Esophagus Flashcards
70 year old patient presents with progressive dysphagia and weight loss over the past 3 months. What is the initial workup?
- Thorough H&P
- Esophagram
- Esophagoscopy/EGD
Once the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma is made, what workup is needed for staging?
- CBC & CMP
- CT A/P w/ PO & IV contrast (M stage)
- PET scan (M stage)
- EUS +/- FNA (T & N stage)
- +/- Bronchoscopy (If tumor at or above carina level)
What lymph node has shown to be associated with esophageal cancer?
Virchow’s node (left supraclavicular)
- If palpable on workup of cancer –> FNA
What is the Siewert classification?
Siewert should be assessed in ALL ADENOCARCINOMA PATIENTS involving GEJ.
How does Siewert Classification Type affect treatment?
- Type 1 & 2 are treated as esophageal carcinoma
- Type 3 is treated as gastric carcinoma
What is the T staging for esophageal carcinoma?
T1a - Invades the lamina propria or muscularis mucosae
T1b - Invades the submucosa
T2 - Invades the muscularis propria
T3 - Invades the adventitia
T4a - Invades pleura, pericardium, azygous vein, diaphragm, or peritoneum
T4b - Invades aorta, vertebral body, airway
What is the N staging for esophageal carcinoma?
N1 - 1-2 nodes
N2 - 3-6 nodes
N3 - 7+ nodes
What would be considered unresectable esophageal cancer?
- T4b (invasion to aorta, great vessels, airway, vetebral body, liver, pancreas, spleen), OR
- N3, OR
- M1, OR
- EGJ cancer and virchow’s node positive, OR
- Locally recurrent
What treatment options are available for unresectable esophageal cancer?
Squamous cell carcinoma OR Adenocarcinoma
- Systemic therapy, AND/OR
- Palliative support
What treatment options are available for resectable esophageal cancer in non-surgical candidates?
T1(a or b) - Can try endoscopic resection +/- ablation
All others - Definitive chemorads OR palliative RT
What treatment options are available for resectable esophageal cancer in surgical candidates?
Safe answers
Tis or T1a - ER or Esophagectomy
T1b+ - Neo-adjuvent chemorads for non-cervical esophagus (definitive chemorads for cervical esophagus)
What is considered a low risk lesion in esophageal carcinoma?
- No lymphovascular invasion
- <3 cm in size
- Well differentiated
What is treatment plan after neo-adjuvent CRT in esophageal carcinoma?
Assess therapy with PET and EGD (6 weeks post tx)
- Esophagectomy for persistent local disease and no evidence of disease.
What is post esophagectomy tx in patients that underwent neoadjuvent? What about those who didn’t undergo neoadjuvent?
Neoadjuvent post esophagectmy tx:
- R0 ypT0N0 - observation
- R0 ypT+N+ - Nivolumab vs observation
- R1 - Observation vs re-resection
- R2 - Palliative management
Non-neoadjuvent post esophagectomy tx:
- Chemorads for R0 pT2+orN+, R1, R2 (can consider palliative management)
What is follow-up plan for esophageal carcinoma?
- Clinic q6month x2 years, followed by annually
- CT C/A annually x3 years
- EGD PRN