title: Quality of life of esophagectomized patients: adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing esophagectomy for treatment of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in postoperative patients submitted to esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (ACA) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), using the SF-36 questionnaire applied in 24 patients (10 ACAs and 14 SCCs), from the 5th months postoperatively, including clinical symptoms and weight change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The assessment of QOL showed the best functional capacity (p = 0.018) in the ACA group. There was a correlation between the fields "mental health" and "Role of Emotions" (p = 0.003) and between "pain" and "physical aspects limitation" (p = 0.003) in both histological types. Weight loss was greater in ACA (45.9 kg), with no significant difference between current BMI (p> 0.66). Dysphagia was reported by 83.3% of patients, anorexia by 58.3%, chewing difficulty by 42%, nausea and vomiting by 41.7% and diarrhea by 29.2%, with no correlation with QOL reported (p> 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highest score for functional capacity indicates that ACA patients were able to perform all types of physical activity, including the more demanding, at a higher level than patients with SCC. Some symptoms persisted postoperatively, but did not affect the quality of life of patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo State - SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maricilda Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Luiz Roberto
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Nelson Adami
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Andreollo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life