What is appropriate treatment for carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus?

Recent advances in the treatment of esophageal cancer have yielded a variet y of new options for management of this highly lethal disease. Various appr oaches to surgical resection have been proposed. Chemotherapy and radiother apy with or without surgery have been tested in numerous trials, the result s of which are often conflicting and confusing for clinicians. The changing epidemiology of the disease between East and West adds to the controversy. In this review, the authors address some of the more controversial debates . The following questions are asked: What is the appropriate approach for s urgical resection? What is the appropriate extent of resection? Is multimod ality treatment appropriate for esophageal cancer?