title: [Prognostic criteria and clinical prerequisites of curative therapy of esophageal cancer by radiotherapy alone (author's transl)].
abstract: Survey of 289 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus treated solely by irradiation between 1961 and 1973. All patients fit for radiotherapy -- uniformly without further selection -- received a local dose of at least 6500 rads. This resulted in a 18% one year survival rate; only one patient lived more than five years. All patients were compared using different criteria to correlate the initial findings at the time of diagnosis with the type of therapy and the prognosis. Three treatment plans were established according to the initial clinical findings: a) palliative therapy, b) locally curative therapy and c) radical curative therapy. The treatment plan which seems to show the best results consists of preoperative irradiation with adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical removal of the tumor. This plan should be pursued in all appropriate patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects
vernacular_title: Prognostische Kriterien und Voraussetzungen einer kurativen Therapie des Oesophaguscarcinoms bei alleiniger Strahlentherapie. Ergebnisse und Erfahrungen der Jahre 1961-1973.