The "best operation" for esophageal cancer?

There are several controversies in the surgical management of esophageal cancer including the surgical approach, extent of resection, optimal fields of lymph node dissection, and the ideal location of anastomosis. Optimal surgical treatment strategies must include accurate staging and the selection of an appropriate surgical approach. In addition, other considerations include complete resection, lymph node dissection and evaluation of oncologic and functional outcomes. The objective of this article is to review the literature and discuss our surgical approach to esophageal cancer.