J Korean Soc Ther Radiol Oncol.  2000 Sep;18(3):182-186.

Treatment Results of Esophageal Carcinoma Treated by Radiation Therapy

• Kim MS
• Yoo SY
• Cho CK
• Yoo HJ
• Yang KM
• Kang JO
• Ji YH
• Lee DH
• Ryoo BY

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine treatment protocol for inoperable esophageal cancer patients, we evaluated survival rate and prognostic factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated esophageal cancer treated by curative or palliative aim in KCCH from 1992 to 1996, retrospectively. Recurrent or underdose case below 40 Gy were excluded. The number of male and female were 35 and 5, respectively. Thirty-eight patients were squamous carcinoma and 2 patients were not biopsy proven. Ten patients were treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Median dose of radiation therapy was 59.4 Gy and the range was 40-60 Gy.
RESULTS
The median survival is 6.5 months and 1-year survival rate was 28.3%. Age, location, radiation dose and chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors. Median survivals of patients with below stage III and over stage IVA were 7.6 and 6.2 months respectively, but it is not significant.
CONCLUSION
The survival for esophageal cancer is very poor. For patients with curative aim, chemotherapy must be considered. For patients with palliative aim, short-term external beam radiation therapy and/or brachytherapy must be considered.

Keyword

Esophageal cancer; Radiation therapy; Survival

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Brachytherapy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Clinical Protocols
Drug Therapy
Esophageal Neoplasms
Female
Humans
Male
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate