Inter-rater variability in multidisciplinary team meetings of oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junction cancer on staging, resectability and treatment recommendation: national retrospective multicentre study.

Background: There are differences in oesophageal cancer care across Sweden. According to national guidelines, all patients should be offered equal care, planned and administrated by regional multidisciplinary team meetings. The aim of the study was to investigate differences between regional multidisciplinary team meetings in Sweden regarding clinical staging and treatment recommendations for oesophageal cancer patients.

Perioperative blood transfusions associated with reduced survival in gastroesophageal cancers - A Swedish population-based study.

Background: Blood transfusion has been associated with decreased long-term survival in cancer patients, possibly due to various immunological factors. We aimed to evaluate if perioperative transfusions decrease survival in patients who undergo resection for esophageal or gastric cancer and to identify factors associated with such events.

Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted based on the Swedish National Registry for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer, which prospectively collects clinical data of patients with these tumors.

Multidisciplinary team meetings improve survival in patients with esophageal cancer.

Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) are recommended for patients with esophageal cancer. Improved staging, timeliness to surgery and better adherence to guidelines have been attributed to MDTs, but there are few studies published on the MDTs' effect on survival. All patients with esophageal cancer in Sweden between 2006 and 2018 were grouped according to whether they had been discussed at an MDT as part of their clinical pathway.

Population-Based Cohort Study from a Prospective National Registry: Better Long-Term Survival in Esophageal Cancer After Minimally Invasive Compared with Open Transthoracic Esophagectomy.

Background: Recent research indicates long-term survival benefits of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) compared with open esophagectomy (OE) for patients with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers, but there is a need for more population-based studies.

Methods: We conducted a prospective population-based nationwide cohort study including all patients in Sweden diagnosed with esophageal or junctional cancer who underwent a transthoracic esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis. Data were collected from the Swedish National Register for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer in 2006-2019.

Quantitative comparison of data-driven gating and external hardware gating for F-FDG PET-MRI in patients with esophageal tumors.

Background: Respiratory motion during PET imaging reduces image quality. Data-driven gating (DDG) based on principal component analysis (PCA) can be used to identify respiratory signals. The use of DDG, without need for external devices, would greatly increase the feasibility of using respiratory gating in a routine clinical setting.

Peri-anastomotic microdialysis lactate assessment after esophagectomy.

Background: Esophagectomy is the cornerstone in curative treatment for esophageal and gastroesophageal junctional cancer. Esophageal resection is an advanced procedure with many complications, whereof anastomotic leak is the most dreaded. This study aimed to monitor the microcirculation with microdialysis analysis of local lactate levels in real-time on both sides of the esophagogastric anastomosis in totally minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

Abandoning resectional intent in patients initially deemed suitable for esophagectomy: a nationwide study of risk factors and outcomes.

The main curative treatment modality for esophageal cancer is resection. Patients initially deemed suitable for resection may become unsuitable, most commonly due to signs of generalized disease or having become unfit for surgery. The aim was to assess risk factors for abandoning esophagectomy and its impact on survival.

Patient education-level affects treatment allocation and prognosis in esophageal- and gastroesophageal junctional cancer in Sweden.

Background: Low socioeconomic status and poor education elevate the risk of developing esophageal- and junctional cancer. High education level also increases survival after curative surgery. The present study aimed to investigate associations, if any, between patient education-level and treatment allocation after diagnosis of esophageal- and junctional cancer and its subsequent impact on survival.

Perfusion of the gastric conduit during esophagectomy.

In esophageal cancer surgery, perfusion of the gastric conduit is a critical issue. Measurement of gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) is a method to identify anaerobic metabolism as a sign of impaired perfusion. In this study we aimed to monitor changes in the perfusion of the gastric conduit at key steps during and after esophagectomy.