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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
A Population-Based Study Using Belgian Cancer Registry Data Supports Centralization of Esophageal Cancer Surgery in
Lien van Walle1, Geert Silversmit2, Lieven Depypere3,4
1Belgian Cancer Registry, Koningsstraat, Brussels, Belgium. lien.vanwalle@kankerregister.org.
Background:
Esophageal cancer surgery outcomes benefit from higher hospital volumes. Despite the evidence, organization of national health care often is complex and depends on various factors. The volume-outcome results of this population-based study supported national health policy measures regarding concentration of esophageal resections in Belgium.
Methods:
The Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) database was linked to administrative data on cancer treatment. All Belgian patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer in 2008-2018 undergoing resection were allocated to the hospital at which surgery was performed. The study assessed hospital volume association with 90-day mortality and 5-year overall survival, classifying average annual hospital volume of resections as low (LV, <6), medium (MV, 6-19), or high (HV, ≥20) and as a continuous covariate in the regression models.
Results:
The study included 4156 patients who had surgery in 79 hospitals (2 HV hospitals [37% of all surgeries], 12 MV hospitals [30% of all surgeries], and 65 LV hospitals [33% of all surgeries]). Adjusted 90-day mortality in HV hospitals was lower than in LV hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.65; p = 0.001). Case-mix adjusted 5-year survival was superior in HV versus LV (hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; 95% CI, 0.31-0.60; p < 0.001). The continuous model demonstrated a lower 90-day mortality (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.71; p = 0.002) and a superior 5-year survival (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33-0.63; p < 0.001) in hospitals with volumes of 40 or more resections annually.
Conclusion:
Population-based data from the BCR confirmed a strong volume-outcome association for esophageal resections. Improved 5-year survival in centers with annual volumes of 20 or more resections was driven mainly by the achievement of superior 90-day mortality. These findings supported centralization of esophageal resections in Belgium.
