BACKGROUND: Megaesophagus constitutes a public health problem in our country since it affects individuals in the most productive phase of their lives. During the development of the disease, people suffering from it may present association with esophageal cancer. AIM: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients with megaesophagus and esophageal cancer. METHODS: Twenty patients with megaesophagus and cancer (group 1) and 20 patients with esophageal cancer (group 2) were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, habits (alcoholism and smoking), tumor histological type, lesion location, cellular differentiation, staging, treatment and survival were assessed. RESULTS: No difference was observed between the groups in relation to age, sex, lesion location, tumor histological type, cellular differentiation, staging or survival. As regards habits, the association of alcoholism with smoking was observed in a larger number of patients with esophageal cancer without the megaesophagus antecedent. CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics of patients with megaesophagus and cancer do not differ from those of patients with malignant esophageal neoplasia, particularly as regards the unfavorable prognosis with the instituted treatment. Patients with megaesophagus may present esophageal tumor at any part of the organ.
Esophageal achalasia; Esophageal neoplasms; Follow-up studies
