Nutritional management during neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer.

Patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer are at a high risk for malnutrition due to the effects of chemoradiation, dysphagia, and malignancy induced cachexia. Preparation for esophagectomy requires careful assessment of nutritional risk and adequate supplementation as indicated. Supplementation via the enteral route is preferred to the parenteral route but requires feeding tube placement. Endoscopically placed silicone stents have also shown promise as a means to alleviate malnutrition and avoid invasive feeding tubes. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.