Objective: To investigate the application value of computed tomography (CT) examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 477 patients with primary thoracic ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. All of them underwent McKeown esophagectomy plus complete two-field or three-field lymph node dissection. Picture archiving and communication system were used to measure the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter in preoperative CT images. The postoperative pathological diagnosis results of cardia-left gastric lymph node were used as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of CT lymph node short diameter in detecting the metastasis of cardia-left gastric lymph node in thoracic ESCC, and determine the optimal cut-off value. Results: The median short diameter of the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node was 4.1 mm in 477 patients, and the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was less than 3 mm in 155 cases (32.5%). Sixty-eight patients had cardia-left gastric lymph node metastases, of which 38 had paracardial node metastases and 41 had left gastric node metastases. The lymph node ratios of paracardial node and left gastric node were 4.0% (60/1 511) and 3.3% (62/1 887), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT lymph node short diameter for evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis was 0.941 (95% CI: 0.904-0.977; P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value of CT examination of the cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was 6 mm, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.3%, 91.7%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: CT examination of lymph node short diameter can be a good evaluation of cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic ESCC, and the optimal cut-off value is 6 mm.
Humans ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology* ; Cardia/surgery* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Esophagectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To investigate the application value of computed tomography (CT) examination of lymph node short diameter in evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 477 patients with primary thoracic ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. All of them underwent McKeown esophagectomy plus complete two-field or three-field lymph node dissection. Picture archiving and communication system were used to measure the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter in preoperative CT images. The postoperative pathological diagnosis results of cardia-left gastric lymph node were used as the gold standard. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of CT lymph node short diameter in detecting the metastasis of cardia-left gastric lymph node in thoracic ESCC, and determine the optimal cut-off value. Results: The median short diameter of the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node was 4.1 mm in 477 patients, and the largest cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was less than 3 mm in 155 cases (32.5%). Sixty-eight patients had cardia-left gastric lymph node metastases, of which 38 had paracardial node metastases and 41 had left gastric node metastases. The lymph node ratios of paracardial node and left gastric node were 4.0% (60/1 511) and 3.3% (62/1 887), respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CT lymph node short diameter for evaluating cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis was 0.941 (95% CI: 0.904-0.977; P<0.05). The optimal cut-off value of CT examination of the cardia-left gastric lymph node short diameter was 6 mm, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.3%, 91.7%, and 90.8%, respectively. Conclusion: CT examination of lymph node short diameter can be a good evaluation of cardia-left gastric lymph node metastasis in thoracic ESCC, and the optimal cut-off value is 6 mm.
Humans ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology* ; Cardia/surgery* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; Esophagectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

Both pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) and segmental gastrectomy (SG) achieve the preservation of gastric cardia and pylorus through the circumferential resection of stomach, while concepts and surgical procedures of these two operations are obviously different. In this sense, transectional gastrectomy includes both PPG and SG. PPG is one of the standard surgical procedure for early gastric cancer (EGC). The extent of lymph node dissection (No.1, 3, 4sb, 4d, 6, 7, 8a, 9) and the retention of infrapyloric vessels, hepatic and pyloric branch of vagal nerve has formed a consensus. Meanwhile, SG is regarded as an investigational treatment according to the Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines. It is still controversial and may generate an ethical risk in the clinical practice. This article distinguishes the difference in the concepts and surgical procedures between PPG and SG, assisting a comprehensive evaluation in further research.
Cardia ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Pylorus ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery*

Adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) is the adenocarcinoma locating in the boundary of esophagus and cardia. Because of its increasing incidence, it has drawn attention widely around the world. In the 11th edition of Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer, the diagnosis of AEG should integrate endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal barium contrast and pathology. There are two classifications for AEG, Siewert classification and Nishi classification. In the 8th TNM staging manual, cancer crossing the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) with their epicenter within the proximal 2 cm of the stomach is incorporated into the esophagus chapter, whereas cancer crossing the EGJ with their epicenter in the proximal 2 to 5 cm of the stomach is addressed in the stomach chapter. All the tumors in stomach that do not cross the EGJ are classified as stomach cancer. The surgical approach of AEG remains controversial. Previous researches have suggested that abdominal transhiatal approach should be applied to Siewert type II and III. With respect to minimally invasive surgery, for Siewert I, the mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomy is conducted by thoracoscopy and laparoscopy respectively. After that a gastric tube is placed and the reconstruction is performed in the cervix. For Siewert type II, the whole procedure is accessed by laparotomy, and the lower mediastinum is accessed transhiatally. After lymphadenectomy the anastomosis can be laparoscopy-assisted or totally laparoscopic. As for Siewert type III, both circular and linear stapler can be used to perform reconstruction. With the development of surgical technology and continuous renovation of equipment, laparoscopic resection for AEG will be more and more popular.
Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; Cardia ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagogastric Junction ; surgery ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is a natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) that was developed to overcome the limitations of laparoscopic resection and conventional endoscopic resection methods (endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection). EFTR can be performed with endoscopy only or combined with a laparoscopic approach. During EFTR, the lesions can be exposed to peritoneum or not. Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) is a well-known procedure in which the lesion is exposed to peritoneum. Non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS) and simple non-exposure EFTR were developed to escape the exposure of the lesions to peritoneum. Submucosal tunneling method may be a good candidate for treatment of subepithelial tumors at the esophagogasric junction and gastric cardia. This review will give an overview about current EFTR techniques to treat subepithelial tumors and adenocarcinoma of stomach.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cardia ; Endoscopy ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery ; Peritoneum ; Stomach ; United Nations

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia cardia (AC).
 METHODS: A total of 62 patients with AC were enrolled and treated with POEM in the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from April 2012 to October 2014. The symptoms and complications were retrospectively analyzed.
 RESULTS: The ages of patients, including 32 males and 30 females, were 14-68 (43.2±5.6) years old. Eckardt scores were 4-6 or ≥7 for 25 patients or 37 patients (including 20 patients were at a score of 12). Thirteen patients suffered balloon expansion for 2-3 times. Sixty-one patients had completed POEM treatment, 1 patient were given Heller surgery instead of POEM because of extensive submucosal adhesion during POEM. The operative time for POEM was (60.8±15.1) min. Fourteen patients had mild subcutaneous emphysema. Among them, 5 suffered pneumoperitoneum and felt better after abdominal puncture exhaust; 2 patients suffered bronchospasm hypoxemia and were relieved after treatment by positive pressure oxygen for 1 h. The hospital stay was (4.3±1.2) d. The postoperative follow-up period was (11.4±5.4) months. Swallowing obstruction, vomiting and chest pain in patients was relieved at different degrees. The treatment effective rate was 100%. 
 CONCLUSION POEM is a safe, effective and minimally invasive approach for AC.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardia ; physiopathology ; Endoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Esophageal Achalasia ; surgery ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

While endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used to treat gastrointestinal tumors, it is rarely used for subepithelial tumors (SETs) originating from the muscularis propria of the esophagus and gastric cardia because of the risk of perforation and problems with inadequate space and field of view during procedures. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) is a new therapeutic method for treating SETs in specific locations in the esophagus and stomach. This technique is highly skill-dependent, using a mucosal flap that covers a deeper part of the gut wall, but is safe and minimally invasive compared with conventional endoscopic approaches such as ESD in SETs originating from the muscularis propria.We report a patient who underwent STER to remove a SET located at the gastric cardia. The patient recovered without any complications. We believe that our case shows the efficacy and safety of the STER technique for patients with a SET originating from the muscularis propria.
Cardia/pathology/surgery ; Endosonography ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology/surgery ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Leiomyoma/*diagnosis/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery

Cardia ; Esophageal Fistula ; therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Gastric Fistula ; therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Support ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between extranodal metastasis (EM) and clinicopathologic features as well as the effect of EM on the prognosis in gastric cardia patients.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed for the 323 cases with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia who underwent curative resection from January 2000 to January 2007. There were 272 male patients and 51 female patients with their median age of 63 (22 to 85) years. The relationship between clinicopathological features and extranodal metastasis was studied. The effects of the EM on the recurrence and survival of these patients were also analyzed.

RESULTSEM positive was detected in 67 (20.7%) of the 323 patients. The incidence of EM was correlated with tumor Lauren typing, differentiation degree, invasive depth and lymph node metastasis (χ(2) = 4.647-27.216, P < 0.05). The 5-year survival rate and media survival time between patients with EM and those without EM were 12.3%, 34.1% and 20, 39 months, there was a statistically significantly difference (χ(2) = 23.936, P = 0.000) in 5-year survival rate. Multivariate analysis identified that invasive depth, lymph node metustasis and EM as an independent prognostic factor of all the patients. To the last follow up, the cumulative probability of recurrence of EM-positive patients was significant higher than EM-negative patients (59.7% vs. 35.9%; χ(2) = 12.409, P = 0.000). To study furthermore, stratified analysis showed that, in the node-positive patients, the cumulative recurrence rate of EM-positive patients was higher than EM-negative patients (60.9% vs. 40.0%; χ(2) = 8.410, P = 0.004) and the 5-year survival rate of EM-positive patients was less than the EM-negative patients (12.9% vs. 30.1%; χ(2) = 12.939, P = 0.000), the differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSEM positive is determined to be an independent prognosis factor of gastric cardia after curative resection. EM-positive patients have a high risk for recurrence and a short time to live.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardia ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cardia ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagogastric Junction ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate