title: Evaluation of radical treatment of carcinoma esophagus using a combination of external beam and intracavitary irradiation.
abstract: Twenty five patients with squamous cell carcinoma arising from the middle third of the esophagus were treated radically, with external radiation, to a dose of 55-60 Gy. All patients had lesions less than 6 cm in length with no extra-esophageal spread on computed tomography scan. Eleven of these patients received additional intracavitary radiation to a dose of 12 Gy, 1 cm from the source axis in two sessions of 6 Gy each, a week apart. There was no significant difference in the relief of dysphagia and survival among these receiving and those not receiving intracavitary radiation. Addition of intracavitary radiation to radical external radiation was associated with significant complications like stricture and fistulae formation, which accounted for the poor results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kochhar
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Goenka
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Negi
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology