Value of Pleural Lavage Cytology in Resectable Esophageal Carcinoma Eastern Cooperative Thoracic Oncology Projects 2005, ECTOP-2005)

This study is investigating whether examining cells collected from fluid rinsed through the chest during esophageal cancer surgery (called pleural lavage cytology) can help predict whether the cancer might spread, helping doctors make better treatment decisions after surgery. **You may be eligible if...** - You have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer confirmed by biopsy - Your cancer is considered surgically removable (resectable, stage T1-T4a) - There is no distant spread of the cancer (M0) - You have no prior history of other cancers **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have severe dysfunction of a major organ - You previously had endoscopic procedures to remove the tumor - Chest adhesions prevent collection of the pleural rinse fluid during surgery Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.