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About

Stella Mook is a surgical oncology researcher whose work has significantly advanced the field of esophageal cancer treatment, with a particular focus on robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Her research centers on comparing innovative surgical techniques — specifically robot-assisted minimally invasive thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy (RAMIE) — against traditional open transthoracic approaches, evaluating outcomes related to perioperative complications, oncological efficacy, and patient recovery. Mook's most influential contribution, a 2018 randomized controlled trial examining RAMIE versus open esophagectomy, has accumulated over 640 citations, establishing it as a landmark study in the field and helping shift clinical practice toward less invasive surgical approaches. Her research has also pushed boundaries by exploring RAMIE's applicability in technically challenging cases, including upper mediastinal tumors, locally advanced T4b cancers following definitive chemoradiotherapy, and patients with cervical lymph node metastases — populations historically deemed inoperable. Beyond surgical technique, Mook has contributed to understanding lymph node involvement in esophageal cancer, including a multinational study on thoracic duct lymph node metastases. With a combined citation count exceeding 840, her body of work reflects meaningful, practice-shaping contributions to surgical oncology and minimally invasive cancer care.