Surgical treatment for recurrent carcinoma of the esophagus

objective To review the surgical operation indication and the diagnosis of reoperation for recurrent carcinoma of the esophagus. Methods 48 patients with local recurrence of esophageal cancer were reoperated and analysed retrospectively. Results The resectability rate was 75%(36/48) and the hospital mortality rate was 8.3%(3/48). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients with a morbidity of 22.2%. pathologically, previous anastomotic relapse was seen in 28 patients, recurrent lesion of residual esophagus in 6, and recurrent cancerous residue at the esophageal bed in 2. Curative resection was performed for 28 patients and palliative resection for 8 patients. Follow-up showed that 8 patients survived for 5 years, 10 for 3 years, and 7 for 1 year. 8 patients died within one year after reoperation. Conclusions The recurrence of esophageal cancer after first operation is not a contraindication to reoperation, but careful preoperative assessment and patients' selection should become an integral part of the evaluation of these patients. Reoperation is the first choice for patients with local recurrence of esophogeal cancer.