The effect of time interval on esophagectomy after neoadjuvant treatment

“Esophagectomy timing after neoadjuvant therapy for distal esophageal adenocarcinoma” published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery (doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.09.044) states that 30- and 90-day mortality after esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma in patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, is significantly higher in patients with a postradiation interval of 9 weeks or more. The authors suggest that a “wait and see” approach after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma may not be safe.