BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has become the standard care for advanced adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG),although a part of the patients cannot benefit from NAC.There are no models based on ba...BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has become the standard care for advanced adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG),although a part of the patients cannot benefit from NAC.There are no models based on baseline computed tomography(CT)to predict response of Siewert type II or III AEG to NAC with docetaxel,oxaliplatin and S-1(DOS).AIM To develop a CT-based nomogram to predict response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.METHODS One hundred and twenty-eight consecutive patients with confirmed Siewert type II/III AEG underwent CT before and after three cycles of NAC with DOS,and were randomly and consecutively assigned to the training cohort(TC)(n=94)and the validation cohort(VC)(n=34).Therapeutic effect was assessed by disease-control rate and progressive disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(version 1.1)criteria.Possible prognostic factors associated with responses after DOS treatment including Siewert classification,gross tumor volume(GTV),and cT and cN stages were evaluated using pretherapeutic CT data in addition to sex and age.Univariate and multivariate analyses of CT and clinical features in the TC were performed to determine independent factors associated with response to DOS.A nomogram was established based on independent factors to predict the response.The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated by Concordance index(C-index),calibration and receiver operating characteristics curve in the TC and VC.RESULTS Univariate analysis showed that Siewert type(52/55 vs 29/39,P=0.005),pretherapeutic cT stage(57/62 vs 24/32,P=0.028),GTV(47.3±27.4 vs 73.2±54.3,P=0.040)were significantly associated with response to DOS in the TC.Multivariate analysis of the TC also showed that the pretherapeutic cT stage,GTV and Siewert type were independent predictive factors related to response to DOS(odds ratio=4.631,1.027 and 7.639,respectively;all P<0.05).The nomogram developed with these independent factors showed an excellent performance to predict response to DOS in the TC and VC(C-index:0.838 and 0.824),with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.838 and 0.824,respectively.The calibration curves showed that the practical and predicted response to DOS effectively coincided.CONCLUSION A novel nomogram developed with pretherapeutic cT stage,GTV and Siewert type predicted the response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.展开更多
BACKGROUND Stage classification for Siewert Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has not been established.AIM To investigate the optimal stage classification ...BACKGROUND Stage classification for Siewert Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has not been established.AIM To investigate the optimal stage classification for Siewert Ⅱ AEG with NAC.METHODS A nomogram was established based on Cox regression model that analyzed variables associated with overall survival(OS)and disease-specific survival(DSS).The nomogram performance in terms of discrimination and calibration ability was evaluated using the likelihood-ratio test,Akaike information criterion,Harrell concordance index,time-receiver operating characteristic curve,and decision curve analysis.RESULTS Data from 725 patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and gastrectomy were obtained from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database.Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that sex,marital status,race,ypT stage,and ypN stage were independent prognostic factors of OS,whereas sex,race,ypT stage,and ypN stage were independent prognostic factors for DSS.These factors were incorporated into the OS and DSS nomograms.Our novel nomogram model performed better in terms of OS and DSS prediction compared to the 8th American Joint Committee of Cancer pathological staging system for esophageal and gastric cancer.Finally,a user-friendly web application was developed for clinical use.CONCLUSION The nomogram established specifically for patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG receiving NAC demonstrated good prognostic performance.Validation using external data is warranted before its widespread clinical application.展开更多
Incidence rates for esophagogastric junction cancer are rising rapidly worldwide possibly due to the economic development and demographic changes.Therefore,increased attention has been paid to the prevention,diagnosis...Incidence rates for esophagogastric junction cancer are rising rapidly worldwide possibly due to the economic development and demographic changes.Therefore,increased attention has been paid to the prevention,diagnosis,and the treatment of esophagogastric junction cancer.Although there are discrepancies in the treatment strategy between Asian and Western countries,surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer.Recent developments of perioperative multidisciplinary treatment may lead to better therapeutic effect,higher complete resection rate,and better control of the residual diseases,thus result in prolonged prognosis.In this review,we will focus on the treatment of locally advanced resectable esophagogastric junction cancer,and discuss the current status and future perspectives of the perioperative treatment including chemotherapy,radiation therapy,and immunotherapy,as well as the surgical strategy.Better understanding of the latest treatment strategy and future overlook may enable to standardize and individualize the treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer,thus leading to better prognosis for those patients.展开更多
Objective: To explore the change and feasibility of surgical techniques of laparoscopic transhiatal(TH)-lower mediastinal lymph node dissection(LMLND) for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)according t...Objective: To explore the change and feasibility of surgical techniques of laparoscopic transhiatal(TH)-lower mediastinal lymph node dissection(LMLND) for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)according to Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up(IDEAL) 2a standards.Methods: Patients diagnosed with AEG who underwent laparoscopic TH-LMLND were prospectively included from April 14, 2020, to March 26, 2021. Clinical and pathological information as well as surgical outcomes were quantitatively analyzed. Semistructured interviews with the surgeon after each operation were qualitatively analyzed.Results: Thirty-five patients were included. There were no cases of transition to open surgery, but three cases involved combination with transthoracic surgery. In qualitative analysis, 108 items under three main themes were detected: explosion, dissection, and reconstruction. Revised instruction was subsequently designed according to the change in surgical technique and the cognitive process behind it. Three patients had anastomotic leaks postoperatively, with one classified as Clavien-Dindo Ⅲa.Conclusions: The surgical technique of laparoscopic TH-LMLND is stable and feasible;further IDEAL 2b research is warranted.展开更多
Based on Siewert classification, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEGs) have different behaviors of perigastric-mediastinal nodal metastasis. Siewert type I AEGs have higher incidence of mediastinal ...Based on Siewert classification, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEGs) have different behaviors of perigastric-mediastinal nodal metastasis. Siewert type I AEGs have higher incidence of mediastinal nodal metastasis than those of type H or III, especially at middle-upper mediastinum. With regard to the necessity of mediastinal lymphadenectomy, theoretically, transthoracic esophagogastrectomy with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy is suggested for Siewert type I AEGs, while transhiatal total gastrectomy with lower mediastinal and D2 perigastric lymphadenectomy is a standard surgery for type II-III AEGs. Nevertheless, the mediastinal nodal metastasis is an independent factor of poor prognosis for any type of AEG.展开更多
AIM To determine the optimal treatment strategy for Siewert type Ⅱ and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 83 patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?and...AIM To determine the optimal treatment strategy for Siewert type Ⅱ and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 83 patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and calculated both an index of estimated benefit from lymph node dissection for each lymph node(LN) station and a lymph node ratio(LNR: ratio of number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of dissected lymph nodes). We used Cox proportional hazard models to clarify independent poor prognostic factors. The median duration of observation was 73 mo.RESULTS Indices of estimated benefit from LN dissection were as follows, in descending order: lymph nodes(LN) along the lesser curvature, 26.5; right paracardial LN, 22.8; left paracardial LN, 11.6; LN along the left gastric artery, 10.6. The 5-year overall survival(OS) rate was 58%. Cox regression analysis revealed that vigorous venous invasion(v2, v3)(HR = 5.99; 95%CI: 1.71-24.90) and LNR of > 0.16(HR = 4.29, 95%CI: 1.79-10.89) were independent poor prognostic factors for OS.CONCLUSION LN along the lesser curvature, right and left paracardial LN, and LN along the left gastric artery should be dissected in patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?or?Ⅲ?adenoca rcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Patients with vigorous venous invasion and LNR of > 0.16 should be treated with aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy to improve survival outcomes.展开更多
Objective: To compare the survival outcomes of transabdominal (TA) and transthoracic (TT) surgical approaches in patients with Siewert-II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. Methods: This retrospective ...Objective: To compare the survival outcomes of transabdominal (TA) and transthoracic (TT) surgical approaches in patients with Siewert-II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with Siewert-II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma who underwent either TT or TA operations in the West China Hospital between January 2006 and December 2009. Results: A total of 308 patients (109 in the TT and 199 in the TA groups) were included in this study with a follow-up rate of 87.3%. The median (P25, P75) number of harvested perigastric lymph nodes was 8 (5, 10) in the TT group and 23 (16, 34) in the TA group (P〈0.001), and the number of positive perigastric lymph nodes was 2 (0, 5) in the TT group and 3 (1, 8) in the TA group (P〈0.004). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 36% in the TT group and 51% in the TA group (P=0.005). Subgroup analysis by Siewert classification showed that 5-year OS rates for patients with Siewert II tumors were 38% and 48% in TT and TA groups, respectively (P=0.134), whereas the 5-year OS rate for patients with Siewert III tumors was significantly lower in the TT group than that in the TA group (33% vs. 53%; P=0.010). Multivariate analysis indicated that N2 and N3 stages, RI/R2 resection and a TT surgical approach were prognostic factors for poor OS. Conclusions: Improved perigastric lymph node dissection may be the main reason for better survival outcomes observed with a TA gastrectomy approach than with TT gastrectomy for Siewert III tumor patients.展开更多
Esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs) are extremely uncommon,representing approximately 5% of GISTs with the majority of esophageal GISTs occurring at the esophagogastric junction(EGJ).The treatment option...Esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs) are extremely uncommon,representing approximately 5% of GISTs with the majority of esophageal GISTs occurring at the esophagogastric junction(EGJ).The treatment options available for these GISTs are fairly controversial.Many different options are nowadays at our disposal.From surgery to the target therapies we have the possibility to treat the majority of GISTs,including those which are defined as unresectable.The EGJ GISTs represent a stimulating challenge for the surgeon.The anatomical location increases the possibility of postoperative complications.As the role of negative margins in GIST surgery is still controversial and the eff icacy of target therapy has been demonstrated,why not treat EGJ GISTs with enucleation and,where indicated,adjuvant target therapy?展开更多
In recent years the world is witnessing an increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG), which originates from epithelial tissue of esophagogastric junction (EGJ), and mainly derives fr...In recent years the world is witnessing an increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG), which originates from epithelial tissue of esophagogastric junction (EGJ), and mainly derives from Barrett's esophagus. It's now gaining more and more attention due to the controversial etiology, classification and treatment.展开更多
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination regimen of paclitaxel, cisplatin and 5-FU (PCF) as first-line or second-line therapy in patients with advanced gastric and esophagogastric juncti...Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination regimen of paclitaxel, cisplatin and 5-FU (PCF) as first-line or second-line therapy in patients with advanced gastric and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma in China. Methods: The patients were treated with paclitaxel 150 mg/m2 on dl; fractionated cisplatin 15 mg/m2 and continuous infusion 5-FU 600 mg/(mLd) intravenously on d 1-d5 of a 21-d cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. Results: Seventy-five patients have been enrolled, among which, 41 received PCF regimen as the first-line therapy (group A) and 34 received the regimen as the second-line therapy (group B) with the median age of 59 years old and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score 〉80. Toxicities were analyzed in all 75 patients. Seventy-one patients were evaluable for efficacy. The median overall survival (mOS) was 12.0 months (95% CI: 7.9-16.2 months) in group A and 7.3 months (95% CI: 4.3-10.3 months) in group B, respectively. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.7 months (95% CI: 4.1-7.2 months) and 5.0 months (95% CI: 3.1-6.9 months), respectively. The response rate (CR^PR) was 40% (16/40; 95% CI: 24.9-56.7%) in group A and 22.6% (7/31; 95% CI: 9.6-41.1%) in group B. Major grade 3 or 4 adverse events include neutropenia (41.3 %), febrile neutropenia (9.3 %), nausea/anorexia (10.7%), and vomiting (5.3 %). There was no treatment-related death. Conclusions: The combination chemotherapy with PCF is active and tolerable as first-line and second- line therapy in Chinese patients with advanced gastric and EGJ adenocarcinoma. The response and survival of PCF are same as those of DCF, but the tolerance is much better.展开更多
Objective:This study aims to verify the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy for Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲadenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG).Setting:An exploratory,observatio...Objective:This study aims to verify the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy for Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲadenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG).Setting:An exploratory,observational,prospective,cohort study will be carried out under the Idea,Development,Exploration,Assessment and Long-term Follow-up(IDEAL)framework(stage 2 b).Paritcipants:The study will recruit 1,036 patients with cases of locally advanced AEG(Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲ,clinical stage cT2-4 aN0-3 M0),and 518 will be assigned to either the laparoscopy group or the open group.Interventions:Patients will receive lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy along with either total or proximal gastrectomy.Primary and secondary outcome measures:The primary endpoint is the number of lower mediastinal lymph nodes retrieved,and the secondary endpoints are the surgical safety and prognosis,including intraoperative and postoperative lower-mediastinal-lymphadenectomy-related morbidity and mortality,rate of rehospitalization,R0 resection rate,3-year local recurrence rate,and 3-year overall survival.Conclusions:The study will provide data for the guidance and development of surgical treatment strategies for AEG.Trial registration number:The study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov(No.NCT04443478).展开更多
BACKGROUND The biological behavior of carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(CEGJ)is different from that of gastric or esophageal cancer.Differentiating squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(SCCEG...BACKGROUND The biological behavior of carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(CEGJ)is different from that of gastric or esophageal cancer.Differentiating squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(SCCEG)from adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)can indicate Siewert stage and whether the surgical route for patients with CEGJ is transthoracic or transabdominal,as well as aid in determining the extent of lymph node dissection.With the development of neoadjuvant therapy,preoperative determination of pathological type can help in the selection of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens.AIM To establish and evaluate computed tomography(CT)-based multiscale and multiphase radiomics models to distinguish SCCEG and AEG preoperatively.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative contrasted-enhanced CT imaging data of single-center patients with pathologically confirmed SCCEG(n=130)and AEG(n=130).The data were divided into either a training(n=182)or a test group(n=78)at a ratio of 7:3.A total of 1409 radiomics features were separately extracted from two dimensional(2D)or three dimensional(3D)regions of interest in arterial and venous phases.Intra-/inter-observer consistency analysis,correlation analysis,univariate analysis,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,and backward stepwise logical regression were applied for feature selection.Totally,six logistic regression models were established based on 2D and 3D multi-phase features.The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,the continuous net reclassification improvement(NRI),and the integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were used for assessing model discrimination performance.Calibration and decision curves were used to assess the calibration and clinical usefulness of the model,respectively.RESULTS The 2D-venous model(5 features,AUC:0.849)performed better than 2D-arterial(5 features,AUC:0.808).The 2D-arterial-venous combined model could further enhance the performance(AUC:0.869).The 3D-venous model(7 features,AUC:0.877)performed better than 3D-arterial(10 features,AUC:0.876).And the 3D-arterial-venous combined model(AUC:0.904)outperformed other single-phase-based models.The venous model showed a positive improvement compared with the arterial model(NRI>0,IDI>0),and the 3D-venous and combined models showed a significant positive improvement compared with the 2D-venous and combined models(P<0.05).Decision curve analysis showed that combined 3D-arterial-venous model and 3D-venous model had a higher net clinical benefit within the same threshold probability range in the test group.CONCLUSION The combined arterial-venous CT radiomics model based on 3D segmentation can improve the performance in differentiating EGJ squamous cell carcinoma from adenocarcinoma.展开更多
The authors discussed the proposal by Coccolini and colleagues to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) at the esophagogastric junction with enucleation and,if indicated,adjuvant therapy,reducing the risks rel...The authors discussed the proposal by Coccolini and colleagues to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) at the esophagogastric junction with enucleation and,if indicated,adjuvant therapy,reducing the risks related to esophageal and gastroesophageal resection.They concluded that,because the prognostic impact of a T1 high-mitotic rate on esophageal GIST is worse than that of a T1 high-mitotic rate on gastric GIST,enucleation may not be an adequate surgery for esophagogastric GISTs with a high mitotic rate in which the guarantee of negative resection margins and adjuvant therapies can be the only chance of survival.展开更多
BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)is a rare inherited disease with non-cancerous tumor growths in the skin,brain,kidneys,heart,and lungs.The co-occurrence of neuroendocrine neoplasm(NEN)with TSC is even rarer....BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)is a rare inherited disease with non-cancerous tumor growths in the skin,brain,kidneys,heart,and lungs.The co-occurrence of neuroendocrine neoplasm(NEN)with TSC is even rarer.There have been few reports on the relationship between TSC and neuroendocrine tumors(NETs),and fewer on the relationship between TSC and neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC),a subtype of NEN.This is the first reported case of NEC occurring at the esophagogastric junction in a patient with TSC.CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old woman visiting our hospital for the treatment of TSC was admitted to the emergency department with tarry stools and dizziness.Computed tomography scans revealed thickness of the gastric cardia,multiple metastatic lesions of the liver,and enlarged lymph nodes near the lesser curvature of the stomach.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a type 3 tumor located from the esophagogastric junction to the fundus,and the pathological diagnosis by biopsy was NEC.The patient was treated with seven courses of cisplatin+irinotecan,followed by eight courses of ramucirumab+nab-paclitaxel,one course of nivolumab,and two courses of S-1+oxaliplatin.Twenty-three months after the first treatment,the patient died because of disease progression and deterioration of the general condition.CONCLUSION This case of NEC occurring in a patient with TSC indicates a difference in the occurrence of NETs and NECs.展开更多
Objective:Laparoscopic resection is increasingly performed for gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs).However,the laparoscopic approach for GISTs located in the esophagogastric junction(EGJ-GIST)is surgically challeng...Objective:Laparoscopic resection is increasingly performed for gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs).However,the laparoscopic approach for GISTs located in the esophagogastric junction(EGJ-GIST)is surgically challenging.This study compares the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery and the open procedure for EGJ-GIST through the propensity score weighting(PSW)method.Methods:Between April 2006 and April 2018,1,824 surgical patients were diagnosed with primary gastric GIST at four medical centers in South China.Of these patients,228 were identified as EGJ-GISTs and retrospectively reviewed clinicopathological characteristics,operative information,and long-term outcomes.PSW was used to create the balanced cohorts.Results:PSW was carried out in laparoscopic and open-surgery cohorts according to year of surgery,sex,age,body mass index(BMI),tumor size,mitotic rates and recurrence risk.After PSW,438 patients consisting of 213 laparoscopic(L group)and 225 open surgery(O group)patients were enrolled.After PSW,the following measures in the L group were superior to those in the O group:median operative time[interquartile range(IQR)]:100.0(64.5-141.5)vs.149.0(104.0-197.5)min,P<0.001;median blood loss(IQR):30.0(10.0-50.0)vs.50.0(20.0-100.0)mL,P=0.002;median time to liquid intake(IQR):3.0(2.0-4.0)vs.4.0(3.0-5.0)d,P<0.001;median hospital stay(IQR):6.0(4.0-8.0)vs.7.0(5.0-12.0)d,P<0.001;and postoperative complications(10.3%vs.22.7%,P=0.001).The median follow-up was 55(range,2-153)months in the entire cohort.No significant differences were detected in either relapse-free survival(RFS)[hazard ratio(HR):0.372,95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.072-1.910,P=0.236]or overall survival(OS)(HR:0.400,95%CI:0.119-1.343,P=0.138)between the two groups.Conclusions:Laparoscopic surgery for EGJ-GIST is associated with the advantages of shorter operative time,reduced blood loss,shorter time to liquid intake,and shorter length of stay,all without compromising postoperative outcomes and long-term survival.展开更多
Esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC)and adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(EGJA)have long been associated with poor prognosis.With changes in the spectrum of the disease caused by economic development and demogr...Esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC)and adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(EGJA)have long been associated with poor prognosis.With changes in the spectrum of the disease caused by economic development and demographic changes,the incidence of EAC and EGJA continues to increase,making them worthy of more attention from clinicians.For a long time,surgery has been the mainstay treatment for EAC and EGJA.With advanced techniques,endoscopic therapy,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and other treatment methods have been developed,providing additional treatment options for patients with EAC and EGJA.In recent decades,the emergence of multidisciplinary therapy(MDT)has enabled the comprehensive treatment of tumors and made the treatment more flexible and diversified,which is conducive to achieving standardized and individualized treatment of EAC and EGJA to obtain a better prognosis.This review discusses recent advances in EAC and EGJA treatment in the surgicalcentered MDT mode in recent years.展开更多
To date,there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEG)worldwide.The classification of AEG,defined by Siewert and Stein,was approved at the second Interna...To date,there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEG)worldwide.The classification of AEG,defined by Siewert and Stein,was approved at the second International Gastric Cancer Congress in Munich in April 1997.In accordance with the anatomic cardia,EGJC can be divided into three subtypes:type Ⅰ,adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus with the center located within 1 cm above and 5 cm above the anatomic esophagogastric junction (EGJ);type Ⅱ,true carcinoma of the cardia with the tumor center within 1 cm above and 2 cm below the EGJ;type Ⅲ,subcardial carcinoma with the tumor center between 2 and 5 cm below EGJ,which infiltrates the EGJ and distal esophagus from below (1).展开更多
AIM To investigate the functional effects of abnormal esophagogastric(EGJ) measurements in asymptomatic healthy volunteers over eighty years of age. METHODS Data from 30 young controls(11 M, mean age 37 ± 11 year...AIM To investigate the functional effects of abnormal esophagogastric(EGJ) measurements in asymptomatic healthy volunteers over eighty years of age. METHODS Data from 30 young controls(11 M, mean age 37 ± 11 years) and 15 aged subjects(9 M, 85 ± 4 years) were compared for novel metrics of EGJ-function: EGJcontractile integral(EGJ-CI), "total" EGJ-CI and bolus flow time(BFT). Data were acquired using a 3.2 mm, 25 pressure(1 cm spacing) and 12 impedance segment(2 cm) solid-state catheter(Unisensor and MMS SolarGI system) across the EGJ. Five swallows each of 5 m L liquid(L) and viscous(V) bolus were analyzed. Mean values were compared using Student's t test for normally distributed data or Mann Whitney U-test when non-normally distributed. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS EGJ-CI at rest was similar for older subjects compared to controls. "Total" EGJ-CI, measured during liquid swallowing, was increased in older individuals when compared to young controls(O 39 ± 7 mm Hg.cm vs C 18 ± 3 mm Hg.cm; P = 0.006). For both liquid and viscous bolus consistencies, IRP4 was increased(L: 11.9 ± 2.3 mm Hg vs 5.9 ± 1.0 mm Hg, P = 0.019 and V: 14.3 ± 2.4 mm Hg vs 7.3 ± 0.8 mm Hg; P = 0.02) and BFT was reduced(L: 1.7 ± 0.3 s vs 3.8 ± 0.2 s and V: 1.9 ± 0.3 s vs 3.8 ± 0.2 s; P < 0.001 for both) in older subjects, when compared to young. A matrix of bolus flow and presence above the EGJ indicated reductions in bolus flow at the EGJ occurred due to both impaired bolus transport through the esophageal body(i.e., the bolus never reached the EGJ) and increased flow resistance at the EGJ(i.e., the bolus retained just above the EGJ).CONCLUSION Bolus flow through the EGJ is reduced in asymptomatic older individuals. Both ineffective esophageal bolus transport and increased EGJ resistance contribute to impaired bolus flow.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has become the standard care for advanced adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG),although a part of the patients cannot benefit from NAC.There are no models based on baseline computed tomography(CT)to predict response of Siewert type II or III AEG to NAC with docetaxel,oxaliplatin and S-1(DOS).AIM To develop a CT-based nomogram to predict response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.METHODS One hundred and twenty-eight consecutive patients with confirmed Siewert type II/III AEG underwent CT before and after three cycles of NAC with DOS,and were randomly and consecutively assigned to the training cohort(TC)(n=94)and the validation cohort(VC)(n=34).Therapeutic effect was assessed by disease-control rate and progressive disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(version 1.1)criteria.Possible prognostic factors associated with responses after DOS treatment including Siewert classification,gross tumor volume(GTV),and cT and cN stages were evaluated using pretherapeutic CT data in addition to sex and age.Univariate and multivariate analyses of CT and clinical features in the TC were performed to determine independent factors associated with response to DOS.A nomogram was established based on independent factors to predict the response.The predictive performance of the nomogram was evaluated by Concordance index(C-index),calibration and receiver operating characteristics curve in the TC and VC.RESULTS Univariate analysis showed that Siewert type(52/55 vs 29/39,P=0.005),pretherapeutic cT stage(57/62 vs 24/32,P=0.028),GTV(47.3±27.4 vs 73.2±54.3,P=0.040)were significantly associated with response to DOS in the TC.Multivariate analysis of the TC also showed that the pretherapeutic cT stage,GTV and Siewert type were independent predictive factors related to response to DOS(odds ratio=4.631,1.027 and 7.639,respectively;all P<0.05).The nomogram developed with these independent factors showed an excellent performance to predict response to DOS in the TC and VC(C-index:0.838 and 0.824),with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.838 and 0.824,respectively.The calibration curves showed that the practical and predicted response to DOS effectively coincided.CONCLUSION A novel nomogram developed with pretherapeutic cT stage,GTV and Siewert type predicted the response of Siewert type II/III AEG to NAC with DOS.
基金Supported by Key R&D Program of Zhejiang,No.2023C03172.
文摘BACKGROUND Stage classification for Siewert Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has not been established.AIM To investigate the optimal stage classification for Siewert Ⅱ AEG with NAC.METHODS A nomogram was established based on Cox regression model that analyzed variables associated with overall survival(OS)and disease-specific survival(DSS).The nomogram performance in terms of discrimination and calibration ability was evaluated using the likelihood-ratio test,Akaike information criterion,Harrell concordance index,time-receiver operating characteristic curve,and decision curve analysis.RESULTS Data from 725 patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and gastrectomy were obtained from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database.Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that sex,marital status,race,ypT stage,and ypN stage were independent prognostic factors of OS,whereas sex,race,ypT stage,and ypN stage were independent prognostic factors for DSS.These factors were incorporated into the OS and DSS nomograms.Our novel nomogram model performed better in terms of OS and DSS prediction compared to the 8th American Joint Committee of Cancer pathological staging system for esophageal and gastric cancer.Finally,a user-friendly web application was developed for clinical use.CONCLUSION The nomogram established specifically for patients with Siewert type Ⅱ AEG receiving NAC demonstrated good prognostic performance.Validation using external data is warranted before its widespread clinical application.
文摘Incidence rates for esophagogastric junction cancer are rising rapidly worldwide possibly due to the economic development and demographic changes.Therefore,increased attention has been paid to the prevention,diagnosis,and the treatment of esophagogastric junction cancer.Although there are discrepancies in the treatment strategy between Asian and Western countries,surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer.Recent developments of perioperative multidisciplinary treatment may lead to better therapeutic effect,higher complete resection rate,and better control of the residual diseases,thus result in prolonged prognosis.In this review,we will focus on the treatment of locally advanced resectable esophagogastric junction cancer,and discuss the current status and future perspectives of the perioperative treatment including chemotherapy,radiation therapy,and immunotherapy,as well as the surgical strategy.Better understanding of the latest treatment strategy and future overlook may enable to standardize and individualize the treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer,thus leading to better prognosis for those patients.
基金supportedbyBeijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals(No.DFL20181103)Beijing Hospitals Authority Innovation Studio of Young Staff Funding Support(No.202123).
文摘Objective: To explore the change and feasibility of surgical techniques of laparoscopic transhiatal(TH)-lower mediastinal lymph node dissection(LMLND) for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)according to Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up(IDEAL) 2a standards.Methods: Patients diagnosed with AEG who underwent laparoscopic TH-LMLND were prospectively included from April 14, 2020, to March 26, 2021. Clinical and pathological information as well as surgical outcomes were quantitatively analyzed. Semistructured interviews with the surgeon after each operation were qualitatively analyzed.Results: Thirty-five patients were included. There were no cases of transition to open surgery, but three cases involved combination with transthoracic surgery. In qualitative analysis, 108 items under three main themes were detected: explosion, dissection, and reconstruction. Revised instruction was subsequently designed according to the change in surgical technique and the cognitive process behind it. Three patients had anastomotic leaks postoperatively, with one classified as Clavien-Dindo Ⅲa.Conclusions: The surgical technique of laparoscopic TH-LMLND is stable and feasible;further IDEAL 2b research is warranted.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81372344 and 81301866)New Century Excellent Talents in University support program, Ministry of Education of China (2012SCU-NCET-11-0343)
文摘Based on Siewert classification, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEGs) have different behaviors of perigastric-mediastinal nodal metastasis. Siewert type I AEGs have higher incidence of mediastinal nodal metastasis than those of type H or III, especially at middle-upper mediastinum. With regard to the necessity of mediastinal lymphadenectomy, theoretically, transthoracic esophagogastrectomy with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy is suggested for Siewert type I AEGs, while transhiatal total gastrectomy with lower mediastinal and D2 perigastric lymphadenectomy is a standard surgery for type II-III AEGs. Nevertheless, the mediastinal nodal metastasis is an independent factor of poor prognosis for any type of AEG.
文摘AIM To determine the optimal treatment strategy for Siewert type Ⅱ and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 83 patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?and?Ⅲ?adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and calculated both an index of estimated benefit from lymph node dissection for each lymph node(LN) station and a lymph node ratio(LNR: ratio of number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of dissected lymph nodes). We used Cox proportional hazard models to clarify independent poor prognostic factors. The median duration of observation was 73 mo.RESULTS Indices of estimated benefit from LN dissection were as follows, in descending order: lymph nodes(LN) along the lesser curvature, 26.5; right paracardial LN, 22.8; left paracardial LN, 11.6; LN along the left gastric artery, 10.6. The 5-year overall survival(OS) rate was 58%. Cox regression analysis revealed that vigorous venous invasion(v2, v3)(HR = 5.99; 95%CI: 1.71-24.90) and LNR of > 0.16(HR = 4.29, 95%CI: 1.79-10.89) were independent poor prognostic factors for OS.CONCLUSION LN along the lesser curvature, right and left paracardial LN, and LN along the left gastric artery should be dissected in patients with Siewert type?Ⅱ?or?Ⅲ?adenoca rcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Patients with vigorous venous invasion and LNR of > 0.16 should be treated with aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy to improve survival outcomes.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81372344)
文摘Objective: To compare the survival outcomes of transabdominal (TA) and transthoracic (TT) surgical approaches in patients with Siewert-II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with Siewert-II/III esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma who underwent either TT or TA operations in the West China Hospital between January 2006 and December 2009. Results: A total of 308 patients (109 in the TT and 199 in the TA groups) were included in this study with a follow-up rate of 87.3%. The median (P25, P75) number of harvested perigastric lymph nodes was 8 (5, 10) in the TT group and 23 (16, 34) in the TA group (P〈0.001), and the number of positive perigastric lymph nodes was 2 (0, 5) in the TT group and 3 (1, 8) in the TA group (P〈0.004). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 36% in the TT group and 51% in the TA group (P=0.005). Subgroup analysis by Siewert classification showed that 5-year OS rates for patients with Siewert II tumors were 38% and 48% in TT and TA groups, respectively (P=0.134), whereas the 5-year OS rate for patients with Siewert III tumors was significantly lower in the TT group than that in the TA group (33% vs. 53%; P=0.010). Multivariate analysis indicated that N2 and N3 stages, RI/R2 resection and a TT surgical approach were prognostic factors for poor OS. Conclusions: Improved perigastric lymph node dissection may be the main reason for better survival outcomes observed with a TA gastrectomy approach than with TT gastrectomy for Siewert III tumor patients.
文摘Esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs) are extremely uncommon,representing approximately 5% of GISTs with the majority of esophageal GISTs occurring at the esophagogastric junction(EGJ).The treatment options available for these GISTs are fairly controversial.Many different options are nowadays at our disposal.From surgery to the target therapies we have the possibility to treat the majority of GISTs,including those which are defined as unresectable.The EGJ GISTs represent a stimulating challenge for the surgeon.The anatomical location increases the possibility of postoperative complications.As the role of negative margins in GIST surgery is still controversial and the eff icacy of target therapy has been demonstrated,why not treat EGJ GISTs with enucleation and,where indicated,adjuvant target therapy?
文摘In recent years the world is witnessing an increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG), which originates from epithelial tissue of esophagogastric junction (EGJ), and mainly derives from Barrett's esophagus. It's now gaining more and more attention due to the controversial etiology, classification and treatment.
文摘Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination regimen of paclitaxel, cisplatin and 5-FU (PCF) as first-line or second-line therapy in patients with advanced gastric and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma in China. Methods: The patients were treated with paclitaxel 150 mg/m2 on dl; fractionated cisplatin 15 mg/m2 and continuous infusion 5-FU 600 mg/(mLd) intravenously on d 1-d5 of a 21-d cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. Results: Seventy-five patients have been enrolled, among which, 41 received PCF regimen as the first-line therapy (group A) and 34 received the regimen as the second-line therapy (group B) with the median age of 59 years old and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score 〉80. Toxicities were analyzed in all 75 patients. Seventy-one patients were evaluable for efficacy. The median overall survival (mOS) was 12.0 months (95% CI: 7.9-16.2 months) in group A and 7.3 months (95% CI: 4.3-10.3 months) in group B, respectively. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.7 months (95% CI: 4.1-7.2 months) and 5.0 months (95% CI: 3.1-6.9 months), respectively. The response rate (CR^PR) was 40% (16/40; 95% CI: 24.9-56.7%) in group A and 22.6% (7/31; 95% CI: 9.6-41.1%) in group B. Major grade 3 or 4 adverse events include neutropenia (41.3 %), febrile neutropenia (9.3 %), nausea/anorexia (10.7%), and vomiting (5.3 %). There was no treatment-related death. Conclusions: The combination chemotherapy with PCF is active and tolerable as first-line and second- line therapy in Chinese patients with advanced gastric and EGJ adenocarcinoma. The response and survival of PCF are same as those of DCF, but the tolerance is much better.
基金supported by the Chinese Medical Foundation(No.2020064)。
文摘Objective:This study aims to verify the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy for Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲadenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction(AEG).Setting:An exploratory,observational,prospective,cohort study will be carried out under the Idea,Development,Exploration,Assessment and Long-term Follow-up(IDEAL)framework(stage 2 b).Paritcipants:The study will recruit 1,036 patients with cases of locally advanced AEG(Siewert typeⅡ/Ⅲ,clinical stage cT2-4 aN0-3 M0),and 518 will be assigned to either the laparoscopy group or the open group.Interventions:Patients will receive lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy along with either total or proximal gastrectomy.Primary and secondary outcome measures:The primary endpoint is the number of lower mediastinal lymph nodes retrieved,and the secondary endpoints are the surgical safety and prognosis,including intraoperative and postoperative lower-mediastinal-lymphadenectomy-related morbidity and mortality,rate of rehospitalization,R0 resection rate,3-year local recurrence rate,and 3-year overall survival.Conclusions:The study will provide data for the guidance and development of surgical treatment strategies for AEG.Trial registration number:The study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov(No.NCT04443478).
文摘BACKGROUND The biological behavior of carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(CEGJ)is different from that of gastric or esophageal cancer.Differentiating squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(SCCEG)from adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(AEG)can indicate Siewert stage and whether the surgical route for patients with CEGJ is transthoracic or transabdominal,as well as aid in determining the extent of lymph node dissection.With the development of neoadjuvant therapy,preoperative determination of pathological type can help in the selection of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens.AIM To establish and evaluate computed tomography(CT)-based multiscale and multiphase radiomics models to distinguish SCCEG and AEG preoperatively.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative contrasted-enhanced CT imaging data of single-center patients with pathologically confirmed SCCEG(n=130)and AEG(n=130).The data were divided into either a training(n=182)or a test group(n=78)at a ratio of 7:3.A total of 1409 radiomics features were separately extracted from two dimensional(2D)or three dimensional(3D)regions of interest in arterial and venous phases.Intra-/inter-observer consistency analysis,correlation analysis,univariate analysis,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,and backward stepwise logical regression were applied for feature selection.Totally,six logistic regression models were established based on 2D and 3D multi-phase features.The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,the continuous net reclassification improvement(NRI),and the integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were used for assessing model discrimination performance.Calibration and decision curves were used to assess the calibration and clinical usefulness of the model,respectively.RESULTS The 2D-venous model(5 features,AUC:0.849)performed better than 2D-arterial(5 features,AUC:0.808).The 2D-arterial-venous combined model could further enhance the performance(AUC:0.869).The 3D-venous model(7 features,AUC:0.877)performed better than 3D-arterial(10 features,AUC:0.876).And the 3D-arterial-venous combined model(AUC:0.904)outperformed other single-phase-based models.The venous model showed a positive improvement compared with the arterial model(NRI>0,IDI>0),and the 3D-venous and combined models showed a significant positive improvement compared with the 2D-venous and combined models(P<0.05).Decision curve analysis showed that combined 3D-arterial-venous model and 3D-venous model had a higher net clinical benefit within the same threshold probability range in the test group.CONCLUSION The combined arterial-venous CT radiomics model based on 3D segmentation can improve the performance in differentiating EGJ squamous cell carcinoma from adenocarcinoma.
文摘The authors discussed the proposal by Coccolini and colleagues to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) at the esophagogastric junction with enucleation and,if indicated,adjuvant therapy,reducing the risks related to esophageal and gastroesophageal resection.They concluded that,because the prognostic impact of a T1 high-mitotic rate on esophageal GIST is worse than that of a T1 high-mitotic rate on gastric GIST,enucleation may not be an adequate surgery for esophagogastric GISTs with a high mitotic rate in which the guarantee of negative resection margins and adjuvant therapies can be the only chance of survival.
文摘BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)is a rare inherited disease with non-cancerous tumor growths in the skin,brain,kidneys,heart,and lungs.The co-occurrence of neuroendocrine neoplasm(NEN)with TSC is even rarer.There have been few reports on the relationship between TSC and neuroendocrine tumors(NETs),and fewer on the relationship between TSC and neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC),a subtype of NEN.This is the first reported case of NEC occurring at the esophagogastric junction in a patient with TSC.CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old woman visiting our hospital for the treatment of TSC was admitted to the emergency department with tarry stools and dizziness.Computed tomography scans revealed thickness of the gastric cardia,multiple metastatic lesions of the liver,and enlarged lymph nodes near the lesser curvature of the stomach.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a type 3 tumor located from the esophagogastric junction to the fundus,and the pathological diagnosis by biopsy was NEC.The patient was treated with seven courses of cisplatin+irinotecan,followed by eight courses of ramucirumab+nab-paclitaxel,one course of nivolumab,and two courses of S-1+oxaliplatin.Twenty-three months after the first treatment,the patient died because of disease progression and deterioration of the general condition.CONCLUSION This case of NEC occurring in a patient with TSC indicates a difference in the occurrence of NETs and NECs.
文摘Objective:Laparoscopic resection is increasingly performed for gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs).However,the laparoscopic approach for GISTs located in the esophagogastric junction(EGJ-GIST)is surgically challenging.This study compares the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery and the open procedure for EGJ-GIST through the propensity score weighting(PSW)method.Methods:Between April 2006 and April 2018,1,824 surgical patients were diagnosed with primary gastric GIST at four medical centers in South China.Of these patients,228 were identified as EGJ-GISTs and retrospectively reviewed clinicopathological characteristics,operative information,and long-term outcomes.PSW was used to create the balanced cohorts.Results:PSW was carried out in laparoscopic and open-surgery cohorts according to year of surgery,sex,age,body mass index(BMI),tumor size,mitotic rates and recurrence risk.After PSW,438 patients consisting of 213 laparoscopic(L group)and 225 open surgery(O group)patients were enrolled.After PSW,the following measures in the L group were superior to those in the O group:median operative time[interquartile range(IQR)]:100.0(64.5-141.5)vs.149.0(104.0-197.5)min,P<0.001;median blood loss(IQR):30.0(10.0-50.0)vs.50.0(20.0-100.0)mL,P=0.002;median time to liquid intake(IQR):3.0(2.0-4.0)vs.4.0(3.0-5.0)d,P<0.001;median hospital stay(IQR):6.0(4.0-8.0)vs.7.0(5.0-12.0)d,P<0.001;and postoperative complications(10.3%vs.22.7%,P=0.001).The median follow-up was 55(range,2-153)months in the entire cohort.No significant differences were detected in either relapse-free survival(RFS)[hazard ratio(HR):0.372,95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.072-1.910,P=0.236]or overall survival(OS)(HR:0.400,95%CI:0.119-1.343,P=0.138)between the two groups.Conclusions:Laparoscopic surgery for EGJ-GIST is associated with the advantages of shorter operative time,reduced blood loss,shorter time to liquid intake,and shorter length of stay,all without compromising postoperative outcomes and long-term survival.
文摘Esophageal adenocarcinoma(EAC)and adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction(EGJA)have long been associated with poor prognosis.With changes in the spectrum of the disease caused by economic development and demographic changes,the incidence of EAC and EGJA continues to increase,making them worthy of more attention from clinicians.For a long time,surgery has been the mainstay treatment for EAC and EGJA.With advanced techniques,endoscopic therapy,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and other treatment methods have been developed,providing additional treatment options for patients with EAC and EGJA.In recent decades,the emergence of multidisciplinary therapy(MDT)has enabled the comprehensive treatment of tumors and made the treatment more flexible and diversified,which is conducive to achieving standardized and individualized treatment of EAC and EGJA to obtain a better prognosis.This review discusses recent advances in EAC and EGJA treatment in the surgicalcentered MDT mode in recent years.
文摘To date,there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEG)worldwide.The classification of AEG,defined by Siewert and Stein,was approved at the second International Gastric Cancer Congress in Munich in April 1997.In accordance with the anatomic cardia,EGJC can be divided into three subtypes:type Ⅰ,adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus with the center located within 1 cm above and 5 cm above the anatomic esophagogastric junction (EGJ);type Ⅱ,true carcinoma of the cardia with the tumor center within 1 cm above and 2 cm below the EGJ;type Ⅲ,subcardial carcinoma with the tumor center between 2 and 5 cm below EGJ,which infiltrates the EGJ and distal esophagus from below (1).
文摘AIM To investigate the functional effects of abnormal esophagogastric(EGJ) measurements in asymptomatic healthy volunteers over eighty years of age. METHODS Data from 30 young controls(11 M, mean age 37 ± 11 years) and 15 aged subjects(9 M, 85 ± 4 years) were compared for novel metrics of EGJ-function: EGJcontractile integral(EGJ-CI), "total" EGJ-CI and bolus flow time(BFT). Data were acquired using a 3.2 mm, 25 pressure(1 cm spacing) and 12 impedance segment(2 cm) solid-state catheter(Unisensor and MMS SolarGI system) across the EGJ. Five swallows each of 5 m L liquid(L) and viscous(V) bolus were analyzed. Mean values were compared using Student's t test for normally distributed data or Mann Whitney U-test when non-normally distributed. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS EGJ-CI at rest was similar for older subjects compared to controls. "Total" EGJ-CI, measured during liquid swallowing, was increased in older individuals when compared to young controls(O 39 ± 7 mm Hg.cm vs C 18 ± 3 mm Hg.cm; P = 0.006). For both liquid and viscous bolus consistencies, IRP4 was increased(L: 11.9 ± 2.3 mm Hg vs 5.9 ± 1.0 mm Hg, P = 0.019 and V: 14.3 ± 2.4 mm Hg vs 7.3 ± 0.8 mm Hg; P = 0.02) and BFT was reduced(L: 1.7 ± 0.3 s vs 3.8 ± 0.2 s and V: 1.9 ± 0.3 s vs 3.8 ± 0.2 s; P < 0.001 for both) in older subjects, when compared to young. A matrix of bolus flow and presence above the EGJ indicated reductions in bolus flow at the EGJ occurred due to both impaired bolus transport through the esophageal body(i.e., the bolus never reached the EGJ) and increased flow resistance at the EGJ(i.e., the bolus retained just above the EGJ).CONCLUSION Bolus flow through the EGJ is reduced in asymptomatic older individuals. Both ineffective esophageal bolus transport and increased EGJ resistance contribute to impaired bolus flow.