食管癌仍然是致死性最高的恶性肿瘤之一。不经创伤性治疗,肿瘤生长会阻塞食管,导致重度吞咽困难。不仅局部生长会导致疼痛,而且肿瘤可广泛转移至肺、肝以及骨。
生存期取决于疾病的分期及治疗。[131]Robb WB, Messager M, Dahan L, et al; Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive; Société Française de Radiothérapie Oncologique; Union des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer; Groupe Coopérateur Multidisciplinaire en Oncologie; French EsoGAstric Tumour working group - Fédération de Recherche En Chirurgie. Patterns of recurrence in early-stage oesophageal cancer after chemoradiotherapy and surgery compared with surgery alone. Br J Surg. 2016;103:117-125.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26511668?tool=bestpractice.com经过手术及放化疗等有创治疗,1期食管癌的5年生存率可达80%;2期食管癌,接近60%;3期食管癌,在30-50%之间。[65]Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. SSAT patient care guidelines: surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. J Gastrointest Surg. 2007;11:1216-1218.http://ssat.com/guidelines/Esophageal-Cancer.cgihttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18062075?tool=bestpractice.com若仅手术,结果更差。总的来说,食管癌切除术后5年生存率大约20-35%。对于肿瘤局限于黏膜的早期肿瘤,5年生存率可超过80%。淋巴结转移是一项很重要的预后因素;无淋巴结转移的食管癌患者五年生存率为60%,而有淋巴结转移的患者会降至10-20%。[65]Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. SSAT patient care guidelines: surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. J Gastrointest Surg. 2007;11:1216-1218.http://ssat.com/guidelines/Esophageal-Cancer.cgihttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18062075?tool=bestpractice.com术前放化疗目的是达到病理应答(文献报道为25-50%),同时提升5年生存率(文献报道为30-56%)。
数据显示大的医学中心行食管切除术是最安全的。这些中心的手术死亡率2-6%。可是,严重的并发症是很常见的,发生率可达20-40%。[65]Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. SSAT patient care guidelines: surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. J Gastrointest Surg. 2007;11:1216-1218.http://ssat.com/guidelines/Esophageal-Cancer.cgihttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18062075?tool=bestpractice.com最常见的并发症为肺部疾病(10-50%),心律失常(10%)及吻合口瘘(5-10%)。手术颈部吻合时,吻合口瘘很少导致严重的并发症。可是颈部切开有潜在性的风险导致暂时甚至永久的喉返神经损伤。食管切除术后的平均住院日为10-14天。[77]Yasunaga H, Matsuyama Y, Ohe K, et al. Effects of hospital and surgeon case-volumes on postoperative complications and length of stay after esophagectomy in Japan. Surg Today. 2009;39:566-571.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562442?tool=bestpractice.com[132]Cooke DT, Lin GC, Lau CL, et al. Analysis of cervical esophagogastric anastomotic leaks after transhiatal esophagectomy: risk factors, presentation, and detection. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;88:177-185.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19559221?tool=bestpractice.com