Katarína Tarabová, Daniel Šiška, Patrik Lauček, Martin Lučenič, Miroslav Janík
Most patients with esophageal cancer suffer from different stages of malnutrition. There are more than just one
factor affecting developement of malnutrition: an impact of malignant disease on organism and impossibility of adequate
caloric intake as a result of progressive dysphagia. Swallowing problems follow esophageal obstruction
caused by growing tumour, or it can be a consequence of surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. Presence
of unwanted weight loss and malnutrition detected already at establishing diagnosis lowers the chance of patients
to survive. Nutrition alteration is often associated with increasing number of postoperative complications such
as anastomotic leak, infectious complications, impaired wound healing and can cause delay in adjuvant oncologic
treatment. Worsening of physical condition, muscle strenght loss and general weakness and tendency to depressive
mood significantly lower the quality of life of the patient s.