ESOPHAGEAL NEOPLASMS

No major breakthroughs have been published over the past year with respect to esophageal neoplasms. Nevertheless, useful information was gathered in several areas, but this was to a large extent confirmatory in nature, consolidating previous knowledge. More intriguing are the results obtained with en bloc resection of esophageal cancer together with the potential benefit of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in selected cases. Accurate staging becomes increasing important, and the role of endosonography in this developing area is given further support. New in the set of modalities for palliation of malignant dysphagia is intratumoral injection of necrotizing ethanol and the use of expandable mesh stents.