Surgical Approaches to Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is a highly lethal malignancy. Esophageal resection remains the primary treatment in most centers. A number of approaches to esophageal resection have been described. METHODS: The authors review the current approaches to esophageal resection and adjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer. RESULTS: Transthoracic, transhiatal, and minimally invasive techniques are currently employed in esophageal surgery for malignancy. A number of authors favor extended mediastinal and cervical lymphadenectomy in hopes of improving survival. Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting appears to offer some promise. CONCLUSIONS: No consensus of opinion exists regarding the optimal approach or extent of esophageal resection for cancer. Prospective, randomized trials of neoadjuvant therapy may determine its efficacy. Newer approaches may enhance quality of life.