Carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. A ten year experience with esophagogastrectomy.

Eighty-six patients with carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction were treated between 1966 and 1976. Adenocarcinoma was present in 62 patients and squamous cell carcinoma in 24. Surgical exploration was performed on 68 patients (79%) and 52 lesions (60%) were resected by combined midline laparotomy and right thoracotomy. There were 6 deaths (11%), 2 due to anastomotic leak. The mean survival for all resected patients was 2.1 years with a 22% three year life table survival (10/52). Five of 14 patients with negative nodes are alive more than five years. Palliative resection in 17 patients resulted in a mean survival of 10.5 months and no five year survivals. Esophagogastrectomy utilizing the Lewis technic reduces operative mortality and extends survival for patients with carcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction.