title: Survival Rate of Esophageal Carcinoma in Iran - A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal cancer is often diagnosed in the last stages where the chance of patient's survival is very low. The aim of this systematic review was presentation of valid estimation of survival in patients with esophageal cancer in different regions of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WAS CARRIED OUT BASED ON THE RELIABLE DOMESTIC MEDICAL DATABASES INCLUDING: SID, Magiran, Irandoc and Iranmedex as well as reliable foreign databases like PubMed and Scopus using "Cancer", "Esophagus", "survival" "Neoplasms" and "Longevity" as keywords. Then all the reviewed articles and dissertations which met the entry criteria were analyzed. The data were analyzed by using meta-analysis method (random model) and by means of STATA software application version 11.1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 18 studies the total numbers of 2932 people were analyzed. The one year survival rate in Iran is estimated at 47 percent (95% CI: 34-61) and the five year survival rate is estimated at 12% (95% CI: 8-16). The two, three and four year survival rates were 31% (95% CI: 18-44), 22% (95% CI: 13-31) and 21% (95% CI: 4-38), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the findings one year survival rate for esophageal cancer in Iran is almost four times higher than its five year survival rate. Moreover the five year survival rate in Iran is less than many other countries.
authors.affiliation: The Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yarhusseini
authors.affiliation: The Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Loghman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
authors.affiliation: Prevention of Psychosocial Injuries, Research Centre, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delpisheh
authors.affiliation: The Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Veisani
authors.affiliation: The Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sayehmiri
authors.affiliation: Prevention of Psychosocial Injuries, Research Centre, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sayehmiri
keywords: Esophageal Neoplasm; Meta-analysis; Survival rate; Systematic review