title: The surgical management of esophago-gastric junctional cancer.
abstract: The best available surgical strategy in the treatment of resectable esophago-gastric junctional (EGJ) cancer is a controversial topic. In this review we evaluate the current literature and scientific evidence examining the surgical treatment of locally advanced EGJ cancer by comparing esophagectomy with gastrectomy, transhiatal with transthoracic esophagectomy, minimally invasive with open esophagectomy, and less extensive with more extensive lymphadenectomy. We also assess endoscopic procedures increasingly used for early EGJ cancer. The current evidence does not favor any of the techniques over the others in terms of oncological outcomes. Health-related quality of life may be better following gastrectomy compared to esophagectomy. Minimally invasive procedures might be less prone to surgical complications. Endoscopic techniques are safe and effective alternatives for early-stage EGJ cancer in the short term, but surgical treatment is the mainstay in fit patients due to the risk of lymph node metastasis. Any benefit of lymphadenectomy extending beyond local or regional nodes is uncertain. This review demonstrates the great need for well-designed clinical studies to improve the knowledge in how to optimize and standardize the surgical treatment of EGJ cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland; Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 21, 90029 Oulu, Finland; Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: joonas.kauppila@oulu.fi.
authors.forename: Joonas H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kauppila
authors.affiliation: Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Cancer Studies, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, UK.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lagergren
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000601:surgery*; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Cardia cancer; Esophagectomy; Esophago-gastric junctional cancer; Gastrectomy; Lymphadenectomy; Surgery