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Right arrow Esophagus - cancer

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009;137:49-54
© 2009 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

General Thoracic Surgery

Salvage esophagectomy after high-dose chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Yuji Tachimori, MD*, Norio Kanamori, MD, Norihisa Uemura, MD, Norikazu Hokamura, MD, Hiroyasu Igaki, MD, Hoichi Kato, MD

Esophageal Surgery Division, Departments of Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Received for publication December 5, 2007; revisions received February 23, 2008; accepted for publication May 4, 2008.

* Address for reprints: Yuji Tachimori, MD, Department of Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tsukiji 5-1-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. (Email: ytachimo{at}ncc.go.jp).

Objective: Chemoradiotherapy is a popular definitive therapy for esophageal carcinoma among many patients and oncologists. Although the complete response rates are high and short-term survival is favorable after chemoradiotherapy, persistent or recurrent locoregional disease is frequent. Salvage surgery is the sole curative intent treatment option for this course of the disease. The present study evaluates the safety and value of salvage esophagectomy for locoregional failure after high-dose definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: We reviewed 59 consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy. All patients received more than 60 Gy of radiation plus concurrent chemotherapy for curative intent. The data were compared with those of patients who received esophagectomy without preoperative therapy.

Results: Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were increased among patients who underwent salvage esophagectomy compared with those who underwent esophagectomy without preoperative therapy (mean hospital stay, 38 vs 33 days; anastomotic leak rates, 31% vs 25%; respiratory complication rates, 31% vs 20%; reintubation within 1 week, 2% vs 2%; hospital mortality rates, 8% vs 2%). Tracheobronchial necrosis and gastric conduit necrosis were highly lethal complications after salvage esophagectomy; 3-year postoperative survivals were 38% and 58%, respectively.

Conclusion: Patients who underwent salvage esophagectomy after definitive high-dose chemoradiotherapy had increased morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, this is acceptable in view of the potential long-term survival after salvage esophagectomy. Such treatment should be considered for carefully selected patients at specialized centers.

Abbreviations and Acronyms CR = complete response; CRT = chemoradiotherapy; RTOG = Radiation Therapy Oncology Group






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