Treatment strategies for limited-stage small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: evidence from a Chinese multicenter cohort study and the American SEER database.

Background: The rare incidence of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) makes prospective studies difficult to conduct, the efficacy of existing standard treatment regimens for SCCE is therefore highly controversial. This study aimed to explore differences in the efficacy of three different treatment regimens [upfront surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), and chemoradiotherapy (CRT)] in patients with limited-stage SCCE (LS-SCCE).

Methods: In total, 483 patients with LS-SCCE were screened from five centers from June 2001 to June 2020, and 128 patients with LS-SCCE were screened from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

REsolution of Symptoms afTer Oesophago-gastric cancer REsection delphi (RESTOREd)-standardizing the definition, investigation and management of gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions after surgery.

Background: Oesophago-gastric cancer surgery negatively affects quality of life with a high postoperative symptom burden. Several conditions that may be diagnosed and treated after surgery are recognised. However, consensus regarding their definition and management is lacking.

A national survey of the provision of prehabilitation for oesophagogastric cancer patients in the UK.

Introduction: Studies have demonstrated that prehabilitation in oesophagogastric cancer (OGC) improves body composition, physical fitness and quality of life, and can reduce surgical complications. However, it is not offered in all OGC centres. Furthermore, definitions, funding and access to services vary.

Brain and lung arteriovenous malformation rescreening practices for children and adults with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Background: Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are at risk for organ vascular malformations including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the brain and lungs. North American HHT Centers of Excellence (CoEs) routinely screen for brain and lung AVMs, with the primary goal of detecting AVMs which can be treated before complications arise. Current international HHT guidelines provide recommendations for initial screening for brain and lung AVMs among children and adults with the disease, but rescreening recommendations are not comprehensively addressed and have not been reported.

Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS)/perioperative quality initiative (POQI) consensus statement on prehabilitation in oesophagogastric surgery.

Background: Prehabilitation is safe, feasible and may improve a range of outcomes in patients with oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC). Recent studies have suggested the potential of prehabilitation to improve body composition, sarcopenia and physical fitness, reduce surgical complications and improve quality of life. Despite this, prehabilitation services are not offered throughout all OGC centres in the UK.

The Prognostic Impact of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy on Survival After Esophagectomy Following a Delayed Interval After Chemoradiotherapy: A Secondary Analysis of the DICE Study.

Objective: To evaluate prognostic differences between minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and open esophagectomy (OE) in patients with surgery after a prolonged interval (>12 wk) following chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Background: Previously, we established that a prolonged interval after CRT before esophagectomy was associated with poorer long-term survival.

Methods: This was an international multicenter cohort study involving 17 tertiary centers, including patients who received CRT followed by surgery between 2010 and 2020.

De Novo Brain Vascular Malformations in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

Background: Approximately 10% of people with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) have brain vascular malformations (VMs). Few reports describe de novo brain VM formation. International HHT Guidelines recommend initial brain VM screening upon HHT diagnosis in children but do not address rescreening.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on monitoring and management of Barrett's oesophagus and stage I oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Barrett's oesophagus is the only known precursor to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, a cancer with very poor prognosis. The main risk factors for Barrett's oesophagus are a history of gastro-oesophageal acid reflux symptoms and obesity. Men, smokers and those with a family history are also at increased risk.

Unmet needs in survivorship: Increased anxiety post oesophago-gastric cancer surgery.

Introduction: Despite significant surgical advancements in the treatment of oesophago-gastric cancer (OGC), patients often experience a considerable decline in health-related quality of life postoperatively. Psychological factors, such as hypervigilance and symptom-specific anxiety, may contribute to this. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and trend of hypervigilance and symptom-specific anxiety in OGC survivors across treatment stages.

Multicentre validation of CT grey-level co-occurrence matrix features for overall survival in primary oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Personalising management of primary oesophageal adenocarcinoma requires better risk stratification. Lack of independent validation of proposed imaging biomarkers has hampered clinical translation. We aimed to prospectively validate previously identified prognostic grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) CT features for 3-year overall survival.

Brain AVM compactness score in children with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Objective: The brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM) nidus compactness score (CS), determined on angiography, predicts BAVM recurrence after surgical resection among children with sporadic BAVMs. We measured the angiographic CS for BAVMs among children with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) to determine CS characteristics in this population.

Methods: A pediatric interventional neuroradiologist reviewed angiograms to determine the CS of BAVMs in children with HHT recruited to the BVMC.

Opinion, uptake and current practice of robot-assisted upper gastrointestinal and oesophagogastric surgery in the UK: AUGIS national survey results.

Introduction: The uptake of upper gastrointestinal (GI) robotic surgery in the United Kingdom (UK), and Europe more widely, is expanding rapidly. This study aims to present a current snapshot of the practice and opinions of the upper GI community with reference to robotic surgery, with an emphasis on tertiary cancer (oesophagogastric) resection centres.

Methods: An electronic survey was circulated to the UK upper GI surgical community via national mailing lists, social media and at an open-invitation conference on robotic upper GI surgery in January 2023.

Association of Upper GI Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) Delphi consensus recommendations on the adoption of robotic upper GI surgery.

Background: The adoption of robotic platforms in upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery is expanding rapidly. The absence of centralised guidance and governance in adoption of new surgical technologies may lead to an increased risk of patient harm.

Methods: Surgeon stakeholders participated in a Delphi consensus process following a national open-invitation in-person meeting on the adoption of robotic upper GI surgery.

Long Term Survival of Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Case Series.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a hereditary disease characterized by recurrent epistaxis, mucocutaneous telangiectasias, and visceral arteriovenous malformations. Multiple genetic mutations have been linked to this rare disease, including ENG, ALK1 (ACVRL1), and MADH4. Pulmonary hypertension is a potential complication of HHT, with the most common phenotypes being World Health Organization (WHO) group 1 heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which is typically associated with ALK1 mutation; WHO group 2 pulmonary hypertension due to high output heart failure from hepatic arteriovenous malformations and/or anemia; and WHO group 2 due to high pulmonary artery wedge pressure.

Reply to Eker et al. Comment on "Kilian et al. Comparing Characteristics and Treatment of Brain Vascular Malformations in Children and Adults with HHT. 2023, , 2704".

We are grateful to Eker et al. for their thoughtful analysis and response to our publication titled Comparing Characteristics and Treatment of Brain Vascular Malformations in Children and Adults with HHT [..

Impact of thoracic duct resection during radical esophagectomy on oncological and survival outcomes: Systematic review.

Practice is variable in the inclusion or exclusion of the thoracic duct (TD) as part of the resected specimen and associated lymphadenectomy in radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. While some surgeons believe that the removal of TD-associated nodes may improve radicality and survival, others suggest this represents systemic disease and resection may increase morbidity without survival benefit. A systematic review was performed up to March 2023 using the search terms 'esoph∗' AND 'thoracic duct' for relevant articles which compared thoracic duct preservation (TDP) to resection (TDR) in esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

EAES Multidisciplinary Rapid Guideline: systematic review, meta-analysis, GRADE assessment and evidence-informed recommendations on the surgical management of paraesophageal hernias.

Background: New evidence has emerged since latest guidelines on the management of paraesophageal hernia, and guideline development methodology has evolved. Members of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery have prioritized the management of paraesophageal hernia to be addressed by pertinent recommendations.

Objective: To develop evidence-informed clinical practice recommendations on paraesophageal hernias, through evidence synthesis and a structured evidence-to-decision framework by an interdisciplinary panel of stakeholders.

Delayed Surgical Intervention After Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Cancer: (DICE) Study.

Objective: To determine the impact of delayed surgical intervention following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on survival from esophageal cancer.

Background: CRT is a core component of multimodality treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer. The timing of surgery following CRT may influence the probability of performing an oncological resection and the associated operative morbidity.

Extended Wireless pH Monitoring Significantly Increases Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diagnoses in Patients With a Normal pH Impedance Study.

Background/aims: Extended wireless pH monitoring (WPM) is used to investigate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as subsequent or alternative investigation to 24-hour catheter-based studies. However, false negative catheter studies may occur in patients with intermittent reflux or due to catheter-induced discomfort or altered behavior. We aim to investigate the diagnostic yield of WPM after a negative 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance pH (MII-pH) monitoring study and to determine predictors of GERD on WPM given a negative MII-pH.