Post-esophagectomy gastric conduit cancers: treatment experiences and literature review

Gastric Conduit Cancer following Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

The incidence of gastric cancer associated with esophageal cancer is notably high. In recent years, there has been an increase in patients with gastric conduit cancers due to early detection and radical treatment of esophageal cancer, leading to prolonged survival of the patients. Metachronous gastric cancer following esophagectomy sometimes can pose a clinical challenge for surgeons, while gastric tube reconstruction is a well-established procedure accompanying esophagectomy, treating gastric cancer within the gastric tube can be difficult in contrast. Surgical treatment of gastric tube cancers is often complex and life-threatening. Early detection of gastric tube cancer is crucial for improving prognosis as it allows for less invasive surgical interventions. However, no specific guidelines for detecting gastric tube cancer have been established. In this report, we present a case of gastric tube cancer in a patient that had Ivor-Lewis surgery 20 years ago for preinvasive adenocarcinoma of the thoracic esophagus against the background of Barrett's esophagus. Recommendations for earlier and more accurate diagnosis and treatment of this pathology are discussed.

Metachronous carcinoma of the gastric tube following tumour-associated oesophagectomy

INTRODUCTION

The prognosis of oesophageal carcinoma has improved during the last years. Thereby, the increasing survival has led to increasing occurrence of secondary gastric tube carcinoma (gastric conduit cancer, GTC) following oesophageal tumour resection.

MATERIAL AND PATIENTS

A literature review (EMBASE, PubMed), spanning the years 2000 to 2020, identified 342 patients worldwide with a GTC following tumour-related oesophagectomy, of which 306 patients could be included for further analysis.

RESULTS

The median age of 306 patients with GTC was 66.4 (39-80) years. 91.2% of patients (n = 279) were male. The median interval between oesophagectomy and GTC was 60.3 (4-236) months. 73.8% of patients (n = 226) were diagnosed as early cancer (EGC, T1) and 26.2% as advanced carcinoma (AGC, > T2; n = 80). Primary oesophagectomy was performed in 97.4% of patients (N = 298) for squamous cell carcinoma. AEG I carcinoma was present in only 5 patients (1.6%). In contrast, 99% (n = 303) of the GTC were found to be adenocarcinomas. One hundred eighty patients (58.8%) could be treated by endoscopic resection (ER). R0 resection was achieved in 82.8% (n = 149). The complication rate was 13.3% (n = 24) and the 30-day mortality 1.1% (n = 2) for ER. Eighty-three patients (27.1%) were treated surgically. These included 13 wedge resections, 25 partial resections and 45 total gastric graft resections with predominantly colon interposition. The R0 rate was 98.8% (n = 82). The postoperative morbidity was 24.1% (n = 20); the 90-day mortality was 6% (n = 5). In 43 patients (14%), palliative chemotherapy or radiotherapy or best supportive care took place. GTC diagnosed early in the EGC stage can be safely managed with ER. In cases of advanced GTC, surgical resection can be a potentially curative approach. Survival times of up to 120 months have been described after intervention for GTC.

Laparoscopic mediastinal approach for retrosternal gastric conduit cancer after esophagectomy

The prognosis of esophageal cancer has improved, but the incidence of gastric conduit cancer has increased. Gastric conduit cancer is difficult to treat because current treatment options are highly invasive; in particular, surgical procedures have high mortality and modality. Treatment through the retrosternal route usually requires sternotomy, which often causes lethal osteomyelitis. To prevent lethal complications and reduce invasiveness, we used the laparoscopic mediastinal approach. Here, we report a successful case using the laparoscopic mediastinal approach for the treatment of gastric conduit cancer through the retrosternal route. Despite a few concerns, this approach can be a treatment option for gastric conduit cancer through the retrosternal route.

Distal gastric tube resection with vascular preservation for gastric tube cancer: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Survival rates in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy have improved, but the prevalence of gastric tube cancer (GTC) has also increased. Total resection of the gastric tube with lymph node dissection is considered a radical treatment, but GTC surgery is more invasive and involves a higher risk of severe complications or death, particularly in elderly patients.

CASE SUMMARY

We report an elderly patient with early GTC that had invaded the duodenum who was successfully treated with resection of the distal gastric tube and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction. The tumor was a type 0-IIc lesion with ulcer scars surrounding the pyloric ring. Endoscopic submucosal resection was not indicated because the primary lesion was submucosally invasive, was undifferentiated type, surrounded the pyloric ring, and had invaded the duodenum. Resection of distal gastric tube with R-Y reconstruction was safely performed, with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) and right gastric artery (RGA).

CONCLUSION

Distal resection of the gastric tube with preservation of the RGEA and RGA is a good treatment option for elderly patients with cT1bN0 GTC in the lower part of the gastric tube.

Gastric tube cancer after esophagectomy for cancer: a systematic review

Gastric conduit used for reconstruction after esophagectomy for cancer has the potential to develop a metachronous neoplasm known as gastric tube cancer (GTC). The aim of this study was to review literature and evaluate outcomes and possible treatment strategies for GTC. A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials. No restriction was set for the type of publication, number, age, or sex of the patients. The search was limited to articles in English. Characteristics of esophageal cancer (EC) and its treatment and GTC and its treatment were analyzed. A total of 28 studies were analyzed, 12 retrospective analyses and 16 case reports, involving 229 patients with 250 GTCs in total. The majority of ECs (88.2%) were squamous cell carcinomas. In 120 patients (52.4%) a posterior mediastinal reconstructive route was used when esophagectomy was performed. The mean interval between esophagectomy and diagnosis of GTC was 55.8 months, with a median interval of 56.8 months (4-236 months). One hundred and twenty-four GTCs (49.6%) were located in the lower part of the gastric tube. One hundred and forty patients were endoscopically treated. Eighty-five patients underwent surgery. Thirty-six total gastrectomies with lymphadenectomy with colon or jejunal interposition were performed. Forty-three subtotal gastrectomies and 6 wedge resections were performed. The main reported postoperative complications were anastomotic leak, vocal cord palsy, and respiratory failure. Twenty-five patients were treated with palliative chemotherapy. Three-year survival rates were 69.3% for endoscopically treated patients, 58.8% for surgically resected patients, and 4% for patients who underwent palliative treatment. The feasibility of endoscopic resections in patients diagnosed with superficial GTC has been reported. Surgical treatment represented the preferred treatment method in operable patients with locally invasive tumor. Patients treated with conservative therapy have a scarce prognosis. The development of GTC should be taken into consideration during the extended follow-up of patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer. Total gastrectomy plus lymphadenectomy should be considered the preferred treatment modality in operable patients with locally invasive tumor, when endoscopy is contraindicated. Long-term yearly endoscopic follow-up is recommended.

Gastric conduit cancer after oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer: incidence and clinical implications

OBJECTIVES

Gastric conduit cancer (GCC), which is a carcinoma that arises in the gastric conduit after oesophagectomy, often negatively affects long-term survivors of oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical implications of GCC.

METHODS

We reviewed data for 863 patients who underwent an oesophagectomy and a reconstruction of the gastric conduit from 1993 to 2011 for oesophageal cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 18 cases of GCC in 18 patients were identified. Cumulative incidence rates of GCC were 2.4% at 5 years and 5.7% at 10 years. The median interval between oesophagectomy and detection of gastric tube cancer was 5.0 years (range, 1-16 years). Ten patients were incidentally diagnosed with GCC under periodic endoscopy. All cases of gastric tube cancer were adenocarcinoma and 12 cases were located at the antrum of the gastric conduit. For GCC treatment, endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed in 6 patients, total gastric conduit gastrectomy with colon interposition in 3 patients and chemotherapy in 6 patients. Five patients received conservative treatment alone. The 5-year survival rate of all patients was 22.2%. The 3-year survival rates of the patients who underwent endoscopic resection, total gastrectomy with colon interposition or chemotherapy or conservative treatment were 100, 50, and 9.1%, respectively (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients had a constant risk of GCC occurrence after oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. Endoscopic or surgical resection for early GCC showed favourable outcomes compared with chemotherapy or conservative treatment for advanced GCC. A regular and long-term follow-up, including detailed endoscopy, is essential for the early detection of GCC in patients who underwent oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer.