Abstract
In the case of therapy for cervical esophageal cancer, especially superficial cancer, it is difficult to decide between excision or chemoradiotherapy in terms of radical cure and laryngeal conservation in consideration of the quality of life (QOL). Herein, we report our experience with a case of extensive superficial esophageal cancer wherein successful preoperative chemotherapy allowed laryngeal conservation. The patient was in his sixties man who was diagnosed as having extensive superficial esophageal cancer ranging from the esophageal orifice to the lower thoracic esophagus (Ce-Lt, sq, cT1b [SM2] N0M0 Stage I). In order to achieve laryngeal conservation and to obtain the stump on the oral side, preoperative chemotherapy (docetaxel/5-fluorouracil/cisplatin) was administered. Although the biopsy result for the mucous membrane was negative, surgery was performed because PET revealed persistent accumulation. Intraoperative rapid diagnosis confirmed that the stump on the oral side was negative for tumor, which permitted high-level esophagogastric anastomosis and radical surgery. Moreover, the results for the resected specimen indicated pathological complete remission. In case of esophageal cancer wherein long-term survival can be expected, an dffective combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy allows for treatment with maintenance of the QOL.
