Radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

✍ Scribed by Louis B. Harrison; Thomas D. Fogel; James R. Picone; Diana B. Fischer; Joseph B. Weissberg

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 369 KB
• Volume: 37
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-4790
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.2930370112

✦ Synopsis

Between 1965 and 1981, 119

patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with radiation therapy with curative intent. Radiation was employed in combination with surgery and delivered pre-and/or postoperatively in 20 patients (17 %). The remainder received radiotherapy alone. The overall survival rate was statistically higher in patients who had surgery and radiation compared to the group receiving radiation alone. The one-, two-, and five-year survival rates of patients receiving combined treatment vs radiotherapy alone were 65% vs 35%, 25% vs 14%, and 15 % vs 6 % . Age, total radiation dose, and inclusion of the supraclavicular areas in the radiation portals did not impact on outcome. Other prognostic factors are discussed. Long term survivors were noted to be at substantial risk for the development of a second epidermoid malignancy in the upper aerodigestive tract. Cumulative risk at five years was approximately 25 % .