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<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Glomus tumor (GT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that can be found anywhere throughout the body, including the stomach. Our goal was to present a case and a systematic review of the literature, reporting clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological features of the disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We reviewed Pubmed and SCOPUS for all case reports and case series published after 2000. Papers written in languages different from English and letters to the editor were excluded. Screening and data extraction were performed following the PRISMA guidelines. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 89 studies were included in the systematic review, consisting of 187 cases of gastric glomus tumor. Mean age was 52 (18–90); most patients were female (61%). The most common clinical presentation was epigastric pain (33.9% of cases). The gastric antrum was the most frequently involved site (75.3%). Mean tumor size was 2.82 cm (0.8–17). Preoperative diagnosis was achieved in 22 cases, mostly by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy. Wedge resection was performed in 62% of treated patients. Smooth muscle actin was expressed in all cases with available immunohistochemistry. Malignant GT was reported in 11 cases. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> Epigastric pain and bleeding were the most common symptoms at presentation in patients with diagnosis of glomus tumor. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration can be useful for preoperative diagnosis. Endoscopic elastosonography is a promising tool for the differential diagnosis of gastric submucosal lesions, including glomus tumors. The treatment of choice is wedge resection with adequate free margins. A laparoscopic approach is warranted when technically feasible. Since malignant gastric GTs have been described, long-term follow-up is suggested after surgical excision.

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Multimodal treatments are the gold standard for advanced resectable gastroesophageal cancer. The exclusive neoadjuvant, chemoradiation-based CROSS regimen and the perioperative chemotherapy-based FLOT regimen are commonly adopted for adenocarcinoma of distal esophagus and esophago-gastric junction (EGJ). At present, there is no clear evidence of the superiority of either of these two approaches on survival. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed on a cohort of consecutive patients who underwent neoadjuvant CROSS or FLOT regimen and subsequently confirmed to curative-intent surgery for adenocarcinoma of distal oesophagus and EGJ between August 2017 and October 2021. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was performed in order to balance baseline characteristics of patients undergoing CROSS and FLOT neoadjuvant regimen. The primary endpoint was Overall Survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included Disease-Free Survival (DFS), 90-day morbidity rate, margin status, incidence and pattern of recurrence. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the specific neoadjuvant regimen adopted. Of the 111 patients included, 84 were correctly matched after PSM, 42 in each group. CROSS and FLOT patients showed similar 1-year OS rate (85.3% and 85.4% respectively, p = 0.189) and 1-year DFS rate (73.3% and 81.3% respectively, p = 0.267). When compared to FLOT patients, CROSS patients reported lower but not significant rates of post-operative severe complications (4.8% vs 11.9%, p = 0.433) and negative margins of resection (95.2% vs 97.6%, p = 1.000). In the CROSS group, 89% of recurrences occurred outside the radiation field. In FLOT group, 69% of patients completed all the 8 expected perioperative cycles. FLOT and CROSS offer similar OS and DFS, together with comparable 90-day morbidity/mortality rates and pathological findings. Both regimens are affected by specific limitations that have to be kept in mind during treatment assessment. The results of ongoing Randomized Controlled Trials are urgently awaited.

Aim Laparoscopic transhiatal omental patch repair(OPR) of esophageal perforation after pneumatic balloon dilatation(PBD) for achalasia. Background&Methods In August 2018 a 72yrs woman with a history of dysphagia for solids and liquids, nocturnal regurgitation and chest pain had a diagnosis of achalasia. After inhalation during a barium swallow the patient developed fever, respiratory insufficiency and worsening of vital signs leading to ICU and intubation. She developed a right-pleural empyema, massive pneumothorax and right-upper lobe abscess, requiring thoracotomy and right-superior lobectomy. She had been scheduled for a Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy in November. After the submucosal tunnel, the procedure had been suspended due to presence of fibrosis. In December the patient underwent a first PBD up to 30mm with symptoms resolution and 2kg weight regain. In February, few hours after a second PBD up to 35mm, she complained mild pain at the left hemithorax and fever. 24hrs later a CTscan with water-soluble-contrast revealed a 3cm long esophageal perforation 5cm above the diaphragm and left paraesophageal mediastinal abscess without pleural involvement. Endoscopic treatment was excluded for significant dilatation of the esophagus and the fragile esophageal wall. Because of the frailty status of the patient, the delayed diagnosis, the high risk of a direct suture of the esophageal wall through a left thoracotomy, the even higher risk of an emergency esophagectomy, we performed a laparoscopic approach. Limited dissection of the esophagogastric-junction and of the left diaphragmatic crura allowed access to the abscess cavity, no attempt to direct suture was done, a drain was placed, a pedicled omental flap was realized filling the cavity and repairing the esophageal defect. A jejunostomy was placed. Results The post-op period was uneventful; a CTscan with per-os contrast on POD3 and POD9 didn’t show any collection. The patient started an oral semisolid-diet on POD11. An EGDS on POD19 confirmed the presence of the OPR in the esophageal lumen and after 2-months showed a completely re-epithelialized esophagus. Conclusions Laparoscopic trans hiatal OPR of esophageal perforation in achalasia proved to be a minimally invasive and effective procedure in this patient due to its immunogenic and angiogenetic properties.