Thoracic Key

Introduction Print Section Listen Malignant esophageal fistula occurs infrequently, yet remains one of the most challenging complications encountered in thoracic oncology. It may occur in the setting of complicated esophageal…

Introduction Print Section Listen The worldwide estimate for new cases of esophageal cancer was 482,300 in 2008.1 In 2012 over 17,500 new cases of esophageal cancer were diagnosed in the…

Introduction Print Section Listen Esophageal cancer has an incidence that varies between 12,000 and 18,000 new cases. Unfortunately, the overall survival for esophageal cancer is dismal because patients usually present…

Introduction Print Section Listen A thoracoabdominal approach to resection of the esophagus is most useful with tumors of the distal esophagus that lie inferior to the aortic arch as well…

Introduction Print Section Listen The esophagus traverses the neck, mediastinum, and abdomen. Cancer of the thoracic esophagus can metastasize to lymph nodes and locate in any or all of these…

Introduction Print Section Listen The management of esophageal cancer has evolved tremendously over the past decade. Increasingly, patients are treated with an aggressive multimodal approach including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by…

Introduction Print Section Listen Esophageal cancer is a gastrointestinal malignancy that encompasses a range of pathologic entities. Squamous cell carcinomas constitute at least 90% of all cancers worldwide.1 Adenocarcinoma is…

Introduction Print Section Listen Despite improvements in perioperative care, surgical techniques, and neoadjuvant therapy over the last decade, the prognosis of esophageal cancer remains poor. More than 95% of new…

Introduction Print Section Listen Transhiatal esophagectomy was popularized by Orringer in the late 1970s as a less invasive approach to esophagectomy.1,2 This approach avoids thoracotomy and has been endorsed primarily…