• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2013

Laparoscopic gastrectomy has been widely accepted especially in patients with early-stage gastric cancer. However, the safety and oncologic validity of laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer are still being debated. Since the late 90s', we have been engaged in developing a stable and robust methodology of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer, and have established laparoscopic distinctive technique for suprapancreatic lymph node dissection, namely the outermost layer-oriented medial approach. In this article, We present the development history of this method, and current status and future perspectives of laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer based on our experience and a review of the literature.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.199-206
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• 2013

Since the first transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery was described, various applications and modified procedures have been investigated. Transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for periotoneoscopy, cholecystectomy, and appendectomy all seem viable in humans, but additional studies are required to demonstrate their benefits and roles in clinical practice. The submucosal tunneling method enhances the safety of peritoneal access and gastric closure and minimizes the risk of intraperitoneal leakage of gastric air and juice. Submucosal tunneling involves submucosal tumor resection and peroral endoscopic myotomy. Peroral endoscopic myotomy is a safe and effective treatment option for achalasia, and the most promising natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery procedure. Endoscopic full-thickness resection is a rapidly developing natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery procedure for the upper gastrointestinal tract and can be performed with a hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery technique (combining a laparoscopic approach) to overcome some limitations of pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. Studies to identify the most appropriate role of endoscopic full-thickness resection are anticipated. In this article, I review the procedures of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5741-5747
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• 2015

Purpose: To understand the epidemiology of different upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract related abnormalities through endoscopic data analysis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of three years from January 2009 to December 2011 was conducted with data from endoscopic surveillance of upper GI tract problems, collected from the Gastroenterology Unit, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad. MS excel and Medcalc software (comparison of proportions) were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 10,029 (6,468 in males and 3,561 in females) endoscopies were performed during this three-year period. The male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Overall, ~30% of endoscopies evaluated showed patients with acid peptic disorders, 13.6% with vascular-related abnormalities, 10.6% showed structural abnormalities, followed by 6.3% with malignancies. Burden of malignancies was mostly observed in the older age group (60-69 years). Esophageal cancer cases decreased (p=0.0001) whereas stomach cancers increased over this period (p=0.0345). We also observed an increased incidence of acid peptic disease (APD) (p=0.0036) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (p=0.0002) cases during this period. Conclusions: Endoscopic diagnosis is useful for early detection of UGI anomalies and helpful for physicians to manage and treat varied kinds of UGI disorders. Analysis of data revealed changing trends in the incidence of various pathologies of the UGI tract. Functional dyspepsia and GERD definitely reduce the quality of life of the individual. The role of our diverse dietary habits and lifestyle associated with these problems have not yet been established, though there have been reports on the effect of coffee, spicy food, wheat-based diet, screening of UGI pathologies along with collection of complete personal and medical history details, can h elp in correlating the patients' condition with various aspects of lifestyle and diet.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.367-374
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) using oblique-view EUS in patients with a surgically altered anatomy (SAA) of the upper gastrointestinal tract is limited because of difficult scope insertion due to the disturbed anatomy. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of forward-view (FV)-EUS in performing FNA in patients with a SAA. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 32 patients with a SAA of the upper gastrointestinal tract who visited Aichi Cancer Center Hospital in Nagoya, Japan, between January 2014 and December 2020. We performed upper gastrointestinal EUS-FNA using FV-EUS combined with fluoroscopic imaging to confirm tumor recurrence or to make a decision before chemotherapy or after a failure of diagnosis by radiology. Results: We successfully performed EUS-FNA in all studied patients (100% technical success), with the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of 100%, 87.5%, and 87.8%, respectively, with no complications. Conclusions: EUS-FNA using FV-EUS combined with fluoroscopic imaging is an effective and safe technique for tissue acquisition in patients with a SAA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2999-3001
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to evaluate upper gastrointestinal polyps detected during esophago-gastroduodenoscopy tests. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on data regarding 55,987 upper gastrointestinal endoscopy tests performed at the endoscopy unit of Istanbul Education and Research Hospital between January 2006 and June 2012. Results: A total of 66 upper gastrointestinal polyps from 59 patients were analyzed. The most common clinical symptom was dyspepsia, observed in 41 cases (69.5%). The localizations of the polyps were as follows: 29 in the antrum (43.9%), 15 in the corpus (22.7%), 11 in the cardia (16.7%), 3 in the fundus (4.54%), 3 in the second portion of the duodenum (4.54%), 2 in the bulbus (3.03%) and 3 in the lower end of the esophagus (4.54%). Histopathological types of polyps included hyperplastic polyps (44) (66.7%), faveolar hyperplasia (8) (12.1%), fundic gland polyps (4) (6.06%), squamous cell polyps (4) (6.06%), hamartomatous polyps (3) (4.54%), and pyloric gland adenoma (3) (4.54%). Histopathological analysis of the gastric mucosa showed chronic atrophic gastritis in 30 cases (50.84%), HP infection in 33 cases (55.9%) and intestinal metaplasia in 19 cases (32.20%). In 3 cases with multiple polyps, adenocarcinoma was detected in hyperplastic polyps. Conclusions: Among polypoid lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract, the most common histological type is hyperplastic polyps. Generally, HP infection is associated with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. The incidence of adenocarcinoma tends to be higher in patients with multiple hyperplastic polyps.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 1999

Background and Objectives: Multiple primary tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract are not unusual. We examined head and neck cancer patients to discover the presence of second primary cancer in their upper gastrointestinal tract, using esophagogastroscopy. Materials and Methods: Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed on 51 patients whose head and neck cancers were treated at department of therapeutic radiology from August 1996 to April 1999. Two of all patients had been studied by barium swallowing study. In 51 patients, twenty-four had a primary tumor in the larynx, 8 in the oropharynx, 6 in the nasopharynx, 6 in the oral cavity, 6 in the hypopharynx, and 1 in the nasal cavity. Endoscopically pathologic lesions were biopsied. In control group, endoscopy was performed on 1097 patients who didn't complain any symptoms. Results: Endoscopy showed early malignant lesions in 4 cases(7.7%). Histology of esophageal cancers showed squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant lesions of stomach in 2 cases were histologically identified as adenocarcinoma. Two esophageal cancers occurred in patients whose primary lesions had oropharynx and hypopharynx. Two cases of gastric cancer were also accompanied by oropharynx and hypopharynx. The incidence of second primary cancer was 2 in oropharynx and 2 in hypopharynx. In all cases, second primary cancers were found simultaneously. In control group, 9(0.8%) of 1097 patients were confirmed as early esophageal and gastric cancers. Conclusion: The majority of esophageal and gastric cancer detected by endoscopy were early stage in both head and neck cancer and control group. The incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer of head and neck cancer patients was 10 times as high as that of control group. Although followup period was short, all second primary cancers were detected simultaneously. We would recommend that endoscopic evaluation be included in the workup and followup of all patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.94-106
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• 2022

Purpose: Laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction (LPG-DTR) is a function-preserving procedure performed for treating upper early gastric cancer (EGC). However, few studies have compared the outcomes of LPG-DTR with those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). This study aimed at comparing the short-term outcomes of LPG-DTR between LTG and upper EGC. Materials and Methods: For upper-third EGC, a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial was performed to compare those who underwent LPG-DTR with those who underwent LTG. Short-term outcomes, including clinicopathologic results, morbidity, mortality, and postoperative courses, were evaluated using a full analysis set based on the intention-to-treat principle and the per-protocol set. Results: Of the patients, 138 who fulfilled the criteria were randomized to each group. One patient in the LPG-DTR group withdrew consent. Sixty-eight patients underwent LPG-DTR and 69 underwent LTG. The operative time (LPG-DTR=219.4 minutes; LTG=201.8 minutes; P=0.085), estimated blood loss (LPG-DTR=76.0 mL; LTG=66.1 mL; P=0.413), and the morbidity rate (LPG-DTR=23.5%; LTG=17.4%; P=0.373) between the groups were not significantly different. No mortality occurred in either of the study groups. Two weeks post operation, the Visick scores for postprandial symptoms, including reflux symptoms, were not significantly different between the groups (P=0.749). Laboratory findings on postoperative day 5 were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: The short-term outcomes of LPG-DTR for upper EGC were comparable to those of LTG.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of spinal-Z, derived from Peganum harmala seeds and Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss leaves, in patients with esophageal and stomach adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Methods: Sixty-one patients with malignancies of the upper gastrointestinal tract were randomly assigned to one of two groups (treatment or control) in a double-blind fashion. Six capsules of Spinal-Z were prescribed to the patients with the regimen of 600 mg/m2/day, and placebo to the control group, for six months. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, sex, duration of cancer, type of cancer and family history of cancer. There were significant differences in abdominal pain, heartburn, constipation and vomiting between the two groups, following spinal-Z therapy. Evaluation of drug side effects showed no difference in cough or other respiratory symptoms, itching, headache or dizziness between the two groups, both before and after treatment. Conclusion: This study indicates that Spinal-Z is safe and efficacious in the management of patients with upper gastrointestinal tract cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10267-10272
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• 2015

To evaluate the value of combined detection of serum CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS for the clinical diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer and to analyze the efficacy of these tumor markers (TMs) in evaluating curative effects and prognosis. A total of 573 patients with upper GIT cancer between January 2004 and December 2007 were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS were examined preoperatively and every 3 months postoperatively by ELISA. The sensitivity of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, AFP, CA72-4, SCC, TPA and TPS were 26.8%, 36.2%, 42.9%, 2.84%, 25.4%, 34.6%, 34.2% and 30.9%, respectively. The combined detection of CEA+CA199+CA242+CA724 had higher sensitivity and specificity in gastric cancer (GC) and cardiac cancer, while CEA+CA199+CA242+SCC was the best combination of diagnosis for esophageal cancer (EC). Elevation of preoperative CEA, CA19-9 and CA24-2, SCC and CA72-4 was significantly associated with pathological types (p<0.05) and TNM staging (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that CA24-2 was significantly correlated with CA19-9 (r=0.810, p<0.001). The levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA24-2, CA72-4 and SCC decreased obviously 3 months after operations. When metastasis and recurrence occurred, the levels of TMs significantly increased. On multivariate analysis, high preoperative CA72-4, CA24-2 and SCC served as prognostic factors for cardiac carcinoma, GC and EC, respectively. combined detection of CEA+CA199+CA242+SCC proved to be the most economic and practical strategy in diagnosis of EC; CEA+CA199+CA242+CA724 proved to be a better evaluation indicator for cardiac cancer and GC. CEA and CA19-9, CA24-2, CA72-4 and SCC, examined postoperatively during follow-up, were useful to find early tumor recurrence and metastasis, and evaluate prognosis. AFP, TPA and TPS have no significant value in diagnosis of patients with upper GIT cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2361-2367
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• 2016

Since 1980, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been used as an important tool for the evaluation of malignant diseases in hollow viscus and bilio-pancreas, as well as sub-epithelial tumors. The high-resolution capacity and low penetration depth of EUS make it possible to obtain highly detailed images of the gastrointestinal wall and immediate surroundings to a depth of 4-5 cm. Thus, over the past 35 years, EUS succeeded to modify management in significant number of cases and is now considered a gold standard tool for many gastrointestinal diseases, especially in the pancreatico-biliary tract, and adjuvant needle insertion now allows access to remote lesions that were difficult to reach in the past. With the growing spectrum of indications, tissue sampling for diagnostic purposes has become common. In this review, we aim to highlight the expanding spectrum of EUS indications and uses in staging of upper gastrointestinal malignancies, especially esophageal, gastric and ampullary tumors.