PET imaging may differentiate responding and nonresponding tumors early in the course of therapy. By avoiding ineffective and potentially harmful treatment, this may markedly facilitate the use of preoperative therapy, especially in patients with potentially resectable tumors.

This study prospectively demonstrates that in patients with gastric cancer, response to preoperative chemotherapy can be predicted by FDG-PET early during the course of therapy. By avoiding the morbidity and costs of ineffective therapy, FDG-PET imaging may markedly facilitate the use of preoperative chemotherapy.

No abstract

Stent implantation in patients with thoracic anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy is an easily available and effective treatment option with low morbidity, but stent migration does occur.