[Siewert-Stein classification of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction].

Abstract Nowadays the terminology used for the definition of adenocarcinomas at the oesophagogastric junction is "cardiac carcinoma", which can be easily misunderstood. This definition of adenocarcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction does not allow correct comparison of diagnosis (endoscopic, radiological and pathologic), epidemiology and surgical therapy in national and international aspects, because different tumours can develope in the same area, and all called cardia tumors. Siewert and Stein recommended a classification to solve this problem. The classification of the tumours is morphological/topographical. Type I is adenocarcinoma of the distal part of the oesophagus. Type II is adenocarcinoma of the real cardia and type III is subcardial gastric adenocarcinoma. At classification, we always consider results of endoscopy (ortograde and retroflexed view of the oesophago-gastric junction), the x-rays of the oesophagus and stomach, findings at the operation and pathohistologic results. Between 1/1/1974 and 31/12/2000, a total number of 50,878 upper panendoscopic examinations were performed at the Endoscopic Laboratory of the Surgical Department. Adenocarcinoma of the cardia was diagnosed in 488 patients. According to the Siewert-Stein classification, type I tumour was found in 123 (25.2%), type II in 240 (49.18%), and type III was present in 125 (25.61%) patients. The importance of this classification is it enables unified pre-operative assessment and it can also help to decide the type of the surgical intervention. In our patients with type I cancer--depending of the size of the tumour--distal 2/3 oesophagectomy with the resection of the proximal lesser curve of the stomach or total gastrectomy were performed. In the first group oesophago-jejuno-gastrostomy, in case of total gastrectomy Roux-en-Y loop anastomosis was created. In patients with types II and III cancers total gastrectomy was performed. In every patient lymphadenectomy was performed. We suggest the use of this new classification in clinical, gastroenterology--with special regard to the endoscopy--and pathology.