This is easily the most focused and comprehensive book available dedicated to the esophagus and its conditions, fully exploring anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment. Edited by two former presidents of the ACG and ASG, the world's two largest gastroenterology societies, the text offers approved treatment guidelines from these organizations. This new edition updates all chapters with the latest developments, highlighting advances in diagnostic techniques, and both surgical and drug treatment therapies for esophageal conditions. The new edition also features an electronic component, with searchable text and all figures available in slide format.

While a surgeon many decades agotreated diseases from headtotoe, this concept has evolved, and today some degree of specialization is the rule worldwide. In many countries various boards for sub-specializations are designed, and after a broad training in general surgery, many young surgeons move on further into a specific field. Knowledge of anatomy and precise surgical technique remain the foundation of high quality surgery. A knowledgeable surgeon, equipped with excellent theore- cal and clinical skills, will only be accomplished when he or she masters the - erative techniques of the practice of surgery. The legacy of an academic surgeon or a surgical teacher relies in great part onthe transmission of his or her surgical abilities. Significant influence on the development in esophageal surgery arises from the surgical understanding of the anatomical and functional structures of the esophagus as well as the ongoing developments in the multidisciplinary m- agement in this challenging field of surgery. In bringing forth this atlas, we were motivated by the desire to create a comp- hensive and educational atlas on esophageal diseases, emphasizing all details of pathophysiologies, diagnostic strategies, pre- and postoperative management, and operative techniques covering minimally invasive and open procedures ranging fromstraightforward tomore complex procedures.

The third triennial congress of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (lSDE) was held in Munich in September 1986 under the presidency of J. Rudiger Siewert. The very well organized and epoch-making meeting was part of the International Esophageal Week and was held in conjunction with the International Conference of Esophageal Diseases, the European Study Group of Diseases of the Esophagus (GEEMO), and International Organization for Statistical Studies of Esophageal Diseases (OESO). I am very pleased that it has been possible to publish the proceedings of the congress so rapidly. The problems associated with diseases of the esophagus are multifaceted, varying considerably according to locality; their study thus neces sitates a large international forum, which is one of the founding aims of the ISDE. We hope that this volume, by virtue of the in-depth and up-dated reports it contains, can playa role in advancing the work being done in this field. Finally I should like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Professor Siewert and Dr. Holscher for their contribution toward the success of the congress. Kiyoshi Inokuchi, M.D., F.A.C.S. President of the ISDE Preface The scientific knowledge about esophageal diseases and their treatment has rapidly developed and increased within the last 10 years. The present book reproduces for 1987 the topical state of the art about pathology, pathophysiology, diagnostic, and therapy of benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus.

This book is the first of a planned series of texts on pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. The authors have long thought that texts on pathology ofthe gastrointestinal tract tend to cover the clinical aspects, pathophysiology, and radiology in a rather sketchy fashion. The pa thologist is often left with an incomplete understanding of the problem at hand. Indeed, even the pathologic aspects of diseases of the esophagus are given relatively short shrift in textbooks on gastrointestinal pa thology. In an effort to rectify this situation, the authors have culled infor mation from a wide variety of sources to describe in greater depth than usual, the clinical pl"esentation, diagnosis, and pathophysiology, and the morphologic aspects of esophageal disease. While the book is pri marily geared for pathologists, it is expected that this volume will also be an aid to internists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, and other clinicians who wish to gain a better understanding of the path ologic processes involved in the many clinical conditions in which esoph ageal dysfunction is a factor. Pathologists are being challenged by new diagnostic puzzles in the esophageal area; it is hoped that this text will assist them in meeting these challenges. The esophagus tends to be neglected in autopsy examinations despite its important contribution to human illness. Much remains to be learned.

The book deals with the esophagus and with the histological and genetic changes accompanying the development of esophageal cancer in humans and animals.

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.

All aspects of radiology of the pharynx and esophagus are coverd in detail. The text covers anatomy, physiology, examination techniques, and describes all relevant disease entities. However, it also considers endoscopic and manometric aspects of interest to the radiologist. Moreover, it has a broad clinical approach, encompassing not only analysis of symptoms but also topics such as the social and mental burden of dysphagia. Interventions in the esophagus from the radiologist's and the endoscopist's points of view are also addressed. The authors are all renowned experts in their field. Although it is assumed that most readers will be radiologists, much information will be of interest to other specialists involved in the evaluation and treatment of dysphagia, including ENT surgeons, thoracic surgeons, thoracic surgeons, speech and language pathologists, phoniatricians, gastroenterologists, and neurologists.

Esophageal diseases are amongst the most common gastrointestinal illnesses encountered by both the gastroenterologist as well as the primary care physician. Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms affect 20% of adult Americans on a weekly or more frequent basis, and Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous lesion of the distal esophagus associated with chronic GERD, is prevalent in 2-6% of the adult population. Additionally, there have been remarkable advances in the care of esophageal diseases in the last several years, with the development of new imaging modalities, new physiological tests, and promising data emerging with respect to biomarkers for esophageal neoplasia. A relatively new clinical entity, eosinophilic esophagitis, is being characterized in the literature, and the ubiquity of this condition is now recognized. Given the dynamic nature of this area, the strides being made in esophageal diseases, and the importance of these diseases to clinicians practicing both subspecialty and general medicine, a volume dedicated to esophageal diseases is timely and necessary. The goals of this work are to familiarize clinicians with advances in care of patients with esophageal disorders, and to update them on new trends in epidemiology and outcomes of these diseases.