Carcinoma of the oesophagus: Factors influencing survival

1 A series of 191 cases of carcinoma of the oesophagus is presented. The 77 cases (middle and lower third) treated by complete oesophagectomy are studied in detail. 2 Evidence for the existence of an immune reaction by the patient against the tumour is found. 3 This immune reaction has a favourable effect on the prognosis, even in the presence of other unfavourable features. Delay in diagnosis does not affect the prognosis. 4 It is suggested that the presence of this reaction, as detected by a study of the resected specimen after oesophagectomy, might be used to determine the selective use of post‐operative radiotherapy in an attempt to improve the prognosis in this disease.