Abstract: Objective · To investigate factors affecting the prognosis of aged esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy.  Methods · Clinical data of 103 aged patients ( ≥ 80 years old) undergoing esophagectomy were collected. Effects of age, sex, clinical manifestations, pre-operative diseases, postoperative complications, T stage, lymph node metastasis, maximum diameter and location of the tumor, and surgical methods on the post-operative survival were analyzed.  Results · 1, 3, and 5 years survival rates of 103 patients were 63.2%, 15.9%, and 2.7%, respectively. Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis indicated that the post-operative survival was significantly higher in patients with T1 and T2 stages than in patients with T3 stage. The 3 and 5 y survival rates of patients with T1 stage were 50% and 25%, respectively. Results of Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that T stage, maximum diameter of tumor, postoperative complications, and lymph node metastasis were independent factors affecting the post-operative survival.  Conclusion · Esophageal cancer patients aged over 80 years with smaller tumor diameters, less postoperative complications, and negative lymph node metastasis have a longer postoperative survival period. Esophagectomy for patients with earlier stages (T1 and T2) can achieve an ideal post-operative survival period.

Key words: esophageal cancer, esophageal surgery, prognosis