• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.339-347
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the status of number 3b lymph node (LN) station in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) and to investigate the optimal indications for radical proximal gastrectomy (PG) for AEG. Materials and Methods: Data of 51 patients with clinically advanced Siewert types II and III AEG who underwent total gastrectomy (TG) between April 2010 and July 2017 were reviewed. The proportion of metastatic LNs at each LN station was examined. Number 3 LN station was separately classified into number 3a and number 3b. The risk factors for number 3b LN metastasis and the clinicopathological features of number 3b-positive AEG patients were investigated. Results: The incidences of LN metastasis were the highest in number 1 (47.1%), followed by number 2 (23.5%), number 3a (39.2%), and number 7 (23.5%) LN stations. LN metastasis in number 3b LN station was detected in 4 patients (7.8%). A gastric invasion length of more than 40 mm was a significant risk factor for number 3b LN metastasis. All 4 patients with number 3b-positive AEG had advanced cancer with a gastric invasion length of more than 40 mm. The 5-year survival rate of patients with a gastric invasion length of more than 40 mm was 50.0%. Conclusions: Radical PG may be indicated for patients with AEG with gastric invasion length of less than 40 mm.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.139-147
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• 2019

The incidence of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer has been significantly increasing in Western countries. Appropriate planning for surgical therapy requires a reliable classification of EGJ cancers with respect to their exact location. Clinically, the most accepted classification of EGJ cancers is "adenocarcinoma of the EGJ" (AEG or "Siewert"), which divides tumor center localization into AEG type I (distal esophagus), AEG type II ("true junction"), and AEG type III (subcardial stomach). Treatment strategies in western countries routinely employ perioperative chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemoradiation for cases of locally advanced cancers. The standard surgical treatment strategies are esophagectomy for AEG type I and gastrectomy for AEG type III cancers. For "true junctional cancers," i.e., AEG type II, whether the extension of resection in the oral or aboral direction represents the most effective surgical therapy remains debatable. This article reviews the history of surgical EGJ cancer treatment and current surgical strategies from a Western perspective.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제34권12호
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• pp.930-936
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• 2001

배경 : 식도-위 경계부위에 발생되는 암의 원발병소에는 하부식도의 편평상피세포암, 바렛씨 식도에서 발생한 선암, 위의 분문부에서 발생한 선암, 그리고 상부 위암에서 하부식도를 침범하는 경우들이 있다. 이중 국내에서는 식도-위 경계부위를 침범하는 선암의 대부분은 상부위암의 경계부 침범으로 생각된다. 대상 및 방법 : 저자등은 식도-위 경계부위를 침범하는 위암중 1988년부터 1999년까지 원자력병원에서 수술적 절제를 시행받은 환자를 조사하였다. 결과 : 총 212명이 수술을 받았고 남녀비는 156:56 이었다. 나이는 22세에서 78세였고 정중복부절개, 좌 우 흥부절개 및 복부절개, 그리고 흉-복부 동시절개 등이 이용되었다. 술후 병기는 IA가 7명, IB가 11명, II가 26명, IIIA가 75명, IIIB가 35명, 그리고 IV기가 58명 이었다. 199명에서 근치적 절제를 할 수 있었고 200명에서 위의 전절제를 시행하였다. 164례 에서 하부식도의 침습이 있었다(77.4%). 74.1%는 복부 임파절에 전이가 있었고 17례(8%)에서 종격동 임파절의 침범이 있었다. 수술 사망률은 3.3%였고 전체환자의 5년 생존율은 35%였다. 결론 : 또 여러 가지 수술 접근방법이나 수술시 고려해야 할 점들이 많지만 식도-위 경계부위를 침범한 위암의 수술시 충분한 절제길이와 적절한 임파절의 절제를 위하여 흉부 및 복부의 동시접근이 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.148-156
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• 2019

Esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer is a solid tumor entity with rapidly increasing incidence in the Western countries. Given the high proportion of advanced cancers in the West, treatment strategies routinely employed include surgery and chemotherapy perioperatively, and chemoradiation in neoadjuvant settings. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and perioperative chemotherapy are mostly performed in esophageal cancer that extends to the EGJ and gastric as well as EGJ cancers, respectively. Recent trials have tried to combine both strategies in a perioperative context, which might have beneficial outcomes, especially in patients with EGJ cancer. However, it is difficult to recruit patients for trials, exclusively for EGJ cancers; therefore, the results have to be carefully reviewed before establishing a standard protocol. Trastuzumab was the first drug for targeted therapy that was positively evaluated for this tumor entity, and there are several ongoing trials investigating more targeted drugs in order to customize effective therapies based on tissue characteristics. The current study reviews the multimodal treatment concept for EGJ cancers in the West and summarizes the latest reports.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.278-285
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• 2015

Purpose: Gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) located very close to the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) are a challenge for gastric surgeons. Therefore, this study reports on the experience of using endoscopic and laparoscopic full-thickness resection (ELFR) with laparoscopic two-layer suturing in such tumors. Materials and Methods: Six patients with gastric SMTs very close to the EGJ underwent ELFR with laparoscopic two-layer suturing at Kyungpook National University Medical Center. With the patient under general anesthesia, the lesser curvature and posterior aspect adjacent to the EGJ were meticulously dissected and visualized using a laparoscopic approach. A partially circumferential full-thickness incision at the distal margin of the tumor was then made using an endoscopic approach under laparoscopic guidance. The SMT was resected using laparoscopic ultrasonic shears, and the gastric wall was closed using two-layer suturing. Thereafter, the patency and any leakage were checked through endoscopy. Results: All the ELFR procedures with laparoscopic two-layer suturing were performed successfully without an open conversion. The mean operation time was $139.2{\pm}30.9$ minutes and the blood loss was too minimal to be measured. The tumors from four patients were leiomyomas, while the tumors from the other two patients were gastrointestinal stromal tumors with clear resection margins. All the patients started oral intake on the third postoperative day. There was no morbidity or mortality. The mean hospital stay was $7.7{\pm}0.8$ days. Conclusions: ELFR with laparoscopic two-layer suturing is a safe treatment option for patients with an SMT close to the EGJ, as major resection of the stomach is avoided.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.62-71
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• 2019

Purpose: The laparoscopic transhiatal approach (LA) for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEJ) is advantageous since it allows better visualization of the surgical field than the open approach (OA). We compared the surgical outcomes of the 2 approaches. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 108 patients with AEJ who underwent transhiatal distal esophagectomy and gastrectomy with curative intent between 2003 and 2015. Surgical outcomes were reviewed using electronic medical records. Results: The LA and OA were performed in 37 and 71 patients, respectively. Compared to the OA, the LA was associated with significantly shorter duration of postoperative hospital stay (9 vs. 11 days, P=0.001), shorter proximal resection margins (3 vs. 7 mm, P=0.004), and extended operative times (240 vs. 191 min, P=0.001). No significant difference was observed between the LA and OA for intraoperative blood loss (100 vs. 100 mL, P=0.392) or surgical morbidity rate ($grade{\geq}II$) for complications (8.1% vs. 23.9%, P=0.080). Two cases of anastomotic leakage occurred in the OA group. The number of harvested lymph nodes was not significantly different between the LA and OA groups (54 vs. 51, P=0.889). The 5-year overall and 3-year relapse-free survival rates were 81.8% and 50.7% (P=0.024) and 77.3% and 46.4% (P=0.009) for the LA and OA groups, respectively. Multivariable analyses revealed no independent factors associated with overall survival. Conclusions: The LA is feasible and safe with short- and long-term oncologic outcomes similar to those of the OA.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.220-234
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• 2022

Purpose: The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) has increased in recent years, and the optimal surgical strategy for AEG remains highly controversial. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction (PG-DT) for the treatment of patients with AEG. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with Siewert type II/III AEG between January 2013 and July 2018. Clinicopathological characteristics, survival, surgical outcomes, quality of life (QOL), and nutritional status were compared between the PG-DT and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis (TG-RY) groups. Results: After propensity score matching, 33 patients in each group were analyzed. There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival. The surgical option was not an independent prognostic factor based on the multivariate analysis. In addition, no differences were found in terms of surgical complications. There were no significant differences in QOL assessed by the Visick grade, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, or endoscopic findings. Furthermore, the long-term nutritional advantage of the PG-DT group was significantly greater than that of the TG-RY group. Conclusions: PG-DT is a safe and effective procedure for patients with local Siewert type II/III AEG, regardless of the TNM stage.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.209-217
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• 2018

Although the incidence of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma has been increasing worldwide, no standardized surgical strategy for its treatment has been established. This study aimed to provide an update on the surgical treatment of GEJ adenocarcinoma by reviewing previous reports and propose recommended surgical approaches. The Siewert classification is widely used for determining which surgical procedure is used, because previous studies have shown that the pattern of lymph node (LN) metastasis depends on tumor location. In terms of surgical approaches for GEJ adenocarcinoma, a consensus was reached based on two randomized controlled trials. Siewert types I and III are treated as esophageal cancer and gastric cancer, respectively. Although no consensus has been reached regarding the treatment of Siewert type II, several retrospective studies suggested that the optimal treatment strategy includes paraaortic LN dissection. Against this background, a Japanese nationwide prospective trial is being conducted to determine the proportion of LN metastasis in GEJ cancers and to identify the optimal extent of LN dissection in each type.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.169-178
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the oncologic safety and identify potential candidates for proximal gastrectomy (PG) in upper third advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancers. Materials and Methods: Among 5,665 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2011 and December 2017, 327 patients who underwent total gastrectomy with standard lymph node (LN) dissection for upper third AGC and Siewert type II EGJ cancers were enrolled. We analyzed the correlation between the metastatic rates of distal LNs (No. 4d, 5, 6, and 12a) around the lower part of the stomach and the clinicopathological characteristics. We identified subgroups with no metastasis to the distal LNs. Results: The metastatic rate of distal LNs in proximal AGC and Siewert type II EGJ cancers was 7.0% (23 of 327 patients). On multivariate analysis, pathological T stage (P=0.001), tumor size (P=0.043), and middle third invasion (P=0.003) were significantly associated with distal LN metastases. Pathological 'T2 stage' (n=88), or 'T3 stage with ≤5 cm tumor size' (n=87) showed no metastasis in distal LNs, regardless of middle third invasion. Pathological T3 stage with tumor size > 5 cm (n=61) and T4 stage (n=91) had metastasis in the distal LNs. Conclusions: In the upper third AGC and Siewert type II EGJ cancer, pathological T2 and small-sized T3 stage groups are possible candidates for PG in cases without distal LN metastasis. Further validation studies are required for clinical application.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.235-247
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• 2022

Purpose: Most studies have investigated the differences in postgastrectomy quality of life (QOL) based on the surgical procedure or reconstruction method adopted; only a few studies have compared QOL based on tumor location. This large-scale study aims to investigate the differences in QOL between patients with esophagogastric junction cancer (EGJC) and those with upper third gastric cancer (UGC) undergoing the same gastrectomy procedure to evaluate the impact of tumor location on postoperative QOL. Methods: The Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45 (PGSAS-45) questionnaire was distributed in 70 institutions to 2,364 patients who underwent gastrectomy for EGJC or UGC. A total of 1,909 patients were eligible for the study, and 1,744 patients who underwent total gastrectomy (TG) or proximal gastrectomy (PG) were selected for the final analysis. These patients were divided into EGJC and UGC groups; thereafter, the PGSAS-45 main outcome measures (MOMs) were compared between the two groups for each type of gastrectomy. Results: Among the post-TG patients, only one MOM was significantly better in the UGC group than in the EGJC group. Conversely, among the post-PG patients, postoperative QOL was significantly better in 6 out of 19 MOMs in the UGC group than in the EGJC group. Conclusions: Tumor location had a minimal effect on the postoperative QOL of post-TG patients, whereas among post-PG patients, there were definite differences in postoperative QOL between the two groups. It seems reasonable to conservatively estimate the benefits of PG in patients with EGJC compared to those in patients with UGC.