Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) for esophageal carcinoma or esophagogastric junction cancer.
Methods: Between March 2000 and December 2009, a total of 544 patients with either esophageal carcinoma or esophagogastric junction cancer underwent esophagectomy via THE (n=63) or other approaches (n=481) in Beijing cancer hospital institution. Procedures were performed by a single surgeon team. Long-term survival was compared between two groups.
Results: The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 8-year accumulative survival rates in THE group were 91.0%, 60.5%, 44.6%, and 44.6%, respectively, while those in non-THE group were 84.5%, 49.2%, 37.2%, and 28.7%, respectively. The THE group showed better long-term survival than the non-THE group, however the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: THE is a safe alternative for esophageal carcinoma and esophagogastric junction cancer.