[Approaches to improving the methods of treating esophageal cancer]

The paper deals with an analysis of the results of treatment of 344 patients with cancer of the thoracic part of the esophagus. Out of those, 104 received surgical and combined treatment and 240 (inoperable cancer) were given radiotherapy alone or in combination with local hyperthermia, general chemotherapy or intratumoral iontophoresis of chemotherapeutic agents. The procedure after Dobromyslov-Torek proved to be insufficient in most of surgical cases because there were metastatic lesions below the diaphragm. A surgical procedure which takes care of metastases is suggested. Local hyperthermia potentiated the effect of radiation treatment. The immediate results of treatment improved after intratumoral sarcolysin iontophoresis was used in conjunction with radiation therapy.