title: [Esophageal carcinoma - from the viewpoint of surgery].
abstract: Therapeutic performance of the esophageal cancer has improved rapidly. Now in the decision of therapeutic strategy not only life prognosis but also treatments-related morbidity and late term quality of life should be considered. The most important factor of the improvement of esophageal cancer treatment is a progress in early detection of esophageal cancers and active use of treatment methods such as endoscopic mucosal resection. In addition,the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy has improved as an arm of multidisciplinary therapy,and the establishment of chemoradiotherapy as one of the standard therapy for esophageal cancer is also very important. This shows that surgical and non-surgical approach has been getting more interactive and the relationship to one another should always be considered. Surgical therapy is very effective in patients with localized esophageal tumor and the patient's satisfaction is high. However, many problems are remained, and the improvement of diagnosis for metastasis and lessening surgical invasiveness and early/late complications are expected. Moreover,the chemoradiotherapy as an esophagus preserving method will establish more important standpoint and the salvage surgery will be applied more actively. On the other hand, a new strategy such as chemoradiotherapy immediate after esophagectomy for the patients with possible residual tumor for improving therapeutic results may be considered under the status of reliable surgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Tomoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haruki
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogiya
authors.forename: Kenro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Mikito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishikage
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Kagami
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate