Palliative radiotherapy for gastric cancer: Is there a dose relationship between bleeding response and radiotherapy?

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relationship between bleeding response and radiotherapy dose to palliate patients with local recurrence or progression of gastric cancer (GC). To this end, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that evaluated the bleeding response in patients with GC with local recurrence or progression. A meta-regression analysis between biological effective dose (BED) and bleeding response was performed, as was subgroup analysis to evaluate the outcome by BED level and radiotherapy (RT) technique. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Ten non-comparative retrospective studies and one prospective study were included. In general, RT was effective at controlling tumor bleeding, and the bleeding response rate was 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73-0.81). Meta-regression analysis demonstrated a linear correlation between BED Gy 10 and bleeding response (p=0<0001). Studies using conformational RT had a significant bleeding response rate compared to those using 2D (0.79; 95%CI, 0.74-0.84 vs 0.65; 95%CI, 0.56-0.75; p=0.021). In terms of the BED level, a significant difference in BR was identified on comparing BED Gy10 ≥40 (0.79; 95%CI, 0.7-0.8), BED Gy10 30-39 (0.79, 95%CI, 0.71-0.86), and BED Gy10 <30 (0.64; 95%CI, 0.5-0.7; p=0.0001). The mean survival time was 3.31 months (95%CI, 2.73-3.9) months, and the responders had a significantly longer survival (longer by 2.5 months) compared to the non-responders (95%CI, 1.7-3.3; p<0.0001). Palliative RT is effective at controlling bleeding due to local recurrence/progression from GC. Our findings reveal a relationship between BR and BED. BED <30 Gy 10 should not be recommended, and 3DRT should be indicated instead in order to improve the result.

Efectividad y seguridad de la radioterapia conformacional en cáncer gástrico / Effectiveness and safety of conformational radiotherapy in gastric cancer

Antecedentes: Descripción de la condición de salud de interés: El cáncer gástrico es el cuarto cáncer más común en el mundo, y es la segunda causa de muerte por cáncer a nivel mundial. Su incidencia varía en forma importante de un país a otro. Colombia se encuentra entre los países con las tasas más altas, con aproximadamente 7.700 nuevos casos diagnosticados en el 2007, y representa la primera causa de muerte por tumores malignos en ambos sexos. Según estadísticas de GLOBOCAN 2008, se estima una tasa de incidencia anual de 17.4/100.000 personas. Entre 90% y 95% de los tumores malignos del estómago son adenocarcinomas, y los grupos de edad más afectados son los de la séptima y la octava décadas de la vida (promedio de 65 años), pero si se considera sólo en pacientes con diagnóstico en etapa precoz (cáncer incipiente), la edad promedio desciende a 40-45 años. En Colombia, en más de la mitad de los pacientes con cáncer gástrico, el diagnóstico se hace en los estadios avanzados de la enfermedad. Descripción de la tecnología: Descripción de la tecnología: La radioterapia es una técnica que consiste en la exposición \r\nde los tejidos a radiaciones ionizantes. Se utilizan fuentes naturales o artificiales de radiación. El mecanismo de acción a nivel celular es la producción de radicales libres, los cuales son nocivos para las estructuras vitales de las células. Evaluación de efectividad y seguridad: Pregunta de evaluación: En pacientes adultos con cáncer gástrico ¿cuál es la efectividad y seguridad de la la radioterapia conformacional 3D en comparación con la radioterapia convencional (AP-PA), en cubrimiento de volumen blanco y toxicidad en \r\ntejido normal (órganos en riesgo)? La pregunta de investigación fue validada teniendo en uenta las siguientes fuentes de información: registro sanitario INVIMA, Acuerdo 029 de 2011, guías de práctica clínica, \r\nrevisiones sistemáticas y narrativas de la literatura, estudios de prevalencia/incidencia y carga de enfermedad, libros de texto, consulta con expertos temáticos, sociedades científicas y otros actores clave. Población: Pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer gástrico. Tecnología de interés: Radioterapia conformacional 3D. Metodología: Búsqueda de literatura, Búsqueda en bases de datos electrónicas. Conclusiones: Efectividad: la radioterapia conformacional 3D en comparación con la técnica convencional AP-PA, ha demostrado ser una técnica efectiva para el tratamiento adyuvante de pacientes con cáncer gástrico, con resultados que demuestran que esta técnica ofrece un mejor cubrimiento de órgano blanco. Seguridad: \r\nen órganos adyacentes en riesgo de irradiación, la radioterapia conformacional 3D ha demostrado una menor dosis de irradiación en columna vertebral, riñón izquierdo y riñón derecho. Para el hígado, las dosis de irradiación son mayores con la radioterapia conformacional 3D en comparación con la radioterapia convencional; sin embargo, dichas dosis se encuentran aún por debajo de la dosis hepática tolerada.

Comparing cystatin C changes as a measure of renal function before and after radiotherapy in patients with stomach Cancer

The objective of this study was to determine and compare Cystatin C changes before and after radiotherapy in patients with stomach cancer who were candidate for radiotherapy. This study was conducted as a prospective cohort one. Eighteen patients with definite diagnosis of stomach cancer under treatment by radiotherapy who presented to Radiotherapy-Oncology Center of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran-Iran, and the treatment in all cases was simultaneous chemoradiation with Xeloda were included. In all patients before radiotherapy and after radiotherapy serum creatinine [Cr] and Cystatin C were measured simultaneously. Mean cystatin level before treatment [1.2 +/- 0.4] was significantly lower than that of post-treatment [1.6 +/- 0.36], [P=0.001]. Serum Cr level before treatment was 1.15 +/- 0.33 and after radiotherapy was 1.08 +/- 0.24 and did not show significant difference. Glomerular filtration rate [GFR] of the patients before radiotherapy was-46.8 +/- 21.0 and after radiotherapy was 43.8 +/- 15.8 that did not have significant difference [P=0.146] and also blood urea nitrogen [BUN] before radiotherapy was 20.72 +/- 3.7 and 20 +/- 6.38 after radiotherapy that did not have significant difference [P=0.6]. Comparison of the Cystatin C difference with total radiation dose of the kidneys that are put in three dose groups in radiotherapy field had association that in dose of less that 18 gray [Gy] the Cystatin C change showed significant and positive association [P=0.027; r=0.52] and about 18-24 Gy the Cystatin C difference showed significant and negative association [P=0.023, r=-0.53]. It seems that for evaluating the renal function, serum Cystatin C measurement is preferable than serum Cr. level

Cáncer primario múltiple sincrónico: a propósito de un caso / Synchronous multiple primary cancer: report of a case

Los tumores malignos primarios múltiples sincrónicos son relativamente inusuales, aunque el número de pacientes diagnosticados con tumores primarios múltiples se está incrementando, dado al desarrollo de procedimientos diagnósticos más sofisticados, invasivos o no invasivos, y el incremento del número de pacientes ancianos. Los canceres sincrónicos al triple fueron reportados en solo el 1,2-1,9% de todos los canceres primarios. Los órganos digestivos son el sitio más común para tumores malignos primarios múltiples y también es el sitio usual del tumor primario. Nosotros describiremos los síntomas, diagnostico y tratamiento de un paciente masculino de 65 años con tumores gástricos malignos múltiples sincrónicos asociado a un cáncer de esófago.

Synchronous multiple primary malignant tumors are relatively unusual, although the number of patients diagnosed with multiple primary tumors is increasing due to development of more sophisticated invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tools and an increase in the number of elderly patients. Synchronous triple cancers were reported in only 1.2-1,9% of all primary cancers. Digestives organs are the most common tumor site for multiple primary malignant tumors and also the usual site for primary tumors. We will describe the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of a 65 year-old male patient with synchronous gastric malignant tumors associated with esophageal cancer.

Postoperative chemoradiation in patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma: Single center experience.

Background : 5-Flourouracil (FU)-based chemotherapy (CT) and concurrent 45 Gy radiotherapy (RT) is one of the standard postoperative approaches currently used in gastric carcinoma. The high toxicity rates of this treatment leads to interruption of treatment in the majority of patients. In our study, we investigated the rates of toxicity and treatment discontinuation observed during postoperative FU-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT); retrospectively evaluated the effect of CRT and the other prognostic factors on local and distant control and survival. Patients and Methods: A total of 160 patients consisting of 97 total and 63 subtotal gastrectomy receiving postoperative CRT, have been studied retrospectively. Results : Patients who had to discontinue the treatment for a median of 6 (range, 3-13) days experienced toxicity during treatment at a rate of 43%. During the 21 (range, 4-68) months of follow-up local recurrences were observed in 8 (5%) patients and distant recurrences were observed in 41 (25.6%) patients. While the 1-3 year overall survival (OS) rates were 75% and 42%, 13-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 63% and 42%, respectively. In the univariate analysis for OS and DFS demonstrated statistical significance for below those 60 years of age, D1-D2 dissection type, negative surgical margin, early treatment beginning, the absence of invasion, and early stage disease. D1D2 dissection type, early treatment begining, age below 60 years and early stage disease significantly improve OS and DFS in multivarite analysis. Conclusions: Survival is worse in patients older than 60 years, had late treatment begining, advanced stage and D0 dissection.

Quimioterapia y/o radioterapia en pacientes con cáncer gástrico resecable o potencialmente curativos: visión de cirujanos / Chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy in patients with resectable gastric cancer or potentially curative: vision of surgeons

The management of patients with advanced gastric carcinoma who are candidates to surgical resection, implies the use of additional adyuvant or neo-adyuvant treatments. The present article reviews briefly the results of different treatments. The best results up to now have been obtained with the use of quemotherapy plus radiotherapy after surgical resection (Mac Donald´sprotocol) or with the use of preop and postoperative quemotherapy (Cunningham´s protocol). Patients candidates to such treatments correspond to cases with resected gastric cancer, with tumoral infiltration up to the serosa to extra serosa infiltration and those who have 1 or more metastatic lymph nodes. There are several new treatment protocol, which must be evaluated by prospective and randomized studies.

Pattern and presentation of carcinoma stomach

To determine the clinical profile of carcinoma stomach. A case series. A single unit of the Department of General Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences and civil Hospital, Karachi, from April 2006 to April 2010. Patients with gastric cancer confirmed on histopathology were included in the study. Patients diagnosed with acid peptic disease and benign gastric ulcer were excluded. Variables studied were, age, gender, mode of presentation, presenting complain, endoscopy findings, palpable supraclavicular lymph node, histopathology, stage and treatment. Data was analyzed for descriptive statistics. Total number of patients were 15, including 9 males [60%] and 6 females [40%]; male female ratio was 1.5:1. Mean age was 48.6 +/- 4.47 years, ranging from 26-65 years. Majority of the patients [n=9, 60%] were presented through outpatient department, while the rest presented through emergency. Common presenting complains were vague upper abdominal pain, mass, ascites, peritonitis and hematemesis. On endoscopy tumour was found at the cardiac end in 5 patients [33%], at pylorus and antrum in 6 patients [40%], linitis plastica in 2 patients [13.3%], only body and body and pylorus were involved in 1 patient [6.7%] each. Ten patients [66.6%] presented at stage IV and 3 patients [20%] in stage III. Surgical resection was possible in 5 patients [33.3%]. Total gastrectomy was performed in one patient [6.7%], while subtotal gastrectomy was undertaken in 4 patients [26.7%]. Palliative gastrojejunostomy was performed in 4 [26.7%] and feeding gastrostomy and endoscopic stenting in 2 patients [13.3%] each. Chemotherapy was given to 8 patients [53.3%] patients while radiotherapy to 2 patients [13.3%]. Histopathological diagnosis was diffuse infiltrating adenocarcinoma in 10 [66.6%], infiltrating intestinal type in 3 [20%] and gastric lymphoma in 2 [13.3%] patients. Morality was 13.3%. Majority of the patients with gastric carcinoma were young males, presenting with advanced stage disease. Only 33% tumours were resectable while 53.3% tumours were managed by palliative treatment. Overall morality was 13.3%

Management of gastric carcinoma; comparative analysis of various treatment modalities

To find the best treatment modality for carcinoma stomach. Case series study. Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi. From January 1996 to December 1999. 42 cases of gastric carcinoma are included in this study. The mode of treatment predominantly remained surgical with the aim to cure the patient of this disease. The disease occurred mostly above the age of 50 years. Common clinical features were unexplained weight-loss, malnourishment and anaemia, respiratory tract infections. No specific etiological factor was detected except that, out of 42 patients 35 were smokers or had quit smoking during the past six years. Nearly all were having at least 8-10 cups of hot tea per day. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequently encountered histological type. 03 patients could not be operated upon because of extremely poor prognosis due to multi-organ failure. 12 patients were selected for surgery curative resection was carried out, whereas the remaining 27 were subjected to palliative resections. Five patients died during or within one month of surgical intervention. Out of the remaining 34, only 21 patients reported for follow up. In most of the patients in whom curative resection was performed, the quality of life was reasonably good. At the end of one year, another eight patients had died of tumour dissemination and cachexia, three patients developed tumour recurrence at the anastomotic site, and one patient developed stricture at anastomotic site. Patients with recurrence were sent for radiotherapy. It is concluded that for carcinoma of stomach the only possible treatment is surgery either alone or in combination with radiation and chemotherapy, the most common, preventable etiological factor is smoking, probably in combination with hot beverages in excess. The most common presentation remains weight loss with dyspepsia or weakness and anorexia, commonly effected age group is middle and old age, preoperative nutritional build-up achieves good postoperative results, palliative surgical procedures made the quality of life of the patient better. The prognosis remains extremely poor, in terms of morbidity and mortality

Adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer in a long term follow-up / Tratamento adjuvante no câncer gástrico em seguimento a longo prazo

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer carries a poor-prognosis. The best extent of the node dissection and the value of postoperative adjuvant treatments remain open questions.AIM: To study the efficacy of adjuvant chemoradiation and the prognostic value of some clinico-pathological variables in gastric cancer previously submitted to surgery.METHODS: Retrospective single institution study of 69 patients with histological diagnoses of gastric adenocarcinoma, consecutively submitted to radical surgery with curative intent in a five years period. Lymph node dissection was either D1 or D2 at the surgeon's description. All patients were submitted to adjuvant chemoradiation according to MacDonald et al.2. Treatment discontinuation and early deaths were considered as serious toxic events. Clinical-pathological variables (the extent D level of the node dissection, T/N-stage, histological subtype, margin status, number of the dissected nodes) were correlated to the results. Overall survival was estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier method and the curves were compared by the log-rank test.RESULTS: Patients characteristics: 48 male/21 female, median age 56,4 y (30-79). In 25 patients, the extent of node dissection was D1, in 41 was D2 and D0 in 3. Staging (n): T2 (16); T3 (49); T4 (4); No (11); N1 (29); N2 (20); N3 (8); Nx (1). Histological subtype: intestinal (45), diffuse (19) and unknown (5). Margins were free in 57 patients, the median number of dissected nodes was 31 (0-120). They were treated with linear acelerator 6 MV photons, AP/PA fields with 45Gy in 5 weeks in 90% of the patients and the treatment was done in a mean time of 19,2 weeks. In the median follow-up of 19,3mo (8-52,5mo), 52 patients with more than 24 months of follow-up occurred 38 deaths. The median overall survival for all patients was 22,2 months. Seven (10%) patients presented serious toxic events and treatment was discontinued...

RACIONAL: Câncer gástrico avançado é sempre acompanhado de pobre prognóstico. A melhor forma de ser realizada a linfadenectomia e o valor da radioquimioterapia adjuvante ainda estão em tela de juízo.OBJETIVO: Estudar a eficácia da terapia adjuvante e o valor prognóstico de algumas variáveis clínico-patológicas nos pacientes submetidos à ressecção cirúrgica de seus tumores.MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de uma única instituição hospitalar incluindo 69 pacientes com diagnóstico histológico de adenocarcinoma gástrico consecutivamente submetidos à operação radical com intenção curativa no período de cinco anos. Linfadenectomia foi tanto D1 como D2 e em todos os pacientes foi aplicado o protocolo quimioradioterápico proposto por Macdonald et al.2. Interrupção do tratamento bem como mortes precoces foram consideradas eventos tóxicos sérios. Variáveis clínico-patológicas (extensão do D, estadiamento T/N, subtipos histológicos e número de linfonodos ressecados), foram correlacionados com os resultados. A sobrevida total foi estimada de acordo com o método de Kaplan-Meier.RESULTADOS: Foram 48 homens e 21 mulheres, com idade média de 56,4 anos. Em 25 pacientes a extensão da linfadenectomia foi D1; em 41, D2 e em 3, D0. O estadiamento T2 foi em 16 pacientes; T3 em 49; T4 em 4; N0 em 11; N1 em 29; N2 em 20; N3 em 8; Nx em 1. O subtipo histológico intestinal ocorreu em 45; o difuso em 19 e desconhecido em 5. Em 57 pacientes as margens estavam livres de tumor e foram ressecados em média 31 linfonodos. Foram tratados por acelerador linear 6 MV, AP/PA campos com 45Gy em cinco semanas em 90% dos casos com média de tratamento de 19,2 semanas. No tempo médio de seguimento de 19,3 meses, entre 52 pacientes com mais de 24 meses foram observadas 38 mortes. O tempo médio geral de sobrevida do grupo como um todo foi de 22,2 meses. Sete (10%) apresentaram eventos tóxicos sérios e o tratamento foi interrompido...

Evaluación de la morbimortalidad precoz de la quimiorradioterapia adyuvante en una serie de pacientes tratados por cáncer gástrico / Evaluation of early morbidity and mortality of adjuvant chemoradiation in patients with gastric cancer

Desde el año 2005, en el Hospital Clínico Regional Valdivia (HCRV), la terapia adyuvante para el cáncer gástrico es la quimiorradioterapia (QtRt). El objetivo del trabajo es describir las reacciones adversas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de Cáncer Gástrico sometidos a QtRt adyuvante en el HCRV. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, de pacientes sometidos a QtRt (con 5FU+leucovorina+radioterapia con acelerador lineal al lecho gástrico) que fueron a gastrectomía en el HCRV, entre enero 2005 y diciembre 2006. No se incluyeron pacientes con cáncer gástrico incipiente, ni los con invasión a estructuras vecinas ni metástasis a distancia. La información se recopiló a partir de 2 registros prospectivos de pacientes de nuestro hospital y de la revisión de fichas clínicas. Algunas de las variables registradas fueron: edad, sexo, clasificación según TNM, toxicidad hematológica, gastrointestinales y mortalidad. El análisis de las variables se realizó mediante el Software STATA 9.0. La serie se compone de 37 pacientes, con edad promedio de 59 años y predominantemente de sexo masculino con un 70,3 por ciento. A 28 (75.68 por ciento) se les practicó una gastrectomía total; 30 pacientes (81,08por ciento) fueron clasificados como T3 y 8 (21,62 por ciento) como N3. El promedio de linfonodos resecados fue 34. Treinta pacientes (80por ciento) presentaron toxicidad gastrointestinal y 23 (62,61por ciento) hematológica. Sólo un paciente (2,7 por ciento) no presentó algún grado de toxicidad. Todos los pacientes etapificados como T3N3 presentaron toxicidad. No hubo mortalidad. En esta serie, la QtRt adyuvante para el tratamiento del cáncer gástrico en el HCRV es una terapia que conlleva un alto porcentaje de reacciones adversas de diversa magnitud.

Adenocarcinoma gástrico treinta y dos años post linfoma gástrico / Gastric adenocarcinoma appearing 32 years after the resection of a gastric lymphoma: report of one case

The association of gastric lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma in the same patient is uncommon. We report a 76 year-old male with a previous history of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding who required a subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction in 1974. Pathology demonstrated a gastric ¡ympho-histiocytic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient received complementary radiotherapy and was followed with annual endoscopies for 23 years. In 2006, he presented with fatigue. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed an ulcerated and proliferative lesión at the gastric stump. Biopsy demonstrated a gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric stump resection with lymph node dissection was perfomed. Pathology of the excised specimen showed a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma of the gastrojejunal anastomoses which infiltrated up to the subserosa. Additionally lymphatic permeations were observed and 10 of the 16 excised lymph nodes were invaded by the tumor.

Radio-quimioterapia postoperatoria en cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado / Postoperative radio-chemotherapy in locally advanced gastric cancer

Background: Overall 5 years survival for surgically excised gastric cancer is 30 percent. Adjuvant treatment may improve the surgical results. Aim: To assess treatment results and toxicity in patients with surgically excised gastric cancer, treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and concomitant continuous 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Material and Methods: Forty one patients aged 32 to 73 years (29 males) with stage II-IVA gastric cancer, subjected to a total or subtotal gastrectomy and D2 nodal dissection between 1997 to 2006, were studied. They received adjuvant radiotherapy to the gastric bed and draining lymphatic nodes in a total dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and chemotherapy with continuous infusión 5-FU, 200 mg/m²/day. Results were compared to historical controls matched according to demographic parameters and tumor characteristics. Results: Eighteen patients were in stage II, 10 in stage IIIA, nine in stage IIIB and four in stage IVA. Twelve patients had an NO nodal status, 15 were NI, nine were N2 and five were N3. After a mean follow up of 32 months, 26 patients (63 percent) were alive. Five year overall survival was 49.6 percent for surgery plus radiochemotherapy compared to 30.7 percent for the historical group subjected only to surgery (p =0.002). Radiotherapy was associated with grade 1-2 toxicity and treatment was completed without interruptions in all patients. Chemotherapy was delayed temporarily in 3 patients. Conclusions: Adjuvant radio-chemotherapy improved overall survival in gastric cancer, compared to historical controls subjected only to surgical treatment.

Radioquimioterapia neoadyuvante en cáncer gástrico T4 localmente irresecable: resultados preliminares / Chemoradiotherapy in patients with non resectable gastric cancer: report of 10 patients

En el caso de pacientes con cáncer gástrico T4, puede estar indicada la quimiorradioterapia si no es posible la resección de las estructuras infiltradas. Analizamos 10 pacientes con cáncer gástrico irresecable (8 hombres, 2 mujeres) tratados por nosotros en el periodo 2003-2005. Después de la laparotomía exploradora, los pacientes con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzados e irresecables son tratados con RT-QT concomitante 2 semanas después de la laparotomía. El tratamiento consistió en radioterapia a dosis de 45 Gy en 25 fracciones de 1.8 Gy, 5 veces por semana por 5 semanas sobre estómago y linfáticosregionales, y 5 FU en 1ª y 5º semana (425mg/m2) o Capecitabina 825 mg/m2 diarios, en dos dosis, cada12 hrs. Un mes después se realiza la segunda laparotomía con resección del estómago y linfadenectomía en casos de remisión total o parcial de la enfermedad. Todos los carcinomas fueron proximales. Nueve pacientes se reintervinieron, un paciente tuvo progresión de la enfermedad. Un paciente fue nuevamente irresecable y ocho fueron sometidos a una gastrectomía total D2. Se logró respuesta patológica completa en tres casos (no había cáncer residual en el estómago ni en los ganglios) y parcial en cinco. Creemos que en cáncer gástrico T4 localmente irresecable la RT-QT seguida de cirugía es una buena alternativa terapéutica.

Low Grade MALT Lymphoma of the Stomach: Treatment Outcome with Radiotherapy Alone

In order to evaluate the role of radiation therapy in the management of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach (MLS), in patients with no evidence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or who had not responded to H. pylori eradication treatment, we analyzed the treatment outcome of patients who had received radiotherapy alone. Between Jan 1995 and May 2001, 6 patients with low- grade MLS were treated with radiotherapy alone. The median radiation dose was 30.6 Gy (range; 30 - 39 Gy) in a daily fractions of 1.5 - 1.8 Gy. Each patient had an endoscopic esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy with biopsy, 4 weeks after the completion of radiotherapy and every 6 months thereafter. A complete response was obtained in all patients. All patients were followed-up without evidence of disease, and no patient suffered a relapse. There was neither perforation nor hemorrhage of the stomach in any of the patients. No renal or hepatic toxicity were noted, and no secondary malignancies developed. In conclusion, radiotherapy should be considered as the preferred treatment method for low-grade MLS, in patients with no evidence of H. pylori infection, or who do not respond to antibiotic therapy, due to the significant benefits in gastric preservation and low morbidity.

Neoplasias sincronicas de esofago e estomago: importancia diagnostica e terapeutica / Simultaneous esophageal and gastric carcinoma: the importance of the diagnosis and treatment

A associacao entre o cancer esofagico e o gastrico tem sido evidenciada com maior frequencia nos ultimos anos devido aos avancos nos metodos de investigacao diagnostica. O estomago e o orgao habitualmente usado para as reconstrucoes apos esofagectomia por patologia benigna ou maligna. A correta avaliacao da mucosa gastrica no pre operatorio e imperativa, uma vez que pode ocorrer associacao entre carcinoma epidermoide do esofago e adenocarcinoma gastrico. E salientada a importancia da propedeutica gastrica pre-operatoria e, nos tumores estenosantes do esofago, a necessidade de inspecionar cuidadosamente o estomago no intra-operatorio