Esophagectomy without thoracotomy.

It should be understood that esophagectomy without thoracotomy is not a surgical procedure for the treatment of a particular esophageal lesion but is only a surgical aid. Therefore, it is extremely important to discuss the specific indications for using this technique to treat a particular esophageal disorder. The technique of esophagectomy without thoracotomy should not be used for malignant lesions of the thoracic esophagus except under particular circumstances, such as resection of a carcinoma in an extremely early stage or palliative resection of advanced carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus without local invasion. Esophagectomy without thoracotomy is extremely useful for the treatment of esophageal or esophagus-related lesions, such as hypopharyngeal carcinoma, benign stricture of the esophagus, or even some carcinomas of the lower esophagus and cardia of the stomach.