Japan’s esophageal cancer survival rates highlight treatment effectiveness

In Japan, a comprehensive registry observed 9,593 esophageal cancer cases in 2016, revealing significant variations in 5-year survival rates by treatment type. Endoscopic resection yielded the highest survival at 89%, followed by esophagectomy at 59%. Notably, minimally invasive esophagectomy was preferred in 65.1% of cases. Tumor stage profoundly impacted outcomes, with 83% survival in stage 0 versus only 27% in stage IVb. The findings aim to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer.