Abstract
Background and study aims Cervical esophageal cancer (CEC) is a less common form of cancer and often locally
advanced at the time of diagnosis; thus, survival rates for patients with CEC remain
poor. However, no reports exist on results of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
for superficial cancer at the cervical esophagus. The aim of this retrospective study
was to elucidate the clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes of ESD for
superficial CEC.
Patients and methods ESD was performed on 891 lesions (in 662 patients) for superficial esophageal cancer
from January 2008 to December 2015. Of these, 45 lesions (45 patients) were enrolled
in the case group (CEC), and 405 lesions (375 patients) were enrolled in the control
group (superficial cancer in the middle thoracic esophagus). The safety of ESD, including
R0 resection rate and adverse events, and the efficacy, such as the local recurrence
rate and overall survival rate, were evaluated.
Results The R0 resection rate was 91.1 % in the case group and 96 % in the control group. The
rate of esophageal stricture was significantly higher in the case group (20 %) than
in the control group (6.6 %). There was no local recurrence, and the 3-year survival
rate was 88.4 % in the case group and 96.7 % in the control group.
Conclusions ESD for superficial cancer in the cervical esophagus was achieved safely, and successful
local control was also confirmed. However, the esophageal stricture after ESD was
more frequent.
