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Query: UMLS:C0006826 (cancer)
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Thoracic esophageal diverticula are uncommon. They account for less than 30% of esophageal diverticula. The majority of patients are asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms. About one third of patients present with severe symptoms. Occasionally, pulmonary symptoms can be the sole manifestation of the disease and can be life threatening. Dysphagia, food regurgitation, chest pain, weight loss, and reflux symptoms are the most commonly encountered gastrointestinal symptoms. Malignancy is a rare complication of esophageal diverticula; therefore, patients should be educated regarding this complication. Appropriate diagnostic tests should be arranged promptly if alarming symptoms develop. Esophageal motor disorders are found in the majority of patients and need to be taken into account when planning therapy. Medical and endoscopic therapies have limited roles in treatment. Surgery is the standard of care for patients with pulmonary or incapacitating symptoms related to an epiphrenic diverticulum, and myotomy is the cornerstone of surgery. To ensure complete relief of the obstruction, the myotomy should extend distally at least 1.5 to 2 cm into the stomach and proximally at least to the neck of diverticulum. Adding a nonobstructing entireflux procedure is recommended to prevent the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Occasionally, a specific treatment such as a diverticulectomy or diverticulopexy needs to be directed to the diverticulum. Preliminary treatment results from minimally invasive surgery, especially laparoscopy, have been promising. In the future with increased experience, minimally invasive surgery may become the standard of care.
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PMID:Treatment of Epiphrenic and Mid-esophageal Diverticula. 1472 37

We evaluated videofluorographic recordings of the pharynx (VF) in patients suffering from aspiration pneumonia. The patients consisted of 55 men and 6 women who consulted the ENT Department at Kumamoto University Hospital between May 1994 and February 2002. Surgery for an upper alimentary tract malignancy (16 patients) was the most frequent background feature. The number of patients with cerebrovasucular disease and neuronal/neuromuscular diseases were 11 and 12, respectively. VF enabled the misswallowing of barium into the trachea to be visualized in 38 patients. Of these 38 patients, 20 exhibited misswallowing during or after the pharyngeal stage of swallowing. Among the 23 patients in whom misswallowing was not detected, 13 had upper alimentary tract diseases. The VF findings suggested the presence of gastroesophageal clearance after swallowing. Gastro-esophageal regurgitation may be a significant factor, in addition to the silent aspiration of oral and pharyngeal secretions during the night as a trigger of recurrent aspiration pneumonia.
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PMID:[Videofluorography of the pharynx in patients suffering from aspiration pneumonia]. 1496 95

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) occurs in 20-70% of the patients with metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours (NET). We evaluated whether natriuretic peptides (ANP or NT-proBNP) are useful in early detection of CHD. Blood samples from 32 patients with NET were compared with cardiac ultrasound follow-up. CHD was defined as thickening of the tricuspid valve in the presence of grade III-IV/IV tricuspid valve regurgitation. CHD was found in nine out of 32 patients (28%), all with symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome compared to 65% in the 23 patients without CHD (P=0.04). Median levels of NT-proBNP and 5-HIAA were significantly higher in patients with CHD (894 ng l(-1) and 815 micromol 24 h(-1)) compared to those without (89 and 206 ng l(-1), P<0.001 and P=0.007). No significant differences were detected in ANP levels (P=0.11). Dilatation of the right atrium and ventricle as well as thickening of the tricuspid valve and degree of regurgitation were statistically significant correlated with NT-proBNP levels. The accuracy of NT-proBNP in the diagnosis of CHD was higher than that of ANP. A significantly better survival was observed in case of normal NT-proBNP values. In conclusion, NT-proBNP is helpful as a simple marker in the diagnosis of CHD. Survival is better in patients with normal levels of NT-proBNP.
Br J Cancer 2004 Jun 01
PMID:Role of natriuretic peptides in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with carcinoid heart disease. 1515 May 65

Peptic esophageal stricture (PES) is a major complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The aims of this paper were to determine the characteristics of these patients with regard to demography, morphology, functional status and results of therapy. The charts of the patients treated at our service who underwent esophageal dilatation for PES between 1971 and 1998 were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed by means of chi2, Mann-Whitney and Student's t-tests. One hundred and thirty-five patients with PES were dilated by various means. The mean age was 61.1 +/- 16.3 years, the ratio of men to women was 2.75/1 and mean duration of symptoms was 44.4 +/- 74.6 months. Their symptoms were dysphagia in 100%, pyrosis in 70%, and regurgitation in 40% of the cases. There was an average weight loss of 3.3 +/- 6 kg. The upper gastro-intestinal series showed pre- and post-dilatation diameters at the stricture of 8 +/- 2.5 mm and 15.9 +/- 1.2 mm, respectively. The stricture was located at the lower third of the esophagus in 97% and at the middle third in 3% of the cases. We found PES endoscopically in all instances, with different degrees of erosions in 64%, ulcers in 20% and Barrett's esophagus in 16% of the cases. The biopsy samples showed intestinal metaplasia in 16% and esophagitis in 75.5%, being normal in the remaining 8.5%. Brush cytology was negative for malignancy in 100% of the cases. Esophageal manometry showed peristaltic wave amplitude of 40 +/- 3 mmHg and presence of peristaltic waves of 62 +/- 38.6%. LES pressure was 8.6 +/- 6.3 mmHg (NV 24.2 +/- 6.3 mmHg). Measurement of pH showed 15% of patients had pH < 4. Patients needed a mean of 4.7 +/- 1.6 dilations per case, with successful results in 87.2% of cases. The perforation rate was 0.1% of the total number of procedures and 0.7%, of patients. The mortality rate was 0.7% (one case). We observed PES relapse in 32% of the cases. There was no correlation between relapse, age, duration of the stenosis or pharmacological treatment with H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors. We conclude that in Argentina, demography, morphology, functional status and results of dilatation of PES patients are similar to those reported in the Western world, with the exception of the different behavior seen after treatment with H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors.
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PMID:Peptic esophageal stricture: a report from Argentina. 1520 43

Radiotherapy is used widely in cancer treatment. Mediastinal irradiation is associated with valvular regurgitation; however, stenosis is rare. We present a patient with critical aortic and mitral valve stenosis after mediastinal irradiation and discuss the natural history, treatment, and prognosis of radiation-associated valvular heart disease.
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PMID:Critical stenosis of aortic and mitral valves after mediastinal irradiation. 1539 Feb 39

The restoration of velopharyngeal function after extensive soft palate resection to treat malignant oropharyngeal tumors is a major challenge to reconstructive surgeons. The authors had previously reconstructed soft palatal defects routinely with the folded forearm flap. A patient who had more than half of the soft palate excised experienced postoperative velopharyngeal dysfunction. To restore efficient velopharyngeal function, pharyngoplasty was additively applied where the folded ridge of the forearm flap was sutured to the posterior pharyngeal wall in an inverse manner of the pharyngeal flap technique. The essence of the procedure was positive narrowing of the nasopharyngeal space. Five patients who underwent this pharyngoplasty and another five who did not were evaluated for postoperative functions of speech intelligibility and of nasal regurgitation during oral feeding. The velopharyngeal movements of all patients were examined under a nasopharyngeal endoscope. The evaluations demonstrated that this surgical procedure afforded satisfactory results. This positive narrowing pharyngoplasty technique is simple, easy, and minimally invasive to the remaining healthy tissue, and it is the method of choice for the reconstruction of the soft palate after malignant tumor resection.
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PMID:Positive narrowing pharyngoplasty with forearm flap for functional restoration after extensive soft palate resection. 1569 41

Pneumatic balloon dilatation is the treatment of choice for esophageal achalasia. Rigiflex (Microvasive, Watertown, MA) polyethylene balloon dilators have been used with varying success and complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of graded balloon dilatation, to achieve symptomatic improvement in patients with achalasia. From January 1987 until the end of December 2003, 300 patients were evaluated and treated for achalasia, with 30 mm balloons. Patients who did not achieve satisfactory symptomatic responses during follow up underwent repeat dilatation with 35-mm balloons. They were studied at the onset then at 1 and 6 month intervals and then yearly for postdilatation symptom evaluation for dysphagia, regurgitation, night cough and heartburn. Baseline and 5-min postdilatation barium swallow studies were obtained to compare barium height and width for efficacy of dilatation and to evaluate for complications. No patients developed cancer of the esophagus in 16 years follow up. Barium height, width, composite symptom score and weight improved significantly during follow up. Two patients, who needed repeat dilatation with 35-mm balloons, developed esophageal perforation; one was successfully managed with intensive medical care management, whereas the other patient died despite surgical intervention. The authors conclude that pneumatic balloon (Rigiflex) dilatation for achalasia of the esophagus is a successful first option, when applied in an incremental balloon size to achieve desired results in symptomatic relief.
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PMID:Sixteen years follow up of achalasia: a prospective study of graded dilatation using Rigiflex balloon. 1577 41

Esophageal cancer is now the sixth leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. During the past three decades, important changes have occurred in the epidemiologic patterns associated with this disease. Due to the distensible characteristics of the esophagus, patients may not recognize any symptoms until 50% of the luminal diameter is compromised, explaining why cancer of the esophagus is generally associated with late presentation and poor prognosis. Esophageal cancer has a poor outcome, with an overall 5 year survival rate of less than 10%, and fewer than 50% of patients are suitable for resection at presentation. As a result palliation is the best option in this group of patients. The aims of palliation are maintenance of oral intake, minimizing hospital stay, relief of pain, elimination of reflux and regurgitation, and prevention of aspiration. For palliative care, current treatment options include thermal ablation, photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemical injection therapy, argon beam or bipolar electrocoagulation therapy, enteral feeding (nasogastric tube/percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy), and intubation (self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) or semi-rigid prosthetic tubes) with different success and complications rates.
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PMID:Quality improvement guidelines for placement of esophageal stents. 1588 31

Recent international reports have suggested that an abnormal pancreatic and bile duct junction can influence the degree of pancreatic fluid regurgitation, resulting in an increased incidence of biliary tract malignancy. To confirm these reports, we retrospectively examined the anatomic relation at the pancreaticobiliary junction in all patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer at Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) over a 10-year period. From 1989 to 1998, 82 patients with bile duct cancer were treated at BUMC. Adequate visualization of the pancreaticobiliary junction was accomplished in 29 patients (35%). Among these patients, an abnormal junction, with a common channel length of 8 to >15 mm, was noted in 13 patients (45%). Thus, this study confirms previous reports regarding the high incidence of an abnormal pancreaticobiliary junction in patients with bile duct cancer. A prospective effort to examine this anatomy and the length of the common channel should be encouraged to identify a potential high-risk group.
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PMID:Association of an abnormal pancreaticobiliary junction with biliary tract cancers. 1638 19

Idiopathic achalasia is a primary esophageal motor disorder characterized by esophageal aperistalsis and abnormal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation in response to deglutition. It is a rare disease with an annual incidence of approximately 1/100,000 and a prevalence rate of 1/10,000. The disease can occur at any age, with a similar rate in men and women, but is usually diagnosed between 25 and 60 years. It is characterized predominantly by dysphagia to solids and liquids, bland regurgitation, and chest pain. Weight loss (usually between 5 to 10 kg) is present in most but not in all patients. Heartburn occurs in 27%-42% of achalasia patients. Etiology is unknown. Some familial cases have been reported, but the rarity of familial occurrence does not support the hypothesis that genetic inheritance is a significant etiologic factor. Association of achalasia with viral infections and auto-antibodies against myenteric plexus has been reported, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The diagnosis is based on history of the disease, radiography (barium esophagogram), and esophageal motility testing (esophageal manometry). Endoscopic examination is important to rule out malignancy as the cause of achalasia. Treatment is strictly palliative. Current medical and surgical therapeutic options (pneumatic dilation, surgical myotomy, and pharmacologic agents) aimed at reducing the LES pressure and facilitating esophageal emptying by gravity and hydrostatic pressure of retained food and liquids. Although it cannot be permanently cured, excellent palliation is available in over 90% of patients.
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PMID:Idiopathic (primary) achalasia. 1789 99


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