title: Combined external beam and intracavitary radiotherapy in oesophageal carcinoma.
abstract: Seventy patients (40 males, 30 female; age 36-87 years, median 72 years) who were unsuitable for surgery were referred to the Regional Radiotherapy Centre, Newcastle General Hospital with oesophageal carcinoma (54 squamous cell; tumour length 2-14 cm). Sixty-seven patients received combined external beam radiotherapy (20-50 Gy in 5-20 fractions over 1-4 weeks) followed by intracavitary radiation (66 patients received 10 Gy at 1 cm; the remaining 4 received less) using an endoscopically inserted afterloading technique at 6.4 Gy/hour. Swallowing was restored in 65 patients (92%), although 39 patients (55.7%) subsequently required dilatation. Four developed fistulae (1 day, 2 months, 11 months, 17 months post-treatment). The actuarial survival was 71% at 6 months and 42% at 1 year. The combined treatment is well tolerated, with few complications and provides good palliation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Newcastle General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Clague
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate