Thoracoscopic esophagectomy for intrathoracic esophageal cancer.

Thoracoscopic approaches for esophageal cancer are still disparate. Complete scopic technique is feasible for esophagectomy. Mini-thoracotomy is effective for excellent exposure of the mediastinum for lymph node dissection.

Causes of death and pattern of recurrence after esophagectomy and extended lymphadenectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

Improved understanding of how esophageal cancer behaves following curative resection, including knowledge of other causes of death, is essential for informed decision making. The medical records of 246 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus who had undergone esophagectomy and lymphadenectomy of the neck, chest, and abdomen that was deemed macroscopically curative, were reviewed. Patients who had had other malignancies or anticancer treatment were excluded.

Oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug TS-1 for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination.

The survival of gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination is dismal and surgical intervention is rarely indicated. The usefulness of TS-1, a novel oral anticancer drug, composed of tegafur, gimestat and otastat potassium at a molar ratio of 1:0.4:1, and the role of surgical intervention for this condition was studied.

[Thoracoscopic esophagectomy].

The current roles of thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the treatment of cancer in Japan are described. Lymphadenectomy of the same quality as open surgery should be performed thoracoscopically to obtain good oncological outcomes. The indications for thoracoscopic esophagectomy are 1) no extensive pleural adhesions; 2) pulmonary function sufficient for single-lung ventilation; and 3) tumor not invading other organs.