Carcinoma of the esophagus as a complication of megaesophagus

Summary (1) In a period of 3&frac; years seven cases of carcinoma of the esophagus were seen in patients with megaesophagus of different durations. They are described fully.(2) Attention is called to the fact that the tumor may occur at any level and therefore may be overlooked in a dilated esophagus, because it does not cause stenosis.(3) Chronic esophagitis with ulceration of the mucosa owing to stasis and fermentation in the lumen of the esophagus is considered the most likely cause of cancer.(4) The author advises early radical treatment for megaesophagus as a preventive measure against carcinoma, in view of the exceptional diagnostic difficulties found in long-standing cases of the disease.(5) Subtotal esophagectomy with cervical esophagogastrostomy, bringing the stomach up to the neck through a substernal tunnel, is the author's method of choice for megaesophagus.