To analyze surgical indication, technique, complications, and survival of cervical esophageal cancer with surgical intervention.

Twenty-one patients(4.2%, 21/500)undergoing surgical treatment in Shanghai Chest Hospital between Jan 2014 and Dec 2016 were reviewed; surgical results, recurrence and survival were analyzed.

Seventeen patients were male. The mean age was 63 years old. Histology included 19 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 basal cell carcinoma. Induction chemoradiotherapy was utilized in 5 patients (23.8%, 5/21). 5 patients were treated with total phryngo-laryngo-esophagectomy (TPLE), 12 with esophagectomy alone, 1 with cervical esophagectomy and free jejunal interposition, 1 with tumor exlusion and colon interposition, 2 with partial and segmental resection of cervical esophagus, respectively, and end to end repair. The complete resection rate was higher in TPLE group than esophagectomy group (80% vs 41.6%). The surgical morbidity was 42.8%. No 30-day surgical-related death was noted. During a median follow-up of 10 months (1-33months), 7 patients experienced recurrent disease (33%, 7/21), and 3 patients died (2 patients died of recurrence and 1 patient died of anastomosis bleeding 3 months after operation).

TPLE procedure can improve the complete resection rate compared to esophagectomy alone for cervical esophageal cancer. Radical lymph nodes dissection and adjuvant radiation could be mandatory to decrease local and regional recurrence after subtotal esophagus resection.