title: Outcome following surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken to determine the outcomes of patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oesophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 61 patients (median age: 64 years) with invasive SCC of the oesophagus who underwent resection between 1987 and 2007 in Adelaide, South Australia. Thirty-two (52%) were female. Survival data were available for all patients. The log rank test was performed to identify prognostic factors for survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year overall survival rate was 33% (median: 24 months). Of 61 patients, 42 (69%) received neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery. The overall resection rate was 95%. Significant post-operative morbidity occurred in 47%, and the in-hospital mortality was 5% (30-day mortality: 3%). No overall survival benefit was seen in patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgical resection. However, patients who had a complete pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy had a better 5-year survival than patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy: 47% versus 30%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oesophagectomy following neoadjuvant therapy for SCC of the oesophagus can be performed with low perioperative mortality. A complete response to neoadjuvant therapy was followed by an improved survival outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: En Loon C
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Xing Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Devitt
authors.forename: Glyn G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends