Intensive endoscopic therapy for untreated cervical anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy: a pilot study

Background Cervical anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy cause significant disease burden. We aimed to study the technical feasibility and safety of intensive endoscopic therapy. Methods In this pilot study, we included 15 patients with an untreated benign cervical anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. Intensive endoscopic therapy comprised three endoscopic modalities: in- and excision using a needle-knife, intralesional steroid injections and bougie dilation. In two endoscopic procedures, the stricture was dilated up to a luminal diameter of 18 mm. Patients were followed up to 6 months. Results A luminal diameter of 18 mm was achieved in 13 of 15 patients (87%) after two endoscopic procedures. No major adverse events related to the investigational treatment occurred. Median dysphagia scores significantly improved from 2 (IQR, interquartile range, 2-3) at baseline to 0 (IQR 0-1) after 14 days (p < 0.001). Eleven (73%) patients developed recurrent symptoms of dysphagia requiring a median of 1 (IQR 0-3) additional endoscopic dilation procedure. Conclusions Achieving a luminal diameter of 18 mm in two procedures with intensive endoscopic therapy was technically feasible and effective in reducing dysphagia rapidly in patients with a cervical anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. No major adverse events related to the investigational treatment were observed.Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Results of neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy and resection for stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer in The Netherlands

Introduction: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy remains the main treatment strategy for patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); stage cT3N1 or cT4N0-1 may be eligible for surgery and potentially resectable stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC for neoadjuvant therapy followed by resection. We evaluated treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with stage IIIA NSCLC in The Netherlands. Material and Methods: Primary treatment data of patients with clinically staged IIIA NSCLC between 2010 and 2016 were extracted from The Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patient characteristics were tabulated and 5-year overall survival (OS) was calculated and reported. Results: In total, 9,591 patients were diagnosed with stage IIIA NSCLC. Of these patients, 41.3% were treated with chemoradiotherapy, 11.6% by upfront surgery and 428 patients (4.5%) received neoadjuvant treatment followed by resection. The 5-year OS was 26% after chemoradiotherapy, 40% after upfront surgery and 54% after neoadjuvant treatment followed by resection. Clinical over staging was seen in 42.3% of the patients that were operated without neoadjuvant therapy. Conclusion: In The Netherlands, between 2010 and 2016, 4.5% of patients with stage IIIA NSCLC were selected for treatment with neoadjuvant therapy followed by resection. The 5-year OS in these patients exceeded 50%. However, the outcome might be overestimated due to clinical over staging

Results of neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy and resection for stage IIIA NSCLC in the Netherlands.

Introduction | Patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) form a heterogenous group; concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remains the main treatment strategy, stage cT3N1 or cT4N0-1 may be eligible for surgery and potentially resectable stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC for neoadjuvant therapy followed by a resection.The reported survival rates after neoadjuvant treatment and resection vary widely. We evaluated treatment patterns and outcome of patients with stage IIIA NSCLC in the Netherlands. Material and Methods | Primary treatment data of patients with clinically staged IIIA NSCLC (according to the 7th edition of the TNM classification) between 2010 and 2016 were extracted from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patient characteristics were tabulated and 5-year overall survival (OS) was calculated and reported.Results | In total, 9,591 patients were diagnosed with stage IIIA NSCLC. Of these patients, 41.3% were treated with chemoradiotherapy and 11.6% by upfront surgery without neoadjuvant therapy. 428 patients (4.5%) received neoadjuvant treatment, CRT in 341 patients (80%) and chemotherapy in 87 patients (20%), followed by a resection. The 5-year OS was 26% after chemoradiotherapy, 40% after upfront surgery without neoadjuvant therapy and 54% after neoadjuvant treatment followed by a resection. Clinical overstaging was seen in 42.3% of the patients that were operated without neoadjuvant therapy.Conclusion | In the Netherlands, between 2010 and 2016, 4.5% of patients with stage IIIA NSCLC were selected for treatment with neoadjuvant therapy followed by a resection. The 5-year OS in these patients exceeded 50%, which is better than previously reported, however, outcome might be overestimated due to clinical overstaging.</p

Intensive endoscopic therapy for untreated cervical anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy: a pilot study

Background Cervical anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy cause significant disease burden. We aimed to study the technical feasibility and safety of intensive endoscopic therapy. Methods In this pilot study, we included 15 patients with an untreated benign cervical anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. Intensive endoscopic therapy comprised three endoscopic modalities: in- and excision using a needle-knife, intralesional steroid injections and bougie dilation. In two endoscopic procedures, the stricture was dilated up to a luminal diameter of 18 mm. Patients were followed up to 6 months. Results A luminal diameter of 18 mm was achieved in 13 of 15 patients (87%) after two endoscopic procedures. No major adverse events related to the investigational treatment occurred. Median dysphagia scores significantly improved from 2 (IQR, interquartile range, 2-3) at baseline to 0 (IQR 0-1) after 14 days (p < 0.001). Eleven (73%) patients developed recurrent symptoms of dysphagia requiring a median of 1 (IQR 0-3) additional endoscopic dilation procedure. Conclusions Achieving a luminal diameter of 18 mm in two procedures with intensive endoscopic therapy was technically feasible and effective in reducing dysphagia rapidly in patients with a cervical anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. No major adverse events related to the investigational treatment were observed