Follow-Up of Patients with Surgical Esophageal Cancer Resection

The incidence of esophageal cancer has been increasing in recent years. The patients often present in advanced stages or unrespectable, despite increasing endoscopic and radiological imaging methods. Although early-stage patients are suitable for surgical resection, the rate of postoperative recurrence is still high. Early detection of the recurrence has an important role in the treatment and management of the disease which has a poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. In the postoperative follow-up of patients who have been operated on for esophageal cancer, the literature is insufficient and unclear. There is no accepted consensus about the following-up period for esophageal cancer. Herein, we aimed to review the optimal timing and type of patient follow-up after curative esophageal resection.