Salvage esophagectomy in the management of recurrent or persistent esophageal carcinoma.

Salvage esophagectomy is a viable treatment option in the management of recurrent or persistent esophageal cancer and can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality in a select group of patients. Patient selection should include a complete restaging evaluation, cardiopulmonary testing, and an assessment of functional status. A majority of patients with persistent or recurrent esophageal cancer are not candidates for salvage resection. Carefully selected patients undergoing a salvage resection can have outcomes similar to those undergoing a planned esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy.