My experience in the management of esophageal cancer.

Between 1946 and 1974 we carried out 1,174 resections of the esophagus for cancer in the upper and middle thoracic segment. Through early diagnosis and the combination of preoperative irradiation therapy and antethoracic anastomosis, divided into three stages when necessary, the operative mortality was decreased (6.0%), and the survival rate was increased. The five-year survival rate was 10.8% for men and 29.3% for women.