Three-port mediastino-laparoscopic esophagectomy (TPMLE) for an 81-year-old female with early-staged esophageal cancer: a case report of combining single-port mediastinoscopic esophagectomy and reduced port laparoscopic surgery

Esophageal cancer is the eleventh most common cancer worldwide, and the sixth most common cause of cancer related mortality due to its poor prognosis (1). Surgery remains the best option for operable patients with esophageal carcinoma. However, due to its anatomical property, radical resection is highly invasive and traumatic, and may cause severe complications and even death.