Primary oesophageal carcinoma in teens.

Seven teenaged patients with primary oesophageal carcinoma, treated at our hospital in the last 6 years are presented and their management discussed. Five patients had localised disease. Three of them underwent total oesophagectomy, one was given radical radiotherapy, and one was lost to follow-up. Two patients had metastatic disease at presentation. The primary oesophageal carcinoma in this age group may not be so rare as reported in the literature and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia. Like their older counterparts, the outcome depends on the stage of the disease and is not influenced by age per se.