[Surgical treatment of cardia and esophageal neoplasms]

From 1964-1978 458 patients were operated for carcinoma of the cardia or esophagus at the surgical clinic, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt/M. Indication, preoperative treatment and operative procedures are discussed. In 117 cases, an abdominal thoracic resection or a resection of the cardia was performed. In a higher frequency of incurable cases an esophageal endoprosthesis was implanted. The lethality rate was 20,5% after resection. Nearly half of the operated patients survived for two years. 36% of the patients were still alive five years following abdominal thoracic resection and 21% following cardia resection. Despite a relatively high surgical risk, resection seemed to be the appropriate procedure as proven by the good long term results.