[Dispute and consensus about surgical approaches and lymph nodes excisional area of esophageal carcinoma]

Surgical approaches for esophageal carcinoma are many and varied. Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly used widely in esophagectomy as they not only ensure patients' therapeutic effects, but also reduce trauma and accelerate recovery. The lymph nodes excisional area of esophageal carcinoma is still in controversy. It is necessary to carry out further researches on selective lymph nodes excision, which can decrease complication rate and improve patients' survival in the meantime.