Surgical management of cervical oesophageal cancer

Objective: Cervical oesophageal cancer is a difficult problem to manage. The aim of this study was to report our experiences with the surgical treatment of cervical oesophageal cancer and the oncological results obtained in our patients. Methods: Nineteen patients with cervical oesophageal cancer underwent surgical treatment between January 2001 and February 2011. Eighteen patients underwent pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and one patient underwent pharyngoesophagectomy. Reconstruction of the digestive tract with gastric transpositions was performed in 18 patients and right colon transposition was performed in one patient. Results: No operative mortality was noted. Significant complications occurred in nine patients. The distant metastasis rate was 47%. Overall three- and five-year survival rates were 30% and 28%, respectively and the three- and five-year disease-specific survival rates were 41% and 39%, respectively. Conclusion: Pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy with gastric transposition can be performed for the treatment of cervical oesophageal cancer. However, despite radical resection and adjuvant therapy, survival rates are low.