Successful resection of esophageal carcinoma associated with double aortic arch: a case report

Double aortic arch (DAA) is an extremely rare vascular malformation which causes tracheal and esophageal compression, resulting in respiratory symptoms such as stridor and wheezing, or feeding problems such as dysphagia, usually during the first few months of life. In contrast, this disorder is rarely diagnosed in adults. We herein present an elderly case with thoracic esophageal carcinoma with DAA. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second report of a successfully resected case of esophageal cancer associated with DAA in the English literature. Moreover, this is the first reported case of symptomatic DAA with esophageal carcinoma. Spiral computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction was very useful for preoperative assessment of the abnormal vessels.     

内支架置入对中晚期食管癌治疗价值的评估

目的采用内支架置入的方法对中晚期食管癌进行姑息性治疗,观察其疗效及不良反应.方法18例中晚期食管癌患者中,手术后吻合口肿瘤复发4例,合并食管-气管瘘及食管-纵隔瘘各1例.18例中晚期食管癌患者经食管造影显示狭窄段管腔直径均小于5mm,均先行球囊扩张,后置入支架.结果随访18个月,1例2个月后死于食管-气管瘘合并肺内感染,另1例6个月后死于消化道大出血.2例再狭窄后行放射治疗,其余患者均未出现进食障碍.结论内支架置入对中晚期食管癌治疗效果明显,操作简单、安全,无严重并发症,值得临床推广.     

食管支架置入术治疗食管恶性狭窄及食管气管瘘46例疗效分析

目的:探讨食管支架置入术治疗食管癌引起的食管狭窄及食管气管瘘的临床效果。方法:对46 例确诊为食管癌所致的恶性狭窄及食管气管瘘患者行食管支架置入,术后行影像学随访,评价其疗效。结果:46 例患者共置入 49 枚食管支架材料,均 1 次性成功置入。术后患者吞咽梗阻、呛咳缓解或消失,进食明显改善,未出现严重并发症。结论:支架置入治疗食管癌引起的食管狭窄以及食管气管瘘近期效果良好。     

Clinical Outcomes of Using a Conservative Approach of Late Esophageal Stent Placement in Palliation of Malignant Dysphagia

Background

Esophageal stents have been used as first-line treatment for palliation of malignant dysphagia, but this is associated with significant complications. The present study evaluated clinical outcomes and survival in patients with malignant dysphagia with esophageal stent placement who did not respond to prior chemoradiation or endoscopic modalities.

Patients and Methods

Patients with esophageal cancer, who had esophageal stents, were retrospectively reviewed from the electronic medical records. The patient demographics, type of stent placed, dysphagia scores, stent-related complications, and survival were recorded.

Results

Thirty-five patients with esophageal cancer received a total of 41 stents. There were 25 males and 10 females with mean age of 69.8 years. Twenty-two patients had esophageal adenocarcinoma, ten patients had squamous cell carcinoma, and three had poorly differentiated tumor. Esophageal malignancy was early stage (I, II) in 10 patients and advanced (III, IV) in 24 patients. Three patients had upper esophageal involvement, eight patients had mid-esophageal involvement; distal esophageal malignancy was present in 24 patients with 10 patients having gastroesophageal junction involvement. Six patients presented with tracheoesophageal fistula. Nine patients had prior esophagectomy. Thirty-three patients had chemoradiation, and 32 patients had other endoscopic therapies previously. Twelve of the 35 (33%) patients developed stent-related complications; nine patients had dysphagia due to various causes; one patient each developed aspiration, intractable hiccups, and intractable vomiting after stent placement, respectively. Nine patients underwent a repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Development of stent-related complications was not significantly associated with poor survival.

Conclusions

The clinical outcomes for patients with esophageal stent placement for malignant dysphagia after chemoradiation and other endoscopic treatments is not worse than that reported in patients where esophageal stent placement was used as first-line treatment.     

Palliation of malignant dysphagia in esophageal cancer: a literature-based review

Esophageal cancer is a lethal malignancy and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is increasing in incidence. Most patients present with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic disease.The 5-year survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer is < 20%. Dysphagia is the most common presenting symptom of this disease and leads to nutritional compromise, pain, and deterioration of quality of life. Palliation is an important goal of esophageal cancer therapy. Severity is commonly measured using a dysphagia grade, and dysphagia is an integral component of quality-of-life instruments, such as FACT-E and EORTC-OES 24. Investigation of dysphagia includes radiographic studies such as barium or Gastrografin swallow, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, and other staging studies for esophageal cancer. Current management options for the palliation of dysphagia include esophageal dilatation, intraluminal stents, Nd:YAG laser therapy, photodynamic therapy, argon laser, systemic chemotherapy, external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and combined chemoradiation therapy. The clinical situation, local expertise, and cost effectiveness play an important role in choosing the appropriate treatment modality.The benefits and disadvantages of these approaches along with a concise review of the literature are presented.     

A case report of esophageal cancer with tracheoesophageal fistula--improving the quality of life by using a covered self-expandable metallic stent

We present the case of a 64-year-old male who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer with tracheal invasion and distant lymph node metastases, and he received chemoradiation therapy. The therapy resulted in complete remission. However, he was unable to eat anything because of missed swallowing caused by a large tracheoesophageal fistula. The placement of a covered self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) improved his quality of life and palliated dysphagia for 3 months. Stenting in the cervical or upper esophagus may cause discomfort. However, the placement of a covered SEMS is one of the useful palliative treatments for esophageal cancer with tracheoesophageal fistula.     

晚期食管癌附膜金属内支架置入对放疗后穿孔的预防和治疗价值

目的　通过回顾研究 ,比较附膜金属内支架置入结合放疗和单纯放疗治疗晚期食道癌所致食道穿孔的发生率。评价附膜金属内支架置入对放疗后食道穿孔的预防和治疗价值。方法　 1996年 6月～ 2 0 0 0年 6月 ,97例晚期食管癌患者中 ,5 2例单纯行放射治疗 ,45例行附膜金属内支架置入结合放疗。治疗前均行食道吞钡检查 ,部分病例行食道镜检查 ,并取得组织学诊断。对支架置入前后的吞咽能力进行评分。对放疗后食道穿孔的发生率进行对比分析。结果　 5 2例单纯放疗病人有 7例发生食道穿孔 ,其中食道气管瘘 2例、食道纵隔瘘 4例、1例食道主动脉穿孔 ,后者因迅速出血性休克而死亡。 45例附膜金属内支架置入结合放疗的病人未见食道穿孔的现象发生 (其中包括 5例放疗穿孔后再行附膜支架置入的病人 )。 45例病人共置入 5 1个支架 ,其中 6例需置入 2个支架。在支架置入后吞咽功能均立即获得改善。结论　晚期食道癌附膜金属内支架置入对放疗后穿孔的预防和治疗作用是肯定的。     

Primary esophageal T cell lymphoma

A 60 year-old woman with primary esophageal T-cell lymphoma in clinical stage I(E)B is presented. Immunohistologic examination showed tumor cells to be positive for anti-LCA, anti-UCHL-1, anti-MT-1, anti-CD3 antibodies, and negative for anti-L26 antibody. Disappearance of dysphagia and improvement in esophageal findings were noted after 65 Gy of irradiation, and biopsy specimens from the esophagus revealed no malignancy. Primary esophageal lymphoma is extremely rare, and this T-cell lymphoma is only the fourth case reported in the literature.     

Intramural squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

A case of squamous cell carcinoma arising from an esophageal intramural squamous epithelial cyst is reported. Review of the literature reveals no previous reports of malignant transformation of esophageal cysts, although there have been reports of approximately 64 cases of benign esophageal cysts, and 35 cases of carcinoma arising in esophageal diverticula. In the present case, there was a history of increasing dysphagia for 2 months. Esophagram demonstrated a 4.5-cm concentric narrowing of the proximal esophagus just below the superior esophageal ring. Esophagoscopies revealed an esophageal stricture with intact mucosa, and bronchoscopy showed the lesion to be producing tracheal deviation. Multiple esophageal biopsies revealed mild mucosal hyperplasia with deep submucosal inflammatory changes suggesting an underlying lesion. Despite lack of histologic proof of malignancy, the patient underwent radiation therapy and bleomycin chemotherapy on the basis of the highly suggestive radiographic findings, but died with bilateral bronchopneumonia 6 months after admission. Autopsy demonstrated a 1.5-cm long intramural esophageal squamous epithelial cyst, from which arose a locally invasive squamous cell carcinoma, without mucosal involvement or metastases. There was no demonstrable evidence of any associated esophageal diverticulum.     

内镜下放置记忆合金支架治疗晚期食管癌48例临床分析

目的　评价内镜下放置食管支架治疗晚期食管癌的疗效和安全性。方法　 48例晚期食管癌合并狭窄和瘘的患者 ,在内镜下放置镍钛记忆合金带膜支架。结果　所有病例均成功放置支架 ,患者吞咽困难明显缓解 ,瘘口得到封闭 ,生活质量明显提高 ,生存期延长 ,未发生严重并发症。结论　内镜下放置镍钛记忆合金带膜支架治疗晚期食管癌所致恶性狭窄和瘘 ,安全可靠 ,操作简便     

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus with an Esophago-mediastinal Fistula Successfully Treated by Chemoradiation Therapy and Intubation: A Case Report

A case of esophageal small cell carcinoma with cervical nodemetastases and an esophagomediastinal fistula was treated successfullyby chemoradiotherapy. The fistula, after irradiation, was handledsuccessfully by esophageal intubation, followed by infusional5-fluorouracil and cisplatinum chemotherapy, resulting in theclosure of the fistula. Two courses of concurrent chemoradiotherapy,followed by additional cisplatinum and etoposide chemotherapy,were administered. The tumor, including the cervical lymph nodemetastases, disappeared completely after the treatment.     

金属食管支架治疗食管恶性狭窄22例分析

[目的]研究金属支架治疗食管恶性狭窄的价值。[方法]采用镍钛合金和Z型支架治疗食管狭窄22例 (18例恶性狭窄 ,4例吻合口狭窄 ) ,包括6例食管支气管瘘。通过胃镜在X线下确定狭窄段的上下缘 ,以及瘘管的位置 ,并在体外和体内定位 ,拔出胃镜后留置导丝 ,将支架置入器沿导丝送到狭窄部位 ,在X线透视下确定支架位置正确后 ,缓慢释放支架 ,并适当调整位置。[结果]病人置放支架后吞咽困难分级降低1.67个等级 ,食管直径由(0.4±0.2)cm扩张至(1.6±0.2)cm。带膜金属支架使瘘口完全封闭 ,术后无严重并发症发生。[结论]金属支架治疗对于不能手术切除的晚期食管癌 ,食管瘘或手术后吻合口狭窄以及吻合口复发的病人是有效的姑息治疗方法 ,带膜支架对食管支气管瘘堵瘘非常有效     

Usefulness of combination therapy with expandable metallic stent replacement and FLEP chemotherapy (consisting of 5-FU, leucovorin, etoposide and cisplatin) for advanced esophageal cancer invading the bronchus: a case report]

A 63-year-old male with an esophageal cancer invading the bronchus was treated with radiation therapy (70 Gy) from November 1995, resulting in the disappearance of the lesion. He was later readmitted due to dysphagia from the recurrence of the esophageal cancer. We diagnosed, by endoscopic and chest CT scan findings, that the esophageal cancer was invading the right bronchus. We inserted an expandable metallic stent endoscopically, and the patient could eat well. We performed two courses of FLEP chemotherapy (consisting of 5-FU, leucovorin, etoposide and cisplatin) from November 12, 1997. He then suffered from an esophagobronchial fistula, but was cured by a covered expandable metallic stent replacement. No esophageal stenoses or recurrences were seen endoscopically and he could eat well on December 7, 1998. The standard modality of treatment for patients with advanced esophageal cancer invading adjacent structures is not yet established, and the prognosis for such patients remains quite poor. We performed combination therapy with an expandable metallic stent replacement and FLEP chemotherapy, and improved the patient's quality of life. This form of therapy was thus proved useful for patients with esophageal cancer invading adjacent structures.     

Malignancy larynx presenting solely as pharyngo-cutaneous fistula

Malignancy larynx usually presents early, the common symptoms being hoarseness, pain thorat, cough and irritation of throat. An advanced malignancy is likely to be complicated by a pharyngo-cutaneous fistula. However it is an occurrence towards the end stage of the disease. Here we present a case of malignancy larynx primarily presenting as pharyngo-cutaneous fistula without any other symptoms.     

食管狭窄及食管-气管瘘内支架置入的临床应用

目的探讨内支架置入在食管狭窄及食管-气管瘘的效果,总结内支架置入的适应症及临床应用。方法本组40例,置入支架先行食管造影检查,并用X线显影尺精确定位后行支架置入。结果除1例外,全部支架置入成功,患者吞咽功能均缓解,瘘口完全封堵,恢复正常进食,肺部感染得以控制。结论食管内支架在治疗食管狭窄及食管-气管瘘方面,疗效可靠,并发症少。     

扩张置管治疗癌性复杂性食管狭窄和瘘51例分析

 目的 探讨内镜下覆膜支架治疗癌性难治性食管狭窄和瘘的临床疗效。方法 选择失去手术机会的复杂性食管狭窄和（或）瘘的患者51例进行内镜下扩张及支架置入术，根据病情的不同情况选择不同的治疗方式，并观察治疗后1个月及1年的临床疗效。结果 经过治疗，全部患者症状得到缓解，生活质量提高，51例患者共放置支架66个，置管后狭窄处直径由（4.05±1.34）mm增至（13.03±3.99）mm（P＜0.01），吞咽困难由（3.29±0.44）级改善为（0.95±0.73）级（P＜0.01），食管瘘患者瘘口全部闭合。随访1个月及1年有效率分别为100 %，78.38 %，1年失访共3例，复发共8例，经重复治疗缓解。6 个月、1，2，3年生存率分别为86.3 %，72.6 %，33.3 %，6.3 %。结论 内镜直视扩张置管治疗难治性食管狭窄和瘘，操作直观简便，定位准确，成功率较高，近、远期效果较好。     

国产食管金属内支架的临床应用

目的探讨国产食管金属内支架治疗食管癌性狭窄、食管—气管瘘及食管—纵隔瘘临床应用价值。方法先用导丝通过狭窄段,经球囊扩张,置入带膜食管金属内支架。结果48例食管狭窄者内支架置入后吞咽困难完全消除的7例（14．6％）,41例（85．4％）明显缓解。6例食管—气管瘘口封闭。结论国产食管金属内支架置入是治疗食管恶性狭窄安全可靠的方法,术后应继续进行抗癌治疗。     

食管内支架对恶性食管梗阻的疗效评价

目的：研究食管内支架在恶性食管梗阻及食管气管瘘治疗中的价值。方法：１９９５～１９９８年对７２例恶性食管梗阻且不能耐受剖胸手术的患置入食管内支架治疗。男５６例,女１６例,平均年龄７３．５岁（３８～９０岁）。食管癌５５例（并食管气管瘘３例）,胃贲门癌１３例,肺癌并气管食管瘘４例。结果：所有内支架开放良好,吞咽困难计分提高２分。７２例中,５３例（７３．６％）无并发症,最多见的并发症是胸痛,有１１例（２     

Weekly docetaxel in combination with concomitant radiotherapy for esophageal cancer

Docetaxel (DOC) has demonstrated an activity as a radiation sensitizer in head and neck cancer. We have experienced four cases of esophageal cancer treated by weekly DOC in combination with concomitant radiotherapy. Three cases of advanced esophageal cancer and a case of relapsed esophageal cancer after administration of 5-FU and CDDP were enrolled in this pilot trial. The schedule of treatment included a weekly administration of DOC (10 mg/m2/w) and six weeks of radiotherapy in 2.0 Gy daily fractions up to 60 Gy. Combination treatments were completed successfully without any side effects except a case of developed grade 1 dysphagia. Two cases showed a complete response and others showed a partial response. One case showed a complete response developed abdominal para aortic lymph node and liver recurrence 12 months after the treatment. However, the targeted lesion within radiotherapy for this patient still showed a complete response. A weekly administration of low dose DOC in combination with radiotherapy was very effective for advanced esophageal cancer. DOC has demonstrated an activity as a radiation sensitizer.     

食管内支架对恶性食管梗阻的疗效评价

对 72例恶性食管梗阻且不能耐受剖胸手术的患者置入食管内支架治疗。男 5 6例 ,女 16例 ,中位年龄 63岁。其中食管癌 5 5例 (合并食管气管瘘 3例 ) ,胃底、贲门癌 13例 ,肺癌并气管食管瘘 4例。结果所有内支架开放良好 ,吞咽困难计分提高 2分 ;主要并发症为胸骨后不适与胸痛 ,占 5 2 8% ( 3 8/ 72 )。初步研究结果提示 ,食管内支架能有效改善恶性食管梗阻及食管气管瘘的呛咳症状。