Oesophageal cancer
Worldwide, oesophageal cancer, including cancer of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ), is the sixth leading cause of death from cancer. Despite recent advances, treatment of oesophageal cancer remains challenging and is best approached by an experienced multidisciplinary team. Surgery alone is the treatment of choice in early stage carcinoma although in superficial cancers (T1a) endoscopic resection is to be preferred. In locally advanced tumors induction therapy followed by surgery is the preferred treatment. In selected cases definitive chemoradiotherapy could be considered as a valuable alternative The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is unclear, but could be considered for selected GEJ adenocarcinoma patients. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy should be considered in all patients with advanced disease or positive margins who did not receive neo-adjuvant radiotherapy. For metastatic disease, the goal is to prolong and maximize quality of life. Regarding the palliative treatment of dysphagia, brachytherapy was shown to be more effective than stenting.