ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Southern Thailand is an area with a high frequency of esophageal carcinoma. This paper presents basic data regarding esophageal carcinoma patients from this region. METHODS: Patients with histopathological confirmed esophageal carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. The age, sex, location of tumor and resectability were studied. RESULTS: A total of 813 cases of esophageal carcinoma were reviewed, male:female ratio was 3.54:1 (634:179). Average age in males was 64.62 years and 64.30 years in females. The peak age-incidence was 51-70 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was most commonly found in the mid thoracic portion of the esophagus with 369 cases (45.39%), 70 cases (8.61%) were found in the cervical portion of the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma cancer was found at the esophagogastric junction in 47 cases (5.78%). Only 293 cases (36.04%) were operable. Respiratory tract involvement was noted in 49 cases. CONCLUSION: The most common type of esophageal cancer in Southern Thailand is squamous cell carcinoma, as in other countries in Asia. The status of the patients, advanced age and locally advanced tumor were major factors of our low operable rate.