A less invasive treatment for localized, early-stage esophageal cancer known as the endoscopic resection has been growing in popularity over the last 5 years or so. While there was no hard evidence the resection was better than the more traditional surgical resection, doctors and patients were choosing it more often.
Well a new study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by Northwestern Medicine® researchers, found that the more traditional surgical resection, while more invasive, provided significantly better outcomes. Those patients who chose the surgical resection, which requires a section of the esophagus to be removed, had more than an 87% five-year survival rate. Those who chose the endoscopic resection had 76% five-year survival rate.
The study sheds new light on the issue and suggests the less invasive endoscopic resection may not always be the best choice for patients. The outcomes of more than 5,000 patients from 824 hospitals were reviewed for the study using the National Cancer Data Base, a program of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society.
This study shows how important it is to get a second opinion when a patient is diagnosed with a serious medical condition. At USARAD.com, we believe the proper diagnosis should be accompanied by an expert second opinion.
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