Diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in assessing lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer compared with PET.

Background: Although diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for detecting lymph node (LN) metastasis is reported to be a successful modality for primary malignant tumors, there are few studies relating to esophageal cancer. This study aimed to clarify the diagnostic performance of DWI for assessing LN metastasis compared with positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (eSCC).

Methods: Seventy-six patients with histologically proven eSCC who underwent curative esophagectomy without neoadjuvant treatment were reviewed retrospectively.

Assessment for diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer using endoscopic ultrasound elastography.

Background: We performed endoscopic ultrasound real-time tissue elastography to more accurately diagnose lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of EUS elastography to distinguish benign from malignant lymph nodes in esophageal cancer patients.

Methods: The present study had two steps.

A 3-step gradual dilation method: a new safe technique of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for obstructive esophageal cancer.

Although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred method to provide enteral nutrition for a longer time period, in obstructive esophageal cancer, we cannot safely perform endoscopic access to the stomach even with the ultrathin endoscope. We experienced 1 fatal case due to esophageal perforation caused by balloon dilation, and hence, we developed a safer method. We treated 4 patients with obstructive esophageal cancer using a 3-step gradual dilation method with nasogastric tubes (from 8 to 16 Fr).

[Clinical evaluation of eribulin mesylate for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer].

Background: Eribulin mesylate, a novel non-taxane inhibitor of microtubule dynamics, results in a significant improvement in the overall survival of heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer(MBC). In the present study, we aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of eribulin mesylate for the treatment of MBC.

Patients And Methods: We examined 18 patients with MBC who received eribulin mesylate in our hospital from October 2011 to May 2013.

[Evaluation of false-negative lymph nodes diagnosed by fludeoxy glucose-positron emission tomography in cases of metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

We have encountered many cases wherein the metastatic nest of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma occupied only a small space in the lymph nodes because of which computed tomography( CT) and fludeoxy glucose( FDG)-positron emission tomography( PET) could not detect the lymph node metastasis satisfactorily. The false-negative lymph nodes that were not detected by FDG-PET before surgery were smaller in diameter, rate of occupation, and area of occupation than the true-positive lymph nodes. The smallest area of the cancer nest in the true-positive group was 7.

A case report of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) caused by esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

A 67-year-old male was referred to our hospital after being diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma of the middle thoracic esophagus. The clinical stage was T1b(sm)N4M1 cStage IVb, so he was admitted to our hospital for systemic chemotherapy. He had sustained fever and a dry cough.

[A case of far advanced-esophageal squamous cell carcinoma successfully treated with docetaxel].

A 65-year-old man with dysphagia and hoarseness was admitted to our hospital. The upper gastrointestinal examinations revealed a tumor in the lower esophagus while the biopsy specimens revealed squamous cell carcinoma. The clinical diagnosis was esophageal cancer(Lt, type 2, cT3N4M0, cStage IVa).

Primary esophageal adenocarcinoma arising from heterotopic gastric mucosa: report of a case.

Adenocarcinoma arising from heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM) is exceedingly rare. This report presents the case of a 57-year-old male who presented with the chief complaint of dysphagia. Endoscopy and computed tomography revealed a locally advanced tumor of the cervical esophagus and swollen mediastinal lymph nodes.

A case of small-cell esophageal cancer with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis safely treated with cisplatin and etoposide.

A 54-year-old male undergoing hemodialysis was admitted to our hospital because of difficulty in swallowing. Esophagography and esophageal endoscopy revealed an irregular ulcerated lesion in the cervical esophagus. It was diagnosed as a small-cell esophageal cancer from the biopsy sample.

A phase 1/11 study of second-line chemotherapy with fractionated docetaxel and nedaplatin for 5-FU/cisplatin-resistant esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background/aims: There are few second-line regimens available for esophageal cancer. The use of fractionated docetaxel and nedaplatin as second-line chemotherapy was examined in this study.

Methodology: Eligibility criteria were follows: histologically-proven squamous cell carcinoma, surgically unresectable disease, failure to respond to chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin and no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens.

The number of pathologic lymph nodes involved is still a significant prognostic factor even after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The correlation between the number of pathologic metastatic LNs in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) and surgical outcome has rarely been reported. We evaluated the correlation between the number of pathologic metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) and the surgical outcome in ESCC after NACRT.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients with ESCC who underwent NACRT followed by surgery were evaluated.

Pre-operative dental brushing can reduce the risk of postoperative pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients.

Background: The presence of pathogens in dental plaque is a risk factor associated with postoperative pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients. The effectiveness of pre-operative dental brushing to decrease the risk of postoperative pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients was evaluated prospectively.

Methods: A total of 86 thoracic esophageal cancer patients who underwent an esophagectomy were investigated.

Clinical and pathologic evaluation of the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in advanced esophageal cancer patients.

Background: Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) has the strongest antitumor effect against local tumors of esophageal cancer; however, no standard strategy has yet been established to achieve a clinical complete response (CR) after CRT. The aim of this study was to clarify when a decision can be made to perform further treatment for a clinical CR.

Methods: We evaluated 78 patients that underwent an esophagectomy after neoadjuvant CRT in our department between 1998 and 2007.

Impact of preoperative dental plaque culture for predicting postoperative pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients.

Background/aims: In esophageal cancer patients, postoperative pneumonia frequently occurs. In the oral cavity, dental plaque is a major reservoir of bacteria, and it is possible that oral bacteria are aspirated into the upper respiratory tract after esophagectomy. We evaluated the interaction between preoperative dental plaque and postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing esophagectomy.