Esophageal Cancer
Scott Johnson, MD, Head of General Thoracic Surgery

View Dr. Johnson's Bio | Grand Rounds powerpoint

UT Medicine thoracic surgeon Scott Johnson, MD, has extensive experience in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer.

Esophagectomy is one of the few surgical procedures where practice truly does make perfect: studies have demonstrated better results with thoracic surgeons who have extensive experience and a high-volume of esophagectomies.

In the United States, esophageal carcinoma accounts for 10,000 to 11,000 deaths per year. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus has the fastest growing incidence rate of all cancers in the United States. Over the last 2 decades, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and gastroesophageal junction has progressively increased. Currently, it accounts for more than 50% of all new cases of esophageal cancer.

Dr. Johnson has extensive experience performing esophagectomies as treatment for esophageal cancer. His added qualifications in Surgical Critical Care, as well as his extensive training and expertise in performing esophagectomies, have given him the added ability to perform more complex procedures in otherwise higher risk patients.