Minimally invasive esophagectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer

Abstract

In the Western countries, the incidence of esophageal carcinoma is 3-6 cases per 100.000 persons. Despite tremendous success of other therapeutic options, surgical treatment still represents the best therapeutic option whenever possible. For the long period, debate has centered on which of the available surgical procedures is superior - transhiatal or transthoracic esophagectomy. Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) could offer both minimally invasive approach and proper mediastinal lymph node dissection. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is safe and adequate, but time consuming and technically demanding procedure. It is procedure reserved for the surgeons experienced in open esophagectomy for cancer, and specially trained in advanced minimally invasive procedures. Even in that case, learning curve is steep.