Annual review of medicine
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The basis of the current treatment of rectal cancer is a radical total mesorectal excision of the rectum, and although this provides excellent oncological control, it is associated with morbidity and functional problems in cancer survivors. Organ-preservation alternatives are local excision alone for very early tumors, chemoradiation followed by either local excision of a small tumor remnant or, when there is a complete clinical response, a nonoperative watch-and-wait approach. ⋯ Although the available studies suggest that with adequate selection and follow-up this risk is small, the evidence is still weak. Because of patients' high interest in preserving quality of life, clinicians should cautiously move ahead and offer the option of organ preservation to patients in a controlled setting while awaiting further evidence.
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Annual review of medicine · Jan 2017
ReviewEsophageal Adenocarcinoma: Screening, Surveillance, and Management.
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a growing problem with a rapidly rising incidence. Risk factors include gastroesophageal reflux disease, central obesity, and smoking. The prognosis of EAC remains poor because it is usually diagnosed late, and many efforts have been made to improve prevention, early detection, and treatment. ⋯ Endoscopic surveillance of patients with BE likely improves overall outcomes. Endoscopic ablation and resection is highly effective for treating dysplastic BE and early EAC, whereas esophagectomy is indicated for patients with locally advanced disease. This review covers epidemiology, staging, screening, and prevention of EAC as well as endoscopic and surgical management.
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Annual review of medicine · Jan 2017
ReviewTranscatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: State of the Art and Future Directions.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a transformational and rapidly evolving treatment for patients with aortic stenosis who require valve replacement. Novel technological advancements have made this percutaneous minimally invasive therapy a first-line treatment for many patients at extreme risk for conventional cardiac surgery. New devices and improvements in existing devices have reduced procedural complications, and scientific trials are investigating the role of TAVR in lower-risk aortic stenosis populations, in patients with aortic regurgitation, and in patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease. Finally, there is intense interest in identifying patients in whom the risk-benefit ratio of TAVR is not favorable and should not be performed.