A patient with carcinoma lower 1/3 of oesophagus, receives chemo Radiotherapy and dysphagia shows complete response. What is the next step in management?: (A) Reassure, (B) Follow with CT scan every 6 months, (C) Esophagectomy, (D) EUS to look for residual disease
Answer is C. - Clinical trials and meta-analyses have shown that a C + surgery regimen could significantly improve the survival of locally advanced esophageal carcinoma patients compared to surgery alone - Endoscopic biopsy, endoscopic ultrasonography, MRI (at various sequences) and PET-CT all had shocomings for evaluating cCR and the therapeutic effect of cCR (concurrent chemoradiation) and nC (Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy)