[Surgical and combined treatment of esophageal cancer].

The authors analyse 37-year experience in the treatment of patients with esophageal carcinoma by various methods at the All-Union Cancer Research Center. The immediate and long-term results of radiotherapy and surgical and combined treatment of 1,850 patients are shown. Bearing in mind the considerable extension of the neoplastic process by the time of the operation, the authors substantiate the expediency of one-stage operations with the formation of intrapleural esophagogastric anastomoses. The mortality in the recent years after 218 Lewis' operations and 36 Herlock's operations was 9.0%. After analysing experience in combined treatment, the authors failed to reveal any particular advantages over solely surgical treatment, but in view of the lack of other alternatives for improving the results of management of esophageal carcinoma to-date, they believe it expedient to continue study and improve various combinations of preoperative radio-(chemoradio)therapy and operation in large research centres.