title: Proximal Resection Margin in Ivor-Lewis Oesophagectomy for Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a long proximal oesophageal resection margin (PRM) is associated with improved survival after oesophagectomy for cancer and to identify the optimal margin to aim for in this patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospectively maintained database identified 174 patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy for cancer. Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were collected. X-tile software was used to identify the optimal resection point. Two models were analysed: single point resection with comparison of two groups (short and long), and two resection points with three groups (short, medium, and long) to provide a range.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median PRM was 4.0 cm (interquartile range: 2.5-6.0 cm). After adjustment for significant confounders, multivariable Cox PH analysis demonstrated that the optimal resection margin was 1.7 cm, and in the three-group analysis the optimum PRM was between 1.7 and 3 cm. In the two-group analysis, the long margin had no effect on DFS (p = 0.37), but carried a significantly improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.46, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.25-0.87, p = 0.02). In the three-group analysis, the medium and long groups had improved OS compared with the short group (on average 54 %, HR ≥ 0.45, p ≤ 0.04). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were highest in the medium PRM group (48 and 57 % respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optimal survival following oesophagectomy for cancer is achieved with a PRM > 1.7 cm, but a PRM > 3 cm does not yield a further survival advantage. Thus, the optimal PRM is likely to be between 1.7 and 3 cm.
authors: Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK. yassarqureshi@hotmail.co.uk.
authors: Y A
authors: YA
authors: Qureshi
authors: Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: S-J
authors: SJ
authors: Sarker
authors: Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Walker
authors: Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK.
authors: S F
authors: SF
authors: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072662:Margins of Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate