Is Centralization Needed for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer Patients With Low Operative Risk?: A Nationwide Study

All patients undergoing surgical therapy for esophageal or gastric cancer in France 2010-2012 were evaluated for postoperative mortality stratified by comorbidity score and assessed by medical center volume (low, medium, high, very high).  Most operations were performed in low volume centers.  Mortality decreased linearly with increasing center volume.  The linear decrease was present regardless of comorbidity score.  Comparing low to very high volume centers, a 70% reduction in relative risk was present.