[The clinical relevance of epidemiology in the surgical treatment of esophageal carcinoma].

The paper reports the epidemiology and causal factors of esophageal carcinoma, and compares the authors' personal experience with already published data. The clinical importance of epidemiology is stressed as a means of identifying risk factors for esophageal carcinoma, thus aiding an early diagnosis. The authors underline the central role of surgery in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma.