Outcome of superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a clinicopathological study

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinicopathological features and outcome of patients with pathologically proven superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. METHODS: A total of 234 consecutive cases of esophageal carcinoma in a 15-year period were reviewed. RESULTS: Superficial esophageal cancer was found in five patients (2.1%). They were four men and one woman and the mean age was 52.5 years. Smoking and alcohol were the main risk factors. Achalasia due to Chagas disease occurred in one patient and a second primary tumor developed in the larynx in another patient. Four patients underwent esophagectomy and one patient received chemoradiotherapy. The histopathologic diagnosis was of squamous cell carcinoma in all cases. Intramucosal tumor (Tis) was identified in three cases and superficially invasive carcinoma in two cases. Four patients are free of disease with survival times of two, four, six and nine years. The patient who developed laryngeal cancer died six years after esophagectomy. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival in patients with esophageal cancer is related to early diagnosis. Therefore, a less aggressive surgical approach, such as endoscopic resection, may be a good option for these patients, if depth of tumor invasion can be accurately predicted by the new imaging tools.

Flora do delgado em megas chagásicos: estudo pelo teste do H2 respiratório.

The author use the H2 breath test to study the small bowel microflora of chagasic patients with megaesophagus and/or megacolon. Compare this group with a control one. Find a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the small bowel flora of chagasic group. It is concluded that H2 breath is a simple and useful test to detect alteration in intestinal flora.

Revisão analítica das escalas de disfagia

INTRODUÇÃO: Instrumento eficiente para medição da disfagia, facilmente reprodutível e estatisticamente consistente, deveria fornecer dados mais consistentes sobre os resultados e acompanhamento de doenças com disfagia. As propostas existentes mostram ampla cobertura na avaliação do sintoma disfágico. OBJETIVOS: Analisar as escalas de disfagia disponíveis sugerindo as que permitem avaliação mais objetiva e estatisticamente consistente, e não apenas ferramenta de mensuração, e sugerir as que melhor quantificam o sintoma e úteis para seguimento dos pacientes. MÉTODO: Foram pesquisados os seguintes descritores no Pubmed: "disfagia", "escala", "index", "score". Dez artigos foram selecionados entre 1995 e 2012 com propostas de escalas para a disfagia. RESULTADOS: A maioria das escalas não atingiram os requisitos para serem classificadas como ferramenta completa na avaliação de qualquer disfagia. Muitas são específicas para uma única doença, e poucas com maior abrangência, não têm consistência estatística. Para disfagia orofaríngea (cervical), as escalas FOIS e ASHA são citadas com mais frequência. Na disfagia motora (cervical), a de Zaninotto e Youssef têm aplicabilidade prática, mas ambas necessitam de validação estatística. A de Zaninotto parece ser mais precisa por incluir mais variáveis (disfagia, dor no peito e azia). As escalas que cobrem as duas formas de disfagia (ASHA e DHI) são bem diferentes em seus objetivos. A DHI é escala publicada recentemente examina os dois tipos de disfagia e tem validação estatística bem estruturada. Importante passo no futuro seria testar essa nova proposta com amostra mais expressiva e representativa, provavelmente consagrando esse novo instrumento de avaliação. CONCLUSÃO: As escalas mais frequentes de disfagia relatadas nos últimos 17 anos têm propósito e estruturas diferentes. As escalas FOIS e ASHA são muitas vezes utilizadas para a avaliação da disfagia orofaringeana (região cervical), ambas focadas em terapia nutricional. Para a avaliação motora baixa, a escala de Zaninotto e Youssef tem aplicação prática, e a DHI parece representar a ferramenta mais promissora na avaliação global da disfagia.

Inter-observer agreement for diagnostic classification of esophageal motility disorders defined in high-resolution manometry

High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) is a recent development used in the evaluation of esophageal function. Our aim was to assess the inter-observer agreement for diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders using this technology. Practitioners registered on the HRM Working Group website were invited to review and classify (i) 147 individual water swallows and (ii) 40 diagnostic studies comprising 10 swallows using a drop-down menu that followed the Chicago Classification system. Data were presented using a standardized format with pressure contours without a summary of HRM metrics. The sequence of swallows was fixed for each user but randomized between users to avoid sequence bias. Participants were blinded to other entries. (i) Individual swallows were assessed by 18 practitioners (13 institutions). Consensus agreement (≤2/18 dissenters) was present for most cases of normal peristalsis and achalasia but not for cases of peristaltic dysmotility. (ii) Diagnostic studies were assessed by 36 practitioners (28 institutions). Overall inter-observer agreement was 'moderate' (kappa 0.51) being 'substantial' (kappa > 0.7) for achalasia type I/II and no lower than 'fair-moderate' (kappa >0.34) for any diagnosis. Overall agreement was somewhat higher among those that had performed >400 studies (n = 9; kappa 0.55) and 'substantial' among experts involved in development of the Chicago Classification system (n = 4; kappa 0.66). This prospective, randomized, and blinded study reports an acceptable level of inter-observer agreement for HRM diagnoses across the full spectrum of esophageal motility disorders for a large group of clinicians working in a range of medical institutions. Suboptimal agreement for diagnosis of peristaltic motility disorders highlights contribution of objective HRM metrics.

Characteristics of Consecutive Esophageal Motility Diagnoses After a Decade of Change

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and esophageal manometry (MII-EM) measures concomitantly bolus transit and pressure changes allowing determination of the functional impact of esophageal motility abnormalities. Ten years ago our laboratory reported MII-EM results in 350 consecutive patients. Since then high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) became available and the definitions of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and nutcracker esophagus were revised. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of these developments on esophageal function testing. METHODS From August 2012 through May 2013, HRIM was performed in 350 patients referred for esophageal function testing. Each patient received 10 liquid and 10 viscous swallows. While taking advantage of the new technology and revised criteria, HRIM findings were classified according to the conventional criteria to allow more appropriate comparison with our earlier analysis. RESULTS Compared with the study performed 10 years ago, the prevalence of normal manometry (36% vs. 35%), achalasia (7% vs. 8%), scleroderma (1% vs. 1%), hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (7% vs. 7%), and hypotensive LES (1% vs. 2%) remained the same, whereas the prevalence of distal esophageal spasm (9% vs. 3%), nutcracker esophagus (9% vs. 3%), and poorly relaxing LES (10% vs. 3%) decreased and the prevalence of IEM increased (20% vs. 31%) significantly. Compared with the early study, normal liquid bolus transit was significantly different in patients with hypertensive LES (96% vs. 57%) and poorly relaxing LES (55% vs. 100%). CONCLUSIONS This study brings to light the increase in prevalence of IEM. In addition, it suggests that the hypertensive LES and poorly relaxing LES may each affect bolus transit in about half of these patients.

Anastomotic strictures in colorectal surgery: treatment with endoscopic balloon dilation

The incidence of anastomotic stricture following colorectal surgery has increased in recent years. This complication is observed in 2-5% of all operated patients and is probably due to the greater number of low anastomoses performed with surgical staplers. We observed 31 patients with postoperative stricture, arising from one to nine months post-surgery. All patients had been treated for colorectal cancer and underwent endoscopy either during routine follow-up or for symptoms of stenosis. In 16 patients (group A) the stricture diameter was less than 4 mm and the patients had symptoms attributable to partial bowel obstruction. In the remaining 15 patients (group B), who had difficult bowel movements, the stricture diameter ranged from 4 to 8 mm. All patients were treated with endoscopic dilation using achalasia balloons. The results were considered good when the post-dilation anastomosis diameter achieved was at least 13 mm, fair when it was 9-12 mm and poor when it was less than 9 mm. The short term results (3 weeks) were good in 27 patients (87.2%), fair in 3 patients (9.6%), and poor in 1 patient (3.2%). After several unsuccessful dilations, the latter was treated by surgery. Follow-up at 3-4 months of the remaining 30 patients revealed good results in 20 (66.6%), fair in 6 (20%), and poor in 4 (13.3%). In 1 of these 4 patients, cancer recurrence was observed and a new surgical resection was performed. In 2 patients a self–expandable metal stent was inserted for 4-6 weeks, with satisfactory results. In 1 patient a biodegradable polydioxanone stent was inserted with good results after 6 months. Follow-up at 3-4 months showed good results in 25 patients. After 38 months, cancer recurrence in the area of the anastomosis was observed in 1 patient, who was treated surgically. Endoscopic dilatation should be considered the first therapeutic approach in case of anastomotic strictures, as it is immediately effective, repeatable, and does not preclude surgery if this should become necessary. .

Miotomía extendida en el tratamiento de la acalasia

La acalasia es una enfermedad esofágica poco frecuente que se acompaña de una importante alteración de la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Su etiología no está totalmente aclarada y sus características clínicas principales son la disfagia y la regurgitación. El tratamiento de la acalasia está dirigido al alivio funcional y sintomático mediante la abertura del esfínter esofágico inferior, siendo al momento la miotomía laparoscópica la técnica de elección mientras que las dilataciones neumáticas y la inyección de toxina botulínica deben considerarse como técnicas de recurso en casos seleccionados. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados de la miotomía extendida más funduplicatura parcial anterior de Dorr como tratamiento de la acalasia por vía laparoscópica, comparándola con nuestra experiencia previa mediante la técnica estándar. Materiales y método: diseño: Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y longitudinal. Sede: Hospital Latino, Cuenca - Ecuador. Pacientes y método: Desde junio de 1992 hasta diciembre del 2011 se intervinieron 39 pacientes con diagnóstico de acalasia que recibieron tratamiento quirúrgico por medio de cirugía mínimamente invasiva. Se estudió la edad, sintomatología previa, clasificación según Stewart, tiempo de evolución de los síntomas, técnica operatoria realizada, control postoperatorio. Resultados: Se intervinieron 39 paciente, con edad promedio de 66 años, mínima 23 y máxima 81. La sintomatología presentada fue disfagia en el 100%, regurgitación en el 74,4%, pérdida de peso en el 71,8% y odinofagia en el 28.2%. El tiempo de evolución de los síntomas fueron: menor a 2 años 48.7% (n=19), de 2 a 4 años 33.3% (n=13), de 4 a 6 años de 12.8% (n=5), y de 6 a 8 años un 5.1% (n=2). Según Stewart se clasificaron en I 8% (n=3), II 49% (n=19), III 38% (n=15) y IV 5% (n=2).La técnica empleada fue Miotomía + Dorr 57% (n=22), Miotomía extendida + Dorr 20% (n=8), Miotomía sola 18% (n=7), Miotomía + Toupet 5% (n=2). Se ha realizado seguimiento del 75% de pacientes, con resultados excelentes en el 91%, y bueno en el 9%. En los ocho últimos casos se realizó la miotomía extendida más funduplicatura tipo Dorr, brindando resultados excelentes a corto plazo. Conclusión: la miotomía gástrica extendida mejora el resultado de la terapia quirúrgica para la acalasia sin incrementar la tasa de reflujo gastroesofágico anormal cuando se añade una funduplicatura parcial anterior tipo Dorr.

Terapia chirurgica dell'acalasia scompensata: prevalenza e fattori di rischio per lo sviluppo del carcinoma esofageo, risultati clinico-funzionali a lungo termine della chirurgia conservativa e dell'esofagectomia

La chirurgia conservativa o l’esofagectomia, possono essere indicate per il trattamento della disfagia nell’acalasia scompensata. L’esofagectomia è inoltre finalizzata alla prevenzione dello sviluppo del carcinoma esofageo. Gli obiettivi erano: a) definire prevalenza e fattori di rischio per il carcinoma epidermoidale; b) confrontare i risultati clinici e funzionali di Heller-Dor con pull-down della giunzione esofagogastrica (PD-HD) ed esofagectomia. I dati in analisi, ricavati da un database istituito nel 1973 e finalizzato alla ricerca prospettica, sono stati: a) le caratteristiche cliniche, radiologiche ed endoscopiche di 573 pazienti acalasici; b) il risultato oggettivo e la qualità della vita, definita mediante questionario SF-36, dopo intervento di PD-HD (29 pazienti) e dopo esofagectomia per acalasia scompensata o carcinoma (20 pazienti). Risultati: a) sono stati diagnosticati 17 carcinomi epidermoidali ed un carcinosarcoma (3.14%). Fattori di rischio sono risultati essere: il diametro esofageo (p<0.001), il ristagno esofageo (p<0.01) e la durata dei sintomi dell’acalasia (p<0.01). Secondo l’albero di classificazione, soltanto i pazienti con esito insufficiente del trattamento ai controlli clinico-strumentali ed acalasia sigmoidea presentavano un rischio di sviluppare il carcinoma squamocellulare del 52.9%. b) Non sono state riscontrate differenze statisticamente significative tra i pazienti sottoposti ad intervento conservativo e quelli trattati con esofagectomia per quanto concerne l’esito dell’intervento valutato mediante parametri oggettivi (p=0.515). L’analisi della qualità della vita non ha evidenziato differenze statisticamente significative per quanto concerne i domini GH, RP, PF e BP. Punteggi significativamente più elevati nei domini RE (p=0.012), VT (p<0.001), MH (p=0.001) e SF (p=0.014) sono stati calcolati per PD-HD rispetto alle esofagectomie. In conclusione, PD-HD determina una miglior qualità della vita, ed è pertanto la procedura di scelta per i pazienti con basso rischio di cancro. A coloro che abbiano già raggiunto i parametri di rischio, si offrirà l’esofagectomia o l'opzione conservativa seguita da protocolli di follow-up.