Two cases of carcinoma of the cervical esophagus adjacent to the larynx treated with surgery.

We report herein two cases of carcinoma of the cervical esophagus adjacent to the larynx in which surgery achieved good results. Surgery for case 1, a 64-year-old woman, comprised resection of a carcinoma of the cervical esophagus at stage 0-IIa T1aN0M0, bilateral neck and paratracheal dissections (D1 and D2 dissection), reconstruction using the free jejunal segment, and tracheostomy. At 30 days postoperatively, she was able to eat normal food. For case 2, a 58-year-old man, the same operative procedures were conducted for stage 0-IIc T1bN0M0 carcinoma. At 33 days postoperatively, the patient was able to eat rice porridge (5 parts water, 1 part rice). We therefore consider that for carcinomas in the vicinity of the pharyngoesophageal segment, surgery can achieve both radical cure and preservation of function in some cases.