title: Cause of death in carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: Carcinoma of the esophagus continues to carry a very poor prognosis. Previous studies have rarely reported the exact cause of death in these patients. Twenty-five autopsies were retrospectively reviewed in patients with the diagnosis of carcinoma of the esophagus, noting the cause of death. Two-thirds of all patients with unresected middle-third lesions ultimately died as a result of direct extension of the tumor into the aorta or tracheobronchial tree. Other findings included a high incidence of second neoplasms (12%) and the lack of an antemortem diagnosis of esophageal cancer in three of four females in the series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cilley
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Strodel
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies