Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease:A machine learning-based study

BACKGROUND Due to the complexity and numerous comorbidities associated with Crohn’s disease(CD),the incidence of postoperative complications is high,significantly impacting the recovery and prognosis of patients.Consequently,additional stu-dies are required to precisely predict short-term major complications following intestinal resection(IR),aiding surgical decision-making and optimizing patient care.AIM To construct novel models based on machine learning(ML)to predict short-term major postoperative complications in patients with CD following IR.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data derived from a patient cohort that underwent IR for CD from January 2017 to December 2022.The study participants were randomly allocated to either a training cohort or a validation cohort.The logistic regression and random forest(RF)were applied to construct models in the training cohort,with model discrimination evaluated using the area under the curves(AUC).The validation cohort assessed the performance of the constructed models.RESULTS Out of the 259 patients encompassed in the study,5.0%encountered major postoperative complications(Clavien-Dindo≥III)within 30 d following IR for CD.The AUC for the logistic model was 0.916,significantly lower than the AUC of 0.965 for the RF model.The logistic model incorporated a preoperative CD activity index(CDAI)of≥220,a diminished preoperative serum albumin level,conversion to laparotomy surgery,and an extended operation time.A nomogram for the logistic model was plotted.Except for the surgical approach,the other three variables ranked among the top four important variables in the novel ML model.CONCLUSION Both the nomogram and RF exhibited good performance in predicting short-term major postoperative complic-ations in patients with CD,with the RF model showing more superiority.A preoperative CDAI of≥220,a di-minished preoperative serum albumin level,and an extended operation time might be the most crucial variables.The findings of this study can assist clinicians in identifying patients at a higher risk for complications and offering personalized perioperative management to enhance patient outcomes.

Influencing factors and preventive measures of infectious complications after intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease

The incidence of Crohn’s disease(CD)has increased in recent years,with most patients requiring intestinal resection.Complications after intestinal resection for CD can lead to poor prognosis and recurrence,among which infectious complic-ations are the most common.This study aimed to investigate the common risk factors,including medications,preoperative nutritional status,surgery-related factors,microorganisms,lesion location and type,and so forth,causing infectious complications after intestinal resection for CD,and to propose corresponding preventive measures.The findings provided guidance for identifying suscept-ibility factors and the early intervention and prevention of infectious complic-ations after intestinal resection for CD in clinical practice.

Machine learning as a tool predicting short-term postoperative complications in Crohn’s disease patients undergoing intestinal resection: What frontiers?

The recent study,“Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn’s disease:A machine learning-based study”invest-igated the predictive efficacy of a machine learning model for major postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery in Crohn’s disease(CD)patients.Em-ploying a random forest analysis and Shapley Additive Explanations,the study prioritizes factors such as preoperative nutritional status,operative time,and CD activity index.Despite the retrospective design’s limitations,the model’s robu-stness,with area under the curve values surpassing 0.8,highlights its clinical potential.The findings align with literature supporting preoperative nutritional therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases,emphasizing the importance of compre-hensive assessment and optimization.While a significant advancement,further research is crucial for refining preoperative strategies in CD patients.

Association between intestinal neoplasms and celiac disease:A review

Celiac disease(CD)is a chronic immune-mediated intestinal disease with genetic susceptibility.It is characterized by inflammatory damage to the small intestine after ingestion of cereals and products containing gluten protein.In recent years,the global prevalence rate of CD has been approximately 1%,and is gradually increasing.CD patients adhere to a gluten-free diet(GFD)throughout their entire life.However,it is difficult to adhere strictly to a GFD.Untreated CD may be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms,such as diarrhea,abdominal pain,and extraintestinal symptoms caused by secondary malnutrition.Many studies have suggested that CD is associated with intestinal tumors such as enteropathyassociated T-cell lymphoma(EATL),small bowel cancer(SBC),and colorectal cancer.In this study,we reviewed related studies published in the literature to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of intestinal tumors in patients with CD.Compared with the general population,CD patients had a high total risk of SBC and EATL,but not colorectal cancer.The protective effect of GFD on CD-related malignancies is controversial.Further studies are needed to confirm whether GFD treatment can reduce the risk of intestinal neoplasms in CD.

Does testosterone prevent early postoperative complications after gastrointestinal surgery?

AIM:To investigate the role of sex hormones in the early postoperative complications of gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS:A total of 65 patients who underwent operations for gastric and colorectal diseases(mainly malignant diseases)were included in the study. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected at different times for analysis of estradiol,testosterone and progesterone.The only study endpoint was analysis of postoperative complications. RESULTS:Patients of both sexes were uniform but postoperative complication rate was significantly higher in female patients(P=0.027).There was no significant association of estradiol and progesterone with postoperative complications.Testosterone levels in complicated patients were significantly lower than in uncomplicated patients(P<0.05).Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that a lower value of testosterone was a predictor for higher complication rate(P<0.05),and a lower value oftestosterone at later times after surgery was a better predictor of complications. CONCLUSION:Patients with low testosterone level were prone to higher postoperative complications,which was evident in both sexes.However,further studies are necessary to support this result.

^(18)F-FDG PET/CT for malignant small intestinal neoplasms

In this paper, 18F-FDG PET/CT data of 19 malignant SINs (small intestinal neoplasms) were consecutively reviewed. Nnine patients accepted PET/CT scan for preoperative diagnosis and staging, while ten patients presented follow-up after treatment and restaging. The results were correlated with abdomen enhanced CT and surgical pathological findings. Abdominal pain and weight loss were the most common findings. About 16% SINs located in the duodenum, 52% in the jejunum and 32% in the ileum. Lymphoma was the most frequent neoplasms. PET/CT revealed residual or recurrent malignant SINs in 5 patients who had negative or non-definite findings by abdomen CT and demonstrated extra-abdomen metastasis in 3 patients. Clinical decisions of treatment were changed for 6 patients after PET/CT examinations. The 18F-FDG PET/CT were better than CT in accuracy, negative predictive value and positive predictive value (89.5% vs 68.4%, 100% vs 66.7%, and 81.8% vs 69.2%, respectively). Whole body 18F-FDG PET/CT may be an effective molecular imaging method for staging and restaging of malignant SINs.

Intestinal complications in Brazilian patients with ulcerative colitis treated with conventional therapy between 2011 and 2020

BACKGROUND This was an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study from 2011 to 2020 from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Healthcare System database.AIM To describe the intestinal complications(IC) of patients with ulcerative colitis(UC) who started conventional therapies in Brazil’s public Healthcare system.METHODS Patients ≥ 18 years of age who had at least one claim related to UC 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems(ICD-10) code and at least 2 claims for conventional therapies were included. IC was defined as at least one claim of: UC-related hospitalization, procedures code for rectum or intestinal surgeries, and/or associated disease defined by ICD-10 codes(malignant neoplasia of colon, stenosis, hemorrhage, ulcer and other rectum or anus disease, megacolon, functional diarrhea volvulus, intussusception and erythema nodosum). Descriptive statistics, annual incidence, and incidence rate(IR) [per 100 patient-years(PY)] over the available follow-up period were calculated.RESULTS In total, 41229 UC patients were included(median age, 48 years;65% women) and the median(interquartile range) follow-up period was 3.3(1.8-5.3) years. Conventional therapy used during follow-up period included: mesalazine(87%), sulfasalazine(15%), azathioprine(16%) or methotrexate(1%) with a median duration of 1.9(0.8-4.0) years. Overall IR of IC was 3.2 cases per 100 PY. Among the IC claims, 54% were related to associated diseases, 20% to procedures and 26% to hospitalizations. The overall annual incidence of IC was 2.9%, 2.6% and 2.5% in the first, second and third year after the first claim for therapy(index date), respectively. Over the first 3 years, the annual IR of UC-related hospitalizations ranged from 0.8% to 1.1%;associated diseases from 0.9% to 1.2%-in which anus or rectum disease, and malignant neoplasia of colon were the most frequently reported;and procedure events from 0.6% to 0.7%, being intestinal resection and polyp removal the most frequent ones.CONCLUSION Study shows that UC patients under conventional therapy seem to present progression of disease developing some IC, which may have a negative impact on patients and the burden on the health system.

Intestinal complications in patients with Crohn's disease in the Brazilian public healthcare system between 2011 and 2020

BACKGROUND This is a secondary database study using the Brazilian public healthcare system database.AIM To describe intestinal complications(ICs)of patients in the Brazilian public healthcare system with Crohn’s disease(CD)who initiated and either only received conventional therapy(CVT)or also initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor(anti-TNF)therapy between 2011 and 2020.METHODS This study included patients with CD[international classification of diseases–10th revision(ICD-10):K50.0,K50.1,or K50.8](age:≥18 years)with at least one claim of CVT(sulfasalazine,azathioprine,mesalazine,or methotrexate).IC was defined as a CD-related hospitalization,pre-defined procedure codes(from rectum or intestinal surgery groups),and/or associated disease(pre-defined ICD-10 codes),and overall(one or more type of ICs).RESULTS In the 16809 patients with CD that met the inclusion criteria,the mean follow-up duration was 4.44(2.37)years.In total,14697 claims of ICs were found from 4633 patients.Over the 1-and 5-year of follow-up,8.3%and 8.2%of the patients with CD,respectively,presented at least one IC,of which fistula(31%)and fistulotomy(48%)were the most commonly reported.The overall incidence rate(95%CI)of ICs was 6.8(6.5–7.04)per 100 patient years for patients using only-CVT,and 9.2(8.8–9.6)for patients with evidence of anti-TNF therapy.CONCLUSION The outcomes highlighted an important and constant rate of ICs over time in all the CD populations assessed,especially in patients exposed to anti-TNF therapy.This outcome revealed insights into the real-world treatment and complications relevant to patients with CD and highlights that this disease remains a concern that may require additional treatment strategies in the Brazilian public healthcare system.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with worse intestinal complications in patients hospitalized for Clostridioides difficile infection

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease with increasing prevalence worldwide.Clostridioides difficile infection(CDI)remains the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea in developed countries.AIM To assess the impact of NAFLD on the outcomes of hospitalized patients with CDI.METHODS This study was a retrospective cohort study.The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to identify a total of 7239 adults admitted as inpatients with a primary diagnosis of CDI and coexisting NAFLD diagnosis from 2010 to 2014 using ICD-9 codes.Patients with CDI and coexisting NAFLD were compared to those with CDI and coexisting alcoholic liver disease(ALD)and viral liver disease(VLD),individually.Primary outcomes included mortality,length of stay,and total hospitalization charges.Secondary outcomes were in-hospital complications.Multivariate regression was used for outcome analysis after adjusting for possible confounders.RESULTS CDI with NAFLD was independently associated with lower rates of acute respiratory failure(2.7%vs 4.2%,P<0.01;2.7%vs 4.2%,P<0.05),shorter length of stay(days)(5.75±0.16 vs 6.77±0.15,P<0.001;5.75±0.16 vs 6.84±0.23,P<0.001),and lower hospitalization charges(dollars)(38150.34±1757.01 vs 46326.72±1809.82,P<0.001;38150.34±1757.01 vs 44641.74±1660.66,P<0.001)when compared to CDI with VLD and CDI with ALD,respectively.CDI with NAFLD was associated with a lower rate of acute kidney injury(13.0%vs 17.2%,P<0.01),but a higher rate of intestinal perforation(P<0.01)when compared to VLD.A lower rate of mortality(0.8%vs 2.7%,P<0.05)but a higher rate of intestinal obstruction(4.6%vs 2.2%,P=0.001)was also observed when comparing CDI with NAFLD to ALD.CONCLUSION Hospitalized CDI patients with NAFLD had more intestinal complications compared to CDI patients with VLD and ALD.Gut microbiota dysbiosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of intestinal complications.

Surgical and Radiological Assessment of Small Intestinal Neoplasms

Purpose: To highlight the role of multi-detector computed tomography in evaluation of small intestinal neoplastic lesions. Patient and Methods: Thirty patients suspected to have small bowel neaoplasms were examined with 64 MDCT and underwent surgical exploration. Result: Contrast enhanced MDCT enterography easily diagnosed twenty patients with small intestinal neoplasms which were confirmed with surgical exploration and histopathological results. Conclusions: Our study has been proved that MDCT can be used as a front-line imaging modality for detection of small bowel neoplasms, regarding its ability to show intraluminal, mural and extraintestinal lesions with their characteristic density and features to successfully differentiate between the different neoplasms and sometimes stage them. However, operative exploration with curative resection or biopsy is still the confirmatory diagnostic method.

Qualitative exploration of home life experiences and care needs among elderly patients with temporary intestinal stomas

BACKGROUND This study employed a phenomenological research approach within qualitative research to explore the challenges encountered by elderly individuals with temporary colostomies in managing their daily lives and care needs.Protecting the anus surgery combined with temporary colostomy has emerged as a prevalent treatment modality for low rectal cancer.However,the ileostomy is susceptible to peri-stoma skin complications,as well as fluid,electrolyte,and nutritional imbalances,posing challenges to effective management.The successful selfmanagement of patients is intricately linked to their adjustment to temporary colostomy;nonetheless,there remains a dearth of research examining the factors influencing self-care among temporary colostomy patients and the obstacles they confront.AIM To investigate the lived experiences,perceptions,and care requirements of temporary colostomy patients within their home environment,with the ultimate goal of formulating a standardized management protocol.METHODS Over the period of June to August 2023,a purposive sampling technique was utilized to select 12 patients with temporary intestinal stomas from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai,China.Employing a phenomenological research approach,a semi-structured interview guide was developed,and qualitative interviews were conducted using in-depth interview techniques.The acquired data underwent coding,analysis,organization,and summarization following Colaizzi’s seven-step method.RESULTS The findings of this study revealed that the experiences and needs of patients with temporary intestinal stomas can be delineated into four principal themes:Firstly,Temporary colostomy patients bear various burdens and concerns about the uncertainty of disease progression;secondly,patients exhibit limited self-care capabilities and face information deficits,resulting in heightened reliance on healthcare professionals;thirdly,patients demonstrate the potential for internal motivation through proactive self-adjustment;and finally,patients express a significant need for emotional and social support.CONCLUSION Home-living patients with temporary intestinal stomas confront multifaceted challenges encompassing burdens,inadequate self-care abilities,informational deficits,and emotional needs.Identifying factors influencing patients’self-care at home and proposing strategies to mitigate barriers can serve as a foundational framework for developing and implementing nursing interventions tailored to the needs of patients with temporary intestinal stomas.

Machine learning in predicting postoperative complications in Crohn’s disease

Crohn's disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin that can cause significant disability and morbidity with its progression.Due to the unique nature of CD,surgery is often necessary for many patients during their lifetime,and the incidence of postoperative complications is high,which can affect the prognosis of patients.Therefore,it is essential to identify and manage post-operative complications.Machine learning(ML)has become increasingly im-portant in the medical field,and ML-based models can be used to predict post-operative complications of intestinal resection for CD.Recently,a valuable article titled“Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn's disease:A machine learning-based study”was published by Wang et al.We appreciate the authors'creative work,and we are willing to share our views and discuss them with the authors.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal neoplasms

Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) is currently accepted as the major treatment modality for superficial neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus.An important advantage of ESD is its effectiveness in resecting lesions regardless of their size and severity of fibrosis.Based on excellent outcomes for esophageal neoplasms with a small likelihood of lymph node metastasis,the number of ESD candidates has increased.On the other hand,ESD still requires highly skilled endoscopists due to technical difficulties.To avoid unnecessary complications including perforation and postoperative stricture,the indications for ESD require careful consideration and a full understanding of this modality.This article,in the highlight topic series,provides detailed information on the indication,procedure,outcome,complications and their prevention in ESD of superficial esophageal neoplasms.

Treatment efficacy of radiof requency ablation of 338 patients with hepatic malignant tumor and the relevant complications

AIM： To investigate the treatment efficacy of radiofrequency ablation （RFA） of hepatic malignant tumor and the relevant complications. METHODS： A total of 338 patients with 763 hepatic tumors underwent ultrasound-guided RFA （565 procedures）. There were 204 cases of hepatic cellular carcinoma （HCC） with 430 tumors, the mean largest diameter was 4.0 cm. Of them, 48 patients （23.5%） were in stages Ⅰ-Ⅱ （UICC Systems） and 156 （76.5%） in stages Ⅲ-Ⅳ There were 134 cases of metastatic liver carcinoma （MLC）, with 333 metastases in the liver, the mean diameter was 4.1 cm, the liver metastases of 96 patients （71.6%） came from gastrointestinal tract. Ninety-three percent of the 338 patients were treated using the relatively standard protocol. Crucial attention must be paid to monitor the abnormal changes in ultrasound images as well as the vital signs of the patients to find the possible hemorrhage and peripheral structures injury in time. The tumors were considered as ablated completely, if no viability was found on enhanced CT within 24 h or at 1 mo after RFA. These patients were followed up for 3-57 too. RESULTS： The ablation success rate was 93.3% （401/430 tumors） for HCC and was 96.7% （322/333 tumors） for MLC. The local recurrence rate for HCC and MLC was 7.9% （34/430 tumors） and 10.5% （351333 tumors）, respectively. A total of 137 patients （40.5%） underwent 2-11 times of repeated ablations because of tumor recurrence or metastasis. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year survival rate was 84.6%, 66.6%, and 63.1%, respectively; the survival rate from 48 patients of I-II stage HCC was 93.7%, 80.4%, and 80.4%, respectively. The major complication rate in this study was 2.5% （14 of 565 procedures）, which consisted of 5 hemorrhages, i colon perforation, 5 injuries of adjacent structures, 2 bile leakages, and 1 skin burn. CONCLUSION： RFA, as a minimally invasive local treatment, has become an effective and relatively safe alternativefor the patients of hepatic malignant tumor, even of advanced liver tumor, tumor recurrence, and liver metastases. Knowledge about possible complications and their control may increase the treatment efficacy and help to promote the use of RFA technique.

Successful liver resection in a giant hemangioma with intestinal obstruction after embolization

Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of the liver.Most hepatic hemangiomas remain asymptomatic and require no treatment.Giant hepatic hemangiomas with established complications,diagnostic uncertainty and incapacitating symptoms,however,are generally considered an absolute indication for surgical resection.We present a case of a giant hemangioma with intestinal obstruction following transcatheter arterial embolization,by which the volume of the hemangioma was significantly reduced,and it was completely resected by a left hepatectomy.A 21-yearold Asian man visited our hospital for left upper quadrant pain.Examinations at the first visit revealed a left liver hemangioma occupying the abdominal cavity,with a maximum diameter of 31.5 cm.Embolization of the left hepatic artery was performed and confirmed a decrease in its size.However,the patient was readmitted to our hospital one month after embolization for intestinal obstruction.A left hepatectomy was completed through a herringbone incision,and safely removed a giant hemangioma of 26.5 cm × 19.5 cm × 12.0 cm in size and 3690 g in weight.Pre-operative arterial embolization is effective for reducing tumor size,but a close follow-up to decide the time for hepatectomy is important.

Diagnosis of follicular lymphoma of the gastrointestinaltract:A better initial diagnostic workup

Due to an increasing incidence and more frequent recognition by endoscopists, gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma has been established as a variant of follicular lymphoma. However, due to its rarity, there are no established guidelines on the optimal diagnostic strategy for patients with primary gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma or secondary gastrointestinal involvement of systemic follicular lymphoma. This review offers an overview and pitfalls to avoid during the initial diagnostic workup of this disease entity. Previously reported case reports, case series, and retrospective studies are reviewed and focus on the disease's endoscopic and histological features, the roles of computed tomography and positron emission tomography scanning, the clinical utility of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and the possible pathogenesis.

Association between acute pancreatitis and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth assessed by hydrogen breath test

AIM To elucidate the effects of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO) on the severity and complications of acute pancreatitis(AP).METHODS In total,208 patients with AP as defined by the revised Atlanta classification were admitted to Xuanwu Hospital of capital Medical University from 2013 to 2016. All patients were admitted within 72 h of AP onset. The hydrogen breath test was performed 7 d after AP onset to detect hydrogen production and evaluate the development of SIBO. The incidence of SIBO was analyzed in patients with AP of three different severity grades. The association between SIBO and complications of AP was also assessed.RESULTS Of the 27 patients with severe AP(SAP),seven(25.92%) developed SIBO. Of the 86 patients with moderately severe AP(MSAP),22(25.58%) developed SIBO. Of the 95 patients with mild AP(MAP),eight(8.42%) developed SIBO. There were significant differences in the rates of SIBO among patients with AP of different severities. Additionally,more severe APwas associated with higher rates of SIBO positivity(P < 0.05). SIBO in patients with AP mainly occurred within 72 h of the onset of AP. The incidence of organ failure was significantly higher in patients with SIBO than in those without(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION SIBO occurs more frequently in patients with MSAP or SAP than in those with MAP,usually ≤ 72 h after AP onset. Additionally,SIBO is associated with organ failure.

Clinical significance of mesenteric panniculitis-like abnormalities on abdominal computerized tomography in patients with malignant neoplasms

AIM To clarify the association of malignancy with mesenteric panniculitis-like changes on computed tomography(CT).METHODS All abdominal CT scans performed at North Shore University HealthS ystem showing mesenteric panniculitis from January 2005 to August 2010 were identified in the Radnet(Rad Net Corporation, Los Angeles, CA) database. Patients with a new or known diagnosis of a malignancy were included for this analysis. Longitudinal clinical histories were obtained from electronic medical records.RESULTS In total, 147794 abdominal CT scans were performed during the study period. Three hundred and fiftynine patients had mesenteric panniculitis(MP)-like abnormalities on their abdominal CT. Of these patients, 81 patients(22.6%) had a known history of cancer at the time of their CT scan. Nineteen(5.3%) had a new diagnosis of cancer in concurrence with their CT, but the majority of these(14/19, 74%) were undergoing CT as part of a malignancy evaluation. Lymphomas were the most common cancers associated with MPlike findings on CT(36 cases, 36%), with follicular lymphoma being the most frequent subtype(17/36). A variety of solid tumors, most commonly prostate(7) and renal cell cancers(6) also were seen. CT follow up was obtained in 56 patients. Findings in the mesentery were unchanged in 45(80%), worsened in 6(11%), and improved in 5 patients(9%). Positron emission tomography(PET) scans performed in 44 patients only showed a positive uptake in the mesenteric mass in 2 patients(5%). CONCLUSION A new diagnosis of cancer is uncommon in patients with CT findings suggestive of MP. MP-like mesenteric abnormalities on CT generally remain stable in patients with associated malignancies. PET scanning is not recommended in the evaluation of patients with mesenteric panniculitis-like findings on CT.

Minimally invasive surgery for upper gastrointestinal cancer: Our experience and review of the literature

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, characterized by minimal access, has been increasingly performed worldwide. It not only results in better cosmetic outcomes, but also reduces intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain, leading to faster recovery; however, endoscopically enhanced anatomy and improved hemostasis via positive intracorporeal pressure generated by CO2 insufflation have not contributed to reduction in early postoperative complications or improvement in long-term outcomes. Since 1995, we have been actively using MIS for operable patients with resectable upper GI cancer and have developed stable and robust methodology in conducting totally laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer and prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer using novel technology including da Vinci Surgical System (DVSS). We have recently demonstrated that use of DVSS might reduce postoperative local complications including pancreatic fistula after gastrectomy and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after esophagectomy. In this article, we present the current status and future perspectives on MIS for gastric and esophageal cancer based on our experience and a review of the literature.