Superior Clinical Outcomes of Esophagectomy in Elderly Esophageal Cancer Patients

In patients over 70 with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), surgical treatment yields better clinical outcomes compared to nonsurgical approaches. A retrospective study showed that the 3-year overall survival was 59% for the surgical group and 27% for the nonsurgical group. The median progression-free survival was also higher in the surgical group (38.3 months vs. 12.3 months), with fewer adverse events. These results suggest esophagectomy may be more effective for older ESCC patients.