Safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in locally advanced gastric cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in locally advanced gastric cancer patients with neoadjuvant SOX chemotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy. Methods: Between November 2020 and April 2021, patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who were admitted to the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology were prospectively enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were: (1) patients who signed the informed consent form voluntarily before participating in the study; (2) age ranging from 18 to 75 years; (3) patients staged preoperatively as cT3-4N+M0 by the TNM staging system; (4) Eastern Collaborative Oncology Group score of 0-1; (5) estimated survival of more than 6 months, with the possibility of performing R0 resection for curative purposes; (6) sufficient organ and bone marrow function within 7 days before enrollment; and (7) complete gastric D2 radical surgery. Exclusion criteria were: (1) history of anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 antibody therapy and chemotherapy; (2) treatment with corticosteroids or other immunosuppre- ssants within 14 days before enrollment; (3) active period of autoimmune disease or interstitial pneumonia; (4) history of other malignant tumors; (5) surgery performed within 28 days before enrollment; and (6) allergy to the drug ingredients of the study. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient and telephone methods. During preoperative SOX chemotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy, follow-up was conducted every 3 weeks to understand the occurrence of adverse reactions of the patients; follow-up was conducted once after 1 month of surgical treatment to understand the adverse reactions and survival of patients. Observation indicators were: (1) condition of enrolled patients; (2) reassessment after preoperative therapy and operation received (3) postoperative conditions and pathological results. Evaluation criteria were: (1) tumor staged according to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system; (2) tumor regression grading (TRG) of pathological results were evaluated with reference to AJCC standards; (3) treatment-related adverse reactions were evaluated according to version 5.0 of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events; (4) tumor response was evaluated by CT before and after treatment with RECIST V1.1 criteria; and (5) Clavien-Dindo complication grading system was used for postoperative complications assessment. Results: A total of 30 eligible patients were included. There were 25 males and 5 females with a median age of 60.5 (35-74) years. The primary tumor was located in the gastroesophageal junction in 12 cases, in the upper stomach in 8, in the middle stomach in 7, and in the lower stomach in 3. The preoperative clinical stage of 30 cases was III. Twenty-one patients experienced adverse reactions during neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, including four cases of CTCAE grade 3-4 adverse reactions resulting in bone marrow suppression and thoracic aortic thrombosis. All cases of adverse reactions were alleviated or disappeared after active symptomatic treatment. Among the 30 patients who underwent surgery, the time from chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy to surgery was 28 (23-49) days. All 30 patients underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, of which 20 patients underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical gastric cancer resection; 10 patients underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer, combined with splenectomy in 1 case and cholecystectomy in 1 case. The surgery time was (239.9±67.0) min, intraoperative blood loss was 84 (10-400) ml, and the length of the incision was 7 (3-12) cm. The degree of adenocarcinoma was poorly differentiated in 18 cases, moderately differentiated in 12 cases, nerve invasion in 11 cases, and vascular invasion in 6 cases. The number lymph nodes that underwent dissection was 30 (17-58). The first of gas passage, the first postoperative defecation time, the postoperative liquid diet time, and the postoperative hospitalization time of 30 patients was 3 (2-6) d, 3 (2-13) d, 5 (3-12) d, and 10 (7-27) d, respectively. Postoperative complications occurred in 23 of 30 patients, including 7 cases of complications of Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa or above. Six patients improved after treatment and were discharged from hospital, while 1 patient died 27 days after surgery due to granulocyte deficiency, anemia, bilateral lung infection, and respiratory distress syndrome. The remaining 29 patients had no surgery-related morbidity or mortality within 30 days of discharge. Postoperative pathological examination showed TRG grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 in 8, 9, 4, and 9 cases, respectively, and the number of postoperative pathological TNM stages 0, I, II, and III was 8, 7, 8, and 7 cases, respectively. The pCR rate was 25.0% (8/32). Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery after neoadjuvant SOX chemotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer is safe and feasible, with satisfactory short-term efficacy. Early detection and timely treatment of related complications are important.

Thoracoscopic laparoscopy-assisted Ivor-Lewis resection of esophagogastric junction cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the outcome of patients with esophagogastric junction cancer undergoing thoracoscopic laparoscopy-assisted Ivor-Lewis resection. Methods: Eighty-four patients who were diagnosed with esophagogastric junction cancer and underwent Ivor-Lewis resection assisted by thoracoscopic laparoscopy at the National Cancer Center from October 2019 to April 2022 were collected. The neoadjuvant treatment mode, surgical safety and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Results: Siewert type Ⅱ (92.8%) and adenocarcinoma (95.2%) were predominant in the cases. A total of 2 774 lymph nodes were dissected in 84 patients. The average number was 33 per case, and the median was 31. Lymph node metastasis was found in 45 patients, and the lymph node metastasis rate was 53.6% (45/84). The total number of lymph node metastasis was 294, and the degree of lymph node metastasis was 10.6%(294/2 774). Among them, abdominal lymph nodes (100%, 45/45) were more likely to metastasize than thoracic lymph nodes (13.3%, 6/45). Sixty-eight patients received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery, and nine patients achieved pathological complete remission (pCR) (13.2%, 9/68). Eighty-three patients had negative surgical margins and underwent R0 resection (98.8%, 83/84). One patient, the intraoperative frozen pathology suggested resection margin was negative, while vascular tumor thrombus was seen on the postoperative pathological margin, R1 resection was performed (1.2%, 1/84). The average operation time of the 84 patients was 234.5 (199.3, 275.0) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 90 (80, 100) ml. One case of intraoperative blood transfusion, one case of postoperative transfer to ICU ward, two cases of postoperative anastomotic leakage, one case of pleural effusion requiring catheter drainage, one case of small intestinal hernia with 12mm poke hole, no postoperative intestinal obstruction, chyle leakage and other complications were observed. The number of deaths within 30 days after surgery was 0. Number of lymph nodes dissection, operation duration, and intraoperative blood loss were not related to whether neoadjuvant therapy was performed (P>0.05). Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy or immunotherapy was not related to whether postoperative pathology achieved pCR (P>0.05). Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted Ivor-Lewis surgery for esophagogastric junction cancer has a low incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications, high safety, wide range of lymph node dissection, and sufficient margin length, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Gene expression of estrogen receptor-alpha in orbital fibroblasts in Graves’ ophthalmopathy

Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is one of the most severe clinical manifestations of Graves’ disease (GD), and its treatment might involve high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. The higher incidence of GO among females, and the reported association between polymorphisms of estrogen receptor (ER) and GD susceptibility have led us to question the role of estrogen and its receptor in GO pathogenesis. We, thus, assessed estrogen receptor-alpha (ERA) gene expression in cultures of orbital fibroblasts from a patient with GO before (controls) and after treatment with 10 nM and 100 nM dexamethasone (DEX). Orbital fibroblasts showed ERA gene expression. In the cells treated with 10 nM and 100 nM DEX, ERA gene expression was, respectively, 85% higher and 74% lower, than in the control group. We concluded that ERA gene expression is found in the orbital fibroblasts of patient with GO, which may be affected by glucocorticoids in a dose-related manner. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(3):273-6.

Does Sedation Affect Examination of Esophagogastric Junction during Upper Endoscopy?

PURPOSE: During sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), patients may not be able to perform inspiration, which is necessary to examine the esophagogastric junction. Therefore sedation may affect diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux-related findings. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of sedation on diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux-related findings during EGD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 28914 patients older than 20 years who underwent EGD at our institution between January 2011 and December 2011. Ultimately, 1546 patients indicated for EGD for health check-up and symptom evaluation were included. RESULTS: There were 18546 patients who had diagnostic EGD: 10471 patients (56%) by non-sedated EGD and 8075 patients (43%) by sedated EGD. After statistical adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index, minimal change esophagitis, and hiatal hernia were significantly less frequently observed in the sedated EGD group [odds ratio (OR), 0.651; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.586 to 0.722 and OR, 0.699; 95% CI, 0.564 to 0.866]. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in other findings at the gastroesophageal junction, such as reflux esophagitis with Los Angeles classification A, B, C, and D or Barrett's esophagus, between the two groups. Similarly, there were no differences in early gastric cancer, advanced gastric cancer, and gastric ulcer occurrence. CONCLUSION: Sedation can impede the detection of minimal change esophagitis and hiatal hernia, but does not influence detection of reflux esophagitis of definite severity and Barrett's esophagus.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and adenocarcinoma of gastroesophageal junction, a rare coincidence

Simultaneous squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] of esophagus and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma has rarely been reported. It is often difficult to diagnose this coexistence preoperatively due to the presence of esophageal stenosis. Herein, we report a patient with esophageal SCC whose gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma was also detected after pathologic examination of the resected specimen

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: relationship between clinicopathological data and p53, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 immunoexpressions / Adenocarcinoma da junção esôfago-gástrica: relação entre os dados cllnipatológicos e a imunoexpressão de p53, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2

Context: Esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma has an aggressive behavior, and TNM (UICC) staging is not always accurate enough to categorize patient's outcome. Objectives: To evaluated p53, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 immunoexpressions in esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma patients, without Barrett's esophagus, and to compared to clinicopathological characteristics and survival rate. Methods: Tissue sections from 75 esophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas resected from 1991 to 2003 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for p53, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 using streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. The mean follow-up time was 60 months SD = 61.5 (varying from 4 to 273 months). Results: Fifty (66.7 percent) of the tumors were intestinal type and 25 (33.3 percent) were diffuse. Vascular, lymph node and perineural infiltration were verified in 16 percent, 80 percent and 68 percent of the patients, respectively. The patients were distributed according to the TNM staging in IA in 4 (5.3 percent), IB in 10 (13.3 percent), II in 15 (20 percent), IIA in 15 (20 percent), IIIB in 15 (20 percent) and IV in 16 (21.3 percent). Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for p53, cyclin D1 and bcl-2 in 68 percent, 18.7 percent and 100 percent, respectively. There was no association between immunoexpression and vascular and/or perineural invasions, clinicopathological characteristics and patients' survival rate. Conclusion: In this selected population, there was no association between the immunomarkers, p53, cyclin D1 and bcl-2 and clinicopathological data and/or overall survival.

Contexto: O adenocarcinoma da junção esôfago-gástrica tem um comportamento agressivo e o estádio TNM não é sempre suficiente para categorizar o paciente de acordo com a evolução do mesmo. Objetivo: Avaliar a imunoexpressão do p53, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2 em pacientes com adenocarcinoma da junção esôfago-gástrica sem esôfago de Barrett e comparar com as características clínicas e sobrevida. Métodos: Cortes histológicos de 75 adenocarcinomas da esôfago-gástrica ressecados de 1991 a 2003 foram analisados por imunoistoquímica para o p53, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2, usando-se o método da estreptavidina-biotina-peroxidase. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 60 meses, DP=61,5 (variando de 4 a 273 meses). Resultados: Cinquenta (66,7 por cento) dos tumores eram do tipo intestinal e 25 (33,3 por cento) eram difusos. Verificou-se infiltração vascular, linfonodal e perineural em 16 por cento, 80 por cento e 68 por cento dos pacientes, respectivamente. O estádio TNM foi IA em 4 (5,3 por cento), II em 15 (20 por cento), IIIA em 15 (20 por cento), IIIB em 15 (20 por cento) e IV em 16 (21,3 por cento). A análise imunoistoquímica foi positiva para p53, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2 em 68 por cento, 18,7 por cento e 100, respectivamente. Não houve associação entre a imunoexpressão e invasão vascular ou perineural, características clinicopatológicas e sobrevida geral. Conclusão: Nesta população selecionada, não houve associação entre os imunomarcadores, p53, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2 e os dados clinicopatológicos e a sobrevida geral dos pacientes.

Endoscopic findings around the gastroesophageal junction: an experience from a tertiary hospital in Korea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Important lesions related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are located around the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). This study examined the distribution of endoscopic findings around the GEJ and elucidated their relationship to each other and esophageal manometric features. METHODS: Endoscopic data were collected prospectively from 2,450 consecutive diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. The presence and degree of hiatal hernia (HH), columnar-lined esophagus (CLE), and reflux esophagitis (RE) were recorded. Esophageal manometric data were collected from 181 patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of HH, CLE, and RE was 9.8, 18.8, and 9.9%, respectively. Of all HH and CLE cases, 62.8 and 98.9%, respectively, were of the short-segment variety. Of all RE cases, 95.0% were mild. Younger age, male gender, the presence of HH, and a higher gastroesophageal flap valve (GEFV) grades were associated with the presence of RE. Increased ZAP grades were associated with increased prevalence and grades of HH, CLE, and RE. Higher GEFV grades were associated with increased prevalence and grades of HH, CLE, and RE. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) decreased in patients with HH or RE compared to those without HH or RE. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic findings around the GEJ revealed that a substantial proportion of our patients showed features potentially related to GERD. In combination with other recent reports, our study implies that Korea is no longer a very-low-prevalence area of GERD, although it may predominate in silent or milder forms.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal cancer patients in northwest Iran--very low incidence of adenocarcinomas.

AIMS: Iran is one of the known countries with a high incidence of esophageal cancer in Asia .We have recently shown that the incidence of Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) is very low in the northwest of the country. Therefore, we hypothesized that esophageal AC would also be lower than in the Western world. The aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal cancer in comparison the data from western populations. METHODS: This mixed (prospective-retrospective) study enrolled 350 consecutive patients with esophageal cancers (216 endoscopically and pathologically documented, including 134 surgically proven cases) from May 2000 to May 2006, in our referral center in Tabriz, in the northwest of Iran. We localized the tumors in esophagus and esophago-gastric junction. Type III gastric cardial cancers were excluded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 61+/-12.36 (min 16, max 83). The male to female ratio was almost equal (51.7% vs 48.3%). The lower third of the esophagus was involved in 62% of the patients and esophageal ACs accounted for 18.9% of the cases. However, distinct esophageal adenocarcinomas was only seen in two and in the remainder gastric cardia was also involved. SCC was more frequent in females, and adenocarcinoma in males (x 2=8.89, df=2, p=0.012. Among 134 operated cases, resection was feasible in 74.6%. CONCLUSION: In this Iranian population, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is very much lower than in Western countries.

Acalasia de esófago: informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Esophageal achalasia: a case report and review of the literature

La acalasia de esófago corresponde a un trastorno primario de la motilidad de dicho órgano. Sus características son la falta de relajación del esfínter esofágico inferior durante la deglución y la aperistalsis del esófago. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 75 años que consulta por cuadro de disfagia a sólidos, regurgitación y baja de peso. Se realiza Rx de esófago, estómago y duodeno, que evidencia dilatación patológica del esófago e imagen típica en pico de flauta distal, diagnosticándose acalasia. Tras completar evaluación se decide cirugía, realizándose una cardiomiotomía de Zaaijer con hemivalva anterior de Dor por Videolaparoscopía evolucionando satisfactoriamente.

Endoscopic and histologic findings in Iranian patients with heartburn.

BACKGROUND: Heartburn is a common manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, known complications of this disease, appear to be less prevalent in Asia than in Western countries. We looked for endoscopic and histologic evidence of Barrett's esophagus in Iranian patients with heartburn. METHODS: During September 2001 to September 2003, endoscopy was done in all patients with heartburn, either lasting longer than 3 months (n=1182) or for 1-3 months but resistant to 4 weeks of omeprazole therapy (n=66). Biopsy was taken from columnar-lined mucosa above the GE junction, at 5 cm above the Z line in normal- appearing mucosa, and from any abnormal areas. RESULTS: Of the 1248 patients (mean age 45 [SD 15.5] years, 750 men; duration of heartburn 68 [SD 87.5] months), 960 (66.5%) had erosive esophagitis and 30 (2.4%) had Barrett's esophagus, including 10 and 20 with long- and short-segment involvement, respectively. Of 134 patients with normal-appearing mucosa, 122 had histologic evidence of esophagitis. CONCLUSION: Barrett's esophagus may be less common in Iran than in Western countries, despite presence of severe heartburn and erosive esophagitis.

Citoqueratinas 7 y 20 en el esófago de Barrett / Cytokeratina 7 and 20 in Barrett's esophagus

El esófago de Barrett (EB) es un factor de riesgo conocido para el desarrollo de adenocarcinoma esofágico. El EB ha sido categorizado como a segmento largo (EBSL) si se extiende a más de 3 cm de la unión esófago-gástrica, o a segmento corto (EBSC) si se observa mucosa de aspecto columnar a menos de 3 cm de dicha unión. La metaplasia intestinal puede también desarrollarse en la mucosa gástrica (MIG) de la unión esófago-gástrica. presentando un menor potencial desarrollo de cambios displásicos o adenocarcinomatosos. Estas condiciones son difíciles de distinguir entre sí sólo en base a parámetros endoscópicos o morfológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar patrones de inmunomarcación con anticuerpos para citoqueratinas (CQ) 7 y 20 en estas entidades con el fin de identificar el sitio de origen de dichas metaplasias intestinales. Fueron evaluadas 27 biopsias pertenecientes a pacientes con sospecha endoscópica de EBSL y EBSC, las cuales fueron comparadas con biopsias con diagnóstico de MIG. El patrón CQ7/20 de tipo Barrett fue observado en el 100% de los EBSL. el cual no fue identificado en ninguna de las biopsias con MIG. En estas últimas se observó por el contrario la ausencia de marcación con CQ7 y tinción con CQ20 en el epitelio superficial. En el grupo de pacientes con EBSC. 67% presentaron el patrón CQ7/20 tipo Barrett. mientras que e133% restante evidenció una marcación similar a la vista en las biopsias con MIG. Nuestros hallazgos confirman la alta especificidad del patrón Inmunohistoquímico de CQ7/20 para distinguir metaplasias intestinales correspondientes a EBSL o EBSC de las MIG.

Barrett's oesophagus (BE) has been identified as the most important risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus. BE has been categorized as long-segment (LSBE) if it extends 3 cm or more up the oesophagus and as short segment (SSBE) if it extends less than 3 cm into oesophagus. Intestinal metaplasia may also develop in gastric mucosa (lMG) at the gastroesophagealjunction. IMG has a much lower risk to progress to dysplasia or carcinoma when compared with SLBE or SSBE. Moreover. these conditions are difficult to distinguish one from another only based on endoscopic and morphologic criteria. Therefore the aim this study was to evaluate the cytokeratin (CK) 7 and 20 inmunoreactivity patterns in these intestinal metaplasias with the purpose to determine the precise anatomic site ofthe biopsy. Biopsy specimens from 14 patients with LSBE, 6 with SSBE and 7 patients with IMG were inmunohistochemically stained with monoc1onal antibodies to CK 7 and 20. Barrett's CK7/20 pattern was characterized by superficial and deep CK7 reactivity and only superficial CK 20 staining in the intestinalized mucosa. This pattern was found in all 7 ( I 00%) patients with LSBE, and was absent in all 7 patients with IMG. All biopsy specimens from patients with IMG showed no staining for CK7 and diffuse surface positivity for CK20. 67% of the biopsy specimens from patients with endoscopic SSBE showed Barrett's CK7/20 pattern, and the remaining 33% specimens showed the IMG stainlng pattern. Based on our data the inmunohistochemical determination of CK7/20 is an excelent tool with high specificity in distinguishing LSBE and SSBE from IMG.

Incidental detection of tubular esophageal duplication in gastric cardia malignancy.

Congenital esophageal duplications represent about 15% of digestive tract duplications. We report a 38-year-old man who presented with longstanding heartburn and recent dysphagia. Endoscopy showed communicating tubular duplication of lower esophagus with ulceroproliferative growth at the gastric cardia extending into the lower esophagus. Histology of radical esophagogastrectomy specimen showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia without evidence of Barrett's esophagus.

Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico: uma afecção crônica / Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a chronical disorder

A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) pode ser definida como “uma afecção crônica decorrente do refluxo retrógrado de parte do conteúdo gastroduodenal para esôfago ou órgãos adjacentes a ele, acarretando um espectro variável de sintomas e/ou sinais esofagianos e/ou extraesofagianos, associados ou não a lesões teciduais”. É uma afecção prevalente, porém subestimada, no entanto pode comprometer sobremaneira a qualidade de vida do paciente. Sua etiologia e patogenia são multifatoriais, porém depende essencialmente da integridade da barreira anti-refluxo, com seus componentes anatômicos e funcionais. Um dos fatores que mais se destaca nesta doença é o distúrbio do esfíncter inferior do esôfago (EIE). O diagnóstico de certeza é feito através da pHmetria de 24 horas, sendo a endoscopia digestiva alta muito utilizada na avaliação da gravidade da doença, assim como no diagnóstico de erosões, úlceras, sangramentos e complicações (esôfago de Barrett), com a realização de biópsia (histologia), além de permitir, em alguns casos a terapêutica. O tratamento visa o alívio dos sintomas, cicatrização das lesões e a prevenção de recidivas e complicações. Para isso é utilizado o tratamento clínico, com as medidas comportamentais e o farmacológico, e em algumas situações bem definidas é realizado tratamento cirúrgico e, num futuro próximo, o tratamento endoscópico.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be defined as “a chronic disorder related to the retrograde flow of the gastroduodenal contents into the esophagus and/or adjacent organs, resulting in a variable spectrum of symptoms, with or without tissue damage”. Its pathophysiology and etiology are multiple but the integrity of the antireflux barrier is a very important issue and also the disorders of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The gold-standard test for GERD is the 24-hour pHmetry and the upper endoscopy is also useful on the diagnosis of erosions, ulcers, upper bleedings and Barrett’sesophagus, allowing the tissue analysis and in some circunstances the treatment. The objectives are alleviation of symptoms, the healing of mucosal lesions, and prevention of recurrence and complication. The therapeutic approach can be divided into behavioral a pharmacological measures thatshould be implemented, but in some special cases, the surgical treatment is needed, and in the near future, the endoscopic treatment should be available..

[Adenocarcinoma of the oeso-gastric junction on endobrachyoesophagus. About two cases review of literature]

Barrett esophagus [BE] is intestinal metaplasia [MI] within the distal tubular esophagus. The BE results in replacement of the normal squamous-lined epithelium with a columnar type epithelium. This metaplastic lesion is a clearly defined risk factor for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma [ADC]. In the western countries the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus and the gastro-esophagus junction have rapidly increased during the past twenty years. The 5-year survival is very poor. Although the relative risk of individuals in the United States with BE developing esophageal adenocarcinoma is very high, the absolute risk is extremely low due to the small number of cases. This lesion is caused by a persistent gastro-esophageal reflux. The nature of the reflux liquid is mixed acid and alkaline in the big majority of cases. A familial aggregation of BE and esophageal adenocarcinoma are present in 14% of patients with BE and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis, the surveillance, the new tools of characterization of BE and the therapy remain an actual problem. We present 2 cases of endobrachyesophagus associated to an adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus and a review of the main actual problem

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in Trinidad and Tobago

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement is rapidly becoming the preferred method of gastrostomy tube placement. We describe our experience with this procedure in nine patients. The main complications were minor and due to local infection. This report demonstrates the simplicity and safety of this technique

Metaplasia intestinal de la union esofagogastrica: prevalencia, relacion con reflujo gastroesofagico, Helicabacter pilori e histologia gastrica / Intestinal metaplasia of esophagogastric junction

El interés por la metaplasia intestinal especializada (MIE), de localización cardial, crece conforme se incrementa la prevalencia de adenocarcinoma de la union esofagogastrica. Se plantean diversas hipotesis que la asocian con la presencia de reflujo gastroesofagico y sus complicaciones, la actividad gastrica, la presencia de carditis y Helicobacter pylori, sin que hasta el momento se tenga confirmacion irrefutable de cada una de ellas. Si bien su prevalencia en paises como Estados Unidos y los de Europa es alta, 15 a 50 por ciento, no se conoce en nuestro medio. Objetivo: conocer la prevalencia de la MIE de localización cardial en una poblacion colombiana y establecer sus asociaciones con la presencia de reflujo gastroesofagico esofago de Barrett, carditis, histologia gastrica e infeccion por H. pylori. Materiales y metodos: el estudio se llevo a cabo en un municipio de 373.335 habitantes; para una prevalencia esperada de MIE de 20 por ciento; para una prevalencia esperada de MIE de 20 por ciento, se calculó una muestra de 265 pacientes, que fueron captados en forma consecutiva de aquellos remitidos por síntomas dispepticos a la unidad de endoscopia del hospital local. Antes del procedimiento endoscopico, se aplico un formulario donde se consignaban los datos de identificacion, los sintomas de reflujo gastroesofagico, su duracion en semanas y la frecuencia de presentacion en dias por semana...

Prevalencia de mucosa cardial o fúndica y presencia de helicobacter pylori en la unión de mucosas escamoso-columnar en pacientes con reflujo gastroesofágico crónico patológico sin metaplasia intestinal comparados con controles / Prevalence of cardial or fundic mucosa and helicobacter pylorii infection in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux

Background: The mucosa distal to the endoscopic mucosal change zone can have easily diagnosed early alterations, in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux. Aim: To determine the type of mucosa existent in the zone distal to the squamous-columnar junction in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux without intestinal metaplasia. Patients and methods: One hundred thirty four controls and 208 patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux lasting two years were studied. Forty three of these patients had a normal endoscopy, 54 had an erosive esophagitis and 111 had a short columnar epithelium covering the distal esophagus, without intestinal metaplasia. In all subjects, four biopsies were obtained from a zone distal to the squamous-columnar junction and two from the distal gastric antrum. Results: In 59 percent of control subjects, fundic mucosa was present in the zone distal to the squamous-columnar junction. Cardial mucosa was present in the rest. In patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, cardial mucosa was predominant. Helicobacter pylorii infection decreased along with increasing extension of cardial mucosa covering the distal esophagus. Conclusions: In patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux there is a metaplasia of fundic mucosa towards cardial mucosa. On the other hand, Helicobacter pylorii infection decreases gradually

Estudio prospectivo endoscópico y biópsico de la prevalencia de metaplasia intestinal en la unión gastro-esofágica en controles y en pacientes con reflujo gastroesofágico / Endoscopic assessment of the prevalence of gastro esophageal junction intestinal metaplasia in gastroesophageal reflux

Background: The Classic diagnosis of Barret esophagus is based on the finding of three or more cm of distal esophagus covered by specialized columnar epithelium. However, at the present time, it is based on the presence of intestinal metaplasia in the jucntion of aquamous-columnar mucosae. Aim: To assess the prevalence of Barret esophagus using endoscopic and pathological criteria in healthy subjects and in individuals with gastroesophageal reflux. Patients and methods: One hundred thirty nine controls and 372 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux subjects to an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were studied. Patients with Barret esophagus was classified as being a "mini Barret" wben the pathological presence of intestinal metaplasia was the only finding. A "short Barret esophagus" was diagnoses when less than 3 cm were covered with fingerings of mucosal substitutions and "extensive Barret esophagus" when more than 13 cm of esophageal mucosa were substituted. Results: Two percent of controls, 12.4 percent of patients with gastroesophageal reflux without esophagitis and l1,7 percent of such patients with esophagitis had intestinal metaplasia in the gastresophageal junction. Patients with Barret esophagus were older than the rest of patients. "Short Barret esophagus" is six times more frequent than "extensive Barret esophagus". Esophageal erosions, peptic ulcer and stenosis were more frequent in patients with extensive Barret esophagus. The prevalence of dysplasia was similar in all types of Barret esophagus. Conclusions: Intestinal metaplasia was very infrequent in control patients. In subjects with gastroesophageal reflux, classic endoscopic diagnosis may miss up to 80 percent of patients with Barret esophagus. Thus, gastroesophageal junction biopsies must be obtained in all patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux