Adam C Berger

..This report analyzes 5-year survival by serum level of tumor marker CA 19-9 of ≤90 vs >90 U/mL and compares results to the those of the CONKO-001 trial...

..5 days). Esophagectomy can be performed safely with low mortality and acceptable morbidity following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation with no increase in hospital stay for patients with complications...

..CA 19-9 is an important tumor marker in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A secondary end point of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial 9704 was prospective evaluation of the ability of postresectional CA 19-9 to predict survival...

..Minimally invasive approaches are being increasingly used. We compare our growing series of minimally invasive (combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic) esophagectomies (MIEs) with a series of open transthoracic esophagectomies...

..We tested the hypothesis that a duct to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy would reduce the PF rate...

..The incidence of melanoma is dramatically increasing worldwide. We hypothesized that the ratio of metastatic to examined lymph node ratio (LNR) would be the most important prognostic factor for stage III patients...

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..Decisions regarding adjuvant therapy are influenced by factors such as nodal status, stage, and grade, but the influence of these individual variables on survival is unclear...

..0001 and P <.0002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Response to CRT and the ability to perform an R0 resection are associated with significantly improved survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma...

..After curative PD for pancreatic cancer, the ratio of metastatic to examined lymph nodes is an important prognostic factor and should be evaluated in stratification schemes for future clinical trials investigating adjuvant treatments...

..Locoregional recurrence (LRR) is an important factor after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic cancer. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) administered to the resection bed may improve local tumor control...

..This study was designed to identify quantifiable parameters to track performance improvements brought about by the implementation of a critical pathway for complex alimentary tract surgery...

..Obesity has been implicated as a risk factor for perioperative and postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)...

..The incidence of carcinoma of the distal esophagus and GE junction is rapidly increasing. A large single-center experience was reviewed to determine the impact of lymph node positivity and ratio on survival...

..Numerous studies have evaluated factors to predict patients at risk. The aim of this study was to determine whether the surgical Apgar score (SAS) predicts perioperative morbidity and mortality...

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..Pancreatic fistula (PF) is a major source of morbidity following distal pancreatectomy (DP). Our aim was to identify risk factors related to PF following DP and to determine the impact of technique of transection and stump closure...

..Serum levels of CA19-9 have been shown to correlate with both recurrence and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, little is known about the prognosis for patients with undetectable levels of serum CA19-9...

..Preoperative CRT and BD significantly reduce these levels in patients with periampullary cancers. Antiangiogenic therapy aimed at interrupting the VEGF pathway appears to be a logical target in periampullary cancer...

..CONCLUSION: After curative resection for colorectal cancer, the LNR is an important prognostic factor and should be used in stratification schemes for future clinical trials investigating adjuvant treatments...

..This study was designed to track performance improvements brought about by the implementation of a critical pathway for complex alimentary tract surgery...

..The goal of this study was to determine if DM affects response to neoadjuvant CRT in the management of gastroesophageal carcinoma...

..Malignant melanoma commonly metastasizes to the small intestine where it can cause pain, bleeding, and obstruction. However, jaundice from metastatic melanoma is relatively uncommon...

..We set out to determine the impact of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and albumin on POD 1 for patients undergoing PD...

..These data support the notion that metastatic MM cells select for expression of IDO to evade immunologic detection. Therefore, inhibition of IDO in MM patients may be a useful treatment strategy...

..We reviewed our large institutional experience to evaluate the impact of postoperative complications on the long-term survival of patients undergoing resection for curative intent...

..Exploration revealed jejunojejunal intussusception and resection provided excellent palliation...

..We review the published literature for gallbladder melanoma, both primary and metastatic to determine the role of surgery in this disease...

..Together, these studies mechanistically show a previously unrecognized interplay between ERK1/2, TWIST1, and MMP-1 that is likely significant in the progression of melanoma toward metastasis...

..The purpose of this study is to review our experience with laparoscopic resection, report our short-term outcomes, and offer our perspective on the technical nuances involved in handling these neoplasms...

..Even when accurately diagnosed, there has been a lack of consensus on the optimal treatment strategy. After presenting our experience with a patient treated via laparoscopy, we aimed to conduct a review of the literature on HHCs...

..Antiangiogenic agents may be most effective if administered before development of accelerated vessel growth...

..Primary pancreatic GI stromal tumors are very rare, with only 4 previous cases reported...

..The old table currently stands proudly in the entranceway of the Department of Surgery where it will remain as a cherished symbol of the early beginnings of surgical practice and education...

..Additionally 20 patients had incidental findings that required further workup. In this subset of patients, we feel there is a benefit to PET/CT, and further studies should be performed to validate our findings...

..These findings establish S. cerevisiae as a model system that can be exploited to analyze the molecular consequences of patient mutations in NPC1 and provide the basis for future genetic studies using yeast...