Esophageal perforation and caustic injury: management of perforated esophageal cancer.

Perforation of esophageal cancer is an unusual complication that most often results from instrumentation. The management of this condition must be individualized on the basis of the patient's condition and the stage of the cancer. For patients who are otherwise well and have localized disease, a standard resection is performed. Stent placement and esophageal exclusion are sometimes used for patients in good condition but in whom resection is not feasible. Supportive care alone is reserved for patients who have end-stage disease or are otherwise not candidates for aggressive therapy. Although the overall mortality rate is 50%, the risk for patients who undergo resection is less than 10%. This risk is similar to that found in patients undergoing elective resection and supports the concept that aggressive therapy should be pursued in highly selected patients with perforated esophageal cancers.