The case history of a patient who underwent laparoscopic staging of an esop
hageal carcinoma is presented. After neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy a p
ort site metastasis was found at esophagectomy. Possible etiologies, implic
ations for the continued use of minimally invasive staging for esophageal c
arcinoma, and prevention of port site metastasis are discussed. (C) 2001 by
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.