Treatment of Esophageal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Epidemiology of Esophageal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma....Pages 3-11 Classification and Staging Systems....Pages 13-21 Preoperative Work-up: Conventional Radiology, Ultrasonography, CT Scan, and MRI....Pages 23-47 Preoperative Work-up: EsophagoGastroDuodenoScopy, Tracheobronchoscopy, and Endoscopic Ultrasonography....Pages 49-56 Preoperative Work-up: PET and PET-CT....Pages 57-62 Role of PET-CT in the Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment....Pages 63-68 Role of Molecular Biology in the Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment....Pages 69-76 Patient Selection according to General Condition and Associated Disease....Pages 77-85 Esophageal Cancer Surgery: The Importance of Hospital Volume....Pages 87-92 Front Matter....Pages 93-93 Surgical Treatment: Indications, Early and Long-term Results, and Disease Recurrence....Pages 95-112 Multimodal Treatment: Early and Long-term Results and Recurrences....Pages 113-128 Front Matter....Pages 129-129 Neoadjuvant Treatment....Pages 131-138 Controversial Issues in Esophageal Cancer: Surgical Approach and Lymphadenectomy....Pages 139-159 Treatment of Resectable Esophageal Cancer: Indications and Long-term Results....Pages 161-181 Treatment of Unresectable Esophageal Cancer: Indications and Long-term Results....Pages 183-187 Early Results: Morbidity, Mortality, and the Treatment of Complications....Pages 189-207 Treatment of Recurrent and Metastatic Esophageal Cancer....Pages 209-219 Role of Endoscopy in Palliative Treatment....Pages 221-229 Follow-up and Quality of Life after Esophagectomy....Pages 231-237 Front Matter....Pages 239-239 Carcinoma of Thoracic and Cervical Esophagus: Technical Notes....Pages 241-256 Front Matter....Pages 239-239 Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: General Problems and Technical Notes....Pages 257-270 Back Matter....Pages 271-272 Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus has a lower incidence than other gastrointestinal tract cancer; however, there are many difficult issues 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