It is essential to know all of the intricate lymph pathways when performing surgery for esophageal cancer in order to determine the extent of lymph node metastasis. Professor Sato has undertaken, at the request of the TNM Research Committee of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus, to map out and classify the lymph nodes of the mediastinum and neck. The beautiful artwork in the Color Atlas of Surgical Anatomy for Esophageal Cancer edited by Professor Sato gives an excellent understanding of the lymph node pathways and their importance in surgical treatment. Minute dissections which represent real life situations, not just the superficial pathways, show the precise location and topographical arrangement of the lymphatics. Full-color schematics are given with the actual dissection illustrations and photographs. The atlas clearly presents the classification of four significant pathways and their communication, the relationship of these pathways en route to the venous angles and the definition and assessment of the most critical nodes. Thoracic surgeons especially will benefit from the excellent illustrations of surgical techniques and the methods for recording the dissected lymph nodes which are presented by Professor Kakegawa. Leading experts fighting esophageal cancer with surgical treatment can use the classification in this outstanding atlas for many years to come as a standard for international comparison. The careful dissection of the lymph nodes may be the best way to improve survival rates after surgery for cancer of the thoracic esophagus.

This book aims to comprehensibly describe the minimally invasive technique including robot assisted procedures of upper abdominal cancer, including aspects such as surgical anatomy, neoadjuvant therapy and minimally invasive surgical technique, and robot assisted procedures (5 alinea). Upper abdominal oncological surgery is increasingly approached by Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS). Due to the rising experience of young surgeons with MIS, the optimal imaging obtained during the procedure and the possibility of decreasing the postoperative complications has led to an increase of quality of life without compromising the completeness of resection. The book bases its approach on the information gathered by MIS observation and the step-by-step descriptions, by using illustrations and videos of surgical procedures for oncological resections of esophageal and gastric cancer, as well as for duodenum, pancreas, spleen and liver cancers. Furthermore, this book will serve as a teaching guide, providing a present-day introduction to the increasingly sophisticated performance of surgery required by general and specialized surgical practitioners. The reader will have access to a practical book with relevant information that guides adequate treatment.

This book provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of lymph node micrometastasis (LMM) and sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) in gastrointestinal cancers. Lymph node metastasis is a critically important prognostic factor in gastrointestinal tract cancers such as tumors of the esophagus, stomach, and colorectum. An understanding of the basic aspects of lymphatics and lymph nodes, including anatomy, histology, physiology, immunology, and molecular biology, is fundamental for physicians who are involved in cancer treatment. Furthermore, owing to the development of molecular and biological methodology, the precise recognition of LMM and its clinical significance have been clarified recently. At the same time, SNNS has actually been anticipated in treatment of breast tumors, and it is now being introduced in gastrointestinal tract cancer. For the application of SNNS, the detection of lymph node metastasis including LMM is extremely significant, because the presence of LMM determines the direction for surgery and chemo and/or radiation therapy. With these considerations in mind, the expert contributors to this book review basic and clinical approaches for LMM and SNNS including methodology for gastrointestinal cancers. Thus this volume benefits not only surgeons who treat gastrointestinal cancers but also clinical oncologists and medical scientists such as physiologists and pathologists.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

It is essential to know all of the intricate lymph pathways when performing surgery for esophageal cancer in order to determine the extent of lymph node metastasis. Professor Sato has undertaken, at the request of the TNM Research Committee of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus, to map out and classify the lymph nodes of the mediastinum and neck. The beautiful artwork in the Color Atlas of Surgical Anatomy for Esophageal Cancer edited by Professor Sato gives an excellent understanding of the lymph node pathways and their importance in surgical treatment. Minute dissections which represent real life situations, not just the superficial pathways, show the precise location and topographical arrangement of the lymphatics. Full-color schematics are given with the actual dissection illustrations and photographs. The atlas clearly presents the classification of four significant pathways and their communication, the relationship of these pathways en route to the venous angles and the definition and assessment of the most critical nodes. Thoracic surgeons especially will benefit from the excellent illustrations of surgical techniques and the methods for recording the dissected lymph nodes which are presented by Professor Kakegawa. Leading experts fighting esophageal cancer with surgical treatment can use the classification in this outstanding atlas for many years to come as a standard for international comparison. The careful dissection of the lymph nodes may be the best way to improve survival rates after surgery for cancer of the thoracic esophagus.

The Fifth World Congress of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus was held in the historic city of Kyoto, Japan, from August 5 through 8, 1992. Approximately 40 countries throughout the world participated and roughly 500 presentations were made. Excellent authors were selected and they were requested to send in their manuscripts for publication of this book. It is our ardent hope that this book will prove to be beneficial to the doctor interested in the esophagus and that it will provide the reader with first-hand information from leading scientists and clinicians in this field. The incidence of esophageal diseases vary greatly from country to country and in recent years, worldwide interest in these diseases has resulted in various international studies. The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus was inaugurated by Professor Komei Nakayama in 1979 and since that time it has actively contributed to the exchange of information regarding these diseases and has made endeavors in bringing about advancement in the struggle against diseases of the esophagus in every way possible.

The fourth edition of the TNM Classification was published in 1987,1 and a revision in 1992.2 It was the result of efforts by all national TNM Committees towards a worldwide uniform classification. The classifica tion criteria are identical with the fourth edition of the Manual for 3 Staging of Cancer of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Although the classification has found wide acceptance, some workers have pointed out that individual definitions and rules for staging are not sufficiently detailed. This can lead to inconsistent application of the clas sification. the antithesis of standardization. This source of differences in interpretation applies not only to the classification of individual organs but also to the general rules of the system, especially to the definitions of the requirements for the pathological classification (pT, pN). These are specified only for carcinoma of the breast; for other sites, reference must be made back to the general rules. which can lead to variable interpreta tions. The TNM Project Committee of the UICC has addressed this prob lem and collected and considered the criticisms and suggestions from the national TNM Committees as well as from cancer registries, oncolo gical associations and individual users. The result was the decision to complement the 4th edition of the TN M Classification 1.2. 3 with the publi cation of a TNM Supplement containing recommendations for the uni form use of TNM.

This text takes a multidisciplinary approach to the surgical management of gastronintestinal cancer. It begins with an introduction to cancer screening and detection of gastronintestinal cancer; recent advances in molecular biology and their potential applications in clinical management; hereditary factors; tumour markers; the role of nutrition in the outcome of cancer treatment; and an overview of endoscopic considerations, laparoscopic assessment and practical radiological issues. The work also presents approaches for the management of oesophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, bile duct and gallbladder, and lower gastrointestinal cancer.