[Surgical therapy and prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus].

Squamous epithelium carcinoma of the esophagus occurs seldom in the Federal Republic of Germany and is not usually discovered until it is in an advanced stage. Surgical therapy is full of complications due to the high rate of accompanying illnesses. In the last few years the results could be considerably improved by the use of the stomach as a substitute organ. In spite of this, the five-year survival rate of 5-12% is extremely unfavourable.