Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia

Abstract

Experience in the management of a personal series of 837 cases of carcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia is described. It is evident from this that the subject is not a static one. Improvement is occurring and there are good reasons to expect this to continue. The aspects affected by this improvement include morbidity, mortality, the well-being of patients, and the long-term survival. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, treatment is only palliative, but palliation is good and it relieves the patient of his main symptom–dysphagia. In view of the great benefits which good palliation provides, no treatment can be considered as satisfactory unless the relief of symptoms is of a high standard. It is maintained that too much emphasis has hitherto been placed on long-term survival, which is only possible in the minority of cases. Bearing all factors in mind a strong case can be made for the overall surgical plan in the management of growths affecting the middle and lower parts of the oesophagus.