RESUMEN
Background: Esophageal carcinoma has a dismal prognosis. Several authors have reported a very low survival in Chile. Aim: To report the survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma, subjected to esophageal resection. Material and methods: Analysis of 108 patients subjected to thoracic esophageal resection between 1985 and 1996. Patients were classified according to the location of the tumor and its staging. Results: Eleven patients died in the immediate postoperative period and 90 patients were followed. In 53 the exact cause of death was determined. Global five years survival was 29 percent and median survival was 18 months. Survival was 100 percent in stage I tumors. Adjuvant therapy resulted in a better survival of stage III tumors. Survival of stage IV tumors was worst than stage I to III tumors. There was no survival difference between squamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Tumors located in the superior third of the esophagus had a worst prognosis. Causes of death were mediastinic metastases, local recidivism, pleural or pulmonary metastases and less frequently, brain, bronchial or bone metastases. Conclusions: The survival of these, patients with esophageal carcinoma did not differ from the figures reported abroad