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This report is a retrospective study of 99 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, treated with non-operative treatment modality (radiation therapy alone or chemotherapy and radiation therapy) or esophagectomy and radiation therapy ± chemotherapy between January 1980 and December 1986. Of 99 patients, fifty three patients received definitive treatment as a curative intent and forty six patients received palliative treatment. Two year survival rate of definitive and palliative group was 24% (median survival of 11.3 months) and 1.5% (median survival of 4.4 months) respectively. Of 53 patients with definitive group, 33 patients were treated by radiation alone, 10 patients were treated by chemotherapy and radiation, and 10 patients were treated by esophagectomy and radiation ± chemotherapy. Two year survival rate of radiation alone, chemotherapy and radaition, and esophagectomy and radiation chemotherapy was 20%, 33.6%, and 23% respectively. There was no statistical significance in 2 year survival rate between non-operative and surgical group. Of 46 patients with palliative group, 33 patients (72%) showed symptomatic relief. In conclusion, it is our feeling that surgical intervention may not be necessary in definitive management of esophageal cancer on basis of this study although it is difficult to draw definite conclusion because this report is the retrospective study and the number of patients population is small.
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