Retrospective Review of Esophageal Carcinoma: 3-Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute

Abstract

Introduction: Esophageal carcinoma, one of the common malignancies, generally presented in advanced stage makes these neoplasms less curable and highly lethal. Having such poor prognosis, it is significant to understand various patient and tumor facts related to treatment outcome of esophageal cancer, which varies regions wise. The present retrospective study also seeks to focus on current description of patterns and trends of tumors in esophageal cancer patients attended in a tertiary care hospital in a northern state of India and their treatment outcome. Materials and Methods: Records of esophageal carcinoma patients over a period of 3-years were reviewed retrospectively. These records were analysed for incidence, demographic pattern, different treatment modalities and their response evaluation. Results: A total 439-patients of esophageal carcinoma were identified. The median age at presentation was 47-years and males slightly outnumbered females. Among all the tumors, lower thoracic esophagus involvement was most predominant and most common presentation was dysphagia. Squamous cell carcinoma constituted the predominant histopathological type. Majority of patients presented in advanced stage and treated with combined modalities approach of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Overall average survival was 13-months. Clinically, the response at last follow-up was CR in 19%, PR and PD in 33% each. Conclusion: Despite its high prevalence in north India and poor survival rate, less initiative has been taken to increase awareness in preventing these cancers. Understandings of socio-demographic patterns and tumor characteristics may improve treatment outcome in these patients and improve quality of life. Further studies are needed in different regions of India, to get more treatment options which may convert the current scenario of palliative intent in to radical one in patients of esophageal carcinoma. Key words: Esophageal carcinoma, retrospective study, socio-demographic profile, dysphagia, squamous cell carcinoma.