Carcinoma in Situ ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Prevalence ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo analyze associated factors and the prognosis of patients with residual cancer after esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, and to assess outcomes after salvage treatment.

METHODSClinical and pathological data of 1074 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who underwent esophagectomy in the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from 1997 to 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between the associated factors (differentiation, location, length of the lesion, surgical route, anastomosis site, T stage, N stage) and the incidence of residual cancer was analyzed, using the chi-squared test and Logistic regression analysis methods. The value and the modality of the salvage treatment were investigated.

RESULTSForty-four patients had residual cancer (4.3%). Cancers in the upper esophagus were associated with the highest incidence of residual cancer on esophageal stump (6.5%), while the lower esophagus had the highest incidence of residual cancer on gastric stump (0.78%). The Incidence correlated with T and N stage. Logistic regression analysis showed that T and N stage were the risk factors of residual cancer. Three-year survival rate was 22.7% in patients with residual cancer. The mean survival time was 25.2+/-3.3 months. Three-year survival rates of patients with and without salvage treatment were 53.2% and 7.8%, respectively (P=0.027). Three-year survival rate of patients with salvage radiotherapy was 56.0%.

CONCLUSIONSAdvanced T and N stage are the risk factors of residual cancer after esophagectomy in the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Salvage treatment can improve the survival of the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm, Residual ; epidemiology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Oncologists and scientists in the field of head and neck cancer exchanged their research findings and clinical experiences in the Sino-USA Symposium on Head and Neck Cancer, which was held January 6-7, 2012 in Guangzhou, China. The symposium was jointly organized by Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). The Guangdong Provincial Anti-Cancer Association and the Chinese Journal of Cancer also helped in organizing the conference. Speakers were from China (SYSUCC, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center) and the United States (MDACC). The presentations covered most kinds of head and neck cancers and included both basic and clinical research progress. In particular, NPC was discussed in depth. The symposium explored the reality that cancer is complex and numerous questions remain to be answered, even though there has already been an enormous effort into research. International exchanges of experience and in-depth cooperation are definitely needed to improve our capability of caring for cancer patients. In this article, we provide highlights of the presentations.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology

PURPOSE: Decision to perform concurrent ipsilateral thyroidectomy on patients with hypopharyngeal cancer is important, and unnecessary thyroidectomy should be avoided if oncologically feasible. We hypothesized that concurrent ipsilateral thyroidectomy is not routinely required to prevent occult metastasis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of histological thyroid invasion in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, and to refine the indications for prophylactic ipsilateral thyroidectomy in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records from the Department of Otolaryngology at Yonsei University College of Medicine was conducted from January 1994 to December 2009. A total of 49 patients underwent laryngopharyngectomy with thyroidectomy as a primary treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer. RESULTS: The incidence of thyroid gland involvement was 10.2%. The most common route of invasion was direct extension through the thyroid cartilage. Thyroid cartilage invasion (p=0.034) was the most significant factor associated with thyroid invasion. Disease-specific survival at 5 years was lower in patients with than without thyroid gland invasion (26.7% vs. 55.2%, respectively; p=0.032). Disease-free survival at 5 years was also lower in patients with than without thyroid gland invasion (20.0% vs. 52.1%, respectively; p=0.024). CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral thyroidectomy in combination with total laryngopharyngectomy is indicated when invasion of the thyroid cartilage is suspected in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/epidemiology/pathology/*surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology/pathology/*surgery ; Incidence ; *Laryngectomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/epidemiology/pathology/surgery ; *Pharyngectomy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland/*pathology/surgery ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology/*secondary ; Thyroidectomy/*methods

PURPOSE: After esophagectomy and gastric reconstruction for esophageal cancer, patients suffer from various symptoms that can detract from quality of life. Endoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating patients after esophagectomy. This observational study was performed to investigate the correlation between symptoms and endoscopic findings one year after esophageal surgery and to assess the clinical usefulness of one-year endoscopic follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2001 to 2008, 162 patients who underwent esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction were endoscopically examined one year after operation. RESULTS: Patients suffered from the following symptoms: nocturnal cough (n=10), regurgitation (n=7), cervical heartburn (n=3), lump sensation (n=2), dysphagia (n=20) and odynophagia (n=22). Eighty-five (52.5%) patients had abnormal findings on endoscopic examination. Twelve (7.4%) patients had reflux esophagitis, and 37 (22.8%) patients had an anastomotic stricture. Only stricture-related symptoms were correlated with the finding of anastomotic strictures (p<0.001). Two patients had recurrences at the anastomotic sites, and four patients had regional lymph node recurrences with gastric conduit invasion visualized by endoscopy. Newly-developed malignancies in the esophageal remnant or hypopharynx that were not detected by clinical symptoms and imaging studies were reported in two patients. CONCLUSION: One year after esophagectomy, endoscopic findings were not correlated with clinical symptoms, except those related to stricture. Routine endoscopic follow-up is a useful tool for identifying latent functional and oncological lesions.
Anastomosis, Surgical ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology/*surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Esophagectomy/*adverse effects ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Postoperative Complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies