Current status of surgical treatment of cancer of the esophagus

• Published in: Seminars in surgical oncology Vol. 5; no. 5; p. 359
• Main Authors: Desai, P B, Vyas, J J, Sharma, S, Deshpande, R K, Badwe, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1989
• Subjects: Combined Modality Therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - mortality; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophageal Neoplasms - therapy; Humans; Methods; Survival Rate
• ISSN: 8756-0437
• DOI: 10.1002/ssu.2980050514

Treatment modalities for cancer of the esophagus continue to encourage a healthy debate amongst surgeons, radiotherapists, and chemotherapists. This is because overall results by current treatment methods are generally unsatisfactory, though an all-round steady gain is now being reported by many authors. With increasing sophistication in radiotherapy techniques (external and intracavitary) and more effective combination chemotherapy, it is likely that surgical treatment of this cancer may be reexamined. There is little doubt, however, that despite the advent of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, surgery is still the most important treatment method in providing lasting relief of dysphagia and maximum survival. While increasingly low surgical mortality and a high cure rate are now being reported, the type and extent of surgery are still contentious issues. Alternatives ranging from a very radical excision (monobloc total esophagectomy with mediastinal dissection) to a blunt transhiatal esophagectomy are now being advocated. Radiotherapists and chemotherapists are now investigating the feasibility of a nonsurgical treatment for cancer of the esophagus.