The Result of Radiotherapy in Esophageal Carcinoma

Gil, Hack Joon; Kay, Chul Seung; Jang, Jee Young; Yoon, Sei Chul; Shinn, Kyung Sub; Bahk, Yong Whee

Abstract

During the period between March 1983 and December 1990, 74 patients with esophageal carcinoma(EC) were treated with radiation therapy(RT) at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Of these, 6 patients were lost to follow-up, and 13 patients were interrupted. So the remaining 55 patients were analyzed, retrospectively. 32 patients were irradiated with curative aim, 12 patients with palliative intent, 10 patients postoperatively, and 1 patient pre- and post-operatively. Among these 55 patients, 28 patients were treated with chemoradiation modality, and 27 patients with RT alone. All patients were followed for a minimum of 20 months or Hntil death. of 32 patients irradiated by curative aim, 22 patients(69%) showed partial remission (PR), 6 patients(19%) complete remission(CR). Overall mean survival and two-year survival rate were 15.6 months and 22%. With respect to sex, age, pathologic differentiation, tumor location, tumor size, stage, RT aim, RT response, RT dose, use of chemotherapy and functional categories(FC) of dysphagia at initiation of RT and at finishing RT : Tumor size, stage, RT response had great influences on prognosis and FC at finishing RT had a slight influence on prognosis. Especially, the mean survival and 2-year survival rate in patients with postoperative RT were 24.7 months and 63%, which could be compared with 29.1 months and 43% in radically treated patients with CR. And the mean survival duration and 2-year survival rate in patients irradiated with doses more than 60 Gy were 22.4 months and 29%, and 50~60 Gy were 12.2 months and 12%, respectively. However, no significant difference was shown statistically. Among 12 patients treated with palliative intent, 9 patients (75%) had good improvement in dysphagia and the mean duration of palliative response was 10.6 months.