Chinese Guidelines on Perioperative Management of Resectable Esophageal Cancer (2023 edition)

Abstract

The standardization of surgical treatment has become indispensable in the overall outcome of esophageal cancer care in China, but there is a notable deficiency of clinical guidelines regarding esophageal surgery. The Chinese National Cancer Center organized esophageal surgery experts from the Chinese Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS), Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (CSTCVS), and Chinese Society for Disease of the Esophagus (CSDE) to develop and establish the Chinese Guidelines on Perioperative Management of Resectable Esophageal Cancer (2023 edition). This guideline comprehensively covers all aspects of surgical treatment for esophageal cancer, including conceptual clarification, preoperative diagnosis, clinical staging, indications for surgery, multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment, surgical treatment modalities, and perioperative management. A total of 39 critical clinical questions are categorized into six domains above. This guideline follows the globally accepted approach for developing recommendations and takes into account the most recent research evidence as well as China's unique national circumstances. Its main aim is to serve as a comprehensive resource for standardizing the diagnosis and surgical treatment of esophageal cancer in China, with the ultimate goal of substantially improving the overall outcomes.