title: Outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy in esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is accepted for resection of early esophageal cancers. The optimal surgical approach for more advanced disease is unknown. An evaluation of MIE in patients with advanced tumors having undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent MIE from November 2006 to November 2011 was performed
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 96 consecutive patients underwent MIE for malignancy. Median age was 65 years (range 26 to 88), and 86% were male. Adenocarcinoma represented 87% of patients. Eighty-three percent of patients were staged IIa or higher and 62 (65%) patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Four (6%) patients additionally received intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy. Twenty-six (27%) patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy with 22 (85%) of these having also received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. All cases were completed thoraco-laparoscopically except for 2 conversions to mini-laparotomy. Twelve (12%) cervical anastomoses and 84 (88%) thoracic anastomoses were performed. Median operative time was 326 minutes (range 193 to 567) and did not differ significantly between those with and without nCRT. Complete pathologic response was seen in 21 (34%) of the 62 patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment. Major and minor morbidities were experienced in 28% and 38.5% of patients. There were 2 (2%) in-hospital mortalities; 1 each having received or not received neoadjuvant therapy. At median follow-up 24 months (range 3 to 70 months), overall survival was 58% and 55 (57%) patients were alive without recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive esophagectomy is an acceptable surgical therapy for advanced-stage esophageal malignancies after nCRT without evidence for increased morbidity or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Yu-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Harshita
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paripati
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashman
authors.affiliation: Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harold
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Chee-Chee
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Stucky
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rule
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona. Electronic address: jaroszewski.dawn@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaroszewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: 7