ABSTRACT
The incidence of carcinoma of the esophagus within patients with chronic esophageal stricture caused by ingestion of corrosive agents is reported to be significantly higher than in the general population. Two patients developed carcinoma of the esophagus respectively 25 and 40 years after corrosive injury. One of these patients had initially gastrostomy and repeated esophagal dilation. Taking into account the high incidence of carcinoma in the site of esophageal stricture, we conclude that the resection of the esophagus is indicated in patients with chronic caustic stricture if there is any finding suggestive of malignancies such as a long duration of the lesions more than 20 years particulary when the ingested agent was caustic soda or sudden aggravation of preexisting dysphagia