[Multicentric carcinoma of the esophagus and double primary malignant neoplasm of the upper alimentary tract--report on 44 patients].

During the past fifteen years, 44 patients with multicentric carcinoma of the esophagus or double primary malignant neoplasm of the upper alimentary tract, collected from 5316 patients with cancer of esophagus or gastric cardia in the same period, were treated in our hospital. The incidence was 0.83%. All were proven by pathology. Exploratory thoracotomy was done in 32 patients and 26 lesions were resected with a resection rate of 81.3%. All patients with cancer resected survived over 1 year, 6 out of 9 survived over 3 years and 2 out of 3, over 5 years. In the 18 patients who received chemotherapy alone, 12 were followed and all died within 1 year. It is shown that multicentric carcinoma of the esophagus or double malignant neoplasm of the upper alimentary tract should be given energetic treatment. Finally, the incidence, diagnosis criteria, diagnosis method, etiology and management are discussed with a review of literature.