Achalasia as a risk factor for esophageal carcinoma. A reappraisal

Achalasia has been purported to be a risk factor for the development of esophageal carcinoma. To test the validity of this association at the Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and its major affiliate, the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center (WHVA), two approaches were employed: (1) a prospective study identifying 100 subjects with manometrically documented achalasia for the development of esophageal cancer; (2) a retrospective review of esophageal cancer patients admitted to the YNHH and the WHVA from 1971 through 1981 for any evidence of achalasia. No cases of esophageal carcinoma were identified in the 91 evaluable achalasics. No case of achalasia was found or even suggested in association with the 153 cases of esophageal cancer reviewed. Our findings do not substantiate the association of achalasia and esophageal carcinoma. The clinical implications of this conclusion on surveillance and follow-up of achalasia patients are discussed.