En-bloc esophagectomy--the three-field dissection.

The treatment of esophageal cancer remains controversial. Standard techniques of surgical resection are associated with a local recurrence rate of 30% to 60% and 5-year survival of 20% to 25%. The addition of induction therapy of any kind does not significantly alter these survival rates. This article examines the rationale,technique, and results of radical esophagectomy, including two-field and three-field lymph node dissection.