bronchoscopy. The diagnostic yield of navigational bronchoscopy however is highly variable, with reports ranging from 59% to 94%. This variability suggests that well-defined selection criteria and standardized protocols for the use of ENB are lacking. Despite this variability, we believe that this technique is a useful tool evaluating small peripheral lung lesions when patients are properly selected.

Optimizing the diagnosis and therapy of Barrett's esophagus

The incidence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in the Western world has increased over the last decades. BE is considered a premalignant lesion that can progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a highly aggressive malignancy with poor survival rates. The close association between BE and EAC highlights the need for an early diagnosis in order to improve survival and outcomes in this group of patients. Although the evidence for BE screening with conventional endoscopy is controversial and limited by cost-effectiveness studies, screening can be suggested in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and two or more risk factors for EAC. Less invasive techniques with lower costs and higher acceptability by the patients may be useful for screening in the general population. Several novel techniques have been described to aid in the early diagnosis and management of BE and dysplasia. However, these techniques have shown variable results with higher costs, the need of specific training, and variable inter-observer imaging interpretation, making its widespread implementation problematic. High-definition/high-resolution white-light endoscopy (WLE) continues to be a well-accepted technique for the evaluation and surveillance of patients with BE. Further studies are required in order to establish the efficacy of less invasive methods that can be performed in an outpatient setting for BE screening in higher risk individuals.

Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy with dye marking for identification of small peripheral lung nodules during minimally invasive surgical resection

BACKGROUND

Identification of small peripheral lung nodules during minimally invasive resection can be challenging. Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) with injection of dye to identify nodules can be performed by the surgeon immediately prior to resection. We evaluated the effectiveness of ENB with dye marking to aid minimally invasive resection.

METHODS

Patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules underwent ENB before planned thoracoscopic or robotic-assisted thoracoscopic resection. Methylene blue was injected directly into the lesion for pleural-based lesions or peripherally for lesions deep to the pleural surface. Surgical resection was then immediately performed. Technical success was defined as identification of the dye marking within/close to the lesion with pathological confirmation after minimally invasive surgical resection.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (19 nodules) underwent ENB with dye marking followed by minimally invasive resection. Median lesion size was 9 mm (4-32 mm) and the median distance from the pleura was 9.5 mm (1-40 mm). Overall success rate was 79% (15/19). In two cases the dye was not visualized and in the remaining two there was extravasation of dye into the pleural space. There were trends favoring technical success for nodules that were larger or closer to the pleural surface. Five patients required adhesiolysis to visualize the target lesion and all were successful. There were no significant adverse events and a definitive diagnosis was ultimately accomplished in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

ENB with dye marking is useful for guiding minimally invasive resection of small peripheral lung nodules. ENB can be undertaken immediately before performing resection in the operating room. This improves workflow and avoids the need for a separate localization procedure.

Subcutaneous metastases from early stage esophageal adenocarcinoma case report

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Subcutaneous metastases from esophageal adenocarcinoma are rare.

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Associated risk factors have not been clearly elucidated and prognosis is poor.

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We present three cases of subcutaneous metastases from esophageal adenocarcinoma.

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These metastases can occur even after resection of early stage disease.

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They can occur at various intervals of time and various locations.

The identification of subcutaneous metastatic lesions from primary visceral malignancies has increased over time, probably due to an increase in the awareness of their presentation and an increase in cancer survival times. Although the rate of subcutaneous metastases from breast,lung and colon cancer is more significant, the incidence of subcutaneous metastases from esophageal carcinomas is very low. These metastatic lesions usually present metachronously and may signify advanced disease and poor prognosis. We report three cases with early stage esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with surgery with curative intent presenting with subcutaneous metastases two months, two years and three years after their esophagectomy.