Oesophagoscopy for the diagnosis of superficial oesophageal cancer.

The endoscopic findings and the surgical results of 131 resected cases of superficial oesophageal cancer are described. Of these 131 cases 24 (18%) had mucosal cancer. Twenty-one (88%) of 24 cases of mucosal cancer of the oesophagus had neither nodal involvement nor vascular invasion, and therefore excellent long-term results can be anticipated. In order to obtain good results in the treatment of mucosal cancer of the oesophagus, the role of oesophagoscopy is extremely important in the early diagnosis of this cancer.