title: Oesophagectomy is a safe option for early adenocarcinoma arising from Barrett's oesophagus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the last decade, there has been a shift towards endoscopic treatment of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and T1 stage adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's oesophagus. Although short-term outcomes are promising, longer-term outcomes remain uncertain and the role of these therapies versus surgery is debated, with surgical mortality rates assumed. However, few studies have specifically determined the outcome for oesophagectomy in the subgroup with HGD or T1 adenocarcinoma. To determine this, we evaluated experience with oesophagectomy for HGD and T1 adenocarcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analysed from a prospective audit database for oesophagectomy performed at two public and four associated private hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia. Patients with HGD, T1a and T1b adenocarcinoma who underwent oesophagectomy from 20 February 1998 to 17 February 2012 were identified, and their perioperative, post-operative and survival outcomes were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 452 oesophagectomy procedures, 63 (13.9%) individuals who underwent surgery for HGD or T1 adenocarcinoma were identified; HGD - 19 (30.1%), T1a - 18 (28.5 %), T1b - 26 (41.3%). Major complications occurred in eight (12.7%) patients including one (1.6%) death following surgery. Five-year survival for HGD and T1a cancers using Kaplan-Meier analysis was not significantly different from a matched general population without cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oesophagectomy for HGD and T1 stage adenocarcinoma in Barrett's oesophagus is associated with favourable outcomes. Outcomes following endoscopic treatments should be benchmarked against these outcomes, not those following oesophagectomy for advanced cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. lamyickho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yick Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayne
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Barrett's oesophagus; oesophagectomy