Three-dimensional computed tomography image-oriented successful thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy for an esophageal cancer patient with an anomalous right superior pulmonary vein: A case report.

Background: Subcarinal lymphadenectomy is an essential procedure in curative esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) and its branches are usually located in front of the right main or intermediate bronchus. However, an anomalous posterior branch (aberrant V2) of RSPV passes behind the right intermediate bronchus, where the aberrant V2 may be embedded in the subcarinal nodal packet.

Expression of trefoil factor family members correlates with patient prognosis and neoangiogenesis.

Purpose: Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides are thought to contribute to epithelial protection and restitution by virtue of their protease-resistant nature and their strong affinity for mucins. However, they are often overexpressed in tumors, where they seem to be negative prognostic factors, possibly contributing to tumor spread, although the precise mechanisms have not been defined.

Experimental Design: Tissue sections from 111 patients with curatively resected advanced gastric carcinoma were immunohistochemically stained for TFF2, ITF (TFF3), and CD34.

En-bloc esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Background: The operative approach for esophageal cancer varies from simple palliative resection to extended esophagectomy with 3-field lymph-node dissection or en-bloc esophagectomy (EBE) depending on tumor and patient status and surgical strategy of the surgeon. The merits and demerits of such EBE are yet to be determined.

Methods: A literature review was done regarding EBE for esophageal cancer.