An overview of the management of cancer of the esophagus.

The surgical treatment of esophageal cancer concerns a small percentage of patients with small Stage I or II tumors and a good performance status. Nonsurgical management with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy concerns a larger group of patients, and complete tumor responses have been observed at a significant rate. This applies to inoperable patients and to operable patients when there is a relative contraindication or when large malignant lymph nodes are detected at the preoperative stage. Endoscopic palliation in monotherapy should be restricted to the smallest possible number of patients.