[A case of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis receiving chemotherapy for esophageal and tonsillar cancers].

A man in his 50, underwent chemotherapy for esophageal and tonsillar cancers. Diarrhea appeared on the 4th day and worsened daily. On the 12th day, free air was pointed out on abdominal X-ray and he consulted our department. At that time, there was no peritoneal irritation sign. Though CT showed pneumatosis and free air, there were neither perforation nor intestinal necrosis, therefore we diagnosed pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI). Conservative management was performed. He could ingest orally on the 14th day and was discharged on the 37th day. After that, chemotherapy was performed on several occasions for cancer, but there was no recurrence of PCI.

A phase I/II clinical trial of preoperative short-course carbon-ion radiotherapy for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIR) has been under development. We report the results of a phase I/II clinical trial of preoperative CIR for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: Thirty-one thoracic ESCC patients were enrolled. They were first treated with CIR. The radiation dose was escalated from the initial dose of 28.8 GyE up to 36.8. Four to 8 weeks after CIR followed by clinical evaluation of the therapy, surgery was performed. Thereafter, a pathological evaluation was made. RESULTS: Acute toxicity was not seen except in one case (3.2%), and there were no late toxicities. Throughout the study period, there were no cases of withdrawal due to the effects of preoperative CIR. Twelve out of 31 (38.7%) patients achieved a clinical complete response (CR) and 13 patients (41.9%) achieved a partial response. Twelve out of 31 patients (38.7%) achieved a pathological CR. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in the stage I cases were 91%, 81%, and 61%, and was 100%, 85%, and 77% for the stage II, and 71%, 43%, and 29% for the stage III cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CIR showed strong local tumor control and is highly effective as a neoadjuvant therapy without severe adverse events.

[Usefulness of induction chemotherapy followed by chemo-radiotherapy for patients with advanced cervical esophageal cancer].

To obtain a good prognosis and preserve laryngeal function is one of the most important issues for patients with advanced cervical esophageal cancer. It is reported that induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is useful. We treated 8 consecutive patients with advanced cervical esophageal cancer by ICT and following CRT between 2003 and 2006. The regimen of ICT was FAP therapy (fluorouracil 1,000 mg/day and cisplatin 20mg/day on days 1-5, and doxorubicin 50mg/day on day 1) every 4 weeks. After 2-4 courses of FAP therapy, low-dose FP-CRT (fluorouracil 200mg/24 hours/day and cisplatin 5mg/day with radiation of 60-66 Gy, 2 Gy/day) were given. Effect of ICT was PR in 5 cases, SD in 1 case, and PD in 2 cases. Furthermore, the effect of ICT+CRT was CR in 5 cases and PD in 3 cases. The one-year survival rate was 62. 5%. Grade 3 hematological toxicity related to ICT was observed in 1 patient (12.5%). Grade 3 anorexia and esophagitis related to CRT were observed in 3 patients (37.5%) and 2 patients (25.0%), respectively. Radiation pneumonitis as a late toxicity occurred in 1 patient (12.5%). The therapeutic effect of ICT and CRT was suggested to be useful for patients with advanced cervical esophageal cancer because it was performed safely with no serious adverse effect and the outcome of ICT predicted the effect of the subsequent CRT.

[Successfully treated case of hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with laryngeal preservation].

The patient suffering from getting something lodged was admitted to our hospital in October 2008. He was diagnosed as hypopharyngeal cancer (cT2N1M0, cStage III) and cervical esophageal cancer (cT2N1M0, cStage III). Firstly he was administered 5-FU, DXR and CDDP as induction chemotherapy. The response evaluation was PR according to RECIST criteria. After the induction chemotherapy, he was treated with chemoradiotherapy (64.8 Gy/54 fr, concurrent with weekly DOC 10 mg/m2). Since cervical lymph node metastases were still remaining with complete response of the primary sites, we performed a neck lymph node dissection as salvage surgery in July 2009. There has been no evidence of recurrence after the salvage surgery.

[Resection of local recurrent gastric cancer following total gastrectomy].

We report a case of patient who underwent resection for local recurrent gastric cancer at the anastomotic site curatively. The patient was a 72 years old male with a history of undergoing total gastrectomy for gastric cancer located at the gastric cardia in February 2005. The histological findings of the resected tumor showed a Type 3 advanced gastric cancer invaded into subserosa in the cardia of the stomach with positive lymphatic and venous invasion and lymph node metastasis. The histological diagnosis was moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Both the proximal and distal margins were negative for cancer. Endoscopy, 4 years after the first operation, showed a recurrent tumor at the site of esophago-jejunal anastomosis. A resection of the tumor was carried out curatively through the left thoraco-abdominal approach in June 2009. We recommend a resection of anastomotic recurrence especially if it occurs from the first operation in the long interval.

[Successful management of the recurrent esophageal cancer following esophagectomy at a different time with combined local treatment of chemoradiotherapy and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy].

A 63-year-old man who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer (cStage III)was diagnosed with metastasis of the paraaortic lymph node 5 months after the surgery. He was treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT)with low-dose FP(5-FU, CDDP)and 60 Gy of irradiation. The effect of CRT was a complete response. Seven months later, there was a metastasis to the liver(S4). He received systemic chemotherapy(5-FU, ADR, CDDP: FAP), but it was not effective, so hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(FAP)was performed. Hepatic artery infusion therapy( 5-FU 1,000 mg/3.5 h x ADR 10 mg/1 h x CDDP 10 mg/1 h)was given for 1 day at an interval of 2 weeks for 18 months. Since ADR reached the maximum dose, hepatic artery infusion of 5-FU(1,000 mg/3.5 h)and CDDP(10 mg/ 1 h)was continued for 14 months at an interval of 4 weeks. The recurrent lesion disappeared completely 9 months after beginning hepatic artery infusion therapy. The patient is alive 69 months after surgery without any evidence of recurrence. Most cases with recurrent esophageal cancer have multiple metastases, and the treatment is mainly systemic therapy. However, in a patient with recurrent tumors at different times, it is possible to achieve a complete response and long-time survival by local treatment with fewer side effects as in this case. Combined local treatments could be the second treatment option after failed systemic chemotherapy for recurrent tumors in patients with esophageal cancer. Further investigations are necessary.

[A case of advanced esophageal cancer with large liver metastasis successfully treated with FAP therapy].

A 70-year-old man with dysphagia was diagnosed as advanced esophageal cancer by a primary doctor, and he was admitted to our hospital for treatment in February, 2004. The pretreatment diagnosis was basaloid squamous carcinoma, Mt area, T4 (aorta) , N2 (No. 107) , M1 (liver), Stage IVb performed systemic chemotherapy by FAP (5-fluorouracil ( 5-FU)+doxorubicin (DXR)+cisplatin (CDDP) ) from March, 2004. After 4 courses, the local tumor almost entirely disappeared, and the liver metastasis was obviously reduced. We continued chemotherapy afterwards. As of March 31, 2007, he had local lesion CR and metastatic lesion PR. It is very important to perform FAP repeatedly, for local and metastatic lesion of esophageal cancer while maintaining the patient's general condition and avoiding adverse events.

[A case of recurrent esophageal cancer treated by local injection of OK-432 for 8 months and the patient survived for 2 years and 3 months].

It is sometimes difficult to decide a treatment strategy for postoperative recurrence of esophageal cancer. Such recurrent esophageal cancer cases often present with extremely poor prognosis. We report a case of an 85-year-old man with a massive recurrent tumor of mediastinum 3 years after esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma (T3N2M0, Stage III) of the intrathoracic esophagus. The operative procedures were transhiatal esophagectomy and gastric reconstruction via posterior mediastinal route. Endoscopic local injection of OK-432 and balloon dilation was given to this patient after mediastinal recurrence. This patient lived for two years and three months after recurrence without severe side effects. Local injection of OK-432 is effective as a palliative therapy for recurrent case.

Esophageal carcinoma: evaluation with high-resolution three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state MR imaging in vitro.

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) constructive interference in steady state (CISS) MRI for evaluating mural invasion and morphologic features in esophageal carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four esophageal specimens with carcinomas were studied with a 1.5-T system using a 4-cm-diameter loop coil. High-resolution 3D-CISS MR images were obtained with a field of view (FOV) of 80 mm, matrix of 256 x 256, and section thickness of 0.5 mm (voxel size of 0.05 mm(3)). 3D-CISS MR images were compared with histopathologic findings, and virtual MR endoscopic images were compared with macroscopic findings at surgery. RESULTS: 3D-CISS MR images clearly depicted the normal esophageal wall as consisting of eight layers, which correlated well with the histologic layers. In 22 of 24 esophageal carcinomas (92%), the depth of mural invasion visualized with 3D-CISS MRI correlated well with the histopathologic staging. In all 24 carcinomas (100%), virtual MR endoscopic images clearly depicted the macroscopic types of the carcinomas, including adjacent lymph node swelling. CONCLUSION: High-resolution 3D-CISS MRI has a high diagnostic accuracy for evaluating mural invasion and macroscopic findings in esophageal carcinomas, and may be applicable to preoperative histopathologic staging and morphologic evaluation.

[The study of the autopsies of six patients with progressive esophageal cancer to investigate complications caused by esophageal stents].

Endoscopic placement of metal stents are used widely for patients with esophageal obstruction and fistula due to progressive esophageal cancer, but cause high rate of severe complications associated with the immediate causes of death. To determine severe complications caused by stents, we studied clinical data and autopsy of six patients who had been treated with stents for inoperable progressive esophageal cancer. Occording to the clinical records only two patients had severe complications due to stents. But at autopsy, three patients had massive hemorrhage in the stent placement, one patient had mediastinitis, and one patient were in imminent danger of perforation whose stent had been incorporated into the adventitia of the wall. More severe complications were revealed than those expected clinically. Endoscopic placement of metal stents have a great deal for the improvement of quality of life. But we should carefully decide the indication because endoscopic placement of metal stents could cause severe complications associated with the immediate causes of death.

Gastric diverticulum preoperatively diagnosed as one of two left adrenal adenomas.

A 47-year-old man was diagnosed with primary aldosteronism due to two left adrenal adenomas, suggested on computed tomography (CT) to be located at the upper and lower adrenal portion. However, adosterol scintigraphy revealed negligible uptake at the upper portion of the left adrenal. Laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was performed, but macroscopic examination of the specimen revealed only one adrenal tumor. Continued surgical exploration detected another mass between the spleen and the stomach, which was demonstrated to be continuous with the stomach and was eventually diagnosed as a gastric diverticulum. Postoperatively, aldosteronism resolved and repeat CT revealed staining of the adrenal pseudotumor when oral contrast was administered. Since organs located near the adrenals can simulate adrenal tumors, caution must be exercised in interpreting suprarenal masses on CT. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of concurrent pseudotumor and true tumor of the ipsilateral adrenal.

Superficial basaloid squamous carcinoma of the esophagus. A clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 12 cases.

Basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In this study, clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of 12 superficial esophageal BSCs were examined and compared with those of typical superficial SCCs. Eight cases were classified into an elevated type, and the other four into a depressed type. High-grade intraepithelial neoplasia was not observed around the invasive lesions in five cases, and only BSC components were apparent. High-grade intraepithelial neoplasia was demonstrated in seven cases, five of which had both BSC and SCC components in the invasive lesion. A cribriform growth pattern, comedo-type necrosis, and hyaline deposits were conspicuous histological findings. CK14 was positively stained in 90% of the series, but the proportion of positive cells was small in most cases. Type IV collagen was increased or well preserved in the basement membrane in 70% of cases, but heparan sulfate was decreased in the majority. In comparison with SCCs, lymphatic permeation was observed less frequently. However, regarding the frequencies of venous permeation, nodal metastasis, p53 protein expression, and Ki-67 labeling index, no significant differences were noted. Thus, esophageal BSCs demonstrate the pathological features characteristic of an early stage, but pathological parameters related to biological behavior do not significantly vary from those typical of SCCs.