Main description:

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus has a lower incidence than other gastrointestinal tract cancer; however, there are many difficult issued related to the choice of appropriate therapy for these patients. In recent years, the use of multimodal treatment has greatly improved the prognosis of patients affected by this disease but several aspects of the oncological and surgical management are still controversial. This book aims to give a homogeneous approach to esophageal cancer treatment, based on the author's lifetime experience in conjunction with exhaustive review of recent literature. In each chapter surgeons and oncologists will find appropriate tools for correct management of the diagnosis and therapy of this difficult disease. The book analyzes all the aspects of staging and treatment, such as modern diagnostic and staging techniques (MRI or PET-CT), endoscopic treatment of early cancer, new minimally invasive and open surgical techniques, and combined treatment. In addition, there are chapters dedicated to the postoperative course of these patients, as well as their quality of life, with indications for the correct follow-up and treatment of relapses.

Contents:

SECTION I: Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx and Cervical Esophagus

Chapter 1. Epidemiology

Chapter 2. Classification and Staging Systems

Chapter 3. Preoperative Work-up: Conventional Radiology; Ultrasonography, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Chapter 4. Preoperative Work-up: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) and Tracheobrochoscopy

Chapter 5. Preoperative Work-up: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and PET-CT

Chapter 6. Multimodal Treatment: Indications and Early and Long-term Results

Chapter 7. Surgical Treatment: Indications and Early and Long-term Results

Chapter 8. Diagnosis and Treatment of Recurrences

Chapter 9. Problems with Rehabilitation after Pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy

SECTION II - Carcinoma of the Thoracic Esophagus

Chapter 10. Epidemiology

Chapter 11. Classification and Staging Systems

Chapter 12. Diagnosis and Staging

12.1 Conventional Radiology, Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

12.2 Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) - Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS), and Tracheobronchoscopy

12.3 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and PET-CT

12.4 Work-up after Neoadjuvant Treatment

12.5 Clinical Practice: How to Stage Esophageal Cancer (Flow-chart)

Chapter 13. Neoadjuvant Treatment (Chemotherapy/Chemoradiotherapy)

Chapter 14. The Role of PET-CT in Prediction of the Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment

Chapter 15. The Role of Molecular Biology in Prediction of the Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment

Chapter 16. Controversial Issues in Esophageal Cancer: Surgical Approach and Lymphadenectomy

Chapter 17. Treatment Choices in Patients Aged over Eighty Years

Chapter 18. Esophageal Cancer Surgery: the Importance of Hospital Volume

Chapter 19. Patient Selection according to General Condition and Associated Disease

Chapter 20. Treatment of Resectable Esophageal Cancer: Indications and Long-term Results

Chapter 21. Treatment of Unresectable and Metastatic Esophageal Cancer: Indications and Long-term Results

Chapter 22. Early Results: Morbidity, Mortality, and Treatment of Complications

Chapter 23. Treatment of Recurrences

Chapter 24. Role of Endoscopy in Palliative Treatment

Chapter 25. Follow-up and Quality of Life after Esophagectomy

SECTION III. Operative Technique

Chapter 26. Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy with Two-field Lymphadenectomy

Chapter 27. Mc-Keown Esophagectomy with Three-Field Lymphadenectomy

Chapter 28. Transhiatal Esophagectomy without Thoracotomy

Chapter 29. Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

Chapter 30. Total Esophagectomy with Larynx Preservation

Chapter 31. Pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy