Abstract： Objective To summarize the technical characteristics and experience on the surgical treatment of esophagobrochial fistula induced by esophageal carcinoma and explore the safe and effective operation procedures. Methods This report retrospective1y summarized 12 cases of esophagobronchial fistula induced by esophageal cancer between January 2007 and November 2010 in Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University. There were 9 male patients and 3 female patients with their mean age of 51.24 years (ranging from 37 to 62 years). Four types of surgical procedures were performed to patients according to their respective conditions: (1) Esophagectomy ＋“tunnel”esophagogastrostomy ＋ pulmonary lobectomy (2 patients)； (2) Esophagectomy ＋ stapled esophagogastrostomy ＋ pulmonary lobectomy (5 patients)； (3) Esophagectomy ＋ colon interposition for esophagus ＋ pulmonary lobectomy (4 patients)； (4) Esophagectomy ＋ esophagogastrostomy ＋ left pneumonectomy (1 patient). Results Among those 12 cases presenting to our hospital, 2 patients died during the postoperative period and the overall morality was 16.67%(2/12). One patient died of acute congestive heart failure on the 4th postoperative day after esophagectomy, “tunnel”esophagogastrostomy and left lower lobectomy of the lung for esophageal carcinoma directly invading the left lower bronchus, and another patient died of severe infection and renal failure on the 11th postoperative day after esophagectomy, stapled esophagogastrostomy and left upper lobectomy of the lung for esophageal carcinoma directly invading the left upper bronchus. Four patients developed mild empyema and 1 patienthad bronchial fistula after surgery, who finally recovered and were discharged after treatment of antibiotics and drainage. The postoperative morbidity was 41.67%（5/12）. All surviving patients were followed up from 1 month to 3 years. During follow-up, there was one death, and the other patients were alive without any clinical events. Conclusion Individualized surgical procedure is a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with esophagobronchial fistula induced by esophageal carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo establish the gene-based esophageal cancer (ESCA) risk score prediction models via whole transcriptome analysis to provide ideas and basis for improving ESCA treatment strategies and patient prognosis.MethodsRNA sequencing data of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and adjacent tissues were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The edgeR method was used to screen out the differential genes between ESCA tissue and normal tissue, and the key genes affecting the survival status of ESCC and EAC patients were initially identified through univariate Cox regression analysis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to further screen genes and establish ESCC and EAC risk score prediction models.ResultsThe risk score prediction models were the independent prognostic factors for ESCA, and the risk score was significantly related to the survival status of patients. In ESCC, the risk score was related to T stage. In EAC, the risk score was related to lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and clinical stage. The constructed nomogram based on risk score showed good predictive ability. In ESCC, the risk score was related to tumor immune cell infiltration and the expression of immune checkpoint genes. However, this feature was not obvious in EAC.ConclusionThe ESCC and EAC risk score prediction models have shown good predictive capabilities, which provide certain inspiration and basis for optimizing the management of ESCA and improving the prognosis of patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical outcomes of larynx-preserving limited resection with total thoracic esophagectomy and gastric pull-up reconstruction for the treatment of cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) without tumor involvement of the larynx and hypopharynx compared with the upper thoracic ESCC.MethodsRetrospective and comparative analysis of consecutive patients with cervical and upper thoracic ESCC who underwent R0 surgical resection from 2006 to 2011 in our center was performed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the patients’ survival.ResultsIn total, 44 pairs of patients, including 71 males and 17 females with an average age of 60.66±8.49 years were enrolled in the study after propensity score matching. The baseline characteristics of the two groups of patients were well balanced. There was no statistical difference in the operation time (P=0.100), blood loss (P=0.685), mortality rate in 30 days (P=1.000), total complication rate (P=0.829), cervical anastomosis leakage (P=0.816), mechanical ventilation (P=1.000), normal oral diet within 15 days (P=0.822) and anastomosis recurrence rate (P=0.676) between the two groups. Survival analysis showed that there was no statistical difference in survival time between the cervical group [31.83 (95%CI 8.65-55.02) months] and upper thoracic group [37.73 (95%CI 25.29-50.18) months, P=0.533]. The 5-year survival rates were 32.6% and 42.1%, respectively.ConclusionLarynx-preserving limited resection with total thoracic esophagectomy and gastric pull-up reconstruction for the treatment of cervical ESCC without involvement of the larynx and hypopharynx may result in a similar clinical outcome to upper thoracic ESCC.