Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of the three types of the treatment for advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods: 92 patients (78 men and 14 women) were involved in this study. Patients were divided into three groups. Group A (n=16) gastrostomy

group B (n=27) esophageal stent implanted

group C (n= 49) esophagectomy . A comparative study was made in several aspects including the total charges

the incidenc of complications

an operative mortality and postoperative survival rate. Results: No severe postoperative 、complications and hospital deaths occurred in groups AB

but in group C the complications and deaths rate were 、、$14.29%

6.12% respectively. Hospital cost in groups ABC were 1756.56±$151.09

9437.50±$889.85

20568.50±7108.39 respectively (P<0.01). But the one-year survival rate in group A (18.75%) was lower than that in groups B (74.07%) and C (60.87%)

P<0.01

and there was no significant difference between the groups B and C ( >P0.05). Conclusion: The esophageal stent implanted for advanced esophageal carcinoma is an effective and safe method and esophagectomy should be selected carefully.