Endoscopic treatment of extreme esophageal stenosis complicated with esophagotracheal fistula: A case report

BACKGROUND At present,there is no unified and effective treatment for extreme corrosive esophageal stenosis(CES)with esophagotracheal fistula(ETF).This case had extreme and severe esophageal stenosis(ES)and ETF after ingesting an enzyme-based chemical detergent,resulting in a serious pulmonary infection and severe malnutrition.Upper gastrointestinal imaging showed that he had an ETF,and endoscopy showed that he had extreme and severe esophageal stricture.This case was complex and difficult to treat.According to the domestic and foreign lite-rature,there is no universal treatment that is low-risk.CASE SUMMARY A patient came to our hospital with extreme ES,an ETF,and severe malnutrition complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis 1 mo after the consumption of an enzy-me-based detergent.The ES was serious,and the endoscope was unable to pass through the esophagus.We treated him by endoscopic incision method(EIM),esophageal stent placement(ESP),and endoscopic balloon dilation(EBD)by using the bronchoscope and gastroscope.This treatment not only closed the ETF,but also expanded the esophagus,with minimal trauma,greatly reducing the pain of the patient.According to the literature,there are no similar reported cases.CONCLUSION We report,for the first time,a patient with extreme CES complicated with ETF,where the endoscope could not be passed through his esophagus but he could be examined by bronchoscopy and treated by EIM,ESP,and EBD.

Therapeutic effect of Wendan Decoction combined with mosapride on gastroesophageal reflux disease after esophageal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)is a common complication of esophageal cancer surgery that can affect quality of life and increase the risk of esophageal stricture and anastomotic leakage.Wendan Decoction(WDD)is a traditional Chinese herbal formula used to treat various gastrointestinal disorders,such as gastritis,functional dyspepsia,and irritable bowel syndrome.Mosapride,a prokinetic agent,functions as a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 agonist,enhancing gastrointestinal motility.AIM To evaluate the therapeutic effects of WDD combined with mosapride on GERD after esophageal cancer surgery.METHODS Eighty patients with GERD were randomly divided into treatment(receiving WDD combined with mosapride)and control(receiving mosapride alone)groups.The treatment was conducted from January 2021 to January 2023.The primary outcome was improved GERD symptoms as measured using the reflux disease questionnaire(RDQ).The secondary outcomes were improved esophageal motility(measured using esophageal manometry),gastric emptying(measured using gastric scintigraphy),and quality of life[measured via the Short Form-36(SF-36)Health Survey].RESULTS The treatment group showed a notably reduced RDQ score and improved esophageal motility parameters,such as lower esophageal sphincter pressure,peristaltic amplitude,and peristaltic velocity compared to the control group.The treatment group showed significantly higher gastric emptying rates and SF-36 scores(in both physical and mental domains)compared to the control group.No serious adverse effects were observed in either group.CONCLUSION WDD combined with mosapride is an effective and safe therapy for GERD after esophageal cancer surgery.It can improve GERD symptoms,esophageal motility,gastric emptying,and the quality of life of patients.Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm these findings.

Comparative efficacy and safety between endoscopic submucosal dissection,surgery and definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)and surgical resection are the standard of care for cT1N0M0 esophageal cancer(EC),whereas definitive chemoradiotherapy(d-CRT)is a treatment option.Nevertheless,the comparative efficiency and safety of ESD,surgery and d-CRT for cT1N0M0 EC remain unclear.AIM To compare the efficiency and safety of ESD,surgery and d-CRT for cT1N0M0 EC.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the hospitalized data of a total of 472 consecutive patients with cT1N0M0 EC treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer center between 2017-2019 and followed up until October 30th,2022.We analyzed demographic,medical recorded,histopathologic characteristics,imaging and endoscopic,and follow-up data.The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to analyze the difference of survival outcome by treatments.Inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW)was used to minimize potential confounding factors.RESULTS We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent ESD(n=99)or surgery(n=220)or d-CRT(n=16)at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2017 to 2019.The median follow-up time for the ESD group,the surgery group,and the d-CRT group was 42.0 mo(95%CI:35.0-60.2),45.0 mo(95%CI:34.0-61.75)and 32.5 mo(95%CI:28.3-40.0),respectively.After adjusting for background factors using IPTW,the highest 3-year overall survival(OS)rate and 3-year recurrence-free survival(RFS)rate were observed in the ESD group(3-year OS:99.7% and 94.7% and 79.1%;and 3-year RFS:98.3%,87.4% and 79.1%,in the ESD,surgical,and d-CRT groups,respectively).There was no difference of severe complications occurring between the three groups(P≥0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that treatment method,histology and depth of infiltration were independently associated with OS and RFS.CONCLUSION For cT1N0M0 EC,ESD had better long-term survival and lower hospitalization costs than those who underwent d-CRT and surgery,with a similar rate of severe complications occurring.

Intra-thyroid esophageal duplication cyst:A case report

BACKGROUND Esophageal cysts are relatively rare in clinical practice,with most of the literature comprising case reports.Esophageal cysts protruding into the thyroid gland are easily misdiagnosed as thyroid tumors.No such cases have been reported so far.CASE SUMMARY This article reports the case of a 31-year-old adult male diagnosed with thyroid nodules before admission.The patient underwent left thyroidectomy and isthmusectomy.During the surgery,esophageal cysts were identified in the esophageal muscle and thyroid glands.The pathology results confirmed a nodular goiter combined with esophageal cysts.Postoperatively,the patient developed a neck infection and underwent another operation and broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment for recovery.CONCLUSION We report the first clinical case of an esophageal cyst located within the thyroid gland that was successfully treated surgically.Esophageal cyst located within the thyroid gland cause difficulties in diagnosis.In the present study,the contents of the esophageal cysts were calcified foci,and a small amount of fluid mixture,which were easily misdiagnosed as thyroid nodules and misled the surgical methods.

Prospects of polyglycolic acid sheets for the treatment of esophageal stricture after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)is widely used for the resection of early esophageal cancer.However,post-ESD esophageal stricture is a common long-term complication,which requires attention.Patients with post-ESD esophageal stricture often experience dysphagia and require multiple dilatations,which greatly affects their quality of life and increases healthcare costs.Therefore,to manage post-ESD esophageal stricture,researchers are actively exploring various strategies,such as pharmaceutical interventions,endoscopic balloon dilation,and esophageal stenting.Although steroids-based therapy has achieved some success,steroids can lead to complications such as osteoporosis and infection.Meanwhile,endoscopic balloon dilatation is effective in the short term,but is prone to recurrence and perforation.Additionally,esophageal stenting can alleviate the stricture,but is associated with discomfort during stenting and the complication of easy displacement also present challenges.Tissue engineering has evolved rapidly in recent years,and hydrogel materials have good biodegradability and biocompatibility.A novel type of polyglycolic acid(PGA)sheets has been found to be effective in preventing esophageal stricture after ESD,with the advantages of a simple operation and low complication rate.PGA membranes act as a biophysical barrier to cover the wound as well as facilitate the delivery of medications to promote wound repair and healing.However,there is still a lack of multicenter,large-sample randomized controlled clinical studies focused on the treatment of post-ESD esophageal strictures with PGA membrane,which will be a promising direction for future advancements in this field.

Impact of the Rapid Recovery Concept on Complications and Patient Quality of Life in the Perioperative Nursing of Robot-Assisted Radical Oesophageal Cancer

Aim: This study evaluates the impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) nursing on postoperative complications and quality of life in patients undergoing robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). Methods: A total of 150 patients who underwent RAMIE from January 2020 to January 2022 at our hospital were randomly assigned to either the observation group or the control group, with 75 patients in each. The control group received standard perioperative management and nursing care, while the observation group was treated with ERAS nursing strategies. Interventions continued until discharge, and outcomes such as postoperative complications, quality of life, and nutritional status were compared between the groups. Results: The observation group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of postoperative adverse reactions compared to the control group (P ionally, all dimension scores of the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), including the total score, were higher in the observation group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) scores for impaired nutritional status and disease severity, along with the total NRS score, were significantly lower in the observation group compared to the control group (P Conclusion: Implementing ERAS nursing in the perioperative care of patients undergoing RAMIE is associated with reduced postoperative complications and enhanced postoperative quality of life and nutritional status. .

Endoscopic management of esophageal stenosis in children:New and traditional treatments

Post-esophageal atresia anastomotic strictures and postcorrosive esophagitis are the most frequent types of cicatricial esophageal stricture. Congenital esophageal stenosis has been reported to be a rare but typical disease in children; other pediatric conditions are peptic, eosinophilic esophagitis and dystrophic recessive epidermolysis bullosa strictures. The conservative treatment of esophageal stenosis and strictures(ES) rather than surgery is a well-known strategy for children. Before planning esophageal dilation, the esophageal morphology should be assessed in detail for its length, aspect, number and level, and different conservative strategies should be chosen accordingly. Endoscopic dilators and techniques that involve different adjuvant treatment strategies have been reported and depend on the stricture's etiology, the availability of different tools and the operator's experience and preferences. Balloon and semirigid dilators are the most frequently used tools. No high-quality studies have reported on the differences in the efficacies and rates of complications associated with these two types of dilators. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the frequency of dilations or the diameter that should be achieved. The use of adjuvant treatments has been reported in cases of recalcitrant stenosis or strictures with evidence of dysphagic symptoms. Corticosteroids(either systemically or locally injected), the local application of mitomycin C, diathermy and laser ES sectioning have been reported. Some authors have suggested that stenting can reduce both the number of dilations and the treatment length. In many cases, this strategy is effective when either metallic or plastic stents are utilized. Treatment complications, such esophageal perforations, can be conservatively managed, considering surgery only in cases with severe pleural cavity involvement. In cases of stricture relapse,even if such relapses occur following the execution of well-conducted conservative strategies, surgical stricture resection and anastomosis or esophageal substitution are the only remaining options.

Endoscopic management for congenital esophageal stenosis: A systematic review

Congenital esophageal stenosis(CES) is an extremely rare malformation, and standard treatment have not been completely established. By years of clinical research, evidence has been accumulated. We conducted systematic review to assess outcomes of the treatment for CES, especially the role of endoscopic modalities. A total of 144 literatures were screened and reviewed. CES was categorized in fibromuscularthickening, tracheobronchial remnants(TBR) and membranous web, and the frequency was 54%, 30% and 16%, respectively. Therapeutic option includes surgery and dilatation, and surgery tends to be reserved for ineffective dilatation. An essential point is that dilatation for TBR type of CES has low success rate and high rate of perforation. TBR can be distinguished by using endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). Overall success rate of dilatation for CES with or without case selection by using EUS was 90% and 29%, respectively. Overall rate of perforation with or without case selection was 7% and 24%, respectively. By case selection using EUS, high success rate with low rate of perforation could be achieved. In conclusion, endoscopic dilatation has been established as a primary therapy for CES except TBR type. Repetitive dilatation with gradual step-up might be one of safe ways to minimize the risk of perforation.

Recurrent cervical esophageal stenosis after colon conduit failure:Use of myocutaneous flap

A 53-year-old male developed cervical esophageal stenosis after esophageal bypass surgery using a right colon conduit.The esophageal bypass surgery was performed to treat multiple esophageal strictures resulting from corrosive ingestion three years prior to presentation.Although the patient underwent several endoscopic stricture dilatations after surgery,he continued to suffer from recurrent esophageal stenosis.We planned cervical patch esophagoplasty with a pedicled skin flap of sternocleidomastoid(SCM) muscle.Postoperative recovery was successful,and the patient could eat a solid meal without difficulty and has been well for 18 mo.SCM flap esophagoplasty is an easier and safer method of managing complicated and recurrent cervical esophageal strictures than other operations.

Predictors of post-treatment stenosis in cervical esophageal cancer undergoing high-dose radiotherapy

AIM To evaluate toxicity and treatment outcome of highdose radiotherapy(RT) for cervical esophageal cancer(CEC).METHODS We reviewed a total of 62 consecutive patients who received definitive RT for stage Ⅰ to Ⅲ cervical esophageal cancer between 2001 and 2015. Patients who received < 45 Gy, treated for lesions below sternal notch, treated with palliative aim, treated with subsequent surgical resection, or diagnosed with synchronous hypopharyngeal cancer were excluded. Treatment failures were divided into local(occurring within the RT field), outfield-esophageal, and regional [occurring in regional lymph node(s)] failures. Factors predictive of esophageal stenosis requiring endoscopic dilation were analyzed.RESULTS Grade 1, 2, and 3 esophagitis occurred in 19(30.6%), 39(62.9%), and 4 patients(6.5%), respectively, without grade ≥ 4 toxicities. Sixteen patients(25.8%) developed post-RT stenosis, of which 7 cases(43.8%) were malignant. Four patients(6.5%) developed tracheoesophageal fistula(TEF), of which 3(75%) cases were malignant. Factors significantly correlated with post-RT stenosis were stage T3/4(P = 0.001), complete circumference involvement(P < 0.0001), stenosis at diagnosis(P = 0.024), and endoscopic complete response(P = 0.017) in univariate analysis, while complete circumference involvement was significant in multivariate analysis(P = 0.003). A higher dose(≥ 60 Gy) was not associated with occurrence of postRT stenosis or TEF. With a median follow-up of 24.3(range, 3.4-152) mo, the 2 y local control, outfield esophageal control, progression-free survival, and overall survival(OS) rates were 78.9%, 90.2%, 49.6%, and 57.3%, respectively. Factors significantly correlated with OS were complete circumference involvement(P = 0.023), stenosis at diagnosis(P < 0.0001), and occurrence of post-RT stenosis or TEF(P < 0.001) in univariate analysis, while stenosis at diagnosis(P = 0.004) and occurrence of post-RT stenosis or TEF(P = 0.023) were significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Chemoradiation for CEC was well tolerated, and a higher dose was not associated with stenosis. Patients with complete circumferential involvement require close follow-up.

Esophageal stenosis with sloughing esophagitis:A curious manifestation of graft-vs-host disease

We report a case of a 56-year-old woman with a history of allogenic bone marrow transplantation for two years,complaining with dysphagia and weight loss. Upper endoscopy revealed esophageal stenosis and extensive mucosa sloughing. Biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of graft-vs-host disease(GVHD). Balloon dilation,corticosteroids and cyclosporin resulted in marked clinical improvement. Gastrointestinal tract is involved in the majority of patients with chronic GVHD. Esophageal manifestations are rare and include vesiculobullous disease,ulceration,esophageal webs,casts or strictures. Sloughing esophagitis along with severe stenosis requiring endoscopic dilation has never been reported in this context.

Use of tunnel endoscopy for diagnosis of obscure submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma:A case report and review of the literature with emphasis on causes of esophageal stenosis

BACKGROUND The tunnel endoscopic technique is the treatment of choice for submucosal tumors. However, the use of tunnel endoscopy to diagnose adenocarcinoma of the esophagus originating from the submucosa has not been well studied.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old man who presented with dysphagia for half a year underwent a series of checks, such as gastroendoscopy, X-ray contrast examination of the upper digestive tract, endoscopic ultrasonography, high-resolution esophageal manometry, and positron emission computed tomography. It should be noted that the stenosis of the esophagus was too narrow for endoscopic ultrasoundguided fine needle aspiration. The cause remained undiagnosed. Eventually, the tunnel endoscopic technique was perform for the pathological examination in the submucosa and the final diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The patient and family members chose expectant treatment due to the patient's age and the high costs of surgical treatment.CONCLUSION Tunnel endoscopy could be used to diagnose tumors. Moreover, we review the literature to provide guidance regarding the causes of esophagostenosis.

Oral higher dose prednisolone to prevent stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND Esophageal stenosis is one of the main complications of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for the treatment of large-area superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions(≥3/4 of the lumen).Oral prednisone is useful to prevent esophageal stenosis,but the curative effect remains controversial.AIM To share our experience of the precautions against esophageal stenosis after ESD to remove large superficial esophageal lesions.METHODS Between June 2019 and March 2022,we enrolled patients with large superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia experienced who underwent ESD.Prednisone(50 mg/d)was administered orally on the second morning after ESD for 1 mo,and tapered gradually(5 mg/wk)for 13 wk.RESULTS In total,14 patients met the inclusion criteria.All patients received ESD without operation-related bleeding or perforation.There were 11 patients with≥3/4 and<7/8 of lumen mucosal defects and 1 patient with≥7/8 of lumen mucosal defect and 2 patients with the entire circumferential mucosal defects due to ESD.The longitudinal extension of the esophageal mucosal defect was<50 mm in 3 patients and≥50 mm in 11 patients.The esophageal stenosis rate after ESD was 0%(0/14).One patient developed esophageal candida infection on the 30th d after ESD,and completely recovered after 7 d of administration of oral fluconazole 100 mg/d.No other adverse events of oral steroids were found.CONCLUSION Oral prednisone(50 mg/d)and prolonged prednisone usage time may effectively prevent esophageal stricture after ESD without increasing the incidence of glucocorticoid-related adverse events.However,further investigation of larger samples is required to warrant feasibility and safety.

Endoscopic magnetic compression stricturoplasty for congenital esophageal stenosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Congenital esophageal stenosis(CES)is a rare malformation of the digestive tract.Endoscopic dilation and thoracotomy have been the main treatments for CES.However,there is no well-defined management protocol.Magnetic compression stricturoplasty(MCS)has been used in refractory esophageal stricture in children after esophageal atresia.CASE SUMMARY We describe the first case of MCS for CES in one female child patient.The child(aged 3 years and 1 mo)was admitted due to frequent vomiting and choking after eating complementary food since 7 mo old.Esophagography and gastroendoscopy showed that there was stenosis in the lower esophagus,suggesting a diagnosis of CES.The patient did not receive any treatment for esophageal stricture including surgery or endoscopic dilation procedures before MCS.MCS procedure was smoothly conducted without complications.At 24 mo after MCS,durable esophageal patency without dysphagia was achieved.CONCLUSION MCS may serve as an alternative and efficient method for patients with CES.

Steakhouse syndrome causing large esophageal ulcer and stenosis

A 66-year-old man developed dysphagia during dinner and was evaluated 2d later in our hospital because of persistent symptoms.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed no impacted food,but advanced esophageal cancer was suspected based on the presence in the upper esophagus of a large irregular ulcerative lesion with a thick white coating and stenosis.Further imaging studies were performed to evaluate for metastases,revealing circumferential esophageal wall thickening and findings suggestive of lung and mediastinal lymph node metastases.However,dysphagia symptoms and the esophageal ulcer improved after hospital admission,and histopathological examination of the esophageal mucosa revealed only nonspecific inflammation.At the timeof symptom onset,the patient had been eating stewed beef tendon(Gyusuji nikomi in Japanese) without chewing well.Esophageal ulceration due to steakhouse syndrome was therefore diagnosed.The lung lesion was a primary lung cancer that was surgically resected.Although rare,steakhouse syndrome can cause large esophageal ulceration and stenosis,so care must be taken to distinguish this from esophageal cancer.

Epinephrine use during chemotherapy to treat severe tracheal stenosis secondary to advanced esophageal cancer:A case report and review of the literature

Dyspnea from tracheal stenosis due to compression by a tumor is an emergency that complicates therapy in oncology.We report a case of advanced esophageal cancer in a 56-year-old male who developed severe dyspnea due to airway compression by mediastinal lymph node enlargement.We used epinephrine by subcutaneous injection and aerosol inhalation to temporarily relieve dyspnea while the patient received bevacizumab and chemotherapy.The dyspnea had subsided considerably after 5 days,and the mediastinal lymph nodes were significantly reduced after 2 cycles of chemotherapy.However,the patient died of massive tracheal hemorrhage 2 months later.

Surgical treatment of cicatricial esophageal stenosis in infants

Objective To review the results of surgical management of cicatricial esophageal stenosis secondary to chemical burn. Methods Retrospective study was carried out on 30 children ( male 20, female 10 ) with esophagageal cicatricial stenosis. The mean age was 29 months (17 to 60 months) and body weight ranged from 5 to 20 kilograms. One child ingested pesticide whereas the remaining ingested acidic of caustic solutions. There children had complete obliteration of cervical esophagus, 5 had near-complete obliteration and the remaining showed stringy esophageal outline on barium meal study. Five children developed stridor and inspiratory dyspnea. Six children had previous gastrostomy. All patients underwent retrosternal colonic replacement based on left ascending colonic artery. Results Post-operatively, one patient developed anastomotic leakage and one anastomotic stenosis. One patient underwent a post-operative tracheostomy. There was no mortality. All patients were followed-up for 4-20 years with normal

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome in a patient with esophageal stenosis: A case report

BACKGROUND Superior mesenteric artery syndrome(SMAS)is a rare condition,characterized by duodenal obstruction caused by compression of its third part by the superior mesenteric artery(SMA).Most cases of SMAS are associated with weight loss,and the most frequent clinical manifestations are nausea,vomiting,postprandial fullness,and abdominal pain.Treatment of SMAS is usually conservative,consisting mainly of adequate nutritional support,but in refractory cases surgery may be necessary,with gastrojejunostomy and duodenojejunostomy being the most commonly performed procedures.CASE SUMMARY We describe the case of a man in his forties with a pre-existing diagnosis of esophageal stricture due to sodium hydroxide ingestion,who suffered significant weight loss after replacement of his jejunostomy tube.He was admitted to the hospital due to pain and abdominal distension.A computerized tomography scan showed significant distension of the stomach and duodenum with narrowing of the duodenum at the point at which it is crossed by the superior mesenteric artery,thus establishing the diagnosis of SMAS.Due to the presence of the esophageal stricture,the patient was incapable of emesis;however,passage of a nasogastric tube for decompression was not possible.Considering the risk of gastric perforation due to distention,we opted for surgical treatment in the form of a surgical gastrojejunostomy after which he showed complete resolution of all symptoms and was discharged from the hospital 5 d after the procedure.CONCLUSION Diagnosis of SMAS can be challenging in patients with esophageal stenosis,and risk of gastric perforation may preclude conservative treatment.

Lymph node dissection in esophageal carcinoma: Minimally invasive esophagectomy vs open surgery

AIM: To compare lymph node dissection results of minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE) and open surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients who underwent MIE or open surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from January 2011 to September 2014. Number of lymph nodes resected, positive lymph node(p N+) rate, lymph node sampling(LNS) rate and lymph node metastatic(LNM) rate were evaluated. R E S U LT S : A m o n g 4 4 7 p a t i e n t s i n c l u d e d, 1 2 3 underwent MIE and 324 underwent open surgery. The number of lymph nodes resected did not significantly differ between the MIE and open surgery groups(21.1 ± 4.3 vs 20.4 ± 3.8, respectively, P = 0.0944). The p N+ rate of stage T3 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the open surgery group was higher than that in the MIE group(16.3% vs 11.4%, P = 0.031), but no differences was observed for stages T1 and T2 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The LNS rate at left para-recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN) site was significantly higher for open surgery than for MIE(80.2% vs 43.9%, P < 0.001), but no differences were noted at other sites. The LNM rate at left para-RLN site in the open surgery group was significantly higher than that in the MIE group, regardless of pathologic T stage. CONCLUSION: For stages T1 and T2 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the lymph node dissection result after MIE was comparable to that achieved by open surgery. However, the efficacy of MIE in lymphadenectomy for stage T3 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, particularly at left para-RLN site, remains to be improved.

Recurrence risk model for esophageal cancer after radical surgery

Objective：The aim of the present study was to construct a risk assessment model which was tested by disease-free survival （DFS） of esophageal cancer after radical surgery.Methods：A total of 164 consecutive esophageal cancer patients who had undergone radical surgery between January 2005 and December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.The cutpoint of value at risk （VaR） was inferred by stem-and-leaf plot,as well as by independent-samples t-test for recurrence-free time,further confirmed by crosstab chi-square test,univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis for DFS.Results：The cutpoint of VaR was 0.3 on the basis of our model.The rate of recurrence was 30.3 ％ （30/99）and 52.3％ （34/65） in VaR ＜0.3 and VaR ＞0.3 （chi-square test,x2 =7.984,P=0.005）,respectively.The 1-,3-,and 5-year DFS of esophageal cancer after radical surgery was 70.4％,48.7％,and 45.3％,respectively in VaR ＞≥0.3,whereas 91.5％,75.8％,and 67.3％,respectively in VaR ＜0.3 （Log-rank test,x2 =9.59,P=0.0020）,and further confirmed by Cox regression analysis [hazard ratio =2.10,95 ％ confidence interval （CI）：1.2649-3.4751; P=0.0041].Conclusions：The model could be applied for integrated assessment of recurrence risk after radical surgery for esophageal cancer.