Esophageal carcinoma: an aggressive approach.
During a 3-year period, 45 patients with esophageal carcinoma (18 of the lower and 27 of the middle third) underwent esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy. All patients were considered to be in Stage I and Stage II preoperatively, but at the time of operation, 66% were found to have Stage III disease. All patients underwent mobilization of the stomach through a laparotomy, and resection of the esophagus and reconstruction of the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract through a separate right lateral thoracotomy incision. Following operation, 22 patients (10, Stage I and II and 12, Stage III) received no radiotherapy and 23 patients (5, Stage I and II and 18, Stage III) received radiotherapy. Two patients died in the immediate postoperative period, for a surgical mortality of 4.8%. Because of the acceptable survival and enhancement of quality of life, esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy should be offered not only to Stage I and II patients with esophageal carcinoma but also to selected patients with Stage III disease and those with lower and middle third esophageal lesions.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors