[Surgical therapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus--expanded radical intervention].

The analysis of our own patients shows that the so-called en-bloc-esophagectomy does not bear more risks compared to standard esophagectomy or transmediastinal esophagectomy. Lethality and complications are within comparable ranges (n = 147; lethality: I 6.6%, II 7.7%). In 83 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus the analysis of survival time shows a 4-year survival time in 54% for the T 1/2-category. At the same time the prognosis is equal for both N0- and N1-metastasis. This can be seen as a success of the en-bloc resection. The prognosis of the T 3/4-tumor category is much worse.