Carcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia

234 patients, 146 with carcinoma of the oesophagus and 88 with carcinoma of the cardia are reported. There were 82 females and 152 males, mean age 62 years. The overall operability and resectability of the whole series was 38% and 23%. In cardiac carcinoma operability was 50% and resectability 32%, while in oesophageal carcinoma it was 31% and 18% respectively. 54 patients underwent resection, 44 received irradiation, and in 136 patients only palliative treatment was possible. The overall hospital mortality after resection was 15%, after oesophageal resection 12%, after cardiac resection 18%, and after palliative procedures 14%. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 9 patients (17%), four of whom died. The overall 5-year survival rate for the whole series was 4%, after resection 11%, and after radiotherapy 4%. No patient in the palliative group survived for 2 years. The mean survival time after irradiation was 11.5 months and after palliative procedures 5.5 months. The 5-year survival rate after oesophageal resection was 13% and after cardiac resection 6%.