The management of mid & proximal oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Despite the rise in incidence of adenocarcinoma, squamous cell cancer of the oesophagus remains the commonest cell type worldwide and is predominant in the East. Except for very early tumours where endoscopic therapy can be performed with curative intent, in more advanced but potentially curative cancers, treatment for mid and upper third tumours is primarily surgery with extended lymphadenectomy, together with multimodal therapies such as preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Definitive chemoradiotherapy is utilized in those who decline surgery or in those who are unfit for major procedures. For cervical oesophageal cancer, the anatomical proximity to the larynx influences the choice of treatment and surgical options. Definitive chemoradiation with the aim of laryngeal preservation has become the treatment of choice; long-term prognosis is believed to be comparable to radical pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy. Selected patients with residual disease or disease recurrence can consider salvage surgery. The decision to operate is a major undertaking as salvage surgery carries high morbidity and even mortality risks. Careful patient selection, choice of treatment, meticulous operative technique and postoperative care are the cornerstones of success.