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Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery 4/2005

01-08-2005 | Current Concepts in Clinical Surgery

Survival after oesophagectomy for cancer of the oesophagus

Authors: Hubert J. Stein, Burkhard H. A. von Rahden, J. Rüdiger Siewert

Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery | Issue 4/2005

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Abstract

Background

Formerly an inevitably fatal disease, oesophageal cancer today has predictable chances for cure.

Methods

The recent literature and authors’ own experiences in the surgical management of oesophageal cancer was reviewed to identify factors associated with improved survival after oesophagectomy.

Results

Currently reported overall 5-year-survival rates are reaching 40% and more in patients who have had an oesophagectomy performed with curative intention. The reasons for improved survival after surgical resection are multifactorial in nature: decreased postoperative mortality and morbidity (due to improved patient selection, surgical technique and perioperative management), the use of tailored surgical strategies (adopted to the histological tumour type, tumour location, stage of disease and the individual patient’s risk profile), and multimodality treatment in patients with locally advanced disease.

Conclusion

The prognosis of patients who have had oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer has markedly improved during the past decades. With improved long-term survival after oesophagectomy, postoperative quality of life gains importance as an additional parameter of outcome after oesophageal cancer surgery.
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Metadata
Title
Survival after oesophagectomy for cancer of the oesophagus
Authors
Hubert J. Stein
Burkhard H. A. von Rahden
J. Rüdiger Siewert
Publication date
01-08-2005
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery / Issue 4/2005
Print ISSN: 1435-2443
Electronic ISSN: 1435-2451
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-004-0504-9

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