A 71-year-old male presented with esophageal cancer and severe aortic valve regurgitation. Treatment strategies for such patients are controversial. Considering the risks of cardiopulmonary bypass and potential esophageal cancer metastasis, we successfully performed transcatheter aortic valve implantation and minimally invasive three-incision thoracolaparoscopy combined with radical resection of esophageal cancer (McKeown) simultaneously in the elderly patient who did not require neoadjuvant treatment. This dual minimally invasive procedure took 6 hours and the patient recovered smoothly without any surgical complications.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect on complication after esophagectomy by comparing the different methods of anastomosis (cervical versus thoracic anastomosis). MethodsWe searched the following databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang database to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cervical versus thoracic anastomosis for esophagectomy patients from establishment of each database to October 30, 2014. Quality of the included RCT was evaluated. Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsWe finally identified 4 RCTs involving 267 patients. In terms of the postoperative complication, the incidence of anastomotic leakage (RR=3.83, 95%CI 1.70 to 8.63, P=0.001) with cervical anastomosis was significantly higher than that of the patients with thoracic anastomosis. However, there was no statistical difference in incidence of anastomotic stricture (RR=1.04, 95%CI 0.62 to 1.76, P=0.87), pulmonary complication (RR=0.73, 95%CI 0.27 to 1.91, P=0.52), and mortality (RR=0.89, 95%CI 0.40 to 1.97, P=0.77) between cervical and thoracic anastomosis. ConclusionCompared with thoracic anastomosis, the method of cervical anastomosis is associated with a higher incidence of anastomotic leakage. But there are many unclear factors about anastomotic stricture, pulmonary complication and mortality, further measurement should be taken.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis gene Livin and its relationship with expression of P53,Bcl-2 in esophageal carcinoma tissues. Methods The expression of Livin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in 36 esophageal carcinoma tissues and 18 paracancerous tissues were measured by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) combined with silver staining technique. The expression of Livin, P53 and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by immunohistochemical method (streptavidin-peroxidase). Results RT-PCR results: Livin mRNA positive expression of esophageal carcinoma tissues was more evident than that of paracancerous tissues, the expression of both variants was simultaneous basically. Immunohistochemical results: the Livin protein positive expression rate of esophageal carcinoma tissues was higher evidently than that of paracancerous tissues(Plt;0.01). Livin protein positive expression rate of external coat of esophagus invaded by carcinoma was higher than that of tunica muscularis esophagi invaded by carcinoma(Plt;0.05); Livin protein positive expression rate of lymph node metastasis was higher than that of normal lymph node (Plt;0.05). The expression of Livin protein was not related to the expression of P53 protein（χ2=1.00,P=0.505）,but it was positively related to the expression of Bcl-2 protein（χ2=10.60，P=0.003）. Conclusion Aberrant expression of Livin may be a new target for diagnosis and gene treatment of esophageal carcinoma.The aberrant expression of Livinand apoptosis related gene Bcl-2 may play synergetic roles in process of carcinogenesis of esophageal carcinoma.
Neoadjuvant therapy has become the standard treatment for locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer, significantly improving long-term survival compared to surgery alone. Neoadjuvant therapy has evolved to include various strategies, such as concurrent chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted combination therapy. This enriches clinical treatment options and provides a more personalized and scientific treatment approach for patients. This article aims to comprehensively summarize current academic research hot topics, review the rationale and evaluation measures of neoadjuvant therapy, discuss challenges in restaging methods after neoadjuvant therapy, and identify the advantages and disadvantages of various neoadjuvant therapeutic strategies.
Objective To show the changes of coagulation function in patients with esophageal carcinoma, and to explore the clinical significance of the changes. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 202 patients(as a trial group, 114 males, 88 females, aged from 36 to 69 years, median age at 49 years) with esophageal carcinoma confirmed by pathological examination in Gansu Provincial Hospital from January 2010 through May 2014. The prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin time activity (PTA), international activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fib), D-Dimer, and platelet count, pathological type, TNM stage, gender were recorded. Eighty patients (38 males, 42 females, with aged of 39 to 71 years, median age of 51 years) without cancer were selected as a control group. Results Compared with the control group, coagulation parameters including PT, APTT, PLT, Fib, TT, D-Dimer were statistically higher in the trial group (P<0.05). Higher Fib level was found in the squamous cell esophageal carcinoma patients than adenocarcinoma cell esophageal carcinoma patients (P<0.05). Fib increased significantly (P<0.05) and APTT shorten (P<0.05) in the patients at stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ compared with those of patients at stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ. Fib and D-Dimer levels increased (P<0.05) in N1-3 patients compared with those of N0 patients. There was no statistical difference in gender or age (P>0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion Most of the patients with esophageal carcinoma have abnormal changes of coagulation and fibrinolysis system. Patients with squamous subtype and/or lymph node metastasis at advanced stages of esophageal carcinoma are prone to thrombophilia. So monitoring the coagulation parameters of cancer patients can be used as an effective measure to prevent blood clot.
Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of non-gastrointestinal decompression after esophagectomy and the necessity of gastric tube or the time to remove gastric tube. Methods Thirty patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, were included in the trial from June to October 2017. The patients were randomly and equally assigned to a trial group (non-gastrointestinal decompression) or a control group (gastrointestinal decompression). There was no significant difference in age (P=1.000), sex (P=1.000), tumor location (P=0.732), pathological type (P=1.000), pathological stage (P=0.507), and operation time (P=0.674) between the two groups. The clinical effect between the two groups were compared. Results There was no statistical difference in incidences of anastomotic leakage (P=1.000), anastomotic bleeding (P=1.000), gastroesophageal reflux (P=1.000) between the two groups. And there was no statistical difference in time of the first flatus (P=0.629) and the first bowel movement (P=0.599) after operation between the two groups. Conclusion Without gastrointestinal decompression after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy does not increase the incidences of anastomotic leakage, anastomotic bleeding and gastroesophageal reflux, and has no significant effect on the recovery of gastrointestinal function. Without gastrointestinal decompression after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is safe and feasible. Removing gastric tube on the second day after operation is reasonable and feasible.
China is one of the countries in the world with the highest rate of esophageal cancer. Early detection, accurate diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal cancer are critical for improving patients’ prognosis and survival. Machine learning technology has become widely used in cancer, which is benefited from the accumulation of medical images and advancement of artificial intelligence technology. Therefore, the learning model, image type, data type and application efficiency of current machine learning technology in esophageal cancer are summarized in this review. The major challenges are identified, and solutions are proposed in medical image machine learning for esophageal cancer. Machine learning's potential future directions in esophageal cancer diagnosis and treatment are discussed, with a focus on the possibility of establishing a link between medical images and molecular mechanisms. The general rules of machine learning application in the medical field are summarized and forecasted on this foundation. By drawing on the advanced achievements of machine learning in other cancers and focusing on interdisciplinary cooperation, esophageal cancer research will be effectively promoted.