[New trends in neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally-advanced esophageal cancer: esophagectomy--is it necessary?].

In responders to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally-advanced esophageal cancer, there was no significant difference in the long-term outcome between patients who underwent esophagectomy and those who did not. Esophagectomy might be unnecessary for patients who achieve a complete response with chemoradiotherapy for an esophageal cancer, in cases when salvage surgery is considered in order to treat any future recurrence.