Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus

This series of 69 patients having adenocarcinomas in the oesophagus is drawn from 1002 oesophageal cancers seen at the Finsen Institute during the years 1945-1969 incl., corresponding to 25% of oesophageal cancers registered during that period in the whole of Denmark. 90% of the adenocarcinomas were located to the lower third of the oesophagus. 24 patients had surgical attempts, resection being possible in 11 cases, viz. 16% of all and 46% of those with whome surgery was attempted. 27% died postoperatively. Two patients survived five years. 20 pateints had irradiation in therapeutic dosages (i.e. greater than or equal to 45 Gy) with one 5-year survivor. Crude 5-year survival for all cases was 4.3%. The best prognosis for lower adenocarcinomas is offered by resection. Resection not feasible, this series demonstrates survival of lower adenocarcinomas following irradiation in therapeutic dosages not to be inferior to that of therapeutically irradiated lower squamous cellular carcinomas, and that the sensitivity to irradiation seems to be the same.