BACKGROUND: @entity4153 of the esophagus is a rare disease, characterized by aggressive progression. It has a high incidence of @entity3 at presentation and a poor overall prognosis. Treatment protocols are not well established because of the paucity of cases and a lack of large studies. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all @entity1 with @entity4153 of the esophagus diagnosed at the Tata Memorial Hospital between 1985 and 2001. We retrieved and analyzed data regarding demographic details, diagnosis, staging, type of treatment, and overall survival. RESULTS: Eighteen @entity1 with a mean age of 62 years (range 48 to 80 years) diagnosed as having @entity4153 of the esophagus were analyzed. The group included 13 @entity1 and 5 @entity1 . Seven of the 18 @entity1 (39%) presented with @entity3 including 5 @entity1 (28%) with liver metastases. Four @entity1 were treated with surgery, with or without chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Three @entity1 were treated with combination chemoradiotherapy, 2 @entity1 with chemotherapy alone, and 5 @entity1 with radiotherapy alone. Four @entity1 with @entity1442 and poor general condition were not offered any treatment. The overall median survival of our @entity1 was 6 months. @entity1 treated with surgery and chemotherapy had a better overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: @entity4153 of the esophagus should be regarded as a @entity262 with a high distant failure rate. Treatment strategies hence must incorporate systemic chemotherapy along with radical surgery or radiotherapy as part of a multimodality approach.

XXXX of the esophagus: the Tata Memorial Hospital experience.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'Patients', 'patients', 'men'] @entity4153 :: ('MESH:D018288', 'Disease') :: ['small cell carcinoma', 'Small cell carcinoma'] @entity262 :: ('MESH:D034721', 'Disease') :: ['systemic disease'] @entity1442 :: ('MESH:D020178', 'Disease') :: ['advanced disease'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastatic disease']
@entity4153 :: (MESH:D018288,Disease) :: ['Small cell carcinoma']
