title: Esophageal cancer: an update.
abstract: Esophageal cancer continues to be a lethal disease with the majority of patients presenting at an advanced stage. The incidence of adenocarcinoma is rising. Although Barrett's esophagus has been well characterized, specific pathways to the development of adenocarcinoma remain undefined. Current treatments for locoregional esophageal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these modalities. Optimal surgical treatment strategies include appropriate patient selection, accurate staging and risk assessment, selection of an appropriate surgical approach, and the use of multimodality treatment. This article provides an update on the myriad of options for managing esophageal cancer and outlines the surgical technique for minimally invasive esophagectomy used at our center.
authors.affiliation: Heart, Lung & Esopahgeal Surgery Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, C-800 PUH, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shahbaz Sarwar
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Luketich
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Landreneau
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbas
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000639:trends; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000639:trends*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000639:trends*; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology