[Prognostically unfavorable factors in esophagus cancer. II. Value of diagnostic significance]

The analysis of data of 121 patients with esophageal carcinoma treated at the Department of Surgery, Landeskrankenhaus Klagenfurt, between 1969 and 1982 revealed that neither histological type nor tumor grading had any significant influence on survival time (p = greater than 0,158). However, tumor localization and length influenced the chance of survival; the more proximal the tumor the poorer the chance to survive more than one year (p = 0,0008); patients with tumors less than 6 cm in length had a better chance of survival (p = 0,031). Cures were achieved only after resection for stage I. Resections for stage II and III did not show any difference in prognosis (p = 0,879). Although no cures could be achieved by surgery, the 1-year survival chance was increased threefold (p = 0,041). In the absence of contraindications, resection should be carried out even when mediastinal lymphnodes are involved by tumor.