Methods: Between January 1998 and June 2010, 37 consecutive elderly patients (24 females, 13 males, mean age 74±3.7 years; range 70 to 83 years) underwent Ivor Lewis-type esophagectomy. Patients who underwent esophagectomy for palliative reasons, those who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, those who underwent another surgical procedure together with Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, and those whose reconstruction was performed with any tissue other than that of the stomach were excluded.

Results: According to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging, four (10.8%), 13 (35.2%), six (16.2%) and 14 (37.8%) were found to have stage I, IIA, IIB and III respectively. Perioperative, early and late postoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (43.2%). The hospital mortality rate (30-days) was 8.1% (n=3). The primary causes of mortality were anastomotic leak and respiratory failure. The mean hospital stay after the operation was 14.5 days. The median survival was 28.7 months. The one-year, threeyear, and five-year survival rates of the patients were 70.3%, 31.0%, and 21.4%, respectively.

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that transthoracic surgical management may be performed in selected elderly patients with esophageal cancer.