Extent of oesophageal resection for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric junction.
OBJECTIVE
The optimal extent of oesophageal resection and surgical approach in patients treated for adenocarcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) are still uncertain. We report the correlations between resection margin involvement and outcome.


METHODS
Patients with positive proximal resection margin (PPRM) and those with negative proximal resection margin (NPRM) were compared.


RESULTS
Of 94 patients with macroscopically complete resection, eight were PPRM. There was no difference between the two groups in postoperative mortality or morbidity rates, in anastomotic leakage or in recurrence rates. The median survival in the PPRM group was 11.1 months compared with 36.3 months in the NPRM group (P=0.02). No infiltration was observed in patients whose proximal margin exceeded 7 cm. The extended transthoracic approach was the only prognostic factor for tumours type II (P=0.03, RR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Histologic infiltration of oesophageal resection margin influences 5-year survival rate. In adenocarcinomas of the OGJ that can be treated curatively, a transection with a 8 cm oesophagectomy above the tumour in fresh specimen should be performed, and by thoracoabdominal approach for tumours type I and II.
Mariette
C
C
Service de chirurgie digestive et générale Hôpital Claude Huriez, CHRU de Lille Place de Verdun, 59037 cedex, Lille, France.
Castel
B
B
Balon
J M
JM
Van Seuningen
I
I
Triboulet
J P
JP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome