[Multimodal treatment of esophageal carcinoma]

Abstract

Despite major progress in clinical diagnostics and therapy, esophageal carcinoma represents a tumor entity with limited prognosis. In case of carcinoma restricted to mucosa endoscopic resection has developed into an important therapeutic method. Surgical resection represents the standard procedure for patients with locally limited (cT1/T2, N0) and advanced carcinoma (cT3, T4, Nx). In multimodal therapy neoadjuvant treatment concepts with chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy for patients with locally advanced tumors are well established. In case of metastatic disease palliative radio- and chemotherapy represent a treatment concept, however therapy efficiency is very limited. This review reflects the current status of multimodal therapy.