[Current principles and methods of radical therapy for locally extensive esophageal and gastroesophageal cancer].

The results of radical surgical and combined treatment of 124 cases of esophageal and cardioesphageal tumors are presented. Extensive local disease (stage III, T2-4N0-2M0) was diagnosed in 113 patients (91.1%). Esophagoectomy with transmediastinal esophagogastroplasty and cervical esophagostomy proved most useful for esophageal tumor, while extensive surgery after Lewis in combination with extirpation or proximal resection of the stomach--for proximal gastric disease involving the esophagus. Combined surgery with resection of adjacent organs was carried out in 50%. Post-operative mortality rates were reduced to 7.1% due to application of effective surgical, anesthetic and intensive care procedures. The 3-year survival rate was 26.5%. Prognosis improved significantly when radiation was used prior to dissection of lymph nodes.