Autopsy findings in 111 cases of esophageal cancer.

Autopsy findings for 111 cases of esophageal cancer are presented. Residual tumor in the esophagus was present in 75% of the cases. Lymph node metastases were found in 74.5% and visceral metastases in 50% of the cases. Autopsy revealed a second primary tumor in 21% of the cases; 12% of these were oropharyngeal-laryngeal (OPL) carcinomas, and 9% were visceral carcinomas or malignant lymphomas. Nonmalignant disease found in association with esophageal cancer was dominated by conditions related to chronic alcoholism. Autopsy findings thus revealed that the patients bore not only esophageal lesions, but also patterns of other associated malignant and nonmalignant diseases which would seem to correspond to a complex pathologic state occurring in association with chronic alcoholism. The time between onset of symptoms and autopsy averaged 10.6 months and between first consultation and autopsy, 6.3 months. The brevity of survival from onset of symptoms would seem to confirm that by the time esophageal cancer manifests clinically, it is already at a stage of development beyond the scope of treatment.