Background: Therapy for oesophageal carcinoma is a subject of controversial debate. The aim of this study is to answer the question how the therapeutic decision in patients with operable, non-metastatic oesophageal cancer should be made.
Materials and methods: A systematic literature research regarding different therapeutic strategies in patients with oesophageal cancer was undertaken.
Results: Multiple criteria influence the therapy for oesophageal carcinoma. Radical oesophagectomy in a multimodal setting is the therapy of choice. Definitive chemoradiation is a conservative option for high risk patients.
Conclusion: Therapeutic decisions in patients with oesophageal cancer should only be made after standardised staging and accurate risk analysis.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.