The third triennial congress of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (lSDE) was held in Munich in September 1986 under the presidency of J. Rudiger Siewert. The very well organized and epoch-making meeting was part of the International Esophageal Week and was held in conjunction with the International Conference of Esophageal Diseases, the European Study Group of Diseases of the Esophagus (GEEMO), and International Organization for Statistical Studies of Esophageal Diseases (OESO). I am very pleased that it has been possible to publish the proceedings of the congress so rapidly. The problems associated with diseases of the esophagus are multifaceted, varying considerably according to locality; their study thus neces sitates a large international forum, which is one of the founding aims of the ISDE. We hope that this volume, by virtue of the in-depth and up-dated reports it contains, can playa role in advancing the work being done in this field. Finally I should like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Professor Siewert and Dr. Holscher for their contribution toward the success of the congress. Kiyoshi Inokuchi, M.D., F.A.C.S. President of the ISDE Preface The scientific knowledge about esophageal diseases and their treatment has rapidly developed and increased within the last 10 years. The present book reproduces for 1987 the topical state of the art about pathology, pathophysiology, diagnostic, and therapy of benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus.
