Does esophagectomy cure a resectable esophageal cancer?

During the years 1978-1990, 401 patients with esophageal cancer were evaluated for curative resection. A retrospective study was undertaken to estimate the efficacy of surgery and select criteria for long-term survival. After investigation, 187 patients (47%) underwent surgery. To evaluate the long-term results, 101 curative esophageal resections classified into stage I (11 patients), II (24 patients), and III, pathological TNM (66 patients), with at least 2 years' follow-up, were considered. Esophagogastrectomy was performed in 91% of the cases and gastric transposition was achieved in 96% of the patients. The anastomoses were intrathoracic (98%) and at the apex of the right thorax for tumors of the middle third of the esophagus. Staplers were used in 76% of sutures. Postoperative hospital mortality was 5.9%. Specific morbidity included strictures 11%, esophagitis 12%, and anastomotic leak 2%. Actuarial 5-year survival was 90.9% in stage I, 52.3% in stage II, and 17.7% in stage III. The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.2%, 64.8% for the N0 patients, and decreased to 17.7% when node involvement was observed. Five- to 8-year survival is also considered. It is concluded from this study that esophagectomy is actually the appropriate treatment in patients with nonmetastatic resectable carcinoma with an overall 34.2% 5-year survival. The operation can be performed with a low morbidity and mortality rate if done in experienced centers.