[Early cancer of the esophagus]

The authors report four cases with the postoperative diagnosis of the early cancer of the esophagus. The histological type of the tumor was squamous cell carcinoma in three cases and adenocarcinoma in the remaining one. The tumors were localized in the lower part of the esophagus. Left sided thoraco-laparotomy was carried out in two cases. They used a right sided thoracotomy with abdominal and neck incisions. Trans-mediastinal esophagectomy was performed in the remaining one case. The continuity of the gastrointestinal tract was restored by substernal colon interposition in a case, by substernal stomach in another one and by oesophago-jejunostomy in the remaining two cases. New diagnostic possibilities and the international results of the treatment of the early esophageal cancer are discussed.