Airway resection for cT4b esophageal cancer: a single institution experience

Abstract

Background: Resection of esophageal cancer, when combined with multimodal therapy, represents the best chance for cure of this aggressive tumour. However, cases with direct local invasion into what has long been perceived as an “unresectable” structure (bronchial or tracheal airway) have traditionally not been offered curative-intent surgery, as physicians are biased towards non-operative palliative approaches. We sought to determine our outcomes of surgically managed esophageal cancer with airway invasion clinical T4b (cT4b) by reviewing our experience, in a highly selected patient population, with complex esophageal cancer cases managed in a multi-modal setting with esophagectomy and combined airway resection.