Long-term follow-up of immunocytochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and its two receptors, VEGF-R1 (Flt-1) and VEGF-R2 (Flk-1/KDR), in oesophagogastric cancer.

Background: The prognostic significance of immunocytochemical analysis of tumour vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its 2 receptors, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2, remains incompletely investigated in patients with oesophagogastric cancer.


Methods: Patients undergoing surgical resection were prospectively recruited between February 1999 and August 2000. Immunocytochemical analysis of VEGF, VEGF-R1 (Flt-1) and VEGF-R2 (Flk-1/KDR) was undertaken using validated techniques.

Transection of the aerodigestive tract after blunt neck trauma.

Survival after blunt neck trauma resulting in combined tracheal and esophageal injury is uncommon. We present the case of a young boy who sustained complete transection of the trachea and subtotal transection of the esophagus after a clothes line type injury.

Impact of nutritional factors on survival in patients with inoperable oesophageal cancer undergoing self-expanding metal stent insertion.

Background: Undernutrition has been shown to be predictive of 30-day mortality in patients undergoing self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) insertion for inoperable oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between nutritional factors and 30-day mortality in patients undergoing SEMS insertion for palliation of oesophageal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from April 2007 to June 2009.

Cytochrome P450 1B1 expression in rat esophageal tumorigenesis promoted by gastric and duodenal reflux.

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) mRNA is constitutively expressed in most normal extra-hepatic tissues; however the protein is not detectable in these tissues but is expressed in a wide variety of tumors. CYP1B1 is responsible for the activation of a number of carcinogens present in tobacco smoke and food. A surgical model of rat esophageal tumorigenesis, promoted by gastric or duodenal reflux was used to determine CYP1B1 expression in premalignant esophageal tissue.

Bone marrow micrometastases and markers of angiogenesis in esophageal cancer.

Background: Tumor angiogenesis is critical for metastasis development. The detection of bone marrow micrometastases may indicate a metastatic phenotype. We aim to establish if the detection of bone marrow micrometastases associates with elevated markers of angiogenesis and adverse histopathologic features of esophageal cancer.

Sputum retention after lung operation: prospective, randomized trial shows superiority of prophylactic minitracheostomy in high-risk patients.

Background: Sputum retention after lung operation is a potentially life-threatening condition. The minitracheostomy (Minitrach II, SIMS Portex, Hythe, Kent, UK) is a 4-mm percutaneous cricothyroidotomy device, which allows immediate and repeated aspiration of the tracheobronchial tree by minimally trained staff, and can effectively treat sputum retention. This trial was designed to test the hypothesis that prophylactic minitracheostomy could prevent sputum retention in a high-risk group.

Pulmonary infarct cytologically mimicking adenocarcinoma of the lung.

We describe a patient who underwent a right lower lobectomy for a lung lesion with a preoperative diagnosis of adenocarcinoma made on sputum cytology. Pathologic assessment of the resected specimen revealed a pulmonary infarct with no evidence of malignancy. All thoracic surgeons should be aware of this diagnostic pitfall.